The suspension of football by the Scottish FA will be lifted from Monday 24 August in line with the update provided by the First Minister yesterday to phase three of the Scottish Government’s route map out of the COVID-19 crisis.

In practical terms, this means that contact training for the youth and adult game – including professional and non-professional – can resume from Monday morning in line with updated government guidelines.

The details were outlined today to Scottish Championship, League One and League Two clubs in a series of videoconference calls hosted by the Joint Response Group. Further meetings are scheduled for tiers 5 and 6 of the Scottish football pyramid early next week.

Guidance has also been issued by the JRG Grassroots Sub Group throughout the recreational game in conjunction with sportscotland and the Scottish FA’s Return to Football Hub has been updated to reflect the most recent advice.

Rod Petrie, Joint Response Group Chair:

“This is a significant and hugely positive step forward for the whole of Scottish football and means that training can resume for both the professional and grassroots game from Monday.

“I understand the sacrifices players, coaches and clubs have been forced to make to get to this point but the health of the nation remains our absolute priority. Through the JRG and its grassroots sub group we have worked hard since yesterday’s announcement from the First Minister to put the latest government advice into context for the professional and non-professional game and to make the message as clear and as simple as possible.

“Training can resume on Monday in line with government’s ongoing social distancing measures and advice and, if the virus continues to be contained in Scotland, then the path to competitive football matches being played by October is tangible.

“We must continue to be vigilant and respect the guidance and protocols that are in place but on the JRG calls with Championship, League One and League Two today you could sense the anticipation to get football back and I know from my board colleague, Thomas McKeown, that the announcement has been met with similar excitement across the grassroots game.”

Thomas McKeown, Scottish FA Board Director and Chair of the JRG Grassroots Sub Group:

“We are pleased to move into the next phase of our routemap to the Return to Football, and the resumption of contact training and small-sided games within clubs at both adult and youth football is an extremely positive step forward.

“We wholly appreciate how keen everyone is to return fully to the game by restarting leagues and match activity but we also appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we move at the pace that we hope will ensure that as many people return to the game as possible by creating a welcoming, fun and most importantly, safe environment for all.”

The news comes in light of the First Minister announcing that Scottish football grounds could be opened up to fans from September 14, with restricted numbers and physical distancing measures in place. Discussions are already well under way to prepare for the Return to Supporting phase and Scottish Premiership clubs are currently producing documentation that will facilitate the gradual return to supporters within the configurations of each of the 12 stadia, including access and egress, logistics and health and safety protocols.

Neil Doncaster, SPFL Chief Executive:

“This is a major milestone in getting our game fully up and running again. It’s hard to overstate the significance of this development for clubs outwith the Premiership, which can now start preparing with confidence for the Betfred Cup on 6 October.

“The next crucial step will be allowing Scottish football fans back into games, based on the comprehensive range of safety measures which have been developed by clubs in close consultation with health experts.

“Discussions on pilot events at Premiership matches are now under way and everyone is determined, for the sake of the Scottish game as a whole, to ensure these go smoothly and safely.”

The Pars and the Wasps club together to beat COVID-19

Dunfermline Athletic Football Club and Alloa Athletic Football Club are both delighted to announce a working partnership for season 2020-21.

With the challenges posed by Covid-19, both clubs have agreed to work together next season, in the first such partnership in Scottish football, to assist each other with the sharing of resources and facilities.

Dunfermline Athletic will use the Indodrill Stadium as its designated training facility for the forthcoming season, with separate changing facilities and storage, in a Bio-Safe environment.

Both clubs have agreed a reciprocal arrangement, whereby, in the event of an emergency, if either East End Park or the Indodrill Stadium is out of commission next season, for any reason, then we can host each other’s first team fixtures. In addition, both clubs are currently reviewing other Covid-19 costs that they could share, which could include other local Professional football clubs in the Forth Valley.

Mike Mulraney, Alloa Chairman stated :

 We are convinced that this agreement shows that in these difficult times clubs can work together to ensure that we all not only survive, but can learn new ways to thrive even in the most difficult of circumstances, building resilience for both clubs will be only one of the very positive outcomes achieved.  We believe that this shows a positive way forward for clubs to share resource where appropriate and we thank Ross and all at Dunfermline for their positive approach and commitment to building a great outcome for both clubs”

Ross McArthur, Dunfermline Chairman stated :

We are delighted to agree this arrangement with our near neighbours, as next season will undoubtedly cause issues we have not experienced before. I am extremely grateful to Mike for working with us over the last few weeks to create something that will be of value to both clubs moving forward, in terms of meeting the JRG guidelines but also sharing costs.  I see this as a good new story of two clubs, in close proximity, working closely together for each other’s benefit. From DAFC’s perspective, it also provides us with certainty, as using a facility operated by a local authority next season could be extremely challenging on a number of fronts.”

