logo
King's old school launches football partnership with professional club in Dubai

King's old school launches football partnership with professional club in Dubai

Gordonstoun, a private boarding school in Moray, has also committed to local partnerships with rugby and football leagues to increase competition and strengthen community links.
The school was founded by a Jewish refugee who fled Nazi Germany and alumni include the King and Prince Philip and David Bowie's son, Duncan Bowie, but around a third of pupils attend on a form of scholarship.
The school revealed plans to work with professional football club Gulf United, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which is led by an ex-pupil, Mohamed Al Rais.
He hailed the school as a 'rich tapestry of nationalities' and said that football was a force for 'unity'.
Plans include an exchange programme between Gordonstoun students and young footballers at the club, and education-based football programmes which will allow students to experience what it is like to be a professional footballer while continuing their studies.
The club also has scholarships, helping talented student-athletes to gain entry to universities in America and Canada.
Gordonstoun will hire a team of experienced coaches as part of the long-term sports strategy, and have formed a partnership with Moray RFC in Elgin to run combined rugby junior age groups, with guidance from Scottish Rugby Union (SRU).
The most talented players will be invited to regional training sessions and matches, and the sports strategy is aimed at mixed sex education, from the prep school to sixth form, and also includes cricket, tennis, hockey and netball.
Students who demonstrate sporting aptitude will have access to a wider selection of pathways to support their ambitions, and the school said it would develop 'elite academy training facilities' in sports such as golf, sailing, fencing and equestrianism.
Headteacher Simon Cane-Hardy said: 'This is an exciting new era for sport at Gordonstoun, a vision where sports provision is designed to benefit all our students while strengthening our links with the local community and building new sporting partnerships around the world.
'Our long-term sports strategy will allow us to support all levels of sporting ability and to better identify the most talented children, supporting them with qualified coaches, offering elite pathways and creating more competitive opportunities.
'New football and rugby and sporting partnerships will offer students a unique opportunity to work in a professional environment to support their ambitions both at home and in other countries around the world.
'The fixture calendar will be focusing on participation in local rugby and football leagues to increase competition opportunities and to minimise regular long-distance travel.
'Overall, this will create greater flexibility in the sporting timetable, ensuring a better balance with other parts of the school curriculum.
'We are continuously improving and innovating the education we deliver, whether that's in the classroom, through service to others, in the mountains or on the sports field.'
Mr Al Rais, Gulf United director, said: 'This partnership will create a positive value exchange between Gulf United and Gordonstoun, fostering a rewarding and beneficial environment for young student-athletes to develop.
'Sport, and in particular, football, is a powerful tool for unity. This is evident at Gulf United where we are proudly represented by 82 nationalities, whilst our home city of Dubai boasts over 200 nationalities. Likewise, Gordonstoun is represented by a rich tapestry of nationalities.
'These dynamic and welcoming environments greatly enhance the experience for students, allowing them to broaden their horizons, whilst positively aiding their development, not only as players, but as people.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Golden ticket' or 'a risk' - Your views on Tierney's return
'Golden ticket' or 'a risk' - Your views on Tierney's return

BBC News

time9 hours ago

  • BBC News

'Golden ticket' or 'a risk' - Your views on Tierney's return

We asked you for your views on Kieran Tierney's return to Celtic on a five-year what some of you had to say:Ray: It's worth the risk as strength, experience and leadership are badly needed at the back with will not only play at left back, he will be left-sided central defender and push forward frequently as a wing-half, firing in good crosses. Sounds great in theory but a fit, re-energised KT is a golden To get a player of Tierney's quality at peak age, (28), for free is great business. His injury record isn't great, but not all were strains/pulls so hopeful he can largely stay injury-free. And a great vice captain. We'll still need cover for left back, which would be great if Greg Taylor, but if not then maybe James Penrice from Hearts with Mitchel Frame set up as longer-term successor after a year or two out on An absolutely fantastic piece of business. KT's return is a massive boost for the Champions. He's joining the finest team in Scotland and will make them better. Welcome Look, he's a quality player, but does his injury record inspire any confidence? What's the point in having a player of that quality (and paying him accordingly) if you can't rely on him to be fit?David: Top quality player, Celtic to the core, great he's back. But, I would not have paid a transfer fee purely because he is injury prone. So, getting him for nothing makes for good business. Better business would be getting Greg Taylor back in the Hoops.

