2010 Annual report - Scottish Football Association

01 introduction:
A Review of the Season
01 introduction
THE past year is, sadly, best
remembered for the worst reasons
on the field. Failure to attain at
least a play-off place in the World
Cup qualification campaign was
compounded by off-field incidents
that did little to lift the air of
despondency.
Qualification from a seemingly
favourable draw in Group 9 failed to
materialise, with Holland enjoying a
comfortable procession to the finals.
The year began with a disappointing
3-0 defeat to Holland in Amsterdam,
a result compounded by the now
infamous misbehaviour at Cameron
House Hotel and the resultant
recriminations that provided an
unnecessary cloud to an already
turbulent campaign.
Scotland recovered resiliently with a
2-1 win against Iceland at Hampden
but a 4-0 defeat to Norway in Oslo,
with Scotland reduced to 10 men,
merely confirmed the rollercoaster
nature of a seemingly cursed
campaign. The squad avenged
the opening day defeat against
Macedonia in Skopje with a 2-0 win
at Hampden in September.
It provided a flicker of hope for a
late salvage act against Holland four
days later but there would be no full
recovery, with Bert van Marwijk’s side
scoring the only goal of a tense and
gripping match.
While the Scottish FA remained
supportive of George Burley, the
disappointing qualification outcome
was exacerbated by two friendly
defeats to Japan and Wales that did
not augur well for the future.
The subsequent appointment of
Craig Levein represents a watershed
for the national team. The former
Dundee United manager has the
respect of the Scotland supporters,
the players and the media. Victory
against the Czech Republic at
Hampden Park in March helped
harmonise and reinvigorate the
squad and gives everyone renewed
optimism for a more prosperous
Euro 2012 qualification campaign.
Spain and Czech Republic represent
formidable opposition, Lithuania
are familiar foes while Liechtenstein
cannot be underestimated.
The recruitment of a new national
coach is not the only significant
development in the Scottish FA’s
evolution. The first victory of the new
era was achieved with the team
wearing a fantastic new kit as part
of our new sponsorship deal with
adidas, arguably the most famous
brand in world football.
An unprecedented television deal
with IMG will commence later
this year, worth in excess of £50m
over four years, and will enable
the Scottish FA to continue its
commitment to improving the game
from grassroots to senior level. The
formation of a new National Player
Pathway will give players across
the country a more consistent
development route from their early
touches to elite aspiration.
Michael Oliver has joined Craig’s
backroom team as national
scout, while the Scottish FA has
also appointed a new Head of
Commercial Operations, Kenny
MacLeod, and a new Head of
Communications, Darryl Broadfoot.
In domestic cup competition,
Rangers successfully defended
the Scottish Cup, defeating Falkirk
1-0 in May of Homecoming year
courtesy of a spectacular Nacho
Novo strike. The sponsorship deal
with the Scottish Government and
Willie Haughey, the chairman of City
Refrigeration, has been a resounding
success and has continued this year
with the Active Nation brand.
With our many youth initiatives
thriving through our partners,
the Scottish FA is confident of a
prosperous 2010.
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SCOTTISH FA
SCOTTISH FA
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