Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts and Crossgates Primrose will join the ranks of professional football after their applications to join the East of Scotland Football League were accepted last night.

The Swifts, who play at Ballast Bank, said they will field teams at senior and under-20 level for the 2018-19 season. Primrose will start their professional football journey at the same time. 

Crossgates chairman, Frazer Martin, said: "This was not a decision taken lightly but we are certain that it is one in the best interest of the club.

"The committee gave due consideration to the options available, examined the pros and cons and consulted with and sought advice from various sources.

"Enthused by what we saw as the benefits of membership of the EoSFL to a club such as ours that aspire to improve both on and off the pitch, the committee and management team unanimously voted to submit an application. 

"Subsequently, we attended meetings of the East Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) and the East of Scotland Football League.

"With the information garnered a proposal was put to the committee and management team that, if our application were ratified, Crossgates Primrose would take up the offer of membership of the EoSFL. This was unanimously agreed."  

The East of Scotland League allows a pathway into the SPFL, a journey Kelty Hearts will be one step closer to achieving if they win tomorrow. 

The winners of the East of Scotland League play the winners of the South of Scotland League for the right to get into the Lowland League.

Whoever finishes top in the Lowland League faces a play-off against the winners of the Highland League, and the victors then face a play-off against the bottom side in Scottish League Two. 

Get the better of the SPFL team over two legs and you're in the upper echelons, the top four divisions, of Scottish professional football. 

Kelty left the junior football set-up last season to pursue their SPFL dream. Fellow Fifers Crossgates and Hill of Beath Hawthorn will also leave the juniors and join the East of Scotland League after their applications were accepted last night.  

There will be more on this story in next week's Dunfermline Press.