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Real Salt Lake lands Gretna star player!

February 27th, 2008 by Nathan | Posted in News |

Unless you’re an avid follower of the SPL (Scottish Premier League), you’re probably wondering “Who the heck is Gretna?”. You’re not alone. I am Scottish and I still wonder the same thing.

Kenny Deuchar

 Gretna is a small town nearly the Scotland / England border. Closeby is a small village known as Gretna Green. This little village gained fame and notoriety as the Scottish equivalent of the Las Vegas little chapel of love. Although the laws have since changed, many years ago English and Scottish law differed greatily on marriage. In Scotland a boy of 14 could marry a girl of 12 without parental consent (that has changed now). In England not only did you have to be 21yrs to marry without parental consent, but you actually had to publicly announce your intent to marry (allowing others to contest it). Gretna, being right on the border, naturally became the first choice place for English lovers to elope.  To this day many marriages are still performed in Gretna green, infact marriage is Gretna’s main industry.

Gretna Football Club has a pretty amazing story. This little club rose from complete obscurity to entry into the Scottish Footbal League in 2002 (Division 3). Last year, they were promoted to the Scottish Premier League (unfortunately it looks like they will be going down at the end of the year). Their stadium has the mind boggling capacity of about 6,000. What’s mind boggling is that the population of Gretna is about 2,000.. so basically when they play the whole town comes out to watch and there’s still plenty of seats left.

 Their star player Kenny Deuchar recently signed up with Real Salt Lake.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/7266475.stm

Despite Gretna’s and Kenny’s relative obscurity, Kenny is actually the only player (other than Jimmy Greaves) to have scored six hatricks in one season in the UK football leagues. 

http://sport.scotsman.com/peterheadfc/Deuchar-equals-Greaves-as-Gretna.2612064.jp 

Not too shabby!

Good luck Kenny. You’re going to need it. Unfortunately for you, your team is pure gash!

  1. 6 Responses to “Real Salt Lake lands Gretna star player!”

  2. By KirkBhoy on Feb 27, 2008

    They’re owned by some dude who founded Subway (also their sponsor). He basically pours money into them like they were Chelski-lite.

  3. By stevetoro on Feb 27, 2008

    Jared owns Gretna? Dude!

  4. By walterb on Feb 27, 2008

    I feel like I just gained a wealth of knowledge on Scottish history…

    sounds like a solid signing…we’ll see how he fairs against MLS goons.

  5. By futbolchick on Feb 27, 2008

    Oh Steve is an avid fan of Gretna.. ask anyone..

  6. By stevetoro on Feb 27, 2008

    Actually, I’m a closet Hearts fan… I’m protesting the transfer of Craig Gordon this season and rooting for Gretna, though.

  7. By Nathan on Feb 29, 2008

    Is that Heart of Midlothian or Heart of Lithuania?

    For the better of the uninformed, Hearts has 8 Lithuanians on their roster, 7 of which are internationals. If you thought that Abramovich interfered with the lineup, then Romanov takes it to a whole new level.

    If I were you, I would stay in the closet.. ;-)

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