Scotland Information Please

Heyy Bhoys!

I'm from Australia but am moving to Europe for 6 months next year. I am interested in Scottish football as I have a friend of a friend who used to play for Motherwell some years ago. I won't lie, he is trying to open up a few doors for me in Scotland to get some trials with some professional clubs. My main question about Scotland is what leagues, other than the SPL is professional? From my research I know you have four divisions in total yeah? But are they all professional? I looked at some crowd figures and it seemed a bit unlikely that with only 1000 - 3000 people attending games the leagues and clubs could survive professionally. Anyway, I would be greatly appreciative if someone could clarify for me how many leagues in Scotland are pro. Thankyou. By the way, C'MON CELTIC!! haha!

League

League football in Scotland is split between the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football Leagues. Beneath these leagues is a system of regional semi-professional and amateur leagues.


Scottish Premier League

The Scottish Premier League (SPL) is the top league in Scotland, and consists of a single division of 12 teams. It has existed since 1998 (before then the top league was the Premier Division of the Scottish Football League). This league has one of the worlds's most famous football rivalries; between Rangers Football Club and Celtic Football Club. Together the two clubs are known as the 'Old Firm' by virtue of the profitability of their rivalry. Both teams have won more awards than other teams such as Real Madrid and AC Milan who struggle to keep up with the Old Firm with League Wins (Rangers have 51 league championships and Celtic have 40. Rangers have won more trophies than any other club in the world.

Scottish Football League

The Scottish Football League resides below the SPL, and consists of three divisions, each of 10 teams.

Teams are relegated and promoted between the divisions, but relegation from the Third Division does not occur. The top team in the First Division is eligible for promotion to the SPL, but in the past some teams have been unable to do so due to not meeting the stadium requirements. Previously, requirements were that clubs had to have 10,000 seats in their ground, but this was changed to 6,000. Clubs must also have undersoil heating systems to enable them to thaw out their pitch on days of cold temperature.

hmmm thanks. So I think I get what your saying. Every team in the SPL and SFL are professional? So SPL, SFL, Division 2 and Division 3 are all professional, and after that their is some semi - pro teams plus amateur teams that play in more localised leagues around Scotland?

SPL is all professional, the Scottish First Division has a mixture of pro and semi pro teams. Then 2nd and 3rd are all mainly semi-pro, amateur.

Rightio thanks Moravcik for clearning that up.

There is only 1 amatuer team in the top 4 Scottish Divisions, Queens Park. All Division 1 teams are pro and most Division 2 & 3 teams are semi-pro.

Are you sure mate? well in that case they are all mainlysemi-pro!!! All the players have jobs outside of football...