Bid to create Scotland team made up of Gaelic speakers
This past Saturday, Alba welcomed Kernow FA, who represent Cornwall, for a 'Celtic Nations' clash at Canal Park.
As well as the football match, the day included a Gaelic medium football session for boys and girls, where all participants received free access to the main match.
READ MORE:
Kernow won the match 0-3.
Driving the idea to create a Scottish national football team made up entirely of Gaelic speakers is Calum Ferguson, a former professional who played for Inverness Caley Thistle.
He is a former pupil of Central Primary in Inverness, which 40 years ago was the first school in the Highlands to offer Gaelic medium education.
He said: 'This is a new footballing development and we're trying to do our bit to support the language and Gaelic culture.
'Above all else we want to preserve the language and pass it on to future generations.
Alba FA members Innes Scullion centre, Calum Ferguson left, Harry Nicolson right. (Image: Dylan Lawrence) 'Football is a great vehicle to champion that cause and bring people together. Thig còmhla rinn – join us!"
In recent years Calum has been heavily involved in promoting the Gaelic language through football.
He helped to found FC Sonas, a Gaelic community football club, which delivers football sessions to youngsters.
Mr Ferguson was one of the guest speakers at Highland Council's recent Gaelic conference, which examined the economic, social and cultural opportunities that the language can offer for the region.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Former Rangers target 'agrees deal' with Premiership rivals
The 22-year-old midfielder was a free agent after his contract with Dundee expired. He had been linked to Rangers and attracted interest from several English clubs, including Hull City and Charlton Athletic. Hibs, however, appear to have swooped in to secure his signature. Read more: Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano wrote on social media: "Understand Hibernian have agreed deal to sign Scottish talent Josh Mulligan from Dundee FC, here we go! "Medical tomorrow." Mulligan, who has been a regular at Dundee for three seasons, can play at right-back, wing-back, or centre midfield. His signing is expected to be a valuable addition to David Gray's squad as they prepare for European competition. His move to Edinburgh is considered a coup, given he was once expected to join Rangers.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Derek McInnes feels the Hearts 'pressure' from Tony Bloom as boss sets sights on trophies to match £10m ambition
Derek McInnes wants to give Hearts fans trophies to shout about as he admits he knows exactly what new investor Tony Bloom wants from his £10m Derek McInnes says he's under no illusions at Hearts about the demand to deliver silverware. The new Jambos boss has only been at Tynecastle a matter of weeks and is preparing his team for the start of the new campaign. But McInnes already feels the pressure to bring a trophy back to Gorgie. New £10million investor Tony Bloom has spoken about his desire for the club to 'disrupt' the Old Firm's dominance of Scottish football. With the betting tycoon's injection of cash and fresh impetus at Hearts this term, McInnes knows there's an expectation to win. And he's promised supporters that he'll do everything in his power to make the club successful again. As he geared up for a crack at the Scottish Premiership, McInnes said: 'I definitely feel there is a pressure to deliver. It has to be the case that what we serve up is even better than what is expected. 'We need to meet those expectations, first and foremost. 'If you do that, you're normally there or thereabouts and successful. In time, it's then about trying to exceed those expectations. 'I'm conscious we're coming from being a bottom six team, having not made a cup final or Europe. So we have to make sure those improvements are obvious to everyone. 'Hopefully that plays out in terms of silverware. 'How you judge success can be gauged on so many levels, whether it is more value on the pitch, more revenue, qualification for Europe. But I'm no different to supporters. Real success, tangible success here is silverware. 'It's something I'm well aware of - that's what is expected of us going forward. I know that's coming.' Hearts have managed to make early moves in the transfer market, adding the likes of Stuart Findlay, Oisin McEntee, Christian Borchgrevink, Alex Kyziridis and Claudio Braga to their ranks already. With no European football, they have an opportunity to enjoy an undistracted start to the Premier Sports Cup and Scottish Premiership. But first, McInnes will take his squad to Spain on Saturday for a warm-weather pre-season camp. After that, he says the talking has to stop and his Hearts team must show they're capable of competing at the top end of the table. He said: 'You feel like the best manager in the world at the minute because everyone believes in what you are saying - but you're not actually playing games. 'I'm conscious that when the real stuff starts, we have to be ready for it. So I'm just trying to get us best prepared. 'I'm excited because this is exactly the type of club I wanted to work for. Every player, manager and member of staff wants to work for a club with ambition. 'It's clear that with the existing board - and the investment that has come in - there is a need for change, a desire to change and improve across the board. It's my job to drive that and I'm aware of what is expected.' There will be further changes to McInnes' squad before the start of the season as he hopes to make a few more signings before the transfer window closes. With the acquisitions of Findlay and Borchgrevink, he's top heavy at the back and there's been speculation about the future of experienced defender Stephen Kingsley. McInnes admits some players could be moved on - but insists he's looking forward to working with the 30-year-old. And the manager says Kingsley has the same chance as every player to stake his claim for a starting slot. McInnes said: 'I just want to work with good players and Stephen is a player who I think has a lot to offer. 'I've got, including young Lewis Neilson, 11 defenders across the squad. 'So it's probably one or two too many, in terms of when the window closes. But you don't know every eventuality. We've already picked up one wee injury to a defender this week. So you never know how these things go. 'When the League Cup games, there's opportunities for everybody to be part of it and Stephen is one of those boys.'
