World footie bosses: Isle’s team is just pitch perfect
Eriskay’s ground may be bumpy and shared with cattle.. but Fifa loves it
FOOTBALL’S world governing body has highlighted a small Scottish island side as a shining example of team spirit against the odds in the pandemic.
Eriskay’s pitch has been highlighted by Fifa, to show the “beautiful game” doesn’t always equate to flawlessness.
Eriskay FC’s player-manager Sean MacKinnon admitss that it is not any easy place to play the game – or muster a team.
He said: “We have about 13 players based in the southern isles – between Eriskay y and North Uist – and a few studentst studyingtdi ini the th mainland who hopefully will be available for most of the summer.
“Covid has made it all the more challenging as by the time next season starts, some of our players may have gone a year-and-a-half without a competitive match.
“The pitch is maintained regularly during the season and then any major works get done in the off season. During the winter, the livestock have free reign of the island so the pitch is fair game.”
Five years ago, Fifa first recognised the pitch as one of the world’s unique places to play the game. Now Fifa.com has highlighted Eriskay as an example of fighting for football’s future. It said: “We’re often told that flawlessness equates to beauty.
“Yet imperfections can be beautiful too, and an uneven pitch on a tiny Scottish island offers the ultimate proof.”
It added: “AnyAnyone who loves the beautiful gamgame or admires impimperfect beauty, will wish MM ac Kin non eveevery success.
“With football hahaving helped put Eriskay on the mapmap, it would be a cryingi shameh tot see theth sport itself – not to mention that eye-catching pitch – disappear from view.”
MacKinnon is under no illusions about the pitch’s flaws.
He said: “It’s bumpy and there’s a wee hill in one corner, and one half is higher than the other. There are also sheep, horses and cows wandering about, often using the pitch as a toilet, so that means a fair bit of mess to be cleared up.
“But it’s become a bit of a tourist attraction now. That’s been really positive exposure for an island as small as this one.”