CLAYMORES VET MAKES NATIONAL FLAG SQUAD

Photograph by Andrew Wallace

The Scottish Flag Football Association held the final trials for their senior national team selections on Saturday, and amongst the trialist were some very familiar faces.

However the one with the highest profile was non other than ex-Scottish Claymores Wide Reciever and National player Scott Couper. Couper put in a spectacular performance to convince the National Coaches that they could not ignor the talents that secured his place in the Claymores for 10 years.

Couper was also joined by another well know face from the Claymores, Jim Burns. Couper and Burns are known to have been involved heavily in the grassroots programmes initiated by the NFL through the Scottish Claymores and their presence gives the SFFA a well earned seal of approval.

Head Coach Stuart McKay said, "It was an exceptional standard of flag football on display at the trials which made the selection process very difficult.

The squad we have this year is of a higher standard to that of last years. We have no doubt progressed and learned from our first taste of international football in 2004.

It's very encouraging and humbling to see such players as Scott Couper and Jim Burns giving something back to the grassroots game and this will be an inspiration for all of our children playing flag in this country."

The Scotland Senior Squad are to play their English counterparts on the 2nd of April. The match will be played at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. Kick off at 1.00pm.

The players chosen for the 2005 campaign are as follows: Andrew Jones, Paul Arnold, Neil Arnold, Steven Bramwell (Kirkcaldy Bulls); Ryan Hunter, David Mooney (Grangemouth Broncos); Carlos Yanes-Roca (Stirling Clansmen); Jim Burns, Scott Couper (Lanarkshire Steelers). The coaching staff has been confirmed as follows: Head Coach Stu Mckay (AC Raptors), Coach Mark Bramwell (Edinburgh Wolves), Coach Jimmy Thompson (Grangemouth Broncos), Manager Steven Maxwell (AC Raptors), Trainer John Scougall (AC Raptors).

Scott Couper and Jim Burns will also be playing for the Airdrie based Lanarkshire Steelers in this season's senior flag league.

The Steelers are the newest senior team in the Lanrkshire area, and are looking to make their mark in the strongly contested nationwide league where they will face teams from Abredeen, Stirling, Grangemouth, Kirkcaldy and Glasgow.

For more information on Flag football and other relevant news log on to www.sffa.org.uk.