AS their preparations for the new East of Scotland League season get into full swing, Lochgelly Albert have re-named their home ground, ‘Purvis Park’.

This is in recognition of the support and sponsorship given to the club over the past forty years, by local businessman, Bob Purvis.

Club chairman Jock Kinnell said this week: “Bob has been on hand helping and advising ‘The Albert’ on many occasions throughout the years, from his first business venture, Purvis Plant Hire, who also sponsor the first team kit.

“It could be said that Bob’s sponsorship of the Albert is one of, if not the longest, sponsorships in Fife, or even Scottish football.”

Bob, whose Purvis Group have just moved base to the former Andrew Antenna factory, at The Avenue, only half a mile from the Gardiner’s Park home of the Berts, is very proud to have this honour.

The Lochgelly man has been an enthusiastic backer of the local club, which only a year ago left the junior ranks to join the SFA Pyramid structure, for more than quarter of a century.

Added Jock Kinnell: “The committee at the Albert would like to express their sincere thanks and give Bob and his family our best wishes for the future”.

With Conference B of the East of Scotland League set to begin on Saturday, July 17, Purvis Park is set to host its first friendly on Wednesday June 23 when Tayport visit the Tap of the Toun.

The Berts will also play Conference X side Bathgate Thistle on Saturday June 26 in West Lothian and Scone Thistle away the following Saturday with a home friendly concluding the build up on Saturday July 10.

The Berts will be in Conference B, which includes fellow Fife sides, Burntisland Shipyard, Oakley United, Glenrothes, Newburgh and local rivals, Lochore Welfare.

Completing the 15 team division are, Edinburgh South, Hawick Royal Albert, Preston Athletic, Heriot Watt University, Luncarty, Kinnoull, Easthouses Lily, Peebles Rovers and Stirling University.

Conference A is also a 15 team set-up while Conference X consists of 11 teams.

The Premier League has 18 teams currently, which will be trimmed to 16 at the end of this season and for season 2022-23 there will be three divisions underneath the top division,