11th May, 2009
Big match fuelled domestic abuse
11th May, 2009
Recognition for Scottish Footballing Greats
11th May, 2009
Scottish Womens and Girls Football
11th May, 2009
Promoting Media Coverage of Womens Sport
11th May, 2009
Preventing Domestic Abuse and Violence against Women
11th May, 2009
Scotland jet out for Cyprus Cup bid
11th May, 2009
Women Referees in Scottish Football
11th May, 2009
The Womens Game - an exhibition
11th May, 2009
Scottish Womens Football - History and current state of play
11th May, 2009
FFA backs Life Matters campaign
11th May, 2009
Domestic violence soared on the night that Scotland lost to Italy in the Euro 2008 championship qualifier, new figures show.Big match fuelled domestic abuse
And an MSP has said the increase was largely fuelled by drink.
[more]
Sandra White, SNP MSP for Glasgow region, quoted Strathclyde Police figures showing that between April and December last year, there were an average of 92 domestic abuse cases reported to police each Saturday. However, on Saturday, November 17 – the day Scotland's Euro 2008 hopes were dashed – a total of 126 domestic abuse incidents were reported.
This compared with 89 the previous Saturday and 90 the following Saturday.
Nearly two-thirds – 64% – of the incidents on the day of the game were alcohol-related, on a day when unofficial reports suggested five million pints were consumed.
White said: "This was a football match heralded and promoted as the biggest football feast of the century, and one the whole of Scotland looked forward to. Sadly, for many, these figures clearly show that for them there was nothing to cheer about.
"With pubs showing alcohol sales during this period higher than Christmas and kick-off time at 5pm, there is no doubt that the binge-drinking culture of Scotland was evident.
"This cannot and should not be tolerated in any decent society, and it must be tackled."
Source: Scotland on Sunday, February 10, 2008
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
11th May, 2009
Recognition for Scottish Footballing Greats
Here we take a look at three of this countries footballing greats, who in the last year have finally be given the recognition that their remarkable achievements deserve.
[more]
Rose Reilly - First Woman Inductee to Scottish FA Hall of Fame
Perhaps the most gifted Scottish female player ever. Aged seven, Reilly caught the attention of a Celtic scout who admitted he was "interested in the wee No7 guy" only to be told it was a girl.
A trailblazer for women’s football, Reilly started her sporting career in Scotland – at 16 she was chosen to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games pentathlon. However she decided to move on from the athletics track and concentrate on her skills on the football field, moving to mainland Europe to further her career. Her subsequent list of achievements is incredible considering the obstacles faced by female footballers in the early ‘70s. At 17 Reilly had a trial for Rheims in France and by the age of 18 she was playing for AC Milan. She was voted best player in the victorious Italian World Cup team that played China in the final in 1983.
- Won eight Serie A league titles
- Won four Italian Cups
- Scored 45 goals in one season
- Women’s World Cup Winner 1983
- Capped 13 times for Italy as captain
- Won the Golden Boot in 1983
SFA chief executive Gordon Smith pays tribute to her career and stresses her importance for the promotion of women's football.
"Rose Reilly is the first woman to be inducted and I think that's marvellous because we are trying to promote women's football in Scotland," he said. "We are trying to bring it up to the level of some of the other nations. We are getting more participation from girls at school level and youth level and the women's team is improving all the time.
"Rose Reilly was one of the great ambassadors of our game at one time. Even before the top male players were going to play abroad, she was in Italy as a professional player and achieved great things."
Pauline Hamill
In 2007, Hamill became the most-capped Scottish player of all time, beating the record previously held by Kenny Daglish.
Princess Pauline: the new King Kenny
Source: The Herald October 27 2007
Pauline Hamill has been in her element these last few days, eating, breathing and sleeping football, and indulging in thoughts of her past, present and future.
This afternoon, when she lines up for Scotland, who tackle Slovakia in a European Championship qualifier match in Vienna, Bratislava, the 35 year-old forward will create a little piece of history by gaining her 103rd cap, thus overtaking Kenny Dalglish's tally of appearances in the blue jersey.
As she admits, it has been an arduous ascent from the foothills of Coltness Ladies in Wishaw to the summit of achievement of becoming her country's record-breaking internationalist, but Hamill is feisty company, unashamedly proud of the efforts which she has channelled into the sport, both on and off the pitch. If the likes of Mike Newell, the self-proclaimed male chauvinist, choose to denigrate the soccer sorority, then that's their problem.
In her day job, Hamill works as the girls' football development officer at Falkirk's Westfield Stadium and it is a measure of the surge in popularity in women's football that, when she arrived in the post three years ago, there was virtually nobody playing the game.
"Now we have about 250 girls turning out every week," she said. "We have also created an academy structure for the most talented youngsters, where they learn about strength and conditioning, diet and nutrition all the things the boys are taught, and our goal is basically focused on telling any girl who wants to pursue a career in football: Here is your pathway from school age on to the senior circuit'.
"Hamill's own development from promising primary pupil to the Scotland ranks was the consequence of her own determination, tackling the boys in the badlands of Lanarkshire, dressed in her replica Scotland strip.
"Back then, there was no kind of representative ladder for people like me. If we impressed for our clubs Hamill, once of Doncaster Belles, is now on Hibs' books, the word would eventually get around that we were worth a call-up to the international squad, which is how I gained my first cap in 1992 a 1-0 defeat against England, but it was a huge learning curve. I never imagined when I was starting out that I would be on the verge of passing the national cap record
"Nowadays, there are under-15, under-17 and under-19 Scotland teams, the SWFA holds regular training camps and we have established close links with the SFA. The whole structure reflects the increasing professionalism which means that we should be starting to qualify for major tournaments. I have always been pretty hard-headed and I hate losing."
The next week will be pivotal to Scotland's European Championship prospects. Thus far, they have just one point from two matches, having drawn with Portugal and lost away to Ukraine - "a hard one to take, given the chances we created," says Hamill - but, if they can manage a victory over the Slovaks and repeat that against the Danes at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday evening, they will have enhanced their aspirations significantly.
The days have long gone - if they ever existed in Hamill's sphere - when respectability was deemed sufficient and certainly, casting one's eye down the team sheet, which includes such stalwart characters as Julie Fleeting, who will attain her century of caps in Perth, it is obvious that Anna Signeul's outfit boast the experience, ambition, and collective will to tap into the current feelgood factor permeating Scottish football.
"The guys have done a terrific job in 2007 and it would be tremendous to follow their exploits with a couple of wins in the next five days," says Hamill, who boldly informed her father that she would play for her country when she was seven and who believes that all her subsequent achievements are as much due to her parents' supportiveness as her own enthusiasm.
"I never imagined when I was starting out that I would be on the verge of passing the national cap record set by such a great player as Kenny Dalglish, but the sport has undergone a massive transformation in the past decade. We have to realise that the rest of the world is improving as well, so this is a very exciting time, but it is also one where we have to turn potential into victories and points."
Hamill may be approaching 36, but there is no sign of her relinquishing her competitive fire. On the contrary, working with the girls at Falkirk is keeping her young and dreaming of glorious feats in store. When she began her Scotland shift, it would have been unthinkable that Hampden would stage an exhibition about women's football, or that the chief executive of the SFA Gordon Smith would be making a presentation to Fleeting next week. Yet barriers are being dismantled and prejudices exorcised.
