I know what you’re thinking. Scottish sport means football, Rangers and Celtic, maybe a bit of rugby if you’re feeling generous. And you’re not entirely wrong. Football dominates the back pages, fills the pubs on matchday, generates more passion and tribalism than any other aspect of Scottish life.
But my job is to cover everything else too. The sports that don’t get prime-time television coverage, that struggle for funding, that produce world-class athletes who compete for Scotland and Great Britain on the global stage.
Football: The Beautiful, Complicated Game
I can’t write about Scottish sport without acknowledging football’s primacy. The Scottish Premiership may not compete financially with England’s top tier, but it produces atmosphere, drama, and genuine sporting achievement. I’ve covered matches at Ibrox and Celtic Park that rival anything I’ve experienced in world football for sheer intensity.
Beyond the Old Firm, there’s a rich tapestry of clubs with loyal supporters and proud histories. Aberdeen, Hibernian, Hearts, Dundee United. These clubs matter enormously to their communities. When I cover a match in Inverness or Kilmarnock, I’m not just reporting a score; I’m documenting something that’s woven into local identity.
Rugby: Union and League
Scottish rugby has had its struggles, but the national team’s performances in the Six Nations still captivate the country. I’ve watched Murrayfield erupt when Scotland beats England. I’ve seen the disappointment when close matches slip away. The sport’s amateur ethos may be gone, but the passion remains.
Rugby league, less visible but no less committed, has a foothold in Scotland too. The professional and grassroots levels both deserve coverage that they rarely receive.
Golf, Shinty, and Beyond
Scotland invented golf, and the sport remains central to Scottish life. Not just the Open Championship at St Andrews, but municipal courses where anyone can play, junior programs developing the next generation, debates about access and tradition.
Shinty, Scotland’s indigenous sport, thrives in the Highlands and Islands. I’ve covered cup finals at An Aird in Fort William, witnessed the skill and physicality that makes this sport unique. It deserves more attention than it gets.
Athletics, swimming, cycling, curling, winter sports. Scottish athletes compete at the highest levels in all these disciplines. My mission is to tell their stories, to cover the sports that build character and community even when the spotlight is elsewhere.
