Help fund the National Amputee team’s first ever home international match

• Scotland Amputees take on The Netherlands for what will be the national team’s first ever home international fixture
• Hosted by new charity Amputee Football Association Scotland (AFAS), fans are being asked to help crowdfund the costs of hosting the tournament

SD Scotland have teamed up with newly formed charity Amputee Football Association Scotland and are asking fans to help fund the national side's international debut on home soil. Scotland Amputees will face The Netherlands on 28 October, for what will be the side’s first ever home international game.

While amputee football is already popular in England and across the world, until recently it did not exist north of the Border. 

Now we've teamed up with the AFAS in a bid to crowdfund the costs associated with hosting the international tournament – from venue hire, player accommodation, officials’ fees and travel costs to family entertainment and strips.  

Funds raised during this campaign will also go towards the charity’s newly launched #LegOffGameOn Amputee Football Roadshow, a nationwide development programme aimed at delivering amputee football taster sessions at clubs across Scotland to encourage uptake in the discipline. 

AFAS launched amputee football as a pilot project in partnership with Partick Thistle Community Trust in Glasgow in summer 2016. The game proved hugely popular, attracting enormous media attention and public empathy and a full senior and junior squad now enjoy training at Firhill. The aim is to create Scotland’s own amputee football league. 

The charity enjoys the backing of its ambassador Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill MBE who visited Partick Thistle Amputees as guest coach last year and has supported the growth of the sport in Scotland.  Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon and Jags boss Alan Archibald have also championed the cause in recent months.

• Contribute towards the campaign here

Have your say on Hate Crime Legislation in Scottish Football

SD Scotland have been invited to participate in the consultation exercise Lord Bracadale is currently undertaking as part of his independent review of hate crime legislation (including the Offensive Behaviour Act) in Scotland.  Your response within this survey will help ensure that supporters' views are represented in a meaningful way and that the recommendations Lord Bracadale makes to Scottish Ministers in Spring 2018 are fully informed.

SD Scotland will present evidence collated from Scottish Supporters Network members at a Parliamentary scrutiny of the Offensive Behaviour Act on the 3rd of October. 

• Complete the survey here.

2017 Scottish Football Supporters Survey Results Revealed

• Value for money considered, “the biggest threat to the future of the game in the next five years”
• Nearly 14,000 submissions to 2017 survey, in partnership with Scottish FA & SPFL
• Results presented to Scottish FA’s Professional Game Board, disseminated to all 42 pro clubs
• Governing bodies have committed to listening and engaging with supporters
• Ticket pricing, kick off times and the relationship fans have with their clubs considered to be the three most important factors in decision to attend a game
• Fans don’t believe Scottish football is committed to a high-quality fan experience (over 55% either disagree or strongly disagree)

Amongst the key headlines from this year’s consultation, which engaged around 14,000 fans via almost every club in Scotland, are that supporters do not believe the admission price for games in Scotland represents value for money.

• See the full results here.
• Continue reading here.
  
  

Independent Review of alleged non-recent child sexual abuse in Scottish football

An Independent Review Team looking at the cases of alleged non-recent child sexual abuse in Scottish football have contacted SD Scotland stating they believe it is important that football supporters are offered an opportunity to make a constructive contribution to the review.

The contribution invited should focus on what changes and improvements supporters think need to be made to make our national game safer (bearing in mind the Review concerns matters of sexual abuse and harm) for children and young people at all levels including those who are on a pathway to elite participation and the professional game.

• Complete the survey here

Is it time the broadcasters gave fans a better deal?

Scrolling through social media as everyone does these days, I came across a fan asking his followers “will match X definitely be on the date set? Away to try and book cheap train tickets but don’t want to miss out in case it is moved for TV?” Is it now accepted common practice for broadcasters to reschedule games at late notice, leaving numerous fans out of pocket who had already purchased and arranged travel for the match? At Supporters Direct Scotland we believe that more should be done to give fans a helping hand when it comes to attending matches.....

• Continue reading here.
  
  

Fans invited to give their views on the prospect of community ownership at their clubs

Following a reward of funding to test the feasibility of a ‘Fans Bank’ to help fund community ownership buy outs of professional clubs, SD Scotland have launched a survey targeted at Supporters Trusts and clubs to gage their interest in community ownership at their club via a social investment fund, under the proposed name of ‘Sports Funder’.

• Complete the survey here.

SD Scotland Response to Offensive Behaviour Act Repeal

SD Scotland have submitted a response to the Justice Committee regarding the repeal of the Offensive Behaviour Act. The response has been informed by data and policy derived from three key avenues;

1) The Scottish Football Supporters Survey 2017

2) A more specific follow up survey in response to the questions included in the Repeal document and

3) The organisation’s lines of policy which it has developed over a number of years and through its time working to represent supporters.

In the interests of transparency, we have published our response to the document on our website. 

• Continue reading here.

From The Network

One of our objectives as an organisation is to help better connect fans and fan groups with one another. Here we share news from across our network. 

• Supporters Direct call for football reform
• Well Society Proposal Share Sale
• SPFL attendances show Scottish football is more than just Celtic and Rangers
• Tartan Army footsoldiers make away days a charity mission as Sunshine Appeal leaves life-changing legacy
• Why Annan Athletic Chose A Cooperative Sports Model
• SPFL support Rainbow Laces campaign

Promotions

To help off set some of the costs involved in the management and maintenance of the Scottish Supporters Network, we will list deals we believe may be of interest to you. 

• FIFA 18 Pre-Order Offer
• Save Money on Your Football Travels and get £10 cashback on your fuel purchases