The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
FlintoffandRedknappinCamanachdleagueoftheirown
Kingussie are set to face Fort William in a shinty friendly at The Dell next month – with former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff and ex-Liverpool footballer Jamie Redknapp poised to come on as substitutes.
The celebrities are part of the TV series A League of Their Own and it is thought that TV comic Romesh Ranganathan, who has taken over as host from James Corden, will be there if he recovers in time from a BMX track filming accident with Redknapp two weeks ago in which Ranganathan dislocated a thumb.
Six members of the programme’s production team visited Kingussie and the shinty pitch last week and are happy with the venue. The Camanachd Association’s east region development officer Ronald Ross, who scored a record 1,000 goals in his Kingussie playing career, is ready to work with the stars for the event. Kingussie are back in training and keen to play friendlies, which is understood to be why the Camanachd Association has nominated the club to host a programme which will be screened UK-wide next year and bring the ancient game to a new audience.
It is planned that both Premiership champions Kingussie and National Division champions Fort William will treat the game as a serious fitness-finding affair, apart from the fun excerpts when Flintoff and
Redknapp come on with their camans to have a go.
It is hoped that the comedy panel quiz programme will screen clips of shinty action to give viewers a flavour of Scotland’s oldest team sport. Last year the programme averaged 10.2 million viewers per episode.
It is hoped that regulations may be relaxed in time to allow around 200 fans.
The Camanachd Association is expected to confirm the event and further details in an announcement within days.