By Travis Mills
travis@canucks-abroad.com

Scotland
In the footballing world, England is regarded as home to one of the
best leagues (and systems) in the world. While the neighbours to the
north in Scotland, is often joked as being a two-horse race, this is
perpetuated by that fact only two clubs have won the league since
1985, and 92 of 111 total. The success of Rangers and Celtic has been
well documented domestically and internationally; however lesser known
clubs can often be used a springboard into Europe, or at the very
least ‘a foot in the door’. The Scottish League is currently ranked
10th in UEFA coefficients, with a 30.5 rating, sandwiched between
Russia and Ukraine.

The Scottish League system includes four tiers, with the Scottish
Premier League being the highest division, followed by First, Second
and Third Divisions. The Premier League is compiled of 12 teams, with
the last place team being relegated at the end of each year. The top
two teams advance to the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, the
third place team enters the UEFA Cup qualifying, and finally the
fourth place team is entered into the Intertoto Cup (To be
discontinued after 2008). The First division has 10 teams, the first
place team is automatically promoted to the Premier League. The bottom
half of the division has the last place team relegated, with the ninth
place team entered into a playoff with the second, third and fourth
place teams in the Second division. This process is also repeated in
the third division and final division.

The Scottish leagues are the home to some notable Canucks Abroad with CMNT regular Richard Hastings marshalling the back line at Inverness Caley-Thistle. Kilmarnock's Rhian Dodds has also been in and around the MNT without actually earning a cap todate. Some younger talent is also in the system there, not least U23/U20 player Keegan Ayre. Currently on loan at Berwick Rangers in the 3rd Division, the Hibernian player projects to be an international for the full senior national team.

Wales
Another neighbour to the giant of England, is the western land of
Wales. The League of Wales is the highest division in the Welsh league
system, and consists of 18 teams. The top two teams gain entry into
the first qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League, the third
place squad enters the soon-to-be-defunct Intertoto Cup. The bottom
two teams are relegated into the second tier, which is either the
Cymru Alliance (North and Central) or the Welsh First Division
(South), depending on the geographical location of the teams in
question. However, promotion by the two league winners is dependent on
the approval of their application, in which they must meet minimum
Premiership grounds standards for their stadium.
In 2005, Welsh football was thrust into the spotlight when league
winners TNS faced off against English giants Liverpool in the first
qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Wales is currently
among the lowest nations in UEFA coefficients, a 1.998 rating puts
them at 47th of 53, in front of the Faroe Islands and right behind??

Wales currently has former U20 player Dylan Hughes and his brother Kevin playing at Rhyl FC in the Weksh Premier League.

Northern Ireland
One of the smallest football league systems in Western Europe is
situated in Northern Ireland. The current 16-team Premier League is
slated to be reduced to 12 teams following the 2007-08 season, based
on numerous factors for each organization both on and off the field.
The league system itself currently consists of 4 tiers, the bottom
team in each division is relegated to the lower division, while the
first place team in the lower division is promoted automatically. The
second place team in the lower division, plays a play-off with the
second to last place team in the upper division to determine who will
compete in the higher division the following season. The first place
team also earns entry into the first qualifying round of the UEFA
Champions League, the second place team earns the same distinction
into the UEFA Cup, while the third team competes in the Intertoto Cup.
Northern Ireland has a 2.165 UEFA Coefficient, putting them in 46th
place overall.

Northern Ireland currently has only Ian Mannus - Ballyclare Comrades (Irish First Division) (2) on loan from Glentoran (Irish Premier League) (1) plying his trade.

Complete List of Players in the Celtic Territory:

Scotland
Rhian Dodds - Kilmarnock (Scottish Premier League) (1)
Richard Hastings - Inverness CT (Scottish Premier League) (1)
Nik Giannotta - Hibernian (Scottish Premier League) (1) U19
Jake Inglis - Inverness CT (Scottish Premier League) (1) U19
Robert Adam - Heart of Midlothian (Scottish Premier League) (1) U19

Keegan Ayre - Beswick Rangers (Scottish Second Division) (2)
on loan from Hibernian (Scottish Premier League) (1)

Wales
John Toner - The New Saints (Welsh Premier League) (1)
Dylan Hughes - Rhyl (Welsh Premier League) (1)

Jeff MacLean - Barry Town (Welsh Second Division) (2)

Northern Ireland
Ian Mannus - Ballyclare Comrades (Irish First Division) (2)
on loan from Glentoran (Irish Premier League) (1)