10 Facts About Shinty

Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball.

Shinty is played mainly in the Scottish Highlands and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread in Scotland, and was even played in northern England into the second half of the 20th century and other areas in the world where Scottish Highlanders migrated.

Shinty was once a popular game in lowland Scotland, as shown by its name Shintie, a term which took that form around 1700, displacing the earlier Shinnie – of which there is a written record about 100 years earlier.

The 'Future of Shinty' Report published in 1981 led to a complete restructuring of the way in which shinty was organised and managed.

University Shinty is a popular section of the sport, with almost all Scotland's main universities possessing a team.

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Shinty was traditionally played through the winter, based around the tradition of the "Iomain Challainn", where New Year was marked by a game between neighbouring parishes.

Cornwall Shinty Club was established in 2012 playing their first game on 21 April 2012 against London; the match finished a draw.

Shinty was previously played widely in England in the 19th century and early 20th century, with teams such as London Scots, Bolton Caledonian and Cottonopolis; Nottingham Forest F C was established by shinty players.

Shinty is played in the British Army, with The Scots Shinty Club keeping alive the tradition of the game being played in the Forces.

Shinty is being revived among the Scottish diaspora in North America, where it was originally played in the 18th and 19th century by Scottish immigrants, but died out.