SEASON 2011-12 bounds (more of a stroll actually) into action on Friday night with the now regular pre-season warm up/injury threatening/burger scoffing session at Old Anniesland.
The usual suspects, Hawks, Ayr, West, GHA and others will play a series of 15-a-side 15 minutes each way matches kicking off at 6pm (writes RON EVANS).
Hang on – the thought occurs that a 15 or 20 minute game at 15-a-side could be something which could catch on.
Let's face it, there has been much angst and navel gazing recently about player burn-out because of too many games being played but why not make the games shorter and come up with something like cricket’s 20:20.
Perhaps the player management/programme development/performance focussed gurus have been starting from the wrong end. Instead of fewer games, let's have more matches only shorter.
That way, if it was raining, spectators would have only 45 minutes of getting soaked if there was no cover (what a boon at every Ayrshire club except Ayr and Kilmarnock), the bar would have about an hour more to do the trade which keeps the clubs in business and the players wouldn't be so tired.
The only downside I can really foresee is that we would all have to spend about another hour more listening to Jonathon Davies whinging in the studio during Six Nations matches!
Anyway back to what started all this nonsense. Ayr will pitch up at Old Anniesland with a useful looking squad which, as assistant coach Peter Laverie pointed out, 'will not be a full strength side but will give the boys some serious contact work.'
First action at Millbrae will be against Hillhead Jordanhill on August 6 and by the time Whitecraigs arrive on August 13, the side should be taking some sort of shape.
The following week, on Friday 19, Ayr travel to take on English Championship newcomers London Scottish who give pride of place to their clash with the current Scottish Cup holders on their website. It would appear that it is being built up into a big event at Scottish.
It’s exactly the sort of test Ayr need going into the opener the following week at Millbrae against newly promoted Edinburgh Accies.
News this week of how the RBS Cup is going to be organised and, as was agreed at the SRU AGM, each district would set up its own format for qualifying for the semi-finals in that each district winner would go through to the semis.
The Borders, as is their won’t, have set up a convoluted league/pool, system, Edinburgh and Caledonia have done it on a in a less complex format and the whole idea of the restructuring is to cut the clubs travel costs, shorten the season, create a series of derbies and in doing so, 'revive interest in the cup' and swell crowds.
When I see the phrase 'revive interesting the cup' written, I can be pretty certain that it is not being penned by someone who has much connection with the Greenyards, Millbrae or Goldenacre clubs who have dominated the competition over the past two seasons and that 'revival of interest' doesn't really apply to Melrose, Ayr or Heriot’s.
What does apply to Ayr, however, is the format of the cup in the Glasgow District and since there are 12sides currently in the three Premier Divisions, it was decided that there would be a Glasgow Cup structure played on a knockout basis and it will look like this.
On December 10, Ardrossan v Hawks, Greenock Wanderers v Whitecraigs, Cartha QP?V Hillhead Jordanhill and GHA V Dumfries in round one.
Ayr, West, Hamilton and Dalziel all have byes into the next round but, because of their British and Irish Cup commitments, Ayr will play their quarter final against West on December 3 at Burnbrae and in the quarter-finals on December 17, Dalziel will host the winners of GHA and Dumfries.
Semi-finals are on January 7 with the winners of West v Ayr away to whoever emerges from Dalziel/GHA/Dumfries group. The other semi will see the winner from Ardrossan/Hawks/ Cartha/Hillhead Jordanhill with a home tie against the top side from Greenock/Whitecraigs/Hamilton. The Glasgow Cup Final will be on February 26 and the winner will then go through to the semi-finals of the RBS Cup.
No player news this week from Millbrae but I did see a former Ayr player looking very sharp at training after a spell abroad and hopefully details of his signings and further updates will be available next week.

This article was posted on 28-Jul-2011, 13:39 by Hugh Barrow.