Scottish Football Association
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Football Association (also known as the SFA and The Scottish FA) is the governing body
of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland
. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations. It was formed in 1873, making it the second oldest national football association in the world. It is not to be confused with the "Scottish Football Union
", which is the name that the SRU was known by until the 1920s.
The Scottish Football Association sits on the International Football Association Board
which is responsible for the laws of the game. The SFA is also a member of FIFA
and founder member of UEFA
. It is based at Hampden Park
in Glasgow. In addition, the Scottish Football Museum
is located there.
The Scottish Football Association is responsible for the operation of the Scotland national football team
, the annual Scottish Cup
and several other duties important to the functioning of the game in Scotland.
Queen's Park
, a Glasgow club founded in 1867, took the lead, and following an advertisement in a Glasgow newspaper in 1873, representatives from seven clubs – Queen's Park, Clydesdale
, Vale of Leven
, Dumbreck
, Third Lanark
, Eastern
and Granville
– attended a meeting on 13 March 1873. Furthermore, Kilmarnock
sent a letter stating their willingness to join.
That day, these eight clubs formed the Scottish Football Association, and resolved that:
The chief executive of the Scottish Football Association oversees the development of football in Scotland and the administration of disciplinary matters, and is also responsible for the general organisation of the national side. One of the most prominent roles of the chief executive is to hire and dismiss Scotland national team managers.
There have been eight chief executives since 1882:
, the Scottish Football Association is also currently responsible for organising the Scotland B national football team
, as well as men's national teams at under-21
, under-19
, under-18 and under-17
levels. There is also a semi-professional team. In women's football, there is the full Scotland women's national football team
and an under-19 team.
and the Scottish Youth Cup
. Although the SFA are not involved in the day-to-day operation of the Scottish Premier League
or the Scottish Football League
, they do appoint referee
s to officiate the games in these leagues.
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland
Football in Scotland
Association football is the national sport in Scotland and highly popular throughout the country. There is a long tradition of "football" games in Orkney, Lewis and southern Scotland, especially the Scottish Borders, although many of these include carrying the ball and passing by hand, and despite...
. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations. It was formed in 1873, making it the second oldest national football association in the world. It is not to be confused with the "Scottish Football Union
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
", which is the name that the SRU was known by until the 1920s.
The Scottish Football Association sits on the International Football Association Board
International Football Association Board
The International Football Association Board is the body that determines the Laws of the Game of association football.-Operations:...
which is responsible for the laws of the game. The SFA is also a member of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
and founder member of UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
. It is based at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
in Glasgow. In addition, the Scottish Football Museum
Scottish Football Museum
The Scottish Football Museum is the Scottish Football Association's National Museum of football, located in Hampden Park in Glasgow.-The Museum:...
is located there.
The Scottish Football Association is responsible for the operation of the Scotland national football team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, the annual Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
and several other duties important to the functioning of the game in Scotland.
History
Following the formation of Scotland’s earliest football clubs in the 1860s, football experienced a rapid growth but there was no formal structure, and matches were often arranged in a haphazard and irregular fashion.Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
, a Glasgow club founded in 1867, took the lead, and following an advertisement in a Glasgow newspaper in 1873, representatives from seven clubs – Queen's Park, Clydesdale
Clydesdale F.C.
Clydesdale F.C. were a nineteenth-century Glasgow-based soccer club, who were attached to Clydesdale Cricket Club during the 1870s. In 1873, Clydesdale was one of the teams to found the Scottish Football Association....
, Vale of Leven
Vale of Leven F.C.
Vale of Leven Football Club are an association club based in the town of Alexandria, Scotland, in the Vale of Leven area of West Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed the Vale and formed in 1939, they play at Millburn Park...
, Dumbreck
Dumbreck F.C.
Dumbreck Football Club were a 19th-century football club based in Glasgow that were one of the original 16 teams to participate in the inaugural season of the Scottish Cup. They were one of the eight founder members of the Scottish Football Association....
, Third Lanark
Third Lanark A.C.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was a football club that originally existed between 1872 and 1967, 95 years in existence, based in Glasgow, Scotland. Third Lanark were known as Thirds, the Warriors, the Redcoats and the Hi Hi's...
