Football in Scotland

Football in Scotland
Man in blue Scotland shirt playing football against man in yellow shirt with 11 on his back
Scott Brown dummies Neymar of Brazil, 2011
CountryScotland
Governing bodyScottish Football Association
National team(s)Men's national team
First played1873; 151 years ago (1873)
ClubsScottish Professional Football League
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions

Association football (Scots: fitbaa, Scottish Gaelic: ball-coise) is one of the national sports of Scotland[1] and the most popular sport in the country.[2] There is a long tradition of "football" games in Orkney, Lewis and southern Scotland, especially the Scottish Borders, although many of these include carrying the ball and passing by hand, and despite bearing the name "football" bear little resemblance to association football.[3][4][5]

Founded in 1873,[6] Scotland has the second oldest national Football Association in the world (behind England's FA), and has various professional and amateur levels. The trophy for the national cup, the Scottish Cup, is the oldest national sporting trophy in the world.[7] Scotland and Scottish football clubs hold many records for football attendances.

  1. ^ "Football - Talent Scotland". TalentScotland. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  2. ^ Scotland's Sport
  3. ^ "Scotland's amazing role in football's success". The Scotsman. 29 June 2006. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  4. ^ Barclay, Patrick (11 August 2013). "After 150 years the truth: Scotland invented football". The Independent. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  5. ^ Spence, Jim (25 March 2011). "Jim Spence: Should Scottish football go back to go forward?". BBC. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Scottish FA > About". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Scottish Cup > History & Archives". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 13 February 2013.