In the middle of the Olympic Games, I went to see ‘Playing
for Scotland. The Making of Modern Sport’, the exhibition of sporting
paintings, photographs and memorabilia now showing at the Scottish National
Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. I counted twenty four different sports in total,
some of them hundreds of years old and many still practised today. Football is
particularly well documented. I learned that it all started with the ancient
tradition of the village ba’ game which incidentally is still played today in certain
Scottish towns, when whole communities or parishes got involved behind two
opposite sides, the ‘uppies’ vs. the ‘doonies’.
One particular ba’ game still stands out today from the rest.
We are reminded of it by a small etching by James Stephanoff entitled ‘Lifting
the Banner of the House of Buccleuch at the Great Foot-Ball Match on
Carterhaugh’. The epic encounter between Selkirk and Yarrow took place in
December 1815. Volunteers from other parishes joined the two sides until their
combined numbers reached the hundreds and all marched to the site of the game to
the sound of the pipes. The military feel was reinforced by the display of the
Buccleuch Banner, a relic of past wars. The Duke of Buccleuch in person supported
the Yarrow side while Selkirk was championed by its Sherriff, none other than
Sir Walter Scott whose literary works spread his positive portrayal of Scottish
identity across the world. Scott was
greatly instrumental in the organisation of the contest.
Not surprisingly, the arts were part of the proceedings and
the 2000 spectators were handed out verses by Scott and James Hogg, the poet
and novelist. The pitch was over one mile long with the Ettrick Water and the River
Yarrow for goal lines. Selkirk wore twigs of fir and Yarrow, sprigs of
heather. The game lasted more than four hours and remarkably, humour and good
behaviour were maintained throughout even though betting money was at stake.
Eventually it ended nil-nil, such was the athletic fitness of the men.
Almost two hundred years later, another football event is currently
being organised in the Borders with the patronage of the arts. ‘Forest Pitch’
is the creation of Edinburgh-based artist Craig Coulthard and was selected to represent
Scotland in the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The project which is supported
by Creative Scotland, involved felling spruce in a commercial plantation in the
Borders to make the pitch. The trees were then recycled into changing rooms, goal
posts, seating and fencing.
Craig Coulthard in front of the pitch
picture by Angie Catlin, courtesy of 'Forest Pitch'
Two matches are
to take place bringing together four amateur teams, two male and two female with
many of the players having recently arrived to Scotland from various parts of
the world and all will be wearing strips designed by schoolchildren. After the
event, the pitch will be planted with native trees as a lasting reminder.
Forest Pitch strips with their young designers
picture by Angie Catlin, courtesy of 'Forest Pitch'
Coulthard’s inspiration evolved from his memories of playing
football as a boy in a forest in Germany where he grew up. He has been closely
involved with the games and the players but will not be taking part in the
matches and, as a keen amateur footballer, finds it difficult to resist kicking
the ball when watching the practice sessions. He explains that although he was
aware of Scott and Hogg neither men nor their work have a direct influence on
his work and that the Carterhaugh Ba’ just happened to be a wonderful
coincidence. I see in what similarities there are between the two, a heartening
sign of the continuity of the Scottish spirit and identity.
The Cultural Olympiad got under way in 2008 and like the
Olympic Games it has involved and inspired millions across the UK. ‘Forest
Pitch’ is a celebration of Scotland’s cultural diversity, its passion for ball
games and the spirit of amateur sport. It also shows that when the arts and sports
come together, anything is possible!
For information:
The ‘Forest Pitch’ games will take place on August 25 and
tickets are available from the ‘Forest Pitch’ website. www.forestpitch.org/
The Buccleuch Estates at Bowhill are considering a
re-enactment of the Carterhaugh Ba’ game in 2015 to mark its bicentenary. www.bowhill.org
Martine Foltier Pugh is a freelance writer and visual artist based in Edinburgh
Credits:
With thanks to Craig Coulthard for his information and images and to Matthew Shelley of ‘Forest Pitch’ for his
images.
Links:
The National Galleries of Scotland, ‘Playing for Scotland’
exhibition www.nationalgalleries.org/whatson/exhibitions/playing-for-scotland#.UCD1sGFSQlw
Craig Coulthard www.craigcoulthard.com/
‘Forest Pitch’ www.forestpitch.org/
Creative Scotland ‘Cultural Olympiad’ www.creativescotland.com/explore/2012-2014/london-2012-cultural-olympiad/forest-pitch
Buccleuch Estates at Bowhill www.bowhill.org
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