Scottish Amateur Football Association - 1990 - 1999 Development, Disillusionment & Disappointment

1999 Development, Disillusionment & Disappointment

1990 started with the SAFA discussing whether to continue with the Scottish Sunday Trophy as so many teams were withdrawing from ties. A Questionnaire on Cautions was sent to all Associations/Leagues and the introduction of VAT on fees would see increases across the board at the start of season 1990/91. R Hay, Past President of the SAFA, was awarded a Long Service Medal by the SFA. In November 1990, it became apparent that the SFA were discussing the future of Scottish Football which might have a far reaching effect on the SAFA. In addition the SFA Development Officer, Andy Roxburgh, had issued a document on Youth Football and joint meetings were held between the various bodies concerned who were asked to report back. Numerous changes were to be made to current practice including no 11–a-side until Under 12, smaller pitches and goals, more substitutes permitted, a smaller ball to be used and 7-a-side for up to Under 11s to be introduced.

Towards the end of the year the SAFA lent its support to Queens Park when it was mooted a new national stadium be built elsewhere in Scotland. Dundee Sunday Welfare AFA celebrated its 25th Anniversary before the year was out, and early in 1992 another Sunday Association, Maybury AFA, celebrated their 20th Anniversary.

By the time of the 1992 AGM there was mixed news for the SAFA when, firstly the SFA offered rent free office accommodation and facilities for the Secretary for at least two years but secondly, at the Scottish Sunday Trophy Final, Matthew Gloag & Co stunned the company when they announced their sponsorship would cease forthwith. Further bad news followed when Tennent Caledonian Brewers said they would not be continuing their sponsorship of the Scottish Cup. Frantic discussion with Matthew Gloag & Co saw them agreeing to sponsor the Scottish Sunday Trophy for a further season before a review, and with a twist in the tail the company expressed an interest in sponsoring the Scottish Cup.

In January 1993 it was agreed to advertise not only for a Secretary but also a clerkess and 160 applicants were received for the post of Secretary. After a short leet Arthur Duncan, a retired police inspector, accepted the post and started on 5th January 1994.

James Brown, a director of Stranraer FC who had offered the SAFA a cup in 1984,

left £250.00 to the SAFA in his Will and some time later it was agreed it be used to replace a Youth Competition trophy. In February 1992 the sad news that the Glasgow & District FP AFL was folding came with a simple telephone call from their President. Indeed a disappointing end for a founding Association of the SAFA in 1909. The League’s various cups and trophies were taken in for safe keeping by the SAFA in the hope that the League might be restarted. In August 1993, due to the scarcity of dates available for possible replays it was agreed that for one year only the Scottish Cup ties would be one game played to a finish. At different dates during that year West Lothian AFA celebrated their 25th Anniversary and Giffnock North Afc their 50th,

In January 1994, Secretary Arthur Duncan attended his first Council meeting and Hugh Knapp was appointed Treasurer. From the following season the SFA announced that a named goalkeeper and three substitutes would be permitted.