MSP John Park has condemned a decision by football authorities to stop staging Scotland’s Amateur Cup final at Hampden Park, as he feels it will deprive many players of their dream.
The Mid-Scotland and Fife member told The Courier that he has raised concerns in the Scottish Parliament about the decision by Hampden Park Ltd the body charged by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to run the national stadium to deny Scottish amateur footballers their cup final dream.
There are around 35,000 registered amateur footballers in Scotland, and for many their dream will be to play on that famous turf.
Mr Park, a former player with Dunfermline team Brucefield (now Rosebank Rangers), said the decision is “very disappointing.”
He said, “I spoke to amateur footballers in Fife and got to know about this.
“There is an online campaign to protest against the move.
“This decision will affect a lot of teams in Fife and Tayside.
“It is poor that if you’re an amateur player you can’t hope to play at Hampden Park at some point in your career.”
He added, “What is the point of this decision?
“What is the point of having a national football stadium that was refurbished at considerable cost, which isn’t used very often, and then deciding that our footballers can’t play their cup final there?
“Hampden is Scotland’s national stadium.
“Every young footballer dreams of running out onto the pitch at Hampden.
“Why should the dream be just for the professional footballers?
“I’ve played in the amateur leagues and the Scottish Cup for Brucefield and I know the whole set-up is reliant upon thousands of players and volunteers who give up their time for the love of the game.
“I’ve put a motion down in parliament today calling on the SFA to show its commitment to these people to ensure that Hampden Park Ltd retain the cup final at our national stadium.
“They should reverse this decision without delay.
“I still go to sportsmen’s dinners at my former club in Dunfermline and try to do my bit for the amateurs.
“I find this decision disappointing.” Cambusnethan Talbot club secretary Steven Kidd put www.roadtohampden.org.uk together and said he wants the SFA to reverse the decision.
Mr Kidd said, “This is a terrible situation for the most prestigious trophy in Scottish amateur football.
“It’s not just about actually running out at Hampden on the day it’s the possibility of doing it that makes this so important.
“There are nearly 35,000 registered amateur footballers in Scotland and, for most, playing at Hampden has to be a major dream.”
A Hampden Park Ltd spokesman said that the decision was taken due to major events being held there in the coming years.
He said, “We have the football matches as part of the Olympic games in 2012 and then the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
“Subsequently given that and the state of the pitch at Hampden Park a decision was taken that we could not hold the Scottish Amateur Cup final here any more.
“We did offer the Amateur FA an alternative date this year but were told this was not suitable.”