American football
IF ANYONE hears the word ‘football’, and immediately think of touch- downs, blocks, blitzes and buttonhooks, they will be excited to hear that a new club is being formed in Oban next year.
Oban Knights will be the town’s first ever American football club, aimed at youths aged between 14 and 18, with the hope of expanding into senior and women’s teams in the future.
Fiona Blakey, who lives in Taynuilt and has been a fan of the game for 25 years, is the driving force behind the venture.
She explained: ‘My son Sorley has really been getting into the game recently and he’s 16. He went training with Inverclyde Phoenix in Greenock and also in Edinburgh but the travelling is just too much. There’s no provision for American football in the area, so anyone in Argyll who is interested has to travel to either Alloa or Greenock.
‘ We’re starting off a team for 14 to 18 year old boys, after a taster session earlier this year at Oban High School where 30 people turned up, which was really positive.’
Oban High School, Active Schools and Atlantis Leisure are all supporting the club as it aims to organise and play some friendly matches next year. To begin with the club is to play ‘flag football’ a lower-impact version of American football where a flag is removed from the ball carrier rather than proper tackling.
Once the club has raised funds for proper equipment, which it is to do with the help of Active Schools, it will progress into full- contact participation.
Ms Blakey added: ‘If anyone is interested in playing or coaching, we are on the lookout for volunteers. We would also like to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in the organisation and board of the club. Finally, we are also in need of sponsors to help us with insurance and equipment costs.
‘Active Schools has offered to contribute towards the cost of coaching qualifications and Disclosure Scotland, which is excellent.’
Murray Hamilton, principle teacher of PE at Oban High School, welcomed the news. He said: ‘ We had a ‘come and try’ session at the school during lunch hour on December 10 and 30 boys showed up, which was good.
‘I’ve included American football into lessons at school for around four years with the seniors, and the past year for third and fourth year pupils. It’s quite a good leveller as none of them tend to have played it before, so they’re learning from scratch.
‘The PE department is happy to support the club in any way it can, as the more sports youngsters are playing, the better. I think it could take off well as an ‘off- season’ sport.’
Anyone interested in getting involved can contact Fiona Blakey by email: fiona@no16.net