"You have to change people's perceptions and you will always get a few negative comments, but I think that most of the men have grown to appreciate that we love football and all we are asking is for the opportunity to drive the sport forward," says Hamill. She views the momentous occasion in 1998, when Scotland required a 17-0 success - and did the needful - against Lithuania to move up from Class B status and into the globe's elite, as a watershed occasion.
"We have made a lot of progress since then, and we are starting to reap the rewards of years of missionary work. When I look into the eyes of some of the youngsters at Westfield, I recognise the expression - once, that was me, and I will still be really excited when I am singing the anthem on Saturday."
She has neither accumulated lavish wealth from her footballing forays, nor enjoyed any of the accoutrements of celebrity which have routinely been handed to Dalglish. But her Scotland caps are like precious stones to Hamill.
Call them the Pearls of Pauline.
Julie Fleeting
Played for Ayr United, then professionally for San Diego Spirit in California (the first Scot to play in America's professional women's league), then Ross County Ladies, and now Arsenal Ladies, (where she has recently won the European Cup), combined with a century of caps for Scotland, of whom she is captain.
100 goals, 100 games - Fleeting's phenomenal
Source: Scotsman, October 2007
Managing to collect your 100th international goal before reaching your 100th cap is an achievement which sets you out from the crowd, but then Julie Fleeting has always been different from the moment she started out playing for her local boys' team in Ayrshire. She claimed this cherished strike on Saturday against Slovakia but does not have long to wait for her cap total to catch up.
Against Denmark at McDiarmid Park tomorrow night, in another European Championship qualifier, she makes her 100th international appearance, and still her remarkable career is far from over.
Fleeting, who turned 27 earlier this month, has no imminent plans to retire although she is considering bowing to her maternal instincts at some point. Newly married, she is asked the question constantly and Fleeting recognises that a family is something she desires.
Future bed-time stories will have to include a few golden weeks in 2007, when Fleeting picked up her 100th goal, her 100th cap and a special award to commemorate the twin achievement from Gordon Smith, chief executive of the Scottish Football Association.
This is scheduled to happen prior to the men's vital European Championship qualifier with Italy later this month, in front of a wild, expectant gathering. It is a setting this true heroine of Scottish football deserves, although, typically for someone so modest, she yesterday fretted about being able to snaffle up a ticket for the big match.
Before then she has her own vital qualifying match to deal with, against Denmark tomorrow. Her milestone goal on Saturday helped Scotland to a 3-0 win over Slovakia, a victory which keeps the side in the hunt for the finals in Finland in 2009.
Fleeting noted that her strike was set-up by Kim Little, a 17-year-old who seems likely to inherit her status as the leading Scottish player.
But whether she scales the same heights as Fleeting on a global scale remains to be seen, with the Ayrshire PE teacher having been voted most valuable player in America during her time with San Diego Spirit. Fleeting also won the European Cup with Arsenal Ladies, her current club, last season.
Her latest triumph has come with a measure of relief. Not one for lingering on personal exploits she left it to her brother, Barry, to keep her informed of her statistical progress in a Scotland shirt.
"I was very aware I was sitting on 99," she said. "I missed a sitter just before I scored and was going about like a bear with a sore head. I was very crabbit, as my team-mates will tell you. It's the first time I have ever been aware of needing to score that badly.
"My brother had been winding me up about it," she continued. "He was saying that my ratio of goals to caps was slowing up a bit. Until I got into the late 90s I hadn't really thought about it.
"Over the last few years I have had more goals than caps. But as I got nearer to the 100 mark it started to even out. I was under pressure from Barry to get the 100th goal before my 100th cap. I managed to do it - just."
Given the surprising fact she did not get off the mark until her fifth cap, this feat is made more admirable. Since then, the goals have come thick and fast, including four in a 17-0 win over Lithuania when her father Jim, director of football development at the SFA, was in charge of the team. Not surprisingly she rates this as her most memorable match.
"It was the last game in the group, and we were tied on points at the top," she recalled. "Czech Republic had a plus 16 goal advantage, so we had to win 17-0. It was 16-0 after 80 minutes, and then their goalkeeper started making world-class saves. I managed to score in the 93rd minute, and that was the goal which put us through."
The possibility that Scotland might be beaten by such a margin seemed more likely when Fleeting made her debut in 1996. The financial input was almost non-existent in those days, as, too, was the support of the SFA.
Now the governing body has taken the team under its wing, and the team has gone from strength to strength under the guidance of Anna Signeul.
"My first international was against Wales at Somerset Park," Fleeting recalled. "We got beaten and I didn't score, so it wasn't a great start for me. This was when we had the Scottish Women's Football Association, not the SFA.
"We stayed in youth hostels and had a completely different strip to the men's team. They had to scrape together any pennies they could to send you places.
"If things hadn't changed there is no way I could have got to the stage where I have 100 caps. Financially we simply could not have played so many games. I am in a position to be able to compare what it was like then to how fortunate we are now."
Fleeting is still not the public property of Kenny Dalglish or Denis Law, those greats of the men's game she deserves to be ranked alongside as their equivalent as the leading scorer in a national team jersey.
"I can go to Tesco and not get chased down the street," she said. "Where I live most people know me because it's where I grew up, not because of football."
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
Perhaps the most gifted Scottish female player ever. Aged seven, Reilly caught the attention of a Celtic scout who admitted he was "interested in the wee No7 guy" only to be told it was a girl.
A trailblazer for women’s football, Reilly started her sporting career in Scotland – at 16 she was chosen to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games pentathlon. However she decided to move on from the athletics track and concentrate on her skills on the football field, moving to mainland Europe to further her career. Her subsequent list of achievements is incredible considering the obstacles faced by female footballers in the early ‘70s. At 17 Reilly had a trial for Rheims in France and by the age of 18 she was playing for AC Milan. She was voted best player in the victorious Italian World Cup team that played China in the final in 1983.
- Won eight Serie A league titles
- Won four Italian Cups
- Scored 45 goals in one season
- Women’s World Cup Winner 1983
- Capped 13 times for Italy as captain
- Won the Golden Boot in 1983
SFA chief executive Gordon Smith pays tribute to her career and stresses her importance for the promotion of women's football.
"Rose Reilly is the first woman to be inducted and I think that's marvellous because we are trying to promote women's football in Scotland," he said. "We are trying to bring it up to the level of some of the other nations. We are getting more participation from girls at school level and youth level and the women's team is improving all the time.
"Rose Reilly was one of the great ambassadors of our game at one time. Even before the top male players were going to play abroad, she was in Italy as a professional player and achieved great things."
Pauline Hamill
In 2007, Hamill became the most-capped Scottish player of all time, beating the record previously held by Kenny Daglish.
Princess Pauline: the new King Kenny
Source: The Herald October 27 2007
Pauline Hamill has been in her element these last few days, eating, breathing and sleeping football, and indulging in thoughts of her past, present and future.
This afternoon, when she lines up for Scotland, who tackle Slovakia in a European Championship qualifier match in Vienna, Bratislava, the 35 year-old forward will create a little piece of history by gaining her 103rd cap, thus overtaking Kenny Dalglish's tally of appearances in the blue jersey.
As she admits, it has been an arduous ascent from the foothills of Coltness Ladies in Wishaw to the summit of achievement of becoming her country's record-breaking internationalist, but Hamill is feisty company, unashamedly proud of the efforts which she has channelled into the sport, both on and off the pitch. If the likes of Mike Newell, the self-proclaimed male chauvinist, choose to denigrate the soccer sorority, then that's their problem.