Manager Peter Grant made his first signing of the close season, bringing in 23 year old defender Nicky Jamieson who had been with Queen’s Park last season.

Thanks to Iain Cairns for use of pictures.

Alloa Athletic FC can confirm Kevin O’Hara has today joined Dunfermline Athletic FC.

Since joining the club at the start of last season from Falkirk FC, Kevin has produced the form which has earned him plaudits which attracted attention of a number of clubs during the January transfer window.

With Kevin wanting to repay the faith manager Peter Grant had shown in him, he went on to win the Ladbrokes Championship Player of the Month for January 2020 and swept the board at the end of the season collecting Alloa Athletic Supporters Club “Player of the Year” along with the Alloa Advertiser “Player of the Year” awards.

He ended up the club’s top goalscorer for the season, scoring 14 goals in 33 appearances. The club would like to thank Kevin for his time with Alloa Athletic FC and wish him well in the future.

Alloa Athletic FC would also like to thank Dunfermline Athletic FC who have conducted themselves so diligently throughout the process at all times.

Enjoy online streaming and priority access to home games

Season ticket holders will be able to watch all Alloa Athletic home league games online at no extra cost for the 2020/21 campaign.  This is an important development in ensuring our supporters can watch matches for as long as social distancing measures are in effect.  It has also been announced that the Championship Season will begin on 17^th October with Championship clubs having voted to play each other three times rather than four.

A further agreement with broadcasters will enable matches to be available for broadcast by the club in the UK and Ireland for the first time for season 2020/21.

Full details on how to watch live streaming of the games will be made available soon.   “We are working through the details of how it will work in practice and will update supporters shortly.

Season ticket holders will also get priority access to games once social distancing measures are relaxed but will also have the additional access to online streaming should they not be able to attend games i.e. due to work or family commitments until the end of the season.

“I hope this clarity will provide further incentive to supporters to now buy their season ticket if they can.”  We thank you in advance for your continued support.

Prices

Adults £170.00 / Senior Citizens (over 65) £115.00 / Juvenile (under16 * please note no live streaming access at this time for juveniles) £40.00

Family £200.00 (Adult + 1 child (£40.00 each additional child)

How to purchase

By Phone – pay over the phone using a credit or debit card by calling Lime Tree House 01259 720444

By Post – Send in a cheque with your contact details to Lime Tree House, North Castle Street, Alloa, FK10 1E

Martin Ross, Vice-Chairman, Alloa Athletic FC

To all Season Ticket-Holders, I hope you and your families are all well and keeping safe. You may recall a few weeks ago I asked whether you wanted a refund or a credit for the four unused games from last season after the lockdown.

The SPFL have now said if Season Ticket holders do not want a refund or credit, we can reclaim the VAT on the ticket as it can be treated as a donation and thus non-vatable. Its not a lot of money, maybe £ 1,000/£ 1,200 but every little will help us to stay afloat.

The way we can do this is that unless you contact me at martin@martinross.org.uk or 07786 078484 or Robert Wilson at fcadmin@alloaathletic.co.uk before Friday 10th July, 2020, to say you want a credit / refund we can assume you do not wish a credit / refund and we can then reclaim the VAT. This does not apply to the season ticket holders who have already contacted us and let us know their preference, they can ignore this post

Hopefully we can see the season starting in October but what form it will take remains still to be seen.

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I’ve made the decision to retire. Choosing to retire was not an easy decision but I think it’s the right time for me. I’ve had a great time at the club and I’d like to thank, the Chairman and the board, managers and assistant managers – both past and present, the back room staff, the supporters and all my teammates throughout my time at Alloa Athletic.

The club would like to thank Iain for his outstanding service to the club, we are sorry to see him go but we respect his decision and wish him all the best for the future. Iain has been a model professional in his time with the club, signed by Paul Hartley at the beginning of Season 2013/14 having previously played full-time for Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, Morton and Falkirk, he has been a highly influential member of the team, and is one of the most skilful and creative players out with the Premier League. He always makes time on the ball and plays with great control and vision and can be counted on to display his ability especially at set pieces. We have been very fortunate to have him for the last seven seasons being a player which other club’s always admired which saw him included in past PFA Team’s of the year, Iain played a total of 221 competitive games for “The Wasps” scoring 36 goals which will be looked back in admiration in years to come. Thanks for the memories.