Swamp football: Teams get ready to play dirty

CHRISTINA Aguilera could learn a thing or two from Louise and Caroline Blackhall. For they are, after all, dirty girls in the truest sense of the word.

In fact, come this afternoon they will be top to toe in the finest dirt Edinburgh can produce. Indeed they, and the other members of the 50 teams competing in the Swamp Soccer World Championships, are the few who have been rejoicing in this week's rainfall. After all, the muddier it gets, the more fun they have.

The sisters are just two of the six-strong Blackhall Bandits taking part in the mixed competition at Hunter's Hall Park, next door to Craigmillar's Jack Kane Centre, this weekend. More than 600 people will be attempting to play football in the mud, with 96 matches scheduled for the two-day event.

Hide Ad

Teams have come from as far afield as China, Russia, Poland, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, France and of course the home nations. In fact Caroline even made sure her own trip to New Zealand would be over in time to compete.

She was roped in by 23-year-old sister Louise, a renewable energy consultant from Gorgie, who was determined to take part after her boyfriend, John Alexander, competed in the dirtiest game in the sporting calendar last year.

"John was part of a team of old primary pals, called the Crawfordjohn Heavy Mob, and they had a great time. In fact he said it was the best weekend ever. And when his mum said she'd never laughed so hard in her life from watching it all, I just thought I want to get a team together.

"Not that we're in the same team. John is still part of his own all-male team, but Caroline and I are in a mixed team. It's just like normal football - although we've been told to tape our boots on, because most people lose them in the mud. I think it will be a really good laugh - although John's team are much more serious this year, they've even got proper strips."

Louise is no stranger to football - she used to play for Edinburgh University's Women's first XI as a student. "But the mixed tournament is all about fun, people dress up in costumes and I think it will be hard to play as we'll be laughing so much. And it's meant to be pouring with rain so that's what we want."

Organising the whole event is Stewart Miller, by day a marketing consultancy boss but this weekend known as "Heid Bummer", who claims that swamp soccer can become addictive. "It's unique, there's really nothing like it," he says. "And once you've played, you'll keep coming back. More than 70 per cent of teams have played more than once. It's also very inclusive as anybody over 17 can register a team, and most importantly, it's great fun.

Hide Ad

"There is a fantastic atmosphere and many teams play in fancy dress.Even the names the teams give themselves show that it's all about having fun. We've got teams like Borussia Muddyshoes beforegettinginthecar, Stag of the Dump, Inter Me Naan, Muderwell . . .

"Players end up caked in muck from head to toe but as it's a natural beauty treatment it's good for the skin," he laughs.

Hide Ad

"The great thing is you do not have to be good footballer to play. We have people of all shapes and sizes. Hard graft and a large team are two big requirements for doing well."

Swamp Soccer originated in Finland in 1997 when cross-country skiers began training in swamps with a football to improve their fitness.

It's now played worldwide and Scotland has hosted an annual competition in Argyll since 2006, but this is the first time the event has come to Edinburgh.

It is six-a-side and 12 minutes each way and while the rules are similar to normal football, the pitches are showered with thousands of gallons of water after they are churned up using tractors.

And while the rain has helped conditions, the swamp has been created artificially. The organisers have used excavators to remove swathes of earth and then filled it up with knee-deep water. The land will be returned to its original state after the event.

• For more info visit www.swampsoccer.co.uk.

Related topics: