Race to find new home for 130-year-old football club

Peebles Rovers' picturesque ground falls short of league standards

A 130-year-old football club fears it could face being thrown out of the Scottish pyramid system unless it can find a new home.

Peebles Rovers have been playing fixtures at the picturesque Whitestone Park since the early 20th Century - but the ground now fails to meet criteria for clubs competing in the East of Scotland leagues.

They have explored developing their ground, moving to new parts of the Borders town and even ground-sharing with their rugby neighbours - all without success.

Peebles now face expulsion from the league unless they can find a new home over the coming months. Chairman Allan MacDonald said: "We've been reaching out for help for many years - but we're now running out of time."

Chairman Allan McDonald said time was against the Peebles club

Peebles Rovers remain the only club from the Borders to have played in the Scottish leagues.

Although their stay in the Third Division was short-lived - between 1923 and 1926 - they have also enjoyed some headline grabbing Scottish Cup ties over the decades, including a goalless draw with Hibs at Easter Road in 1923, and an infamous clash with Brechin in 1959 which required three separate replays.

Silverware has been limited, with only a handful of cups and league titles, but Peebles have remained a mainstay of Scottish non-league football since forming in the 1890s.

Mr McDonald added: "We have a fantastic history going back more than 130 years - and it would be a travesty if we were to be just kicked out of the league.

"We don't meet the required ground criteria at the moment and we have exhausted almost every avenue trying to find a solution for taking the club forward."

Celtic arrived at Whitestone Park with the Scottish Cup in 1908 to play Peebles Rovers in a pre-season friendly

To meet criteria first introduced along with the Scottish pyramid system in 2013, Rovers created dugouts in front of their historic stand, and erected temporary fencing around the ground's perimeter.

But with more stringent criteria now required - which include closer proximity of changing facilities and permanent fencing - Whitestone Park is no longer suitable.

Initial inquiries have ruled out developing the park, which is partially shared with the town's cricket team, mainly on planning grounds.

Several attempts have been made to create a new playing facility at other sites in the town, but all have fallen through.

Dave Lamb says the club is facing automatic relegation followed by expulsion

The latest proposals to ground share at the neighbouring Gytes with Peebles Rugby Club have also been met with problems and resistance.

Peebles Rovers vice-chairman Dave Lamb said: "We have had multiple promises over the years but we are no further forward.

"It's been made clear that we cannot develop Whitestone Park, and without a new ground we're facing automatic relegation at the end of this season to East of Scotland Division Three.

"If we are still here the season after that then the league say we will be removed altogether.

"We have 10 months to find a new facility or we are finished."

Peebles players show off their trophy haul during the 1960s

The Peebles Rovers team of 1953 line up ahead of the new season at Whitestone Park

Recent meetings between Peebles Rovers and league officials have not resulted in any leeway being provided over criteria timescales.

Scottish Borders Council, which is responsible for both Whitestone Park and the neighbouring Gytes, is looking to hold meetings with both the football club and league officials in the coming weeks.

Council leader Euan Jardine: "We are fully aware of the predicament Peebles Rovers find themselves in.

"We have asked the East of Scotland Football Association for a meeting so that we can come up with a solution.

"It is in all of our interests to to give Peebles Rovers a secure future."

The East of Scotland FA has been approached for comment.