, Eastern
Eastern F.C.
Eastern Football Club was a 19th-century football club based in Glasgow that was one of the original 16 teams to participate in the inaugural season of the Scottish Cup....
and Granville
Granville F.C.
Granville Football Club were a 19th-century football club based in Glasgow that were one of the original 16 teams to participate in the inaugural season of the Scottish Cup....
– attended a meeting on 13 March 1873. Furthermore, Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
sent a letter stating their willingness to join.
That day, these eight clubs formed the Scottish Football Association, and resolved that:
Chief executive
There have been eight chief executives since 1882:
- John McDowall (1882–1928)
- George Graham (1928–1957)
- Willie Allan (1957–1977)
- Ernie Walker (1977–1990)
- Jim FarryJim FarryJames "Jim" Farry served as chief executive of the Scottish Football Association from 1990 to 1999. Farry was forced to leave that post due to a dispute with Celtic over the registration of Portuguese player Jorge Cadete....
(1990–1999) - David TaylorDavid Taylor (Scottish football)David Taylor is the joint General Secretary of the UEFA.Taylor was appointed to this role on June 1, 2007 after the UEFA extraordinary congress in Zurich on May 29, 2007 voted to replace the role of Chief Executive with that of General Secretary...
(1999–2007) - Gordon Smith (2007–2010)
- Stewart ReganStewart ReganStewart Regan is the current Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association. He was appointed to the position on 28 July 2010, replacing Gordon Smith....
(2010–present)
National teams
As well as the Scotland national football teamScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, the Scottish Football Association is also currently responsible for organising the Scotland B national football team
Scotland B national football team
The Scotland B national football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is a secondary football team of Scotland, run occasionally as support for the Scotland national football team as a second string side to the first team....
, as well as men's national teams at under-21
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
, under-19
Scotland national under-19 football team
The Scotland national under-19 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national football team for players of 19 years of age or under at the start of a European Under-19 Football Championship campaign....
, under-18 and under-17
Scotland national under-17 football team
The Scotland national under-17 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 17 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team. The team represents Scotland in international Under 17 competitions such as the...
levels. There is also a semi-professional team. In women's football, there is the full Scotland women's national football team
Scotland women's national football team
The Scotland women's national football team represents Scotland in international women's football. They have yet to qualify for the final stages of the World Cup or European Championships and are currently ranked 23rd in the world and 14th in Europe....
and an under-19 team.
Scottish FA regions
Scottish FA six regions.- Scottish FA West Region
- Scottish FA South West Region
- Scottish FA North Region
- Scottish FA South East Region
- Scottish FA Central Region
- Scottish FA East Region
Club competitions
The Scottish Football Association organises the Scottish CupScottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
and the Scottish Youth Cup
Scottish Youth Cup
The Scottish Youth Cup is an annual Scottish football competition run by the Scottish Football Association for under-19 teams...
. Although the SFA are not involved in the day-to-day operation of the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
or the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
, they do appoint referee
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
s to officiate the games in these leagues.
National associations
The Scottish Football Association has affiliated to it the following six national associations:- Scottish Amateur Football AssociationScottish Amateur Football AssociationThe Scottish Amateur Football Association is the organising body for amateur football across Scotland. An affiliate of the Scottish Football Association, the SAFA has in turn 50 regional associations affiliated to it and some 67 different league competitions organised by these associations...
- Scottish Junior Football AssociationScottish Junior Football AssociationThe Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
- Scottish Schools Football Association
- Scottish Youth Football Association
- Scottish Welfare Football Association
- Scottish Women's Football AssociationScottish Women's Football AssociationThe Scottish Women’s Football Association was started in 1972, when four teams met and decided to form an Association.This association consists of:*A senior league - including one national league, and divisional leagues....
Local associations
The following nine local associations are affiliated:- Aberdeenshire and District Football Association
- East of Scotland Football Association
- Fife Football Association
- Forfarshire Football Association
- Glasgow Football Association
- North of Scotland Football Association
- Southern Counties Football Association
- Stirlingshire Football Association
- West of Scotland Football Association
External links
- Scottish Football Association
- Scottish Football Museum
- Scotland at FIFA site
- Scotland at UEFA site