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Scottish Football Association

{{Short description|Governing body of football in Scotland}}

{{distinguish|Scottish Football Union}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2011}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox football association

| Logo = Scottish Football Association Logo.svg

| Badge_size = 200

| Founded = {{Start date and age|1873|03|13|df=y}}

| Headquarters = Hampden Park, Glasgow, G42 9AY

| FIFA affiliation = {{plainlist|

  • 1910–1920
  • 1924–1928
  • 1946–present }}

| Region = UEFA

| Region affiliation = 1954

| Subregion = IFAB

| Subregion affiliation = 1886

| President = Mike Mulraney

| Vice-President = Les Gray

| Website = {{URL|https://www.scottishfa.co.uk}}

}}

The Scottish Football Association ({{langx|gd|Comann Ball-coise na h-Alba}}; also known as the Scottish FA and the SFA) 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 is a member of both UEFA and FIFA and holds a permanent seat on the International Football Association Board (IFAB) which is responsible for the Laws of the Game. It is based at Hampden Park in Glasgow.{{cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-fa/organisation/contact-us/|title=Contact Us – Scottish Football Association – Scottish FA|website=scottishfa.co.uk|access-date=27 April 2018|archive-date=28 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428093804/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-fa/organisation/contact-us/|url-status=live}} 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.

History

=Formation=

File:Scottish Football Association.svg

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, 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:{{blockquote|The clubs here represented form themselves into an association for the promotion of football according to the rules of The Football Association and that the clubs connected with this association subscribe for a challenge cup to be played for annually, the committee to propose the laws of the competition.{{cite web | title=Brief History of the Scottish Football Association | url= http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?curpageid=183 | publisher=Scottish Football Association | access-date=6 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080701213600/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?curpageid=183 |archive-date=1 July 2008}}}}

=Founding members=

The following eight football clubs founded the Scottish Football Association:

class="wikitable"

|+

!Club Name

!Location

Queen's Park

|Glasgow

Clydesdale

|Glasgow

Vale of Leven

|Alexandria

Dumbreck

|Glasgow

Third Lanark

|Glasgow

Eastern

|Glasgow

Granville

|Glasgow

Kilmarnock

|Kilmarnock

=Chief Executive/Secretary=

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 football team managers.{{cite web | title=New SFA chief ready to take flak | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/6705941.stm | publisher=BBC Sport | access-date=6 June 2007 | date=1 June 2007 | archive-date=13 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913100807/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/6705941.stm | url-status=live }}

  • Archibald Rae (1873–1874)
  • J.C. Mackay (1874–1875)
  • William Dick (1875–1880)
  • James Fleming (1880–1882)
  • Robert Livingstone (1882)
  • John McDowall (1882–1928)
  • Sir George Graham (1928–1957)
  • Willie Allan (1957–1977)
  • Ernie Walker CBE (1977–1990)
  • Jim Farry (1990–1999)
  • David Taylor (1999–2007)
  • Gordon Smith (2007–2010){{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8630722.stm |title=SFA chief executive Gordon Smith steps down from role |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 April 2010 |access-date=19 April 2010 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028141516/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/8630722.stm |url-status=live }}
  • Stewart Regan (2010–2018){{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8863484.stm|title=Regan named new Scottish FA chief executive|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 July 2010|access-date=30 October 2010|archive-date=28 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028141517/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/8863484.stm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42910099|title=Scotland: Stewart Regan steps down as SFA chief executive|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 February 2018|access-date=1 February 2018|archive-date=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201172031/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42910099|url-status=live}}
  • Ian Maxwell (2018–present){{cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/ian-maxwell-appointed-as-chief-executive/?rid=13929|title=Ian Maxwell appointed as Chief Executive|publisher=Scottish Football Association|date=23 April 2018|access-date=23 April 2018|archive-date=24 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424091002/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/ian-maxwell-appointed-as-chief-executive/?rid=13929|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/44040948 |title=Scottish FA & SPFL merger not likely, says Andrew McKinlay |first=Brian |last=McLauchlin |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2018 |access-date=8 May 2018 |archive-date=25 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025111440/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/44040948 |url-status=live }}

Association overview

=National teams=

{{main|Scotland national football team}}

As well as the Scotland national football team, the Scottish Football Association is also currently responsible for organising the Scotland national football B team, as well as men's national teams at under-21, under-19, under-18 and under-17 levels. There was also a semi-professional team, but this was disbanded in 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/sfa-pulls-the-plug-on-scots-semi-pro-team-1-1145824 |title=SFA pulls the plug on Scots semi-pro team |date=7 November 2008 |access-date=18 November 2013 |work=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Publishing |archive-date=2 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702201844/https://www.scotsman.com/sport/sfa-pulls-the-plug-on-scots-semi-pro-team-1-1145824 |url-status=live }} In women's football, there is the full Scotland women's national football team, under-19 and under-17 teams. In Futsal, there is a full national side.

