“Football is nothing without fans” – Jock Stein
On 17 August, as the opening headline event of this year’s Festival of Politics, Scotland’s Futures Forum and the Real Radio Football Phone-in Show will co-host an event providing football fans – alongside big names from the Scottish game – the opportunity to debate the future of Scottish football, live on Real Radio.
It has been over a decade since our national team last qualified for a major tournament, and with similarly populated countries such as Uruguay and Paraguay doing so well at the World Cup, the question has to be asked – where are we going wrong?
There are a number of factors which can be attributed to our lack of success, and this Festival event will provide the fans a platform to give their views on why Scotland no longer seems to produce footballing talent such as Dalglish, Baxter, Johnstone or Bremner.
In these days of the “Playstation Generation” do issues such as: a lack of facilities; coaching infrastructure; funding for grassroots football; and physical education and team sports in school, all contribute to our inability to produce young players who can make our national team great again? We may lay claim to be one of the inventors of football but do we need to look to the academies in France and Spain to teach us how to nurture the talent of young players?
Also, given our inclement climate, is there an argument for football at all levels being played during our ‘summer’ months? Nothing can be more unappealing for our young players, parents, and fans than standing in the howling wind and pouring rain, when in this day and age there are so many other activities competing for our time, interest and money. With better weather comes better pitches and better players, or so the argument goes. What do our fans think of this?
At senior domestic level there are also questions to be asked about the state of our national game. Many fans will agree that the quality of Scottish football is as poor as it has ever been and that the cost of attending SPL games is over-priced in relation to what is on offer. With ever-dwindling crowds, how do we reverse this decline? Do we need league reconstruction? Are there too many clubs? Should we reorganise lower leagues on a geographical basis?
There are so many questions that need to be addressed regarding our national obsession. Now, at this year’s Festival of Politics, is the time for our fans to have their say.
For an opportunity to participate in the “Scotland’s Political Football?” event, please visit the Real Radio website, by Sunday 8 August 2010.
Michel Platini commented during the World Cup that it was no surprise Spain, Holland and Germany were 3 of the 4 semi finalists as they have the best structures in world football. They encourage gifted players to play 3 a side initially, adding a player each year as they progress in age and ultimately encouraging flair and talent as opposed to strength and stamina alone. Does this result perhaps in more Robbens, David Villas & Xavis instead of Robbings, David Sideofabrickhouses & Chav’s . As a teacher, I often wonder why Scottish clubs and the Scottish Government are not investing in more football festivals at the Primary School level, allowing youngsters to enjoy the beautiful game? There are many teachers and parents who are ready and willing to invest time and energy in such schemes but are hampered by a lack of support and an infrastucture in which to do so.
With primary schools barely managing more that 2 or 4 ‘periods’ of PE in a week it is no wonder that any sport does not summon much enthusiasm. The younger generation must be taught at school the basic concepts of sportmanship, i.e. training, improving, trying your best, and the camaraderie and enjoyment of competition.
Competition is distinct from inclusion, and will always be, so there is a need to grow up from the educators/trainers side and make the clear distinction in our heads and it will become so for the younger folk. Some PE sessions should by default be inclusive and forment cooperation; some should be competitive and and train young people to win and lose – the role of the educator/teacher/trainer is different in these circumstances and the approach must change.
Personally, I am not a fan of football, in fact I am now pretty much against it, now that I have seen what it represents for so many. There is no way I would watch it on TV or support a team; but I’d gladly play a few friendly or competitive games, keepie uppies, 1-on-1, 5-aside, or the whole court 22-people experience, and not break into a fight if on the losing side, or dive to get a penalty – but try my damned hardest to play well and enjoy it.
Indeed, I say 11-v-11 because, no, I would not need a referee to tell me whether what I or someone else did was against the rules – it should be pretty obvious. If it isn’t obvious, well maybe the players should go back to training. The fact there’s a referee in-built in every game is a political message: it makes footballers want to circumvent the rules. It is the perfect transposition for a bunch of unruly kids making fun of the teacher, testing who will get caught out.
Maybe one way forwards would be to phase out referees out of football (professional and amateur), and altogther cancel games that can’t proceed in order? It would be a lot of trauma, but maybe different values might surface. Or maybe retire all current footballers earning more than the national average that can’t play a straight game without a shout match or referees? – surely they have something yet to learn about society and should not help to skew it’s unfairness even more.
Obviously, I am taking the mickey, but compared professional footballers, I’ll gladly excuse myself and foul again.
As a disclaimer, I am not a sports professional, but a youth worker, and in 10+ odd years of youth work in Scotland, I can see that culturally, most young people are expected by the age of 5 to ‘support’ a team, i.e. a loud and clear message from the adult world to take a back seat, watch the older players at it, moan and groan if they fail, and start lambasting – with adult approval – anyone who supports any other team.
So, football – a great obsession. Why it fails to deliver young sportspersons (and I skip discussing the inherent sexism) it neither rocket science, nor complex politics. At least playstation games have some rules.