In her day job, Hamill works as the girls' football development officer at Falkirk's Westfield Stadium and it is a measure of the surge in popularity in women's football that, when she arrived in the post three years ago, there was virtually nobody playing the game.
"Now we have about 250 girls turning out every week," she said. "We have also created an academy structure for the most talented youngsters, where they learn about strength and conditioning, diet and nutrition all the things the boys are taught, and our goal is basically focused on telling any girl who wants to pursue a career in football: Here is your pathway from school age on to the senior circuit'.
"Hamill's own development from promising primary pupil to the Scotland ranks was the consequence of her own determination, tackling the boys in the badlands of Lanarkshire, dressed in her replica Scotland strip.
"Back then, there was no kind of representative ladder for people like me. If we impressed for our clubs Hamill, once of Doncaster Belles, is now on Hibs' books, the word would eventually get around that we were worth a call-up to the international squad, which is how I gained my first cap in 1992 a 1-0 defeat against England, but it was a huge learning curve. I never imagined when I was starting out that I would be on the verge of passing the national cap record
"Nowadays, there are under-15, under-17 and under-19 Scotland teams, the SWFA holds regular training camps and we have established close links with the SFA. The whole structure reflects the increasing professionalism which means that we should be starting to qualify for major tournaments. I have always been pretty hard-headed and I hate losing."
The next week will be pivotal to Scotland's European Championship prospects. Thus far, they have just one point from two matches, having drawn with Portugal and lost away to Ukraine - "a hard one to take, given the chances we created," says Hamill - but, if they can manage a victory over the Slovaks and repeat that against the Danes at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday evening, they will have enhanced their aspirations significantly.
The days have long gone - if they ever existed in Hamill's sphere - when respectability was deemed sufficient and certainly, casting one's eye down the team sheet, which includes such stalwart characters as Julie Fleeting, who will attain her century of caps in Perth, it is obvious that Anna Signeul's outfit boast the experience, ambition, and collective will to tap into the current feelgood factor permeating Scottish football.
"The guys have done a terrific job in 2007 and it would be tremendous to follow their exploits with a couple of wins in the next five days," says Hamill, who boldly informed her father that she would play for her country when she was seven and who believes that all her subsequent achievements are as much due to her parents' supportiveness as her own enthusiasm.
"I never imagined when I was starting out that I would be on the verge of passing the national cap record set by such a great player as Kenny Dalglish, but the sport has undergone a massive transformation in the past decade. We have to realise that the rest of the world is improving as well, so this is a very exciting time, but it is also one where we have to turn potential into victories and points."
Hamill may be approaching 36, but there is no sign of her relinquishing her competitive fire. On the contrary, working with the girls at Falkirk is keeping her young and dreaming of glorious feats in store. When she began her Scotland shift, it would have been unthinkable that Hampden would stage an exhibition about women's football, or that the chief executive of the SFA Gordon Smith would be making a presentation to Fleeting next week. Yet barriers are being dismantled and prejudices exorcised.
"You have to change people's perceptions and you will always get a few negative comments, but I think that most of the men have grown to appreciate that we love football and all we are asking is for the opportunity to drive the sport forward," says Hamill. She views the momentous occasion in 1998, when Scotland required a 17-0 success - and did the needful - against Lithuania to move up from Class B status and into the globe's elite, as a watershed occasion.
"We have made a lot of progress since then, and we are starting to reap the rewards of years of missionary work. When I look into the eyes of some of the youngsters at Westfield, I recognise the expression - once, that was me, and I will still be really excited when I am singing the anthem on Saturday."
She has neither accumulated lavish wealth from her footballing forays, nor enjoyed any of the accoutrements of celebrity which have routinely been handed to Dalglish. But her Scotland caps are like precious stones to Hamill.
Call them the Pearls of Pauline.
Julie Fleeting
Played for Ayr United, then professionally for San Diego Spirit in California (the first Scot to play in America's professional women's league), then Ross County Ladies, and now Arsenal Ladies, (where she has recently won the European Cup), combined with a century of caps for Scotland, of whom she is captain.
100 goals, 100 games - Fleeting's phenomenal
Source: Scotsman, October 2007
Managing to collect your 100th international goal before reaching your 100th cap is an achievement which sets you out from the crowd, but then Julie Fleeting has always been different from the moment she started out playing for her local boys' team in Ayrshire. She claimed this cherished strike on Saturday against Slovakia but does not have long to wait for her cap total to catch up.
Against Denmark at McDiarmid Park tomorrow night, in another European Championship qualifier, she makes her 100th international appearance, and still her remarkable career is far from over.
Fleeting, who turned 27 earlier this month, has no imminent plans to retire although she is considering bowing to her maternal instincts at some point. Newly married, she is asked the question constantly and Fleeting recognises that a family is something she desires.
Future bed-time stories will have to include a few golden weeks in 2007, when Fleeting picked up her 100th goal, her 100th cap and a special award to commemorate the twin achievement from Gordon Smith, chief executive of the Scottish Football Association.
This is scheduled to happen prior to the men's vital European Championship qualifier with Italy later this month, in front of a wild, expectant gathering. It is a setting this true heroine of Scottish football deserves, although, typically for someone so modest, she yesterday fretted about being able to snaffle up a ticket for the big match.
Before then she has her own vital qualifying match to deal with, against Denmark tomorrow. Her milestone goal on Saturday helped Scotland to a 3-0 win over Slovakia, a victory which keeps the side in the hunt for the finals in Finland in 2009.
Fleeting noted that her strike was set-up by Kim Little, a 17-year-old who seems likely to inherit her status as the leading Scottish player.
But whether she scales the same heights as Fleeting on a global scale remains to be seen, with the Ayrshire PE teacher having been voted most valuable player in America during her time with San Diego Spirit. Fleeting also won the European Cup with Arsenal Ladies, her current club, last season.
Her latest triumph has come with a measure of relief. Not one for lingering on personal exploits she left it to her brother, Barry, to keep her informed of her statistical progress in a Scotland shirt.
"I was very aware I was sitting on 99," she said. "I missed a sitter just before I scored and was going about like a bear with a sore head. I was very crabbit, as my team-mates will tell you. It's the first time I have ever been aware of needing to score that badly.
"My brother had been winding me up about it," she continued. "He was saying that my ratio of goals to caps was slowing up a bit. Until I got into the late 90s I hadn't really thought about it.
"Over the last few years I have had more goals than caps. But as I got nearer to the 100 mark it started to even out. I was under pressure from Barry to get the 100th goal before my 100th cap. I managed to do it - just."
Given the surprising fact she did not get off the mark until her fifth cap, this feat is made more admirable. Since then, the goals have come thick and fast, including four in a 17-0 win over Lithuania when her father Jim, director of football development at the SFA, was in charge of the team. Not surprisingly she rates this as her most memorable match.
"It was the last game in the group, and we were tied on points at the top," she recalled. "Czech Republic had a plus 16 goal advantage, so we had to win 17-0. It was 16-0 after 80 minutes, and then their goalkeeper started making world-class saves. I managed to score in the 93rd minute, and that was the goal which put us through."
The possibility that Scotland might be beaten by such a margin seemed more likely when Fleeting made her debut in 1996. The financial input was almost non-existent in those days, as, too, was the support of the SFA.
Now the governing body has taken the team under its wing, and the team has gone from strength to strength under the guidance of Anna Signeul.
"My first international was against Wales at Somerset Park," Fleeting recalled. "We got beaten and I didn't score, so it wasn't a great start for me. This was when we had the Scottish Women's Football Association, not the SFA.
