Scottish Football Magazine

EUROPEAN UNION COMPETITORS FOR 2nd /3rd ranking

Pop (m) Clubs FA *Players Av p/club Registered AvRPC

16.0    4856    Holland          1750000    360   1139000    235
10.3    4108    Czech Rep   1040000    253     686000    167
10.0    2748    Portugal          548000    200     133000     48
9.0    4236    Sweden       1007000    238    553000     131
8.2     2311    Austria          967000    418     596000    258
7.7    2096    Serbia              421000    201     132000      63
7.5     1806    Switzerland 571000    316     233000    129
5.4 2432 Slovakia      623000    257 429000    176
5.4     2383 Denmark       511000    214   301000    126
5.2     1260    Finland         363000    288 149000     118
4.6     3218    Norway          543000    169    352000    109
3.6         65    Lithuania          136000   2092    16000   246
2.0      340    Slovenia          117000      344       31000      91
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4.0    5828 R Ireland           422000    72     253000      43
3.0     1920   Wales                174000     91       68000     35
1.7       829   N.Ireland          92000    111       39000      47
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5.2      6727   SCOTLAND       421000 ?   62    111000     17

*Players - totals quoted by FIFA.com (inc unregistered)

Necessity, the mother of Invention... (SFA - 2010)

Although we cannot rely on a perceived difference in statistical methodology or registration in these countries, it is reasonably fair to assume that they have identified their player totals and have given the correct number of clubs.... except for SFA. With some simple calculations based on what we know abot SFA football and clubs, it is abundantly clear that SFA have `double counted` large numbers of schoolchildren in their figures. Of roughly 1850 adult mens and women`s clubs, there are roughly 45000 players... which means SFA say they`ve got 365,000 players in youth and schools levels, only 65,000 of whom are `registered. We estimate.... on the basis of what we know about kids playing youth and schools at the same time... that SFA`s figure is at least 150,000 too high... which they`ve put through, like the dismal Youth Cup and everything else, to make themselves look OK in Europe. But, that isn`t reality. When she was here, Norway`s ceo said "part of the problem in Scotland is that they have half as many players as Norway in twice as many clubs". Overall we have always estimated the average players per club in Scotland at 25... and that won`t be too far away, if ever we get reliable figures from a properly organised SFA.

Absolute proof of SFA incompetence from FIFA ....

For those with eyes wide open, evidence of Scottish football decline is just about everywhere you look. But, the final proof lies with the statistics that FIFA gathers on the World game, showing SFA firmly at the bottom of the economic football organisational tree. We compare figures for club-base and participation with our European Union competitor nations on the left, along with populations and registration. The facts are ... if you don`t have members in clubs (SFA), you don`t have much of a football system.... and you won`t have much money in your game. We estimate SFA football financial turnover at less than HALF of what it could be... which means Government are needed to prop our game up too much ... instead of putting things on a sound basis.

We`ll be adding more comparisons, but the first thing that should strike you is that there is a fair element of consistency in the `European` average players per club, and in the much lower `British Isles` (oldest association) levels. What does it mean ? Well, fewer clubs gives greater organisational efficiency, fewer costly facilities and maintenance, etc. More members per club inevitably brings in more money. In Henry McLeish`s review (part 1), he has referred to the great need, if not the reliable methodology (volunteers), for SFA to recruit another several hundred thousand players. Unfortunately, as this table shows, and FIFA stats prove, you cannot do that without a reliable, well-organised CLUB SYSTEM. If it were possible, it would have already happened at SFA`s extraordinary 6727 `outlets`... the highest in 17 comparable nations.

Scottish `pyramid` campaigners focussed on the need to reduce Scotland`s clubs to nearer 400... through the `Community Club` system ... and potential franchising. That should give an average membership around 1200 per club and the financial ability to move forward, as well as technical hierarchies which can radically change and improve coaching and delivery. On top of this, of course, you need a solid competitive `pyramid` which includes reserves in mainstream leagues. If we only have 3000 top notch players, can we afford to `sideline` more than half of them ?

Wide-access systems; in particular, the member-owned clubs of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Spain and Portugal, etc; have very high participation. What is clear, however, and re-stated forcefully through the new changes in June 2011, is that the SFA FEAR DEMOCRACY and WIDE ACCESS ... and will fight it ... with help from the `undemocratic` SNP Government.