Take a minute to reflect on everything WOSFL up to now and put yourself in Eddie Hernon's shoes.

The managing director of PDM Buildbase thrust his company into a relative mainstream back in early October when signing up for a ground-breaking sponsorship of Tiers 6 and 7 within the Pyramid set-up.

Dissenters might question this strategy, coming at a time when coronavirus restrictions continue to prevent rank and file supporters from being allowed into games and have also contributed in no small way to the withdrawals of the renowned likes of Auchinleck Talbot, Pollok, Petershill and Cambuslang Rangers, but Hernon is having none of it and says PDM Buildbase are in it for the long haul and are currently in talks to further their financial backing (more of that later).

And the down-to-earth type certainly knows what he's talking about, because on top of an undeniable business acumen, he can lay claim to a somewhat illustrious footballing career at this level and has the medals to go along with memories to prove it.

East Kilbride born and bred, Eddie started out at EKYC in the town before progressing on to firstly Celtic Boys Club and then Drumchapel Amateurs where playing as a central defender under David Moyes Sr (father of the West Ham manager) saw him catch the eye of Senior scouts and he duly signed for Partick Thistle, managed by Peter Cormack.

The ex-Liverpool and Scotland great's replacement by the duo of Benny Rooney and Mike Jackson heralded a Firhill free transfer and Hernon fleetingly dropped into Under 21 ranks before joining Auchinleck Talbot in the wake of the Willie Knox-steered side retaining the Scottish Junior Cup with a replay victory over Kilbirnie Ladeside in 1987.

Eddie recalls: "The sheer intensity and will to win of the playing squad and manager himself was a real education for me and I really enjoyed my spell with Talbot even though it turned out to be all too short-lived.

"I featured in a number of end-of-season games and again at the start of the next one but I seen the writing on the wall when the Junior Cup first round draw landed us with a testing away game against Glasgow Perthshire and  Knoxy brought back Ross Findlay from injury and dropped me to the bench.

"My appearances became less and less until eventually I called it a day nearing Christmas and moved to Whitletts Vics where the former Auchinleck legends Dennis Gray and Brian Lannon were in charge.

"The end of that season saw them move to Cumnock but I came back up the road and Billy Ditchburn's persuasive tongue led to me signing n for East Kilbride Thistle where I was to stay for the next nine years."

Hernon recalls the Jags as a bit of a yo-yo team so after seasons spent alternating between promotion and relegation, he dropped down into the amateur ranks with   ambitious DHSFP, managed by ex-Larkhall Thistle midfielder and whose dressing room boasted the Junior likes of Gerry Hamilton, Brian Sheldon, Scott Ross and Geordie Reilly.

Hernon tasted immediate success and was installed as skipper of their 1998 Scottish Amateur Cup-winning side over West Kilbride, made all the more memorable by his son Danny leading out the Lanarkshire outfit as their mascot at the Hampden-staged finale.

Around this time the then 33-year-old decided to take a couple of years out of football but the 2000/2001 season saw him back at the heart of the DHSFP backline that triumphed over St Pat's Dumbarton to again lift the Amateur game's No.1 silverware prize and another endorsement of his defensive qualities came when he captained Scotland Amateurs to victory over their Northern Ireland counterparts.

Going out at the top allowed Hernon to concentrate on the growth of his thriving PDM company and the following year, 2002, brought a lucrative buy-out offer from the Grafton Group, containing a proviso that he stay on as managing director. 

A further amalgamation arrived when sister company Buildbase was brought on board in January 2019, creating fully 25 builders' merchants outlets employing a 350-strong workforce, predominantly throughout the West of Scotland.

Hernon revealed: "Our outlets are very much part of local communities and it’s always been our aim to put something back into them and this formation of the new WOSFL   provided a dream opportunity as well as marketing exposure within the very communities we value so highly.

"Our sponsorship spans three years but already PDM Buildbase are keen to extend and further develop this arrangement by engaging with clubs, players and fans on a number of fronts.

"The idea has been openly muted for our outlets to offer discounts to individuals showing they have affiliations to WOSFL clubs and by way of reciprocation, PDM Buildbase as a company hope to encourage people to go along and support their local team by offering free father and son match tickets which we will purchase through the WOSFL."

The 55-year-old, who still looks like he could pull on the boots, added: "And we have designs on providing a further financial incentive through a competition where the prizes will be building materials to help clubs with stadium plans, however talks are still at an early stage in that respect.

"From a business perspective, PDM Buildbase wanted to be involved with this WOSFL venture from the very beginning and it’s a source of great satisfaction to see how things are taking shape however from a personal viewpoint, I'm feeling excited about the prospects of clubs from these parts making their way up the Scottish footballing ladder.

"Admittedly, it remains to be seen how they fare against the best of the Lowland Leagues and  in particular my home town team East Kilbride, but  I would not be surprised if a few former Junior sides are competing at Scottish League Two level before too long."

Saturday November 28 (kick-offs 1.45pm)
WOSFL Premier Division Cumbernauld Utd v Darvel, Rossvale v Blantyre Vics, Kilwinning Rangers v Largs Thistle, Rutherglen Glencairn v Troon, Irvine Meadow v Bonnyton Thistle, Hurlford Utd v Rob Roy. 
WOSFL Conference League A Kello Rovers v Ardeer Thistle, Muirkirk v Annbank Utd, Maryhill v Glasgow University, Craigmark v St Roch's, Bellshill Athletic v Maybole, Ashfield v Renfrew.
WOSFL Conference League B Wishaw v Forth Wanderers, Carluke Rovers v Port Glasgow, Johnstone Burgh v Vale of Leven, Vale of Clyde v  St Cadoc's, Greenock v Lugar Boswell.
WOSFL Conference League C Lanark Utd v Drumchapel Utd, East Kilbride Thistle v Glasgow Perthshire, St Anthony's v Thorniewood Utd, Yoker Athletic v Newmains Utd. 
SOCCERSHOP CHALLENGE CUP. Second Round Beith v Clydebank.