"We stayed in youth hostels and had a completely different strip to the men's team. They had to scrape together any pennies they could to send you places.
"If things hadn't changed there is no way I could have got to the stage where I have 100 caps. Financially we simply could not have played so many games. I am in a position to be able to compare what it was like then to how fortunate we are now."
Fleeting is still not the public property of Kenny Dalglish or Denis Law, those greats of the men's game she deserves to be ranked alongside as their equivalent as the leading scorer in a national team jersey.
"I can go to Tesco and not get chased down the street," she said. "Where I live most people know me because it's where I grew up, not because of football."
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
11th May, 2009
Scottish Womens and Girls Football
Womens and Girls Football in Scotland is organised and administered at both domestic and international levels. Within each level there are a number of tiers based on ability, age group and locality.
[more]
International
The Scottish National Team has three squads - the A Squad, U19 Squad and the U17 Squad. The U17 and U19 Squads are currently competing in UEFA European Women's Championship in their respective age groups.
The A Squad are currently in the midst of the qualifying group stages of the UEFA Women’s European Championships for 2007/2009 drawn in Group 5 with Denmark, Ukraine, Portugal and Slovakia.
For details of upcoming fixtures and results see the SFA
Domestic
At domestic level the womens game is run on two tiers:
SWPL - Administers and promotes the game at the top level - the Scottish Womens Premier League and the League Cup competions. For details of the teams, news, upcoming fixtures and results visit their website:
SWFL - Administers and promotes womens and girls football at all ages and abilities throughout Scotland. The youth leagues are structured on a regional basis with U13, U15 and U17 age groups.
For details of the teams, news, upcoming fixtures and results visit their website:
Contacting Your Local Club
You can find details of your local club at the SWFL website which lists the currently affiliated clubs:
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
The Scottish National Team has three squads - the A Squad, U19 Squad and the U17 Squad. The U17 and U19 Squads are currently competing in UEFA European Women's Championship in their respective age groups.
The A Squad are currently in the midst of the qualifying group stages of the UEFA Women’s European Championships for 2007/2009 drawn in Group 5 with Denmark, Ukraine, Portugal and Slovakia.
For details of upcoming fixtures and results see the SFA
Domestic
At domestic level the womens game is run on two tiers:
SWPL - Administers and promotes the game at the top level - the Scottish Womens Premier League and the League Cup competions. For details of the teams, news, upcoming fixtures and results visit their website:
SWFL - Administers and promotes womens and girls football at all ages and abilities throughout Scotland. The youth leagues are structured on a regional basis with U13, U15 and U17 age groups.
For details of the teams, news, upcoming fixtures and results visit their website:
Contacting Your Local Club
You can find details of your local club at the SWFL website which lists the currently affiliated clubs:
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
11th May, 2009
Promoting Media Coverage of Womens Sport
Campaign by the Womens Sports Foundation UK to promote media coverage of Womens Sport
The under-representation of sportswomen in all forms of media, together with the underrepresentation of women involved in the production of sport-related media, has long been of concern to those trying to increase the visibility of women’s sport.
[more]
"We are campaigning across the media to see women's sport given the respect and coverage that it deserves. There are a number of ways in which you can help achieve this."
"You can, for example, write to or email editors and those in charge of the media."
"Whether it is national television or your local radio station, the people who control the media and make decisions about programme content listen to the feedback they receive from their viewers, listeners or readers. At the moment the most vocal consumers of sports coverage are those who want more of the same - that is, more professional football, more (men's) professional rugby and cricket. If we are to achieve a more balanced approach, we have to make our voices heard." WSF UK
To find out more about their campaign visit the website:
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
"You can, for example, write to or email editors and those in charge of the media."
"Whether it is national television or your local radio station, the people who control the media and make decisions about programme content listen to the feedback they receive from their viewers, listeners or readers. At the moment the most vocal consumers of sports coverage are those who want more of the same - that is, more professional football, more (men's) professional rugby and cricket. If we are to achieve a more balanced approach, we have to make our voices heard." WSF UK
To find out more about their campaign visit the website:
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
11th May, 2009
Preventing Domestic Abuse and Violence against Women
As part of Football For All's core message "Positive social messages through Football" we aim to highlight important social problems by utilising the the high public profile of football in Scotland. Violence against Women is a continuing problem throughout Scotland.
[more]
We will work alongside other campaigning organisations in this field in order to bring this issue to the forefront of public attention and debate.
The White Ribbon Campaign
The WRC is the largest effort in the world where men work to end men's violence against women. It relies on volunteer support and financial contributions from individuals and organizations. The UK Branch of WRC was started in 2004.
Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.
Each year, WRC urge men and boys to wear a ribbon for one or two weeks, starting on November 25, the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women.
A number of Scottish football personalities have publicly pledged support for the campaign:
To find out more about the White Ribbon Campaign UK visit their website
Amnesty International - Stop Violence Against Women
The Stop Violence Against Women campaign focuses on ending violence against women in the family and in conflict/post conflict situations: two of the most dangerous environments for millions of women throughout the world. The creation of a world in which women and girls are afforded their basic human rights is their campaigns ultimate goal.
As part of their Stop Violence Against Women campaign AI have produced interactive and informative educational materials linked to the curricula for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
These materials can be found at their website:
Old Firm support campaign to cut abuse in the home
Celtic and Rangers will be supporting a campaign to wipe out domestic abuse by screening hard-hitting advertisements to fans at half-time.
The new phase of the Scottish Government campaign highlights the impact of domestic abuse on young people and includes television, radio and billboard advertisements.
Football fans will be able to view the new advert, Teddy, today when Rangers play Motherwell, and on December 29 during Celtic against Gretna as well as the Old Firm clash on January 2.
Stewart Maxwell, Communities and Sport Minister, said: "I welcome the support Celtic and Rangers are giving to this important campaign, which aims to eradicate domestic violence in Scotland.
"This is also a time when many families are affected by domestic abuse, and calls to the helpline and police increase.
"Violence against women and domestic abuse continue to devastate the lives of too many women and young people in Scotland.
"I hope many people at these football matches will hear or see this year's advertisements and heed the Scottish Government's clear message - there is no excuse for domestic abuse."
Celtic captain Stephen McManus said: "Myself and all the other players at Celtic are delighted to support the Scottish Government's campaign to combat domestic abuse.
"We should do all we can to eliminate violence against women and everyone at the club is fully supportive of this excellent initiative."
Rangers striker Steven Naismith said: "The effects of domestic abuse can be devastating, particularly on children, so it is important they know that help is available.
"That is why all the players and staff at Rangers are delighted to support this campaign to combat domestic abuse."
Source: BBC News, Dec 2007
Raúl and other Spanish players campaigning against violence towards women
Raúl, Morientes, Puyol and Joaquín are participating in the campaign against gender-based violence launched by the Spanish Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Jesús Caldera.
Raúl González: “You can overcome maltreatment and find help before it is too late.”
Fernando Morientes: “Insults and beatings make themselves heard. They make a noise. You can’t turn your back on it. Report it!”
Carles Puyol: “You can overcome maltreatment and find help before it is too late.”
Joaquín Sánchez: “We know that it is difficult to make the decision but only if you speak up we will we be able to listen to you and help you.”
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
The White Ribbon Campaign
The WRC is the largest effort in the world where men work to end men's violence against women. It relies on volunteer support and financial contributions from individuals and organizations. The UK Branch of WRC was started in 2004.
Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.
