17 hours ago
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.
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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.