Lazy Griff connections keep options open after Derby exploits
Lazy Griff connections keep options open after Derby exploits

Glasgow Times

time2 days ago

  • Glasgow Times

Lazy Griff connections keep options open after Derby exploits

Second to Lambourn in the Chester Vase on his three-year-old debut, Charlie Johnston's colt was a widely unconsidered 50-1 shot for the premier Classic but outran his odds to again finish best of the rest behind Aidan O'Brien's all-the-way winner, much to the delight of the Middleham Park Racing team. Middleham Park's director of operations, Mike Prince, said: 'It was a brilliant day and it was surreal watching him as he was coming round the bend and into the straight travelling so sweetly. 'There was just a split second where you thought 'he might just do it'! I think Christophe (Soumillon) thought that he would get past him (Lambourn), but the winner is obviously a good horse and he was super tough in that final furlong.' A huge thank you to @itvracing for capturing the incredible scenes after Lazy Griff's brilliant 2nd place finish in The Derby. This is syndication at its finest, sharing unforgettable moments together!💙🧡 📽️ITV Racing#TeamMPR #Derby2025 — Middleham Park Racing (@MprUpdates) June 7, 2025 Prince insists Lazy Griff's performance was not a huge surprise to his connections, particularly after the rain that fell on the Surrey Downs in the lead-up to the race. 'He'd worked well in the spring and he just missed a week before Chester, so we knew we were going into Chester undercooked and we knew he'd come on for it. So having seen him run such a big race there, that kind of cemented us going for the Derby,' Prince continued. 'The only issue was Charlie didn't want to run him on super fast ground, that was the only reason he wouldn't have gone to Epsom, but obviously the rain came which was helpful. 'We were thinking we could finish in the top six going in there – we weren't going there just for a day out that's for sure and Christophe obviously won a Group Three in France on him last year and I know he couldn't understand why he was such a big price either.' A trio of Group One assignments are on the table for the Protectionist colt's next start, while another tilt at Classic glory in the St Leger at Doncaster appears an obvious target. Prince said: 'There's the German Derby, the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris. No decision has been made as yet and obviously the ground will play a part – if it's fast anywhere we won't go. 'I think it will be one of those three and I'd say the percentage call at this point would be the Grand Prix de Paris, but it's certainly not set in stone and if it came up heavy in Ireland with proper soft ground that might change things. 'The St Leger would make sense later in the year as although he was quite fleet of foot there coming down the hill at Epsom, there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree, being by a Melbourne Cup winner, and I know after Chester Charlie said 'this is a Leger horse'.' Christophe Soumillon returns aboard Lazy Griff (PA) Wherever Lazy Griff turns up next it should be an exciting second half of the season for his 24 individual owners, which include George Griffiths, after whom the horse is named. Prince said: 'We have a policy where the first person to buy a 15 per cent share gets to name the horse and George also got his name on the racecard. He and his wife Amy were obviously on cloud nine on Saturday.'

Lazy Griff connections keep options open after Derby exploits
Lazy Griff connections keep options open after Derby exploits

South Wales Guardian

time2 days ago

  • South Wales Guardian

Lazy Griff connections keep options open after Derby exploits

Second to Lambourn in the Chester Vase on his three-year-old debut, Charlie Johnston's colt was a widely unconsidered 50-1 shot for the premier Classic but outran his odds to again finish best of the rest behind Aidan O'Brien's all-the-way winner, much to the delight of the Middleham Park Racing team. Middleham Park's director of operations, Mike Prince, said: 'It was a brilliant day and it was surreal watching him as he was coming round the bend and into the straight travelling so sweetly. 'There was just a split second where you thought 'he might just do it'! I think Christophe (Soumillon) thought that he would get past him (Lambourn), but the winner is obviously a good horse and he was super tough in that final furlong.' A huge thank you to @itvracing for capturing the incredible scenes after Lazy Griff's brilliant 2nd place finish in The Derby. This is syndication at its finest, sharing unforgettable moments together!💙🧡 📽️ITV Racing#TeamMPR #Derby2025 — Middleham Park Racing (@MprUpdates) June 7, 2025 Prince insists Lazy Griff's performance was not a huge surprise to his connections, particularly after the rain that fell on the Surrey Downs in the lead-up to the race. 'He'd worked well in the spring and he just missed a week before Chester, so we knew we were going into Chester undercooked and we knew he'd come on for it. So having seen him run such a big race there, that kind of cemented us going for the Derby,' Prince continued. 'The only issue was Charlie didn't want to run him on super fast ground, that was the only reason he wouldn't have gone to Epsom, but obviously the rain came which was helpful. 'We were thinking we could finish in the top six going in there – we weren't going there just for a day out that's for sure and Christophe obviously won a Group Three in France on him last year and I know he couldn't understand why he was such a big price either.' A trio of Group One assignments are on the table for the Protectionist colt's next start, while another tilt at Classic glory in the St Leger at Doncaster appears an obvious target. Prince said: 'There's the German Derby, the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris. No decision has been made as yet and obviously the ground will play a part – if it's fast anywhere we won't go. 'I think it will be one of those three and I'd say the percentage call at this point would be the Grand Prix de Paris, but it's certainly not set in stone and if it came up heavy in Ireland with proper soft ground that might change things. 'The St Leger would make sense later in the year as although he was quite fleet of foot there coming down the hill at Epsom, there is plenty of stamina in his pedigree, being by a Melbourne Cup winner, and I know after Chester Charlie said 'this is a Leger horse'.' Wherever Lazy Griff turns up next it should be an exciting second half of the season for his 24 individual owners, which include George Griffiths, after whom the horse is named. Prince said: 'We have a policy where the first person to buy a 15 per cent share gets to name the horse and George also got his name on the racecard. He and his wife Amy were obviously on cloud nine on Saturday.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store