Each year, WRC urge men and boys to wear a ribbon for one or two weeks, starting on November 25, the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women.
A number of Scottish football personalities have publicly pledged support for the campaign:
"Football has a fantastic following from men all over Scotland but that loyalty and support that we show to our favourite teams should also be extended to the people in our lives who we care about. There are women all over Scotland who experience violence and abuse in many forms which in my view, is utterly unacceptable. No one should be living with violence in our society and there is a wealth of agencies out there that can provide the right advice and support that is needed."
Walter Smith, Manager, Rangers FC
"I condemn any form of domestic abuse against women. Nobody should ever have to live in fear."
Craig Gordon, No.1, Scotland
"There is no place for domestic abuse in a civilised society and no one should be living in fear of violence or controlling behaviour, particularly when in a relationship. Anything that raises awareness of the unacceptability of all forms of abuse towards women is a good thing, and I hope the campaign sends out the clear message that abuse is not and will not be tolerated."
Grant Stott, Scotsport presenter
To find out more about the White Ribbon Campaign UK visit their website
Amnesty International - Stop Violence Against Women
The Stop Violence Against Women campaign focuses on ending violence against women in the family and in conflict/post conflict situations: two of the most dangerous environments for millions of women throughout the world. The creation of a world in which women and girls are afforded their basic human rights is their campaigns ultimate goal.
As part of their Stop Violence Against Women campaign AI have produced interactive and informative educational materials linked to the curricula for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
These materials can be found at their website:
Old Firm support campaign to cut abuse in the home
Celtic and Rangers will be supporting a campaign to wipe out domestic abuse by screening hard-hitting advertisements to fans at half-time.
The new phase of the Scottish Government campaign highlights the impact of domestic abuse on young people and includes television, radio and billboard advertisements.
Football fans will be able to view the new advert, Teddy, today when Rangers play Motherwell, and on December 29 during Celtic against Gretna as well as the Old Firm clash on January 2.
Stewart Maxwell, Communities and Sport Minister, said: "I welcome the support Celtic and Rangers are giving to this important campaign, which aims to eradicate domestic violence in Scotland.
"This is also a time when many families are affected by domestic abuse, and calls to the helpline and police increase.
"Violence against women and domestic abuse continue to devastate the lives of too many women and young people in Scotland.
"I hope many people at these football matches will hear or see this year's advertisements and heed the Scottish Government's clear message - there is no excuse for domestic abuse."
Celtic captain Stephen McManus said: "Myself and all the other players at Celtic are delighted to support the Scottish Government's campaign to combat domestic abuse.
"We should do all we can to eliminate violence against women and everyone at the club is fully supportive of this excellent initiative."
Rangers striker Steven Naismith said: "The effects of domestic abuse can be devastating, particularly on children, so it is important they know that help is available.
"That is why all the players and staff at Rangers are delighted to support this campaign to combat domestic abuse."
Source: BBC News, Dec 2007
Raúl and other Spanish players campaigning against violence towards women
Raúl, Morientes, Puyol and Joaquín are participating in the campaign against gender-based violence launched by the Spanish Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Jesús Caldera.
Raúl González: “You can overcome maltreatment and find help before it is too late.”
Fernando Morientes: “Insults and beatings make themselves heard. They make a noise. You can’t turn your back on it. Report it!”
Carles Puyol: “You can overcome maltreatment and find help before it is too late.”
Joaquín Sánchez: “We know that it is difficult to make the decision but only if you speak up we will we be able to listen to you and help you.”
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
11th May, 2009
Scotland jet out for Cyprus Cup bid
The Scottish women's football team head for Cyprus on Monday and there it will be a distinctly green tinge to the Dark Blues' squad.
Out of the 20 players chosen by coach Anna Signeul, no fewer than nine play for Hibernian Ladies.
[more]
The Cyprus trip my seem glamorous but it will be anything but a sunshine break for the side as they take part in a prestigious tournament on the Mediterranean island.
The Cyprus Cup is a new tournament set up by the SFA in association with the Netherlands Football Association and will also be competed for by Japan, Canada, Russian and the United States under-20 side.
Scotland will face the Americans, Holland and Canada (in a non-tournament fixture) before meeting one of the countries from the opposite side of the draw with Signeul seeing the competition as a vital part of her team's preparations for their next European Championship qualifying match against Denmark in Viborg next month.
Among the Hibs backbone of the squad is midfielder Natalie Ross, included for the first time.
Today, Hibs Ladies captain Shelley Kerr, who is hoping to pass the milestone of winning her 50th cap over the coming days, said: "I'm delighted for Natalie, it's girls like her, Kim Little and Jenny Beattie (the daughter of former Scotland rugby star John] coming through who will be the future of the game.
"I've watched Natalie come through from 15s, 17s, 19s and now into the A squad and the great thing for her and the others are that they'll have many years ahead of them because of their attitude, hunger, desire and commitment."
Equally satisfying for Kerr is the number of players from Hibs Ladies who have been named by Signeul. She said: "It's incredible we have so many talented players at our club.
"That's been on-going for a number of years now and it's fantastic. We could well have had ten in the squad going to Cyprus but Kirsty McBride was unavailable because of work commitments."
Although Scotland have endured a disappointing start to their European Championship qualifying campaign, Kerr believes they still have an outstanding chance to progress. She said: "We started with a disappointing draw against Portugal, lost away to Ukraine although we did well, won against Slovakia and lost 1-0 at home to Denmark and again played well despite the vast difference in rankings between us.
"The qualifying process is very complex with the runners-up in each group and so many of the third-placed teams going into play-offs so for that reason there is still all to play for and I feel we are more than capable of finishingstrongly.
"This tournament will be an important part of our preparations. People say it must be nice to be going to Cyprus for ten days at this time of year but it will be anything but a holiday for us. To be honest, we'll be concentrating on our football so much, training, preparing and playing in games we could be anywhere in the world."
Scotland: Gemma Fay (Hibs), Joanna Hutcheson (Edinburgh), Julie Ferguson (Hibs), Ifeoma Dieke (Florida Atlantic University), Rhonda Jones (Florida Atlantic University), Shelley Kerr (Hibs), Amy McDonald (Queen's Park), Joelle Murray (Hibs), Leanne Ross (Glasgow City), Jennifer Beattie (Celtic), Amanda Burns (Hibs), Stacey Cook (Hibs), Joanne Love (Celtic), Megan Sneddon (Glasgow City), Natalie Ross (Hibs), Hollie Thomson (Hamilton Academical), Julie Fleeting (Arsenal), Suzanne Grant (Hibs), Pauline Hamill (Blackburn), Kim Little (Hibs).
Source: Scotsman
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
The Cyprus Cup is a new tournament set up by the SFA in association with the Netherlands Football Association and will also be competed for by Japan, Canada, Russian and the United States under-20 side.
Scotland will face the Americans, Holland and Canada (in a non-tournament fixture) before meeting one of the countries from the opposite side of the draw with Signeul seeing the competition as a vital part of her team's preparations for their next European Championship qualifying match against Denmark in Viborg next month.
Among the Hibs backbone of the squad is midfielder Natalie Ross, included for the first time.
Today, Hibs Ladies captain Shelley Kerr, who is hoping to pass the milestone of winning her 50th cap over the coming days, said: "I'm delighted for Natalie, it's girls like her, Kim Little and Jenny Beattie (the daughter of former Scotland rugby star John] coming through who will be the future of the game.
