by Lauren Witherspoon
Edinburgh, for the first time will host the 6th annual Swamp Soccer World Championships this weekend.
Fifty teams from around the world, including China, Russia and Scandinavia, will compete at Hunter’s Hall park in the city’s Craigmillar area this weekend.
Stewart Miller, Director of Swamp Soccer UK took time out of organizing the event to speak to the Edinburgh Reporter on location at Hunter’s Hall.
The tournament has been held in argyle for the past 5 years but Stewart explained that not only had the tournament outgrown its rural venue, the west coast midge had cause havoc among its competitors.
The attraction of Scotland capital city seemed an ideal alternative, explained Stewart. He said: “It’s growing every year and it’s moved to Edinburgh this year to take advantage of its popularity and to make it even bigger.
“Edinburgh is an attraction in itself – we’ll probably get quite a few teams that will come along because they want to see Edinburgh.”
For those of us who would rather watch than get stuck in, Stewart promised a fun-filled weekend: “It is what it says – it’s actually just playing football in swamp conditions.
“There’s a number of things people coming along to watch will get out of it. They’ll actually get to watch something that’s actually very unique and unusual. When you watch people playing swamp soccer they’re laughing – they’re all like kids playing in the muck.
“A lot of the teams come in fancy dress as well – so that’s quite entertaining. There’s a large marquee that will be erected with a restaurant and a bar inside, and we’ll have a DJ playing music all day and a live band that will be playing on Saturday evening.”
For more information go to http://www.swampsoccer.co.uk/
SWAMP SOCCER – THE ESSENTIALS
Swamp soccer employs the same rules as football but with the following exceptions:
1. Each match is played for 24 minutes with a half time switch-over.
2. Swamp Soccer is played on a 5-a-side pitch.
3. The teams play 6-a-side.
4. The teams can use as many substitutes as they like.
5. Because it’s muck – if you want to take a throw-in, a penalty, or a kick off – you drop the ball onto your feet.
6. There is no offside rule.
