News Release - 13 JULY 2005
SFA TO VISIT NATWEST ISLAND GAMES XI IN SHETLAND
John McBeth, President of the Scottish Football Association and Neil Mackintosh, SFA Regional Manager (North of Scotland) will visit Shetland tomorrow (Thursday 14July 2005) for the NatWest Island Games XI.
They will not only be meeting representatives of local football organisations including Brian Johnston, the Sports Co-ordinator of the Games football programme, but they will also be spectating at three matches involving the Scottish islands in the competition.
Brian Johnston, Football Sports Co-ordinator of the NatWest Island Games XI in Shetland, said: 'It is excellent that John McBeth and Neil Mackintossh are coming to Shetland. All football bodies in Shetland will get the opportunity to bend their ears about what they want for Shetland Football.
'The NatWest Island Games is a great showcase for Shetland Football; also the high level of organisation we are capable and for the players. Being a remote island we often feel excluded and we are keen to be included in all organisational decisions. The cost incurred by our players and officials to attend competitions off island are huge and we want the chance to host events of this scalehere on the island in the future.'
In the men's competition tomorrow, the Western Isles, who compete at their first Games this year, will play Orkney and Shetland will play one of the strongest teams in the competition, the Isle of Man. However the Shetland The Shetland women's team will play Aland tomorrow evening.
The growing reputation of the NatWest Island Games in Shetland has been enhanced by the news that FIFA, football's governing body, granted full international status to yesterday's women's football match between Bermuda and the Faroe Islands in which the Faorese, who are ranked 70, won 3 0.
Scotland's top referee, Morag Pirie, who was officiating the match will be flying off to Cyprus directly after the Games to act as assistant referee at a Champion's League qualifier between Anorthosis Famagusta and Dinamo Minsk on 20 July.
There was a shock result for the Falkland Island's men's football team last night when they beat Saaremaa, one of the competition favourites, 2 1.
After the match Patrick Watts, the Falklands General Team Manager was raving about the hospitality he and the team had received from the locals at Strom.
He said: 'I was commentating live to the Falklands from the game. Just before half time a mug of tea was thrust into my hand and then, when the crowds were building and a chair just wasn't good enough for me to see, out of the blue a stepladder was produced from someone's garden shed. And to top the great result pots of tea and sandwiches were produced to both teams at full time. The Shetlanders really have grasped the true spirit of the Games and I can't wait to get back to Strom for our next game.'
Editor's Notes:
The NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005, 9 - 15 July. Shetland is the first Scottish member island to host the games; and with a population of approximately 23,000 it is the smallest island population ever to host this large-scale event.
NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005: http://www.shetland2005.info/ NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005, event results website http//www.shetlandresults2005.com NatWest Island Games and the IGA: http://www.Islandgames.net/
The 24 member islands of the International Island Games Association are:
Aland, Alderney, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Froya, Gibraltar, Gotland, Greenland, Guernsey, Hitra, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey, Orkney, Prince Edward Island, Rhodes, Saaremaa, Sark, Shetland, St. Helena, Western Isles, Ynys Mon.
Sports for the NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005: 15 different team and individual sports have been chosen from a list of 18 set down by the IGA:
Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Bowls, Cycling, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Sailboarding, Sailing, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis and Volleyball.
Shetland
The Shetland Islands are situated 200 miles North of Aberdeen and 225 miles West of Bergen. Made up of a diverse group of over 100 islands, bordered by jagged cliffs and bleached white beaches, Shetland is ruled by water. The mainland of Shetland is approximately 70 miles in length and 35 miles wide, with a population of around 23,000. http://www.visitshetland.com
Funding Partners
Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Charitable Trust, EventScotland and sportscotland
Sponsors and Supporters
NatWest is the official sponsor to the IGA and the NatWest Island Games. The NatWest Island Games XI, Shetland 2005, is the fourth Games that NatWest has sponsored.
A large number of Shetland businesses are also supporting the games.
http://www.shetland2005.info/
MEDIA CONTACT:
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E: paddy@podge.co.uk / W: www.podge.co.uk