=Club competitions=

The Scottish Football Association organises the Scottish Cup and the Scottish Youth Cup. Although the SFA are not involved in the day-to-day operation of the Scottish Professional Football League or other league competitions, they do appoint referees to officiate the games in these leagues, as well as dealing with player registrations and disciplinary issues.

=Club licensing=

All SFA member clubs are assessed annually in four areas (ground, first team, youth team, and governance) and, if appropriate, awarded a licence at platinum, gold, silver, bronze or entry level. {{as of|2025|06|post=,}}{{cite web |date=28 June 2023 |title=Licensed Clubs – June 2025 |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/13218/180625-club-licensing-awards.pdf |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=Scottish FA}} only Celtic are currently holders of a platinum-level licence, while four others (Hibernian, Rangers, St Johnstone, and St Mirren) hold gold-level licences. All clubs in the Scottish Professional Football League are required to be licensed at bronze level, Highland Football League, and Lowland Football League are required to be licensed at entry level or above.

=Performance Schools=

The Scottish Football Association established a number of performance schools around Scotland in 2012 with the aim of developing footballing talent in young people and at grassroots level. The programme is for under-12 players, and will provide them with 800 hours of additional coaching.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/|title=Scottish FA JD Performance Schools | Performance | Scottish FA|website=scottishfa.co.uk|access-date=17 June 2023|archive-date=3 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403220848/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/|url-status=live}} {{As of|June 2023}}, seven performance schools exist:

  • Hazlehead Academy – Aberdeen (Head Coach: Stuart Glennie){{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/hazlehead-academy-aberdeen/|title=Hazlehead Academy | Performance Schools | Scottish FA|website=scottishfa.co.uk|access-date=17 June 2023|archive-date=17 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617192228/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/hazlehead-academy-aberdeen/|url-status=live}}
  • St John's Roman Catholic High School – Dundee (Head Coach: Iain Jenkins){{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/st-johns-high-school-dundee/|title=St John's High School | Performance Schools | Scottish FA|website=scottishfa.co.uk|access-date=17 June 2023|archive-date=7 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807033351/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/st-johns-high-school-dundee/|url-status=live}}
  • Broughton High School – Edinburgh (Head Coach: Keith Wright){{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/broughton-high-school-edinburgh/|title=Broughton High School | Performance Schools | Scottish FA|website=scottishfa.co.uk|access-date=17 June 2023|archive-date=23 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423041758/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/broughton-high-school-edinburgh/|url-status=live}}
  • Graeme High School – Falkirk (Head Coach: Ian Ross){{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/graeme-high-school-falkirk/|title=Graeme High School | Performance Schools | Scottish FA|website=scottishfa.co.uk|access-date=17 June 2023|archive-date=15 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215073511/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/graeme-high-school-falkirk/|url-status=live}}
  • Holyrood Secondary School – Glasgow (Head Coach: Joe McBride){{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/holyrood-secondary-glasgow/|title=Holyrood Secondary | Performance Schools | Scottish FA|website=scottishfa.co.uk|access-date=17 June 2023|archive-date=17 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617192238/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/holyrood-secondary-glasgow/|url-status=live}}
  • Grange Academy – Kilmarnock (Head Coach: James Grady){{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/grange-academy-kilmarnock/|title=Grange Academy | Performance Schools | Scottish FA|website=scottishfa.co.uk|access-date=17 June 2023|archive-date=17 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617190546/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/grange-academy-kilmarnock/|url-status=live}}
  • Braidhurst High School – Motherwell (Head Coach: Stephen Clarke){{Cite web|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/braidhurst-high-school-motherwell/|title=Braidhurst High School | Performance Schools | Scottish FA|website=scottishfa.co.uk|access-date=17 June 2023|archive-date=17 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617192250/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/jd-performance-schools/braidhurst-high-school-motherwell/|url-status=live}}

Member clubs

{{as of|2025|06|post=,}} 125 clubs are full members of the Scottish Football Association, comprising:

Affiliated associations

=National associations=

The Scottish Football Association has affiliated to it the following seven national associations:{{Cite web|title=The Scottish Football Association Handbook 2021/2022|url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/8291/sfa_handbook-2021-22_digital.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231155242/https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/8291/sfa_handbook-2021-22_digital.pdf|archive-date=31 December 2021}}

=Local associations=

There are 10 local associations affiliated and the competitions they manage are also listed below:

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

= Recognised leagues =

The following six leagues with their affiliated leagues and cups are recognised by The Scottish Football Association:

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{commons category}}

  • {{Official website|https://www.scottishfa.co.uk}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20190326001202/https://www.fifa.com/associations/association/SCO/ FIFA profile] (archived 26 March 2019)
  • [https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/sco/ UEFA profile]

{{Scottish Football Association}}

{{Scotland national football team}}

{{Football in Scotland}}

{{Women's Football in Scotland}}

{{Football in the United Kingdom}}

{{British Football Associations}}

{{UEFA associations}}

{{Sports governing bodies of Scotland}}

{{Sports governing bodies of the United Kingdom}}

{{Authority control}}

1

Scotland

Category:Sports organizations established in 1873

Category:1873 establishments in Scotland

Category:Organisations based in Glasgow