Journalist Felicity Collinson says she suffered a swollen and stiff neck that left her feeling like a "zombie" from a horror movie as she battled the Covid-19 virus over the festive season. So it should not be too surprising to learn the the Queen liked a bit of footie.īut how can we explain hiding the ball behind a thick oak wall? One theory offered by McGinnes involves, of all things, witchcraft.A mum-of-two has told how she suffered some of the lesser-known symptoms of coronavirus after her family was struck down with the illness on Christmas Day. And there is evidence that she swung a golf club or two on the Scottish links. Historians believe Mary, far from a regular participant, played tennis at least once at Falkland Palace, moving about in only her breeches to avoid tripping over her dress. Information on the Queen's sporting life is a bit lacking. "That would cost thousands of pounds and we just don't have that kind of money." "We would have to do MRI scans, X-rays, testing the materials to understand the surface," says McGinnes. But how do we know for sure that this was a ball used by the Queen? Well, we don't. Historians believe the ball was likely used between soldiers and staff in the castle courtyard in an activity more closely resembling handball than football. However, the surface now includes stitching following necessary repairs. The cover for the ball is made of thick leather and stitched from the inside to make for a smoother bounce and roll. A cricket ball is at its centre and it is housed within a pig's bladder to allow for inflation this is known as a bladder ball. The well-crafted ball has stood up to a pretty good beating. A junior reporter for a local newspaper wrote a feature article about the find and within a day the national media were on the museum's doorsteps wanting a look for themselves, recalls Michael McGinnes. News of the discovery first appeared in 1999, shortly before the ball was put on display. I didn't realise that people would go bonkers over the football. The ball, dated to be at least 436 years old, is clearly one of the greatest finds in Stirling's recent history. Indeed it did.Īfter having it examined by historical experts, the ball was confirmed to be from the period between 15, the same time the wood panelling was installed in the bed chamber and in sync with Mary's reign as Queen. On a visit to the gallery, a member of the National Museums of Scotland noticed the ball - collecting dust in storage - and thought it might have some intrinsic value. In this case, the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum became the proud owner of this mystery ball where it sat hidden away in a storage vault for nearly 20 years. While horse racing has long been known as the Sport of Kings, perhaps football was once the Sport of Queens.Īrtefacts recovered from historic sites – such as Stirling Castle – often eventually end up in the nearest museum.
This little grey orb has been determined to be the oldest football in the world - dating back to the mid-16th century and signifying the earliest known reference to the sport and royalty. What they found was a leather ball, slightly larger than a softball. But did she also play football – Scotland's national sport?ĭuring an excavation project inside Stirling Castle in the mid-1970s, workers came upon a small round object tucked behind the thick oak-panelled walls of the bed chamber once used by Mary. Mary would swing a golf club or tennis racket from time to time and she was a spectator at sporting competitions. A little-known fact about Mary, Queen of Scots was that she enjoyed sport.