ALBA/SCOTLAND: 'ALBA' STRIP - MORE PROMINENT PLACEMENT URGED

The Celtic League has urged more prominent placement for the 'Alba' strip on National team kit. It is part of a wider and ongoing campaign to promote National pride in sport which the League started some years ago. The General Secretary has written to the SFU (see below):

«Dear George Peat

'Alba' on Scottish National Football kit

I am writing to you in order to congratulate the Scottish Football Association on including the word 'Alba' on its national football kit in 2006, following the passing of the following resolution at our 2007 AGM in Cymru/Wales:

'This AGM:

Congratulates the Scottish Football Association on including 'Alba' on its national strip and requests that 'Alba' is moved to the front of the shirt. Calls on the Scottish Rugby Union to do likewise.'

As stated in the resolution, we would like to request that 'Alba' is moved to the front of the shirt to give the word more prominence. As you can also see, we are now calling on the Scottish Rugby Union to do likewise.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary»

Background:

The campaign to include 'Alba' on the National team strip has had a chequered history in 2005 the Celtic League AGM considered the following resolution:

'This AGM:

1) Condemns the Scottish Football Association for refusing to put the old name of the country, «Alba» on the national strip.

2) Recognises that David Taylor, chief executive of the SFA, has publicly voiced his opposition, but that his attitudes are symptomatic of more widespread, deep-set prejudices against the language.

3) Calls on politicians to intervene in this situation, and encourages all sympathetic parties, wherever they may be, to lobby the SFA on this matter.

4) Recognises that placing «Alba» on the shirt is a very minor change, with no great financial cost, but also a massive gesture from a bastion of popular Scottish culture.'

Since that resolution was considered good sense has prevailed and the strip has been adopted. The new campaign(s) about the positioning of the strip and the separate approach to the SRU urging that they adopt a similar stance are extensions of these earlier AGM moves.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

19/06/08