Forest Pitch in Scotland

Forest Pitch Shelter in Scotland

When a waterlogged pitch meant Forest Pitch was first postponed until after the Olympics, instead of its original date of July 21, it seemed like it might miss its chance to capture the nations’ enthusiasm for the Games.

But now after so much has been made of the supposed antithesis of the infectious Olympic spirit which swept Britain, and the angry hornets’ nest of an atmosphere that pervades professional football, Forest Pitch almost felt like a litmus test of the ability of the game to unify instead of ostracise and offend.

Coming on the same weekend that Stoke fans continued their shameful booing of Aaron Ramsey, his punishment for being brazen enough to break his leg playing against the Potters, Forest Pitch served up a feast of goals, joyful football and enthusiastic support for all teams and players.

After the full time whistle Craig Coulthard, the artist behind the project, was understandably delighted with the success of the day, if a little worn-out: “People seem to have had fun, the pitch held up, there was goals scored, there was cheering and a lot of support for the teams. I’m glad it didn’t really poor down with rain.”

Such success was by no means guaranteed and there was a lot riding on Forest Pitch. As Scotland’s biggest event of the Cultural Olympiad, both physically and financially, the slightest hint of failure would have left people looking to criticise spending on the Games with an open goal.

But despite the dreich weather the crowds came out and the stewards were as enthusiastic as the volunteers had been in London. Walking through the forest with the sound of the Edinburgh Brass Band getting ever closer, and the chatter of the crowd underneath, before emerging into an amphitheatre full of noise, colour and excitement is an atmosphere everyone present will cherish.

The PA pre-empted kick-off with the announcement: “Despite the artistic context this is no exhibition match.” The players in both games took the message to heart, emphasised by the site of a tearful Alexandro Scotchfield face down on the pitch at the final whistle having been on the losing side in the men’s game.

Afterwards, though, none of the lingering resentment or grudges familiar to professional football fans remained, a fact recognised by Michelle Magee, captain of defeated women’s team Corinth: “It was a shame we lost, but the other team were better than us and I think everyone worked really hard and that’s the main thing. Well, actually the main thing is that everyone had a really good time.”

The players in the four teams who played, two men’s and two women’s, were mostly people given Leave to Remain in the UK since 2000. They came from as far as Africa, North and South America, the Middle East, Russia, Japan and Australia.

Emphasising the unmitigated success of the day was every player picking out different highlights. Alison O’Neil, captain of winning women’s team Delphi, will take away fond memories of the players’ entrance to the pitch and the surprise of the sizeable crowd: “We didn’t know because as we approached it they were kind of hidden so when you came out on to the pitch it was kind of shocking.”

Mohamad Nejib Nehab, captain of victorious men’s team Nemea, is still waiting for the verdict on his asylum case after fleeing his native Afghanistan to escape Taliban persecution. For him the emotions of the day were overwhelming: “It’s a big achievement. Especially in the second half we were under a lot of pressure. I can’t explain in words, it was really exciting.”

Heather Smart, who excelled in a deep-lying midfield role for Delphi, scoring two goals and dictating play, revelled in the occasion more than others. She wasn’t going to play on July 21, but was drafted in when other players couldn’t make the new date:

“I was jealous when Michelle Magee [Corinth captain] was talking about the original one which was going to be in July, but now I’m so pleased I got to be a part of it.”

Delphi’s 5-1 win over Corinth was comprehensive. Alongside Smart O’Neil was busy and creative in midfield, and strikers Becky Hunt and June McArthur caused constant problems. Corinth looked most dangerous hitting on the break through Cheryl Watt, but when she was injured midway through the second half their threat disappeared.

In comparison Nemea’s 4-3 victory over Olympia was nervy at best. Nemea managed to build a 4-2 lead at half time, despite missing two penalties, then spent the second half soaking up pressure with Nehab a commanding presence at centre back.

But in the last five minutes everything almost unravelled for Nemea. First Tanvir Kahn put an Abdul Bostani cross away to make it 4-3, then both Harinder Singh Badwal and Alloysious Massaquoi missed very presentable chances to pull level. When Scotfield, who had given his all throughout, hit the deck at the final whistle his disappointment was understandable.

Once the trophy presentations were finished, and despite his impending holiday, Coulthard was already thinking about the next job: “We’ve still got the tree planting to do, and then the site grows and develops into something else, and there’s the book and the film as well.” Concrete plans for exactly how to leave a legacy is a lesson that perhaps Locog could learn from Forest Pitch.

The size and enthusiasm the crowd showed for Forest Pitch suggest that Britain is not quite ready to let it’s summer of sport go yet, which bodes well for the upcoming Paralympics. But when that’s done, and the mainstream media gets back to its usual overindulgence in football, the people who went to Forest Pitch will remember it’s the people involved in professional football tarnishing its reputation, not the game itself.

by David Lyons. Photos by James Taggart

Personal Background

Harinder (24) was born and brought up in an agriculture background to a family in a small village known as Jhanjowal (East Punjab). Being the youngest child,  Harinder received much love and care from the family. He is also having interested in other sports mainly athletics and cricket. After completing his Undergraduate from Lovely Professional University he tried to get admission into top-ranked business schools and luckily was accepted at the University of Strathclyde Business School where he is studying for a Masters degree in International management.

