Newtowngrange Star FC v Bo'ness United, New Victoria Park, Newtongrange

Much confusion surrounds the use of the name 'junior' football. As opposed to the ladder system of football in place in England, the 'senior' professional grade of football in Scotland is played in the Scottish Premier League and in the Scottish Football Leagues below this. After this are the three senior non-leagues of the Scottish Highland Football League, the East of Scotland Football League and the South of Scotland Football League. Where the distinction between the two grades "senior" and "junior" come into play is basically that the two types of club do not regularly play each other in competitive games. Essentially the term "junior" is not used or based on the age of players and this causes a common misunderstanding out with the grade.

Despite the lesser media coverage that the juniors get, many of the club sides are fairly popular in Scottish and this has resulted in many clubs having a fan base far exceeding many league clubs. Some of the bigger games between clubs such as the local derbies between Arthurlie and Pollok, and Cumnock Juniors and Auchinleck Talbot can attract attendances up to 5,000. Historically, crowds were far bigger in the past when many players would transfer between the junior leagues at prominent professional sides. A record 76,000 attended the Junior Cup Final in 1951. Although mocked by many followers of the professional game and players within the professional game a great many consider that the best junior clubs would be very able to compete at least at the third-division level of the Scottish Football League. This was shown to be the case with the run in the Scottish Cup by Linlithgow Rose in 2008 when they eventually lost out to the runners up Queen of the South. In the current seasons Scottish Cup Irvine Meadow played well against Hibernian before losing.

Newtongrange Star are are a Scottish junior football club based in the village of Newtongrange, Midlothian just outside Edinburgh. Their home ground is New Victoria Park a modern, secluded ground with good facilities to house up to 3000 fans. Newtongrange is a former mining village, known in local dialect as more often that not 'Nitten' with the team known as 'Star'. Newtongrange became Scotland's largest mining village in the 1890s, with the sinking of the Lady Victoria Colliery and a shaft over 1600 feet deep. This closed in 1981 but today houses the Scottish Mining Museum.

There opponents in this league game were Bo'ness United F.C. from the Stirlingshire town of Bo'ness. At the time of the game both sides occupied the top two places within the league format. Bo'ness are nicknamed the B.U.'s and the club dates back to 1945. Playing in blue they attract a healthy following amongst Rangers fans based in the town, with many Rangers fans from the town attending the games of the team. Bo'ness United's main rivals are though near neighbours Linlithgow Rose, possibly one of the best Junior teams in Scotland in recent years.

It was a bright sunny day in Edinburgh and as we headed off via public transport to Midlothian the sun did not seem to be disappearing. The game was held at New Victoria Park in the village; a secluded ground with an excellent pitch that was surrounded by forestation and modern stadium infrastructure. As you clin through the two turnstiles noticeable was the amount of fans in attendance, and the colour and noise in the ground with many supporters in blue and white shouting from start to finish. Compared to other levels of semi-professional football the levels of aggression emanating from the stands to the pitch and players is noticeable.

On the pitch the game was certainly competitive with tackles flying all around at will. By the 80th minute Bo'ness were down to 9 men but it did not stop them fighting back from 3-1 down to claim a 3-3 draw with Newtongrange Star.

What was evident was the levels of aggression between certain fans of the two competing clubs and the referee. At the end of the game the referee was abused incessantly by Bo'ness fans for the sending off's and when they were finished with him it looked as if they wanted a fight with opposing fans. Jostling took place between supporters as beers consumed at the nearby social club and emotions of the game took hold.

Scottish Junior football offers something clearly different to professional league football. Inside the ground the price of foods and snacks is much cheaper than league grounds whilst the stadiums are often cleaner and brighter than many league clubs. With clubs charging £5 on average for supporters to attend the ability to generate income and invest it in the team, players expenses and the ground is available.

For fans the Junior football match offers a match-day experience that you sometimes just cannot find at league football in Scotland. The rivalry can be healthy between teams and this offers the opportunity for atmosphere, if sometimes to heated, to be generated amongst fans. Inside the ground meanwhile there is often no segregation between supporters, no aggressive stewarding and the absence of police rules and regulations.  Being part of the SFL can mean adherance to a range of health and safety initiatives that are restricting and bureaucratic.  Perhaps the Junior leagues is more healthy going alone?

With the league format in England evidently well organised into a ladder type system from regional non-leagues to the actual recognised league format, its a shame that similar structures are not in place in Scotland. Many of the clubs clearly have good ground facilities and supporter bases but weather it suits these clubs being part of a junior rather than a senior system is another argument.