"I've watched Natalie come through from 15s, 17s, 19s and now into the A squad and the great thing for her and the others are that they'll have many years ahead of them because of their attitude, hunger, desire and commitment."
Equally satisfying for Kerr is the number of players from Hibs Ladies who have been named by Signeul. She said: "It's incredible we have so many talented players at our club.
"That's been on-going for a number of years now and it's fantastic. We could well have had ten in the squad going to Cyprus but Kirsty McBride was unavailable because of work commitments."
Although Scotland have endured a disappointing start to their European Championship qualifying campaign, Kerr believes they still have an outstanding chance to progress. She said: "We started with a disappointing draw against Portugal, lost away to Ukraine although we did well, won against Slovakia and lost 1-0 at home to Denmark and again played well despite the vast difference in rankings between us.
"The qualifying process is very complex with the runners-up in each group and so many of the third-placed teams going into play-offs so for that reason there is still all to play for and I feel we are more than capable of finishingstrongly.
"This tournament will be an important part of our preparations. People say it must be nice to be going to Cyprus for ten days at this time of year but it will be anything but a holiday for us. To be honest, we'll be concentrating on our football so much, training, preparing and playing in games we could be anywhere in the world."
Scotland: Gemma Fay (Hibs), Joanna Hutcheson (Edinburgh), Julie Ferguson (Hibs), Ifeoma Dieke (Florida Atlantic University), Rhonda Jones (Florida Atlantic University), Shelley Kerr (Hibs), Amy McDonald (Queen's Park), Joelle Murray (Hibs), Leanne Ross (Glasgow City), Jennifer Beattie (Celtic), Amanda Burns (Hibs), Stacey Cook (Hibs), Joanne Love (Celtic), Megan Sneddon (Glasgow City), Natalie Ross (Hibs), Hollie Thomson (Hamilton Academical), Julie Fleeting (Arsenal), Suzanne Grant (Hibs), Pauline Hamill (Blackburn), Kim Little (Hibs).
Source: Scotsman
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
11th May, 2009
Women Referees in Scottish Football
Despite recent controversies regarding women referees (see below), the demand for referees at all levels in the game in Scotland remains as high as ever.
[more]
The SFA co-ordinates regional referee associations throughout the country. These associations run training courses to enable you to get started as a referee. Although there are no separate training courses for women referees, the SFA are "extremely keen" to welcome female recruits. A qualified women referee would be able to officiate in both women's and men's leagues.
Contact your local referees association for information on courses - a contact list is avaialable here
Scotlands top woman referee is Morag Pirie. She was the first woman to appear on the Senior List.
Last November she became the first woman to officiate at a senior national cup final in Scotland.
A cup final role for city ref morag
The 32-year-old has been named as the second assistant referee for the Challenge Cup final on Sunday, November 26.
Accountant Morag will run the line at Dens Park for the St Johnstone v Dunfermline showdown.
And Morag hopes her rise through the whistlers' ranks can inspire other women.
She said: "Being selected for a national cup final is a tremendous honour.
"I am absolutely delighted because as a woman it has been a little tougher for me to get on in refereeing.
"I have had to work hard to get to this level.
"Hopefully being the first woman to officiate at a senior final in Scotland will inspire others to come into refereeing."
Morag is Scotland's only female senior grade official and regularly refs at Highland league matches and runs the line at SFL games.
But she also experienced the high of officiating in the Champions League.
"I went across to Cyprus to officiate a Champions League match between Anorthosis Famagusta's and Dinamo Minsk," she said.
"This July I also ran the line in Finland at Tampere United and Levski Sofia. They were great experiences.
So what next for Morag, the SPL? "I never set myself targets, I AM just enjoying refereeing."
Source: Aberdeen Evening Express, November 7, 2007
Meanwhile, south of the border...
Newell denies FA charge over jibe
Luton boss Mike Newell has denied a Football Association charge of improper conduct following his comments made towards female official Amy Raynor.
Newell has requested a personal hearing where he will defend his charges. Newell said after the match with QPR in November that the appointment of women referees and assistants was "tokenism for the politically-correct idiots".
He was severely reprimanded by the Luton Town board and made a public apology to Raynor. Newell was incensed that Rayner and referee Andy D'Urso failed to award his side a spot-kick when QPR defender Marcus Bignot tangled with Carlos Edwards in the penalty box in the clash on 10 November.
He said after the game: "It is bad enough with the incapable referees and linesmen we have but if you start bringing in women, you have big problems.
"This is Championship football. This is not park football, so what are women doing here? It is tokenism, for the politically-correct idiots. "She should not be here. I know that sounds sexist but I am sexist, so I am not going to be anything other than that."
Newell has until 21 December to respond. If found guilty, he faces a fine or possible touchline ban.
Luton disassociated themselves with Newell's comments and the former Everton player was prompted into assuring the board that there will be no repeat.
Source: BBC Sport
Newell fined over sexist outburst
Luton boss Mike Newell has been fined £6,500 by the Football Association over his comments regarding female assistant referee Amy Rayner in November.
Newell said after the match with QPR in November that the appointment of women referees and assistants was "tokenism for the politically-correct idiots".
He was severely reprimanded by the Luton Town board and made a public apology to Raynor. Newell had denied a misconduct charge and had requested a personal hearing.
Source: BBC Sport
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
Contact your local referees association for information on courses - a contact list is avaialable here
Scotlands top woman referee is Morag Pirie. She was the first woman to appear on the Senior List.
Last November she became the first woman to officiate at a senior national cup final in Scotland.
A cup final role for city ref morag
The 32-year-old has been named as the second assistant referee for the Challenge Cup final on Sunday, November 26.
Accountant Morag will run the line at Dens Park for the St Johnstone v Dunfermline showdown.
And Morag hopes her rise through the whistlers' ranks can inspire other women.
She said: "Being selected for a national cup final is a tremendous honour.
"I am absolutely delighted because as a woman it has been a little tougher for me to get on in refereeing.
"I have had to work hard to get to this level.
"Hopefully being the first woman to officiate at a senior final in Scotland will inspire others to come into refereeing."
Morag is Scotland's only female senior grade official and regularly refs at Highland league matches and runs the line at SFL games.
But she also experienced the high of officiating in the Champions League.
"I went across to Cyprus to officiate a Champions League match between Anorthosis Famagusta's and Dinamo Minsk," she said.
"This July I also ran the line in Finland at Tampere United and Levski Sofia. They were great experiences.
So what next for Morag, the SPL? "I never set myself targets, I AM just enjoying refereeing."
Source: Aberdeen Evening Express, November 7, 2007
Meanwhile, south of the border...
Newell denies FA charge over jibe
Luton boss Mike Newell has denied a Football Association charge of improper conduct following his comments made towards female official Amy Raynor.
Newell has requested a personal hearing where he will defend his charges. Newell said after the match with QPR in November that the appointment of women referees and assistants was "tokenism for the politically-correct idiots".
He was severely reprimanded by the Luton Town board and made a public apology to Raynor. Newell was incensed that Rayner and referee Andy D'Urso failed to award his side a spot-kick when QPR defender Marcus Bignot tangled with Carlos Edwards in the penalty box in the clash on 10 November.
He said after the game: "It is bad enough with the incapable referees and linesmen we have but if you start bringing in women, you have big problems.
"This is Championship football. This is not park football, so what are women doing here? It is tokenism, for the politically-correct idiots. "She should not be here. I know that sounds sexist but I am sexist, so I am not going to be anything other than that."
Newell has until 21 December to respond. If found guilty, he faces a fine or possible touchline ban.
