Caledonian Braves European trophy win is ‘next step towards challenging Old Firm'

Yahoo

16-05-2025

CALEDONIAN Braves FC won a landmark European trophy at the weekend in Italy, seeing off a team from Manchester to win the final.
As the whistle blew, the team and staff rushed onto the pitch in Lake Iseo, in the north of the country, brandishing two Saltire flags. The club's founder hopes it's a sign of things to come.
Founder Chris Ewing, 46, spoke to the Glasgow Times about what it means for them to win the Fenix Trophy.
He said: 'This one is very special because it's a European one. It's a UEFA and Italian-sanctioned tournament, it's an official tournament, and we won it.
'I think any club face for Scotland winning anything in Europe is a great achievement - we'll take it.
'I think we might be the first Scottish club to beat an English side in a European final ever!'
Caledonian Braves win European Trophy in 'next step' for club (Image: Adam Smith/Hunter Visuals Media) The Braves were set up in 2019 by Chris and are 'Scotland's youngest senior club'.
The club is owned by a collective of investors from around the world. Chris explained: "We've got almost 9,000 owners from 64 different countries, we've created a community around the club.
'We've got NBA players in there, NFL executives, musicians, artists and an Oscar-winning actress all in the ownership group."
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Chris, originally from Pollok, says he's a 'proud Scotsman, living in Paris' where he's lived since 2004.
He said: 'I may live in Paris, but you'll have to look a long way to find a prouder Scotsman than me.
'I've never loved Glasgow as much as in the morning when I need to leave, you know."
He said he 'moved there with £40 in his pocket and never left, having only intended to go for a week'.
Founder of Caledonian Braves, Chris Ewing, with the trophy (Image: Adam Smith/Hunter Visuals Media) Chris recognises the challenge of being a new club in the central belt: "The biggest challenge obviously is if you're going to set up a brand new football club anywhere in Scotland, but particularly in the west of Scotland across the central belt, you're always going to be struggling because you have about 80% of folk are already Celtic or Rangers fans and the other 20% are fans of other clubs."
"But the good thing about our club is that it doesn't need to be restricted to a local community. It could be anyone that shares the same kind of hopes, dreams, aspirations, and values; you don't have to be restricted to a geography necessarily."
The Braves are ambitious and hope to compete with the likes of Rangers and Celtic in the Premiership within the next 10 years.
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Chris spoke about the goal of playing in the top flight: "You have to give something that's tangible, and that's the obvious one is playing in the Premier League.
'I think every single club that's part of the pyramid should hope to play or at least aim there, otherwise what's the point really.
"It's very difficult, though, when you look at the SPFL and how difficult it is to actually win promotion, I don't know many other UEFA nations where the Champion club doesn't get automatic promotion.
The Caledonian Braves celebrated with Saltire flags (Image: Adam Smith/Hunter Visuals Media) "I think some people would quite like to see us fail as well, but that only adds to the desire to prove them wrong.
"Where this tournament and winning the tournament takes us, I think, will be huge – the next step towards that goal.
'Because we have a really young squad. It's a great experience for them to travel, these are all great memories, great team bonding and camaraderie, and players grow through that."
Some American co-owners of the team travelled to Scotland for a few games this season, and Chris hopes to see this become a regular thing for them.
He said they 'enjoyed their trip across the pond' and were 'very taken' by Glasgow, especially enjoying a Blue Lagoon with him in the early hours.
The Braves—with their superstar co-owners, up-and-coming status, and plucky ambitions—could be seen as Scotland's answer to Wrexham FC.
Chris laughed at the comparison and joked: 'Well, I'm no Ryan Reynolds, that's for sure.
"But seeing what they've been doing recently, does that give you a bit of hope."