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Defenders to leave Hearts, Stephen Kingsley's situation and Derek McInnes' view on success
Transfer business will continue in Edinburgh as the new manager reshapes his squad Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Derek McInnes currently finds himself wrestling with the dilemma of who should make the cut for Hearts' 2025/26 first-team squad. The coming days will provide a fair indication as the club's new head coach prepares to name a 28-man squad for next week's pre-season training camp in Spain from a senior group totalling 31 at present. Of those 31 bodies, 11 are defenders: Right-backs Christian Borchgrevink and Adam Forrester, centre-backs Lewis Neilson, Michael Steinwender, Craig Halkett, Frankie Kent, Stuart Findlay and Jamie McCart, plus left-backs Harry Milne, Stephen Kingsley and James Penrice. It is inevitable that at least two of the above will leave Tynecastle Park, either permanently or on loan. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Neilson is a prime candidate having spent the first half of last season on loan at St Johnstone. He played seven times after Hearts recalled him in January but fell out of the first-team picture after March's 3-0 defeat at Celtic. Forrester could also find himself loaned out in time but McInnes is not ready to make final decisions just yet. He is still assessing and evaluating. Kingsley missed training earlier this week and was limited to just 15 appearances last season due to injury. McInnes sees value in the experienced 30-year-old who can play left-back or centre-back, even though new loan signing Stuart Findlay is certain to command a starting place when fit. 'I'm just wanting to work with good players. Stephen's a player that I think has got a lot to offer,' explained McInnes. 'I've got, including young Lewis Neilson, 11 defenders across the squad. It's probably one or two too many in terms of when the window closes, but you don't know every eventuality. We've already picked up one wee injury to a defender at the minute so you never know how these things go. When the League Cup games come, there are opportunities for everybody to be part of it and Stephen is one of those boys.' The transition phase at Hearts will continue for weeks yet as McInnes and his coaching staff settle in. Time is ticking down towards the first competitive match of the new campaign against Dunfermline Athletic on 12 July in the Premier Sports Cup. Silverware is high on Hearts' agenda 13 years since they last lifted one of Scottish football's major trophies and McInnes is ready to embrace expectations. He is clear on what constitutes success. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I feel there is a pressure to deliver,' he said. 'I feel there has to be a sense that what we are serving up is better than what is expected. We need to meet the expectations, first and foremost. If you meet the expectations then you are normally there or thereabouts and successful. In time, you try to exceed those expectations. 'I am conscious we have come from being a bottom-six team, we have not made a cup final, we have not made Europe. We have to make sure those improvements are obvious to everyone. Hopefully that plays out in terms of silverware. How you judge success can be gauged on so many levels, whether it is more value on the pitch, more revenue, qualification for Europe. 'I am no different to supporters, real success and tangible success is silverware. It is something I am well aware is expected of us going forward. I am fully aware of what's expected and is coming. You feel like the best manager in the world at the minute because everyone believes in what you are saying but you are not actually playing games. I am conscious that, when the real stuff starts, we have to be ready for it.' EPL chairman Tony Bloom invests £10m in Hearts to help bring success in Edinburgh Fresh investment was finalised on Wednesday in the form of Tony Bloom's £9.86m agreement, which earns him a 29 per cent stake in Hearts. The Brighton and Hove Albion chairman appointed his close associate James Franks to the Tynecastle board in another change at the top level. It is all designed to return Hearts to a challenging force. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I am just trying to get us best prepared but I'm excited. This is exactly the type of club I wanted to work for,' said McInnes. 'Every player, every manager and member of staff wants to work for a club with ambition. Clearly, with the existing board and the investment that has come in, there is a need for change and a desire to change and improve across the board. It is my job to drive that. 'I'm delighted with the facilities. Obviously, whatever club you go into, you try and make the best of what you have and you don't want to complain too much about facilities or whatever - but we are very fortunate here. The players have a lot of support from good surfaces to good staff, the food, the support staff, everyone is there. If the players want to improve and have that desire, there is so much here to help them deliver that aim. We are very fortunate.' READ MORE: Premiership clubs eye Hearts midfielder as a transfer target
