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Today, David Little, National Secretary of the Scottish Youth FA, takes a seat on the bench and shares his views with us...
G: How long have you been in your current role?
D: Nine years.
G: When did you first get involved in amateur football and what were you doing?
D: Approximately 30 years ago as a youth club coach.
G: What amateur teams have you been involved in and in what capacity?
D: Kirktonholme Swifts as a youth coach and then Club Secretary.
G: Do you feel the amateur football scene has changed since you first became involved with it?
D: Yes, most definitely, and for the better.
G: Do you have a favourite amateur team and why is it your favourite?
D: All amateur teams because they provide football for recreational grassroots players.
G: What’s your most memorable moment in amateur football?
D: Participating as a coach with my team in the quarter final of the 14s Scottish Cup.
G: What do you think about the quality of amateur football?
D: It covers the complete spectrum of abilities and is all inclusive for players
G: Which team provided the best post-match hospitality? (who served the best pies?)
D: Rolls Royce East Kilbride.
G: What was the last game you watched?
D: Lady Darling Cup Final 2008.
G: What was the last game you played in?
D: Oxford Works League sometime in the 70s.
G: If you had 3 wishes, what would you change about Scottish amateur football?
D: (1) Funding and support from Government; (2) Facilities for training and matches; and (3) Greater recognition of volunteers within our grade of football.
G: What do you think about summer football?
D: Happy to discuss but we need Local Authorities to radically change their views on facilities and any discussions need to centre around the needs of volunteers participation
G: Have you any views about the relationship of the professional game to the amateur game?
D: The professional game needs to have a greater understanding of the grassroots game
G: What do you think the future holds for Scottish amateur football?
D: I think the future can be bright as long as we continue to progress both the game and its volunteers. Currently Scotland has a falling population, between 2000 and 2020 the male population at age 15 will have dropped by 20% so we need to grasp certain nettles and deal with them.
G: Have you any views on super leagues? Do you think they are a good idea?
D: Super leagues could be both good and bad, good for the players of the highest standard but bad for clubs below this level as players will migrate to the super league clubs leaving other clubs frantically searching for players to keep their clubs going
G: What do you think about Community Hubs (NB not Community Clubs)?
D: If they increase the standard of facility they need to be encouraged and any savings arising from hubs must be reinvested into upgrading other facilities especially training facilities which are very limited
G: Have you any comments on grounds and facilities?
D: There has been a lack of investment in Scotland’s facilities over a great number of years, the last 2 sportscotland audits on swimming pools and facilities highlighted a required investment of £6 billion to bring both up to an acceptable standard, not a world class standard an acceptable standard.
G: Do you think there is adequate provision of development courses & funding for them?
D: We need to firstly identify the needs of our volunteers and players before we look at any programmes. Funding will always be an issue as clubs struggle to survive with increased costs.
G: What do you think about the SAFA Select team – how do you think it could be developed?
D: Good for the players involved.
G: Are there any other comments you would like to make?
D: Best wishes to all volunteers and officials who keep grassroots football alive.
Thanks very much for taking part, David. Some interesting comments there - everyone seems to have the same problems with facilities and pitches. Hope the SYFA had a good season and best wishes for season 2008/09 from everyone here at SAFA. |
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