During my recent absence I confess to having lost a bit of touch with football results;  some of the teams I follow are not always easy to track down but out of a sense of loyalty to their respective causes I have made a surprising discovery.   It is that the likes of Fort William and Stoke Gabriel (and Torbay Police) FC may now have a serious rival to their claims as the ultimate perennial strugglers, plucky minnows, whipping boys even.

And it comes in the form of Vale of Leithen FC who currently prop up the league table for the Scottish Lowland League.  So far this season they have played 15 games, won none, drawn none and lost all 15,  They have managed to score five goals so far but have conceded no less than 96, giving them a goal difference of minus 91.  One or two of their recent defeats saw them lose 13-0 to Bonnyrigg Rose and their last game against Berwick Rangers ended in an 11-0 loss.

In contrast, Fort William whilst propping up the Highland League table have played 12 games, won none, drawn one and lost 11.  Their one league point came in an encouraging 3-3 draw away at Nairn County but they have conceded 60 goals so far, scored 16 and currently have a goal difference of minus 44. 

 At the other end of the country Stoke Gabriel are improving to the extent that the 14 games they have played so far have resulted in one win, one draw and 12 defeats but their goal difference of minus 44 mirrors that of Fort William.  Stoke Gabriel have risen to the heights of next to bottom of the South West Peninsula Premier League East Division with bottom place going to Sidmouth Town who have yet to gain any points this season.  Perhaps another rival there?

It will be interesting to see how the season pans out for these gallant crusaders in the lower reaches of the game but you have to acknowledge their fortitude, their determination and their battles to keep going against overwhelming odds.   They remind us that those same qualities  are often missing in the higher reaches of the football pyramid and in the process teams like those I have mentioned here become so much more admirable.

 I wish them well.