Football Background

Harinder’s village is very close to the town of Mahilpur, which is known as the nursery of footballers and the soccer city of Punjab. Two of his elder sisters represented Punjab and India in football, so he was interested in football from childhood. He says ‘I always wanted to be professional football player but due to lack of opportunities and low future scope in India I gave up the game and focused more on studies after my school. But I always take part whenever I get a chance to play. Pele and Maradona are my all time favourite players’.

Harinder also has ambitions for his countries’ footballing future – ‘I hope that India will improve its infrastructure in soccer and one day my dream to see India playing in world cup will come true’.

Forest Pitch

Harinder came to know about Forest Pitch through a friend.  He says ‘Craig is doing and extraordinary work along with his team.  The idea to grow a football ground shaped forest is very unique. I like the concept of having multi-cultural and multi-nationalities players in teams.  I feel lucky to be a part of this awesome project and congrats all the members of the organizing committee and all other players’.

Personal Background

Laura is 23 years old and lives in Edinburgh. She is currently working as a Youth Worker for Street Soccer Scotland. In December 2011, she was picked to be an Olympic Torch Bearer and ran her leg on the 13th June in Edinburgh. In October 2010, she represented Scotland in the Handover Ceremony in Delhi at the Commonwealth Games. She is currently also a Youth Legacy Ambassador for Glasgow 2014 within the city of Edinburgh. She worked at Hampden Park as a Games Maker in the dressing rooms for the London 2012 Olympics.

Coaching Background

Laura has been coaching for 6 years and began coaching at Firrhill High School when she was a 6th year pupil taking the senior Basketball Team. In 2008, she began coaching with Active Schools Edinburgh working within Basketball and Football throughout many schools within the city. This lead to other opportunities coaching football with Scottish Football Association and Edinburgh Leisure. In 2009, she travelled to New York to coach with Noga Soccer for 3 months which was an amazing experience for her. Through her role within Street Soccer, she coached the Women’s Scotland Football Team at the 2011 Paris Homeless World Cup, where the girls finished 5th after a great tournament. Throughout her coaching career she has also coached with companies such as Coerver and Elite Soccer Scotland and Racketball Scotland.

Football Background

Laura has been playing football since the age of 5.  She played throughout primary school at Comiston and high school at Firrhill. At the age of 11, she signed for Whitehill Welfare and played in the U12 squad, this led to a position within the South East Regional Development Squad. She played from S1-S6 at high school and at the age of 15 signed for Hutchison Vale Football Club U15′s. In 2007, she signed for my first senior club Boroughmuir Thistle and competed in the 2nd Division East. She played two seasons there before signing for Spartans B Team in 2009 and competing in the same division. In 2009 she also joined Napier University and in her first season won the second division and reached the semi- finals of the Scottish Cup. In 2011, on a pre- season tour in Keele, she won the Keele Cup with Spartans winning 4-3 on penalties against Stock Port. At the end of 2011, she signed for Edinburgh Ladies whom she still plays for.

Laura describes herself as ‘passionate towards football’ and ‘loves how it brings people together’.

‘I admire Manchester United and the way they develop home grown talent and attract people from all over the world. I am a big fan of Cristiano Ronaldo despite his attitude’

Forest Pitch

Laura says ‘I am loving coaching in Forest Pitch and getting to know all the girls and learning about their culture. I have really enjoyed seeing them develop over the last few weeks and can’t wait to step onto the pitch come Games day. I would really like the opportunity to do something like this again in the future.’

Personal Background

Elena originally came to Scotland in 1998 from Siberia, Russia to study. She fell in love, married, started a family and now lives in Nairn in the Highlands. She is chairperson of the Highland-Russia Connection charity, which promotes cultural links between Scotland and Russia. Right now the charity has an exhibition on Scottish culture which includes a display of paintings and Russian dolls, painted by artists of many nationalities living in Scotland. This is displayed, along with Scottish dress and a signed football donated by Celtic, as part of an exhibition at Kemerovo State University of Culture and Art. To find out more visit www.highlandrussia.org.uk/

Interest in Football

Elena has never previously played football.

“When I heard about Forest Pitch I thought it was a good chance to find out why so many people like this sport that I had never tried. I have found I like it and have been going out with my family to play in a field near our house.”

Forest Pitch

Despite living hundreds of miles from where the training sessions are taking place in Glasgow and from the Forest Pitch site near Selkirk, Elena was determined to get involved.

“This is such a great opportunity to be involved in the Cultural Olympiad, so I am really looking forward to the match.”