The BBC Alba programme Caman starts tonight, Thursday 1 December 2011.
The programme contains several shinty related strands as it follows the likes of the Borthwicks from Kingussie, the MacPhees from Fort William, the MacPhersons from Inveraray as well as speaking to Eddie Tembo from Glenurquhart and Lisa Norman from Aberdour, all throughout the 2011 season.
The first episode introduces the key characters and we hear from Inveraray's David MacPherson, whose shinty career hit a major stumbling block last year when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer following a visit to a doctor after sustaining an injury to the groin during a shinty match. Following his diagnosis, the support from his family and the shinty community was pivotal.
David said, “I went to the doctor and he referred me to the Royal Infirmary and they did an ultrasound and that day when I went in they told me that they had found a tumour. …I remember it as if it was yesterday … shocked is an understatement. At the time I just broke down, I just thought that was it. I didn’t think there was going to be a future at all. Because I heard the word ‘cancer’ I just thought oh my god. The shinty community were fantastic, the amount of well-wishing and texts and people coming up to me was fantastic, and the boys in the changing room were brilliant. Right from the minute, there was no kind of whispering or anything, they were just straight out. There was a lot of banter in the changing room which was fantastic, which I needed.”
Also in the programme, Lisa Norman reflects on her involvement with the sport. Ten years ago shinty wasn’t played at any level in Fife, now, thanks to Lisa's dedication and commitment, Aberdour has a larger squad than any other Scottish club.
Lisa said of her achievement, “It wasn’t until just before Christmas that it actually dawned on me that the club could become the biggest in Scotland. The fact it tied in with our ten years probably couldn’t have worked any better and I don’t think you could ever plan for that.”
Episode One of Caman also features shinty blogger Fraser MacKenzie who created the popular “Keeping out of the D” website which has a cult following.
The half hour programme, which is the first of a six part series, starts at 8.30pm.