Eriskay

Today's the day .................... to play football

Not such good weather today, so a drive in the car back across the causeway to Eriskay.  This is a small island between Barra and South Uist - only a couple of miles across and three miles long - but it has very much its own character and it is famous for quite a variety of reasons.  

There is a beautiful beach on the west side of the island, Coilleag a' Phrionnsa, which is said to be the place where Bonnie Prince Charlie first landed on Scottish soil in 1745.  More recently, during the Second World War, the SS Politician was wrecked on a reef in the Sound of Eriskay.  Part of the ship's cargo - cases of whisky - were rescued and hidden by the enterprising islanders.  This story was told in Compton Mackenzie's book and the subsequent classic film, Whisky Galore'.

Then, of course, there is the above - Eriskay Football pitch - recognised by Fifa as one of the eight most unique places in the world to play a game of football.  The blustery conditions are usually the toughest opposition for Eriskay FC, who are part of the Uist and Barra League. One of the biggest struggles for the team is trying to rally up enough players with only 140 people actually living on the island.  But even when they do, Eriskay FC needs to brave the elements from the nearby coast that makes conditions unplayable.  Apparently, the club's player-manager Sean MacKinnon was once quoted saying, “We could probably get Barcelona down to our level on that pitch.”

And finally, in extras, are some of the unique Eriskay ponies that freely roam the island . . . . . . . .