Luton disassociated themselves with Newell's comments and the former Everton player was prompted into assuring the board that there will be no repeat.
Source: BBC Sport
Newell fined over sexist outburst
Luton boss Mike Newell has been fined £6,500 by the Football Association over his comments regarding female assistant referee Amy Rayner in November.
Newell said after the match with QPR in November that the appointment of women referees and assistants was "tokenism for the politically-correct idiots".
He was severely reprimanded by the Luton Town board and made a public apology to Raynor. Newell had denied a misconduct charge and had requested a personal hearing.
Source: BBC Sport
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
11th May, 2009
The widely acclaimed Scottish Football Musuem at Hampden Park is currently holding an exhibition celebrating the women's game in Scotland and on the wider international stage. [more]The Womens Game - an exhibition
The Women’s Game
A celebration of Scottish Women’s Football and the 2007 World Cup in China.
Colourful, vibrant and highly visual The Women’s Game provides an exciting focus on Scottish women’s football whilst celebrating the biggest event on the international calendar – the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals in China. Pioneers of the Scottish game, like Sheila Begbie, Elsie Cook and Scottish Sports Hall of Famer Rose Reilly, are placed beside current international stars, in particular Hibernian and Scotland duo Shelley Kerr and Kim Little and Arsenal UEFA Cup winner and Scotland’s top goalscorer Julie Fleeting.
The current stars of world football, like Marta, Birgit Prinz and Lotta Schelin are featured within the exhibition as are the legendary all-time stars of the game – as picked by Scottish head coach Anna Signeul. Scotland’s clubs are also honoured in an exhibition which brings together shirts, caps, film footage and images to capture the very essence of the Women’s Game.
From Julie Fleeting’s UEFA Cup Final shirt to the quaich presented to Pauline Hamill for her 100th international appearance this exhibition is a must see for football fans.
Visit the Scottish Football Museum. For details see:
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
11th May, 2009
Scottish Womens Football - History and current state of play
It’s a fact women have been playing organised football for at least as long as men and there are reports of an annual match in Mid-Lothian in the 1790s. However, many in the footballing establishment at that time regarded women’s football with distaste. In 1902 in the Council of the English Football Association warned its member clubs not to allow charitable matches against ’ladies teams’. However this did not deter the ladies and for the next 15 years women’s football continued to grow with no encouragement or help from any the British FAs.
[more]
In 1917 Dick Kerr Ladies were formed in Preston. Dick Kerrs provided the opposition for the first women’s international- against Scotland in 1920 with a return match in 1922 held at Celtic Park in front of 6000 spectators. However, once again the English footballing authorities acted against the interests of women’s football and in December 1921, the English Football Association issued a ruling which forbade women playing on the grounds of affiliated clubs.
In Scotland, the Scottish Football Association recognised the Scottish Women’s FA in September 1974 however it was it was over 25 years later before they were invited to become an Affiliated National Association and given parity alongside the other long standing affiliated members such as the Scottish Schools FA, Scottish Juvenile FA (now Scottish Youth FA), Scottish Welfare Association, Scottish Amateur FA and Scottish Junior FA who were all full members of the SFA.
Though millions of women around the world are interested in the game of Association Football their influence in the game is somewhat limited as the game at the top is still thoroughly male dominated. There are no woman sitting on the FIFA or UEFA Executive committee’s even although FIFA’s systematic development work for women’s football has become one of its major and most enduring activities with as equally with UEFA.
Football in Scotland is also male dominated and the Scottish Football Association currently function with an eleven man board that are selected from the 34 Council members of which only one is female!
The first Women's World Cup tournament, named the Women's World Championship, was held in 1991 in China sixty-one years after the men's first FIFA World Cup tournament in 1930. This was followed in 1995 when the tournament was held in Sweden.
In 1999 over 660,000 spectators attended the FIFA Women's World Cup in the United States and nearly one billion viewers from seventy countries tuned in to watch sixteen countries vie for the title. The final in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California had an attendance of 90,185, a world record for a women's sporting event. The 2003 World Cup was also held in the United States due to the outbreak of SARS in China.
Since it's conception in 1989, the Women's World Cup has continued to grow in popularity and FIFA now estimates that there are currently forty million girls and women playing football around the world, and the number of women will equal the number of men by 2010.
However even with all this activity happening, the 2007 Spring Edition of Women in Sport ask "What’s really happening in women’ s sport?" The conclusion they come to is:-
In Scotland, Scottish Womens Football currently have affiliated to them the Scottish Womens Premier League, The Scottish Womens Football League and six regional youth leagues offering football for players at 17, 15, 13, and 11 years of age. They also have two Associate member clubs, one from Orkney and the other from Shetland.
Lack of sponsorship, media coverage and grant-aid are some of the many issues that SWF have to deal with. Commercial sponsorship proves difficult to access and this is in part due to the lack of media coverage. Grant-aid from sportscotland, which was the main stay of the SWF for over 15 years is no longer available to the SWF.
Sportscotland now channel all funding directly to the Scottish Football Association.
Two of SWF’s major supporters are Unite the Union and Thompson Solicitors. Unite are the long term sponsors of the Scottish Cup, which is open to all senior clubs and senior Associate member clubs. They were formed after the members of two Unions, Amicus and TGWU voted to merge to create a new union with around two million members.
The other commercial sponsor is Thompson Solicitors who were sponsors of the SWPL for season 05-06 and 06-7, however they are now moving towards supporting Sports Assist a scheme open to all sports
clubs to help them raise club funds.
However despite all the drawbacks facing football for girls and women in Scotland, the game continues to grow and flourish and support from the football community, the media and commercial organisations is on the increase.
For further information on Scottish Womens Football, please contact swf@scottish-football.com or call 0141 620 4580.
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
In Scotland, the Scottish Football Association recognised the Scottish Women’s FA in September 1974 however it was it was over 25 years later before they were invited to become an Affiliated National Association and given parity alongside the other long standing affiliated members such as the Scottish Schools FA, Scottish Juvenile FA (now Scottish Youth FA), Scottish Welfare Association, Scottish Amateur FA and Scottish Junior FA who were all full members of the SFA.
Though millions of women around the world are interested in the game of Association Football their influence in the game is somewhat limited as the game at the top is still thoroughly male dominated. There are no woman sitting on the FIFA or UEFA Executive committee’s even although FIFA’s systematic development work for women’s football has become one of its major and most enduring activities with as equally with UEFA.
Football in Scotland is also male dominated and the Scottish Football Association currently function with an eleven man board that are selected from the 34 Council members of which only one is female!
The first Women's World Cup tournament, named the Women's World Championship, was held in 1991 in China sixty-one years after the men's first FIFA World Cup tournament in 1930. This was followed in 1995 when the tournament was held in Sweden.
In 1999 over 660,000 spectators attended the FIFA Women's World Cup in the United States and nearly one billion viewers from seventy countries tuned in to watch sixteen countries vie for the title. The final in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California had an attendance of 90,185, a world record for a women's sporting event. The 2003 World Cup was also held in the United States due to the outbreak of SARS in China.
Since it's conception in 1989, the Women's World Cup has continued to grow in popularity and FIFA now estimates that there are currently forty million girls and women playing football around the world, and the number of women will equal the number of men by 2010.
