Futsal in Scotland
Futsal in Scotland has been played in Perth since 1997. There are now three divisions with 20 teams and over 200 players playing every week. In 2005 the Scottish Futsal League joined up with the Futsal Premier League to help promote Futsal across the UK. In 2008 the Scottish Futsal League parted ways with the Futsal Premier League. To date, Fair City Santos are Scotland's most successful team with 8 League titles from 12. Perth Saltires are Scotland's current League Champions (2009/2010). Bell's Sports Centre, Perth, is the home of Futsal in Scotland, with four futsal courts.
Background
Futsal, or indoor football, is a growing sport in Scotland.[1][2] The Futsal Premier League (FPL) initiated a regional league in Edinburgh in November 2005. The Scottish National Futsal League, FPL Scotland, followed in 2006.[3] FPL Scotland is sponsored by Tennent's, who have given away over 50,000 futsal balls,[citation needed] and now also sponsor the National Football Team. Additional support came from the Scottish Football Association and kit manufacturer Joma. The FPL Scotland is divided into three Series, A, B and C, as opposed to two in England. Winners of the FPL Scotland Serie A progress to the UEFA Futsal Cup.
In 2006, eight teams played in the first FPL Scotland Serie A:
- Aberdeen Cosmos
- Dundee Dynamos
- Edinburgh United
- Fair City Santos (Perth)
- Glasgow City
- Glasgow Maccabi
- Inverness Wanderers
- Perth New Muirton
The league champions, Fair City Santos, played in the first preliminary round of the UEFA Futsal Cup, against Adana from Armenia, Futsal Mad Max from Finland, and Roubaix from France, although they failed to progress to the next stage.[4][5]
Current league
Season 2010/11 will have 19 teams:
- Bayern Bru (Perth)
- Boca Rebels (Perth)
- Borussia Celts (Perth)
- Breadalbane (Aberfeldy)
- Deportivo Lacatalent (Burrelton)
- Fair City Pumas (Perth)
- Fair City Santos (Perth)
- FC Bohemians 2008 (Perth - via Czech Republic)
- FC Burghmuir (Perth)
- Hydro Inter (Perth)
- Hydro Phoenix (Perth)
- Perth Brasil (Perth)
- Perth City (Perth)
- Perth Saltires (Perth)
- SDIF (Glasgow/Edinburgh)
- Sporting Branston (Newburgh)
- Unreal Madrid (Perth)
- Wanderers (Perth)
- Zenit St Johnstoun (Perth)
References
- ↑ http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/sport/futsal-the-fuss-about-how-brazilian-game-is-helping-scots-1.158238
- ↑ "How futsal can help save Scottish football | Blog | Sport | STV". Sport. 2011-11-30. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
- ↑ "The SFA and SAFA will partner with the FPL to launch a futsal initiative in Scotland that should really help put futsal back on the map in Scotland.". November 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
- ↑ "Scotland set for Futsal festival". UEFA. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
- ↑ "International Futsal Tournaments". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
External links
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