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The Scottish Amateur Football Association (SAFA) is the organising body for amateur football across Scotland. An affiliate of the Scottish Football Association, the SAFA has in turn 50 regional associations affiliated to it and some 67 different league competitions organised by these associations. There is estimated to be over 35,000 amateur footballers in Scotland, and all of their competitions are co-ordinated at some level by the Scottish Amateur Football Association. The SAFA was formed in 1909 with the purpose of legislating for and fostering the amateur level of football in Scotland. One amateur league is a member of the SFA instead of the SAFA - the North Caledonian Football League. ==History== The Scottish Amateur Football Association (SAFA) was formed in 1909. After an initial meeting held in February, attended by eighty clubs from throughout Scotland, Queen's Park, Glasgow & District FP Football League and the Glasgow & District Secondary Schools League met and agreed on the Association's formation. James Allison, President of Queens Park FC, took the chair. The first office bearers were appointed in January 1910. On 28 May 1909, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) discussed a request for membership to the body from the SAFA. This was referred to the Special Committee who reported back in November of that year that a decision would be deferred until a full list of SAFA member clubs was submitted for approval. At this time five SAFA clubs had applied for direct membership of the SFA. It was not at all unusual to have joint membership as it permitted clubs to participate in competitions organised by the SFA. It is less common today, although amateur clubs such as Burntisland Shipyard and Glasgow University retain dual membership. At a meeting on 14 December 1909, the SFA approved the membership of the SAFA. The SAFA AGM in May 1914 reported three Associations and thirty two clubs in membership, and the Treasurer advised the Association was £21.00 in credit. The first round of the Scottish Cup was set for 16 January 1915, but amateur football literally stopped for the duration of the war. In October 1917, the SAFA advised the SFA that it was dormant as it had only one club in membership. At the May 1919 AGM, there were three Associations and forty three clubs in membership. By October 1919, twenty-three new clubs had entered the Association though five others had dropped out. In December 1926, the SFA announced that they would be altering their Articles of Association. This meant that, from season 1927/28, the Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) and the SAFA were to be National Associations affiliated to the SFA. Each Association would be given a vote at SFA Council Meetings and the SFA was to set up an Appeals Committee to deal with appeals from each body. Due to the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, the SFA declared all football in Scotland be suspended but minor associations could continue. During the war years an Emergency Committee was formed to run the SAFA affairs. By 1943, twelve Associations/Leagues had rejoined the SAFA including Lothian AFA, the Scottish Amateur Football League, the West of Scotland AFA, and ninety-eight teams entered a "West Cup". The 1945 AGM attracted only fourteen Associations/Leagues and was not quorate though by July that year it was agreed to restart Scottish and District Cups together with the Under 18 and Under 16 national competitions. Immediately after the war, most Leagues and Associations struggled to resurrect and made stuttering progress caused by loss of personnel, lack of equipment and kit, problems due to travel, effects of rationing. The SAFA AGM of 1946 saw thirty-seven delegates attend and there were 126 entries for the Scottish Cup. The 1950 AGM saw membership rise to 58 Associations/ Leagues with 822 clubs and 242 Youth teams. A record 259 entries for the Scottish Cup in 1962 was exceeded in 1965 when 284 entered. At the 1970 AGM, there were 61 Associations/Leagues and 1,100 clubs in membership, while there were 413 entries for the Scottish Amateur Cup and the Association funds stood at £3,694.75. Throughout the 1980s the SAFA grew at a great pace, and at the end of the decade it had 150 Associations/Leagues with 2,950 clubs and 3,700 teams. Between 1975 and 1983 the Association had doubled in size. This growth was due in the main to the popularity of Sunday football and the rapid growth of youth football. The Scottish Cup entries had reached 802, with 650 for the Famous Grouse Scotch Whisky Amateur Football Trophy. The 100th year (2008/09) started with an entry of 598 teams for the Scottish Amateur Cup, despite falling numbers still the largest football competition in the country and continued on a bright financial note when a sponsorship agreement was signed with Scottish Brewers, using the brand name Fosters, for the Scottish Amateur Cup and the Scottish Amateur Sunday Trophy for a two-year period with an option for a further year. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Scottish Amateur Football Association」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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