Getting To Know Football

Widely reported as the most popular sport in the world, Football is Scotland’s national sport. The origins of Association Football are unclear as there are many claims to the birth of the sport. As far back as Ancient Greece, the sport Episkyros was played between two teams which the objective of getting a ball into an opponent’s goal. In modern times, the Foot-Ball Club of Edinburgh claims to have played the first games in 1824. The first officially recognized football match was between Sheffield FC and Hallam FC on 26th December 1860. The first recognised international match took place in 1872 between Scotland and England which ended 0-0.

While there are many variations of Football, the most widely offered at colleges and universities is Association Football which consists of two teams of eleven players each. However, many institutions offer 5 A Side and Futsal clubs for those looking for a different way to play the beautiful game.

Scotland’s universities have a rich history in Scottish Football. Both the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow competed in the third-ever Scottish Cup, all the way back in the 1878-79 season. Stirling University first competed in the 2016 Scottish Women’s Cup and made it to the Quarter Finals before losing to eventual finalists Glasgow City.

Currently, the University of Stirling is the highest-ranked university in the Scottish League system. The men’s team compete in the Lowland League, the fifth tier of Scotland, where they claimed their highest league finish of 2nd in the 2013/14 season. In the 2022/23 season, they reached the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, where they were defeated 3-0 by former two-time cup winners Dundee United. University of Stirling’s W.F.C play in the SWPL 2, the second tier of Scotland. They played in the SWPL 1, the highest tier, as recently as 2019 and reached a record-high placement of 4th in the 2015 & 2016 seasons.

There are a number of Scottish Student Sport-affiliated events for those who want to join a football society. There are the SSS Conference Finals, Queen’s Park Shield and College National Finals. University teams also take part in the BUCS Football League, with fixtures played on Wednesdays. To apply to your college/university football club, click the following links:

 

Abertay University: https://www.abertay.ac.uk/life/abertay-sport/university-sports-union/football/

City of Glasgow College: https://www.citysa.co.uk/get-involved/sports-societies/sport/mens-football/

Edinburgh College: https://twitter.com/ecsportsunion?lang=en

Edinburgh Napier (Men’s): https://www.napierstudents.com/organisation/sports/napierfootballmen/

Edinburgh Napier (Women’s): https://www.napierstudents.com/organisation/sports/napierfootballwomen/

Fife College (Men’s): http://www.fc-sa.net/clubs

Fife College (Women’s): http://www.fc-sa.net/clubs

Glasgow Caledonian University (Men’s): https://www.gcustudents.co.uk/groups/football-men-s-1f8e

Glasgow Caledonian University (Women’s): https://www.gcustudents.co.uk/groups/football-women-s-9cf6

Heriot-Watt University: https://sportsunion.site.hw.ac.uk/football/

Queen Margaret University (Men’s): https://www.qmusu.org.uk/groups/football-men-s-9d49

Queen Margaret University (Women’s): https://www.qmusu.org.uk/groups/football-women-s-4c8c

RGU: https://www.rguunion.co.uk/getinvolved/societies/football/

Scotland’s Rural College: https://www.srucsa.org.uk/clubs-societies/

University of Aberdeen (Men’s): https://www.ausa.org.uk/sports/club/aufc/

University of Aberdeen (Women’s): https://www.ausa.org.uk/sports/club/6476/

University of Dundee (Men’s): https://sportsunion.dundee.ac.uk/clubs/football-men/

University of Dundee (Women’s): https://sportsunion.dundee.ac.uk/clubs/football-women/

University of Edinburgh (Men’s): https://www.eusu.ed.ac.uk/organisation/footballmen/

University of Edinburgh (Women’s): https://www.eusu.ed.ac.uk/organisation/footballwomen/

University of Glasgow (Men’s): https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/sport/whatson/club/footballmen/

University of Glasgow (Women’s): https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/sport/whatson/club/footballwomen/

University of St. Andrews: https://football.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/

University of Stirling (Men’s): https://www.stirlingstudentsunion.com/sportsunion/clubs/mensfootball/

University of Stirling (Women’s): https://www.stirlingstudentsunion.com/sportsunion/clubs/womensfootball/

University of Strathclyde (Men’s): https://www.strathunion.com/sports-union/club-sport/club/6580/

University of Strathclyde (Women’s): https://www.strathunion.com/sports-union/club-sport/club/6592/

UWS (Ayr): https://www.facebook.com/teamUWSonline/

UWS (Lanarkshire): https://www.facebook.com/teamUWSonline/

UWS (Paisley): https://www.facebook.com/UWS.PaisleyFootball/

 

Sports Chair: Filippo Antoniazzi – f.antoniazzi@rgu.ac.uk

Governing Body: Scottish Football Association – https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/

Follow us at: https://twitter.com/scotstufootball?lang=en

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