East Kilbride YM join West of Scotland Fourth Division to set up derby with EK Thistle next term
Long-established Amateur side East Kilbride YM will make the step up to the West of Scotland Football League next season after being voted into the Fourth Division for the 2025/26 campaign.
In a huge development for the Kirktonholme side, it means the town's oldest football club - formed in 1921 - are now part of the Scottish football pyramid system and have the opportunity to climb their way into the senior ranks in the future.
The club were voted in at the West of Scotland Football League AGM this afternoon and their under-19 side will compete in the West of Scotland Development League.
The news comes just weeks after East Kilbride FC won promotion to play in the senior ranks in SPFL League Two next season.
And YM's inclusion in the West of Scotland Fourth Division next term also means they will play a derby with the town's other major side, East Kilbride Thistle, who finished seventh in that league last season.
YM won the Caledonian Premier Division - the Scottish Amateur top flight in the region - this season and also reached the final of the West Cup, so this marks a huge step up but it is one boss Graeme Robertson believes the club are ready for.
He said: "East Kilbride YM FC are delighted to announce that at this afternoon's West of Scotland Football League AGM we were voted into the WoSFL for this coming season.
"This is a culmination of a lot of hard work behind the scenes by the YM Committee which now provides a player pathway from EKYC into EKYM and the opportunity to play in a Senior Professional League which is part of the SFA Pyramid System.
"The very succesfull YM Under 19s, who were an excellent EKYC team prior to last season, will move to become the EKYM WoSFL Development team playing in a professional Development League.
"This is a crucial part of the whole project as it is the YM's intention to promote players from within the club to the Professional Senior side in the WoSFL.
"With several players in the Senior side having came through the YC Youth setup, it highlights the success of the partnership with our good friends at YC within EK United, a true Community Club.
"I would just like to thank everyone from the YM and YC who played their part in making today happen."
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