Playing Gaelic Football in Asia

By Hannah Ratcliffe
BBC Kent

Vietnamese, French, German, American & English players of the Viet-Celts ladies

I accompanied a friend who was recording a radio documentary on the Asian Gaelic Games; a tournament of Irish sports between teams from across Asia.

Little did I know I would actually end up taking part in the Games.

We met the Viet-Celts, the only Gaelic football club in Vietnam, made up of Irish, Vietnamese, Australian, American and British players.

This was the first time a Viet-Celts ladies team had gone to the Games.

The ladies captain, coach and all-round leader is Marion, a French 26-year-old who lives and breathes Gaelic football. Apart from her, all the other players had been training a month having never played the game before.

While watching a training session a couple of Viet-Celts asked me if I have played it before. Never. I've never even heard about it. I should give it a go I was told. The ladies are short of the 12 players they need to go to Bangkok in a week's time.

I joined them for training the weekend before the Games. "Hannah, you are OK? You are very red" says Marion, dead pan, with her French accent. Yes, yes I am very red and very unfit. It (or rather I) did not look good but to my surprise at the end of the session Marion says "So Hannah you will come with us to Bangkok?".

Gaelic Football One of the world's oldest sports still played today Playing code is organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association The ball can be kicked or hand passed Goals are a combination of football and rugby goals

750 players of 19 different nationalities attended the Games in Bangkok. Dubai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Jakarta were just some of the places spelled out across the backs and chests of players.

The Viet-Celts ladies team were unique, we were the only team in the tournament with no Irish players. We were French, German, Vietnamese, American and English. In our kit we looked like a team but nerves bubbled underneath the neat appearance as we eyed up the much more experienced opposition.

We soared above all of our expectations for the games. We fought hard in every single game, won two games and lost another two by one point. And we ended the weekend with a medal. We were runners up for the Bowl of the lower women's league (each league had finals for a cup, a plate and a bowl).

It was the toughest holiday I have ever been on but it was also the best holiday I have been on. The weekend was so intense I felt like I had been away for ages, I made some great friends and it has changed my life. From now on I am going to make sure I do a regular team sport and I may even make the trip up to London to play some more Gaelic football.