However even with all this activity happening, the 2007 Spring Edition of Women in Sport ask "What’s really happening in women’ s sport?" The conclusion they come to is:-
Women are under-representated in all levels of sport, not just grassroots participation, there are fewer women then men in leadership and coaching positions, and media coverage dedicated to women’s sport is still almost non-existent. Until these issues are addressed, and the perception that sport and exercise is a ‘male’ dominated pursut is altered then we are concerned that the number of women taking part will remain at these worrying levels.
In Scotland, Scottish Womens Football currently have affiliated to them the Scottish Womens Premier League, The Scottish Womens Football League and six regional youth leagues offering football for players at 17, 15, 13, and 11 years of age. They also have two Associate member clubs, one from Orkney and the other from Shetland.
Lack of sponsorship, media coverage and grant-aid are some of the many issues that SWF have to deal with. Commercial sponsorship proves difficult to access and this is in part due to the lack of media coverage. Grant-aid from sportscotland, which was the main stay of the SWF for over 15 years is no longer available to the SWF.
Sportscotland now channel all funding directly to the Scottish Football Association.
Two of SWF’s major supporters are Unite the Union and Thompson Solicitors. Unite are the long term sponsors of the Scottish Cup, which is open to all senior clubs and senior Associate member clubs. They were formed after the members of two Unions, Amicus and TGWU voted to merge to create a new union with around two million members.
The other commercial sponsor is Thompson Solicitors who were sponsors of the SWPL for season 05-06 and 06-7, however they are now moving towards supporting Sports Assist a scheme open to all sports
clubs to help them raise club funds.
However despite all the drawbacks facing football for girls and women in Scotland, the game continues to grow and flourish and support from the football community, the media and commercial organisations is on the increase.
For further information on Scottish Womens Football, please contact swf@scottish-football.com or call 0141 620 4580.
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
11th May, 2009
FFA backs Life Matters campaign
Football For All recently contributed to the 'Life Matters' campaign against domestic abuse.
The campaign ran a series of radio adverts during Euro 2008 targeting a mainly male audience with the message that all forms of violence against women are unacceptable.
[more]
Football For All took part in this campaign as a partner in the White Ribbon Scotland network which aims to garner the support of men in challenging domestic abuse. Several top footballing names have spoken out on this issue including Walter Smith of Rangers, Stephen McManus of Celtic and Raul Garcia of Real Madrid.
Speaking as part of the campaign, FFA Campaign Director Roddy McNulty said:
"As a partner in the White Ribbon Scotland network, Football For All fully supports the aims of this campaign. The reason I personally got involved is the realisation that even though I have no personal experience of domestic abuse I do have a responsibility to speak out - it is my daughter, my sister, my female friends who will be affected if I say nothing."
Find out more at their website
Some facts about domestic abuse:
- Scottish Government figures released in November 07 show that there were 48,801 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland in 2006/07 – a figure that has increased year on year. The Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline was set up by the Scottish Government to support women experiencing domestic abuse and last year, it received over 21,000 calls from women across Scotland.
- Domestic abuse can happen to anyone - it transcends class, age, geographical region, culture and religion.
- The evidence surrounding domestic abuse shows that an overwhelming majority of cases are perpetrated by men against women. Women are provided with more support services as research shows that men are less likely to be repeat victims of domestic abuse, experience serious assault or report feeling fearful in their own home.
- Children were present in the same or next room in around 85 per cent of domestic abuse incidents. It is estimated that around 100,000 children are living with domestic abuse in Scotland. Witnessing domestic abuse at home can have a detrimental effect on children – who can then show symptoms of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. Children often blame themselves for the violence happening because they can’t do anything to stop it.
By witnessing incidents, threats, abuse, violence, or seeing and feeling the emotional consequences of domestic abuse, children are in fact being abused. They suffer fear, guilt, anger, intimidation and isolation as a result and they carry these feelings with them for many years. Being exposed to domestic abuse can leave children vulnerable and helpless.
Signs to look out for if you think someone you know is being abused:
• He puts her down, answers questions for her or dominates the conversation
• He checks up on her, acts like he owns her, behaves in a jealous way or stops her from socialising with other people
• She is apologetic, makes excuses for him or responds angrily if you question his behaviour
• She is nervous when he is around or makes excuses to not turn up to nights out or meetings
• She phones in sick at work, covers bruises or makes excuses for mysterious bumps
• She seems sad, lonely, withdrawn or afraid
- Rape and sexual assault - from a partner, ex-partner, acquaintance or stranger - are acts of violence against women and are all crimes.
But help and support is readily available. Abuse can be a profoundly isolating experience but there are trained support workers, friends, family and other survivors who you can talk to, who are able to help and provide guidance. There is now a recently launched national Scottish Rape Crisis Helpline and a network of Rape Crisis centres in Scotland who provide free confidential support and information for women who have experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives. Contact the Scottish Rape Crisis Helpline on 08088 01 03 02 – calls are free and confidential.
The Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline is also free, confidential and calls cannot be traced. Contact 0800 027 1234.
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
Speaking as part of the campaign, FFA Campaign Director Roddy McNulty said:
"As a partner in the White Ribbon Scotland network, Football For All fully supports the aims of this campaign. The reason I personally got involved is the realisation that even though I have no personal experience of domestic abuse I do have a responsibility to speak out - it is my daughter, my sister, my female friends who will be affected if I say nothing."
Find out more at their website
Some facts about domestic abuse:
- Scottish Government figures released in November 07 show that there were 48,801 incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland in 2006/07 – a figure that has increased year on year. The Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline was set up by the Scottish Government to support women experiencing domestic abuse and last year, it received over 21,000 calls from women across Scotland.
- Domestic abuse can happen to anyone - it transcends class, age, geographical region, culture and religion.
- The evidence surrounding domestic abuse shows that an overwhelming majority of cases are perpetrated by men against women. Women are provided with more support services as research shows that men are less likely to be repeat victims of domestic abuse, experience serious assault or report feeling fearful in their own home.
- Children were present in the same or next room in around 85 per cent of domestic abuse incidents. It is estimated that around 100,000 children are living with domestic abuse in Scotland. Witnessing domestic abuse at home can have a detrimental effect on children – who can then show symptoms of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. Children often blame themselves for the violence happening because they can’t do anything to stop it.
By witnessing incidents, threats, abuse, violence, or seeing and feeling the emotional consequences of domestic abuse, children are in fact being abused. They suffer fear, guilt, anger, intimidation and isolation as a result and they carry these feelings with them for many years. Being exposed to domestic abuse can leave children vulnerable and helpless.
Signs to look out for if you think someone you know is being abused:
• He puts her down, answers questions for her or dominates the conversation
• He checks up on her, acts like he owns her, behaves in a jealous way or stops her from socialising with other people
• She is apologetic, makes excuses for him or responds angrily if you question his behaviour
• She is nervous when he is around or makes excuses to not turn up to nights out or meetings
• She phones in sick at work, covers bruises or makes excuses for mysterious bumps
• She seems sad, lonely, withdrawn or afraid
- Rape and sexual assault - from a partner, ex-partner, acquaintance or stranger - are acts of violence against women and are all crimes.
But help and support is readily available. Abuse can be a profoundly isolating experience but there are trained support workers, friends, family and other survivors who you can talk to, who are able to help and provide guidance. There is now a recently launched national Scottish Rape Crisis Helpline and a network of Rape Crisis centres in Scotland who provide free confidential support and information for women who have experienced any form of sexual violence at any time in their lives. Contact the Scottish Rape Crisis Helpline on 08088 01 03 02 – calls are free and confidential.
The Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline is also free, confidential and calls cannot be traced. Contact 0800 027 1234.
Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
