Could Gaelic football take off in Barry?
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Sport | Gaelic Football
Fans of Gaelic football are being encouraged to come along to training sessions for a new team being set up in Barry by a local resident who developed a passion for the sport while working in the Middle East.
Primary school teacher Matt Hutchinson, 44, left his home city of Cardiff in 1999 and has spent the last two decades working in other parts of Britain and around the world, including spells in London, Portugal, Italy and the Middle East, which is where he found a love for Gaelic football.
Matt settled in Barry last summer, and he is now appealing to fellow fans of the sport to help him establish a team in the town.
Gaelic football is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective is to score by kicking or punching the ball into the other team’s goals (three points) or between two upright posts over a crossbar above the goals (one point).
Players advance the football up the field with a combination of carrying, bouncing, kicking, hand-passing, and soloing (dropping the ball and then toe-kicking the ball upward into the hands).
Gaelic football is played across Britain and is popular among the Irish community, though its appeal, along with that of hurling, broadened with the help of regular TV coverage of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) on Channel 4 in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Today, the GAA is shown extensively on Sky Sports, and last month it was announced that a further five matches will be streamed live on the BBC iPlayer this season.
Matt’s interest in the sport grew while he was working in Ras Al-Khaimah, about 50 miles north of Dubai, where he played for a local team: “Gaelic football is massive out there – people are surprised when I tell them just how many people play the game. It really does have a strong following.
“There are teams in all the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia – it became a big part of my life, and it’s something I’m keen to share with others now I’m back home in Wales” he said.
Matt’s passion is shared by his 12-year-old son Finn, who also played the sport in the Ras Al-Khaimah and now attends St Richard Gwyn RC High School in Barry.
Since settling in the area, Matt has trained every Saturday with the St Colmcilles in Pontcanna, who have been active since 1956 and are popular among the Irish student community.
Matt is keen to establish a team in Barry, though he admits he has some way to go before he fulfils his ambition: “I’ve literally only set it up in the last month or so. We had three people turn up for our first training session in Barry Island on a Sunday morning, and for our next session at Gladstone Gardens we had six, so that’s a 100% increase!” he joked.
The team has provisionally been named Barry Social Gaelic Football, and Matt insists all are welcome: “Whether you’re a long-time fan or are new to the game, I’m more than happy for you to come along. “It’s open to people of all ages, genders and abilities. This is a great way to get active, make new friends and have a lot of fun,” he said.
If Matt succeeds in setting up a team, he has several potential venues in mind, including the 3G pitch at Jenner Park.
Gaelic football is administered across the region by the Gloucestershire GAA, which includes the well-established St Colmcilles in Cardiff, along with teams in Swansea, Newport and several in Bristol.
It may be a while before Barry has its own team competing in the league, but Matt is optimistic that he can galvanise enough local interest. He said: “The people who came along to our first two sessions seemed to really enjoy the game in a relaxed, fun atmosphere, and we aim to continue in that spirit.
“Gaelic football’s profile is growing and Barry is a town with a strong sporting heritage. It would be great to have a competitive team established here.”
Training sessions take place on Sunday mornings at 11.00am and anyone wishing to attend can contact Matt on 07933727026.
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