Rothie reveal "ambitious plans"
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Rothie Rovers have announced “ambitious” plans to apply for Scottish Junior Football membership.
If the club passes a facilities inspection and are voted in by members at the AGM in June they would enter Division 2 of the NRJFA for the 2020/21 season.
Rothie are currently addressing facilities upgrades needed to push forward with the application to play at a higher level.
The village team sit in third place in the AAFA Premier Division this season as they battle for the league title.
Last season Kevin Beaton’s side recorded a historic Scottish Amateur Cup run where they reached the last 16 losing narrowly to eventual semi-finalists Alba Thistle.
Chairman Brian Cormack can’t believe the transformation of the club that established as an amateur side in 1985.
He said: “This is my 20th anniversary as chairman of Rothie Rovers and the club have come a long way from opening our new pitch back in 2006 to now challenging regularly over the past five seasons for trophies at the top end of Amateur Football.
“It has been an ambition of mine since the new pitch officially opened to take the club forward and now we believe the timing is right.
“The club is backed by a hard-working committee and good sponsors which is without doubt vital in challenging financial climates.
“We have a lot of hard work to do before an application is processed however we are fully focused to deliver.
“I have a close relationship with the management team and the players and I can see the desire of every one of them to be part of an exciting period for the club.”
Meanwhile, boss Kevin Beaton and his management team are excited at the potential move to junior football.
He added: “It is an exciting development for the club and hopefully we can meet the criteria to be accepted into the NDJFA for next season.
“We are under no illusions that this is a big step up both on and off the park however,
it’s a challenge the club believes we are ready for.
“Our squad has been inundated with approaches for players from clubs at a higher level and I am really pleased that the opportunity to take the club into the Juniors has presented itself.
“The lads are very much on board but also appreciate that we have a lot of hard work ahead of us.”
Rothie are on the lookout for new sponsorship and people interested in contributing to the club should contact chairman Brian Cormack on 0784 0762351 or email rothieroversafc@hotmail.com for more information.
