The UEFA European Football Championship is set to kick off this weekend, and you can feel the excitement all over the country.
With Scotland facing Germany on Friday night, Scots will be crossing their fingers and toes for a good result to start off the group stage. While some members of the Tartan Army have jetted off to Munich to watch the action up close, most will be following along at home or the nearest pub.
Since football is in the air, there has never been a better time to visit The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum. This is because the Stirling museum just so happens to be home to the oldest football in the world.
It may sound silly, but it’s true. According to The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum website, the football dates back to the 16th century during the reign of King James V.
As the story goes, the ball was kicked up into the rafters of the Queen’s Chamber in Stirling Castle sometime during the 1540s. It remained there for centuries, before being discovered in 1981, at which point it was gifted to the museum.
Some people even believe the ball was once owned by Mary, Queen of Scots. While it is impossible to say for sure, it is definitely fun to think about.
The ball itself is made from a pig’s bladder. It sits inside of a glass case atop a piece of green velvet, with information boards on either side delving deeper into the fascinating artefact’s history.
The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum website states: “The next oldest Scottish football, according to the National Museum, is 18th century in date. Football was quite a rough sport in the 16th century and there were several pieces of legislation discouraging it, as it detracted from military service.”
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The Stirling Smith is also home to plenty of other exhibits that are well worth checking out. Among the highlights are its pre-historic whale bones and Roman pottery and its extensive art collection that dates back hundreds of years.
The museum and gallery is also home to a café that serves up a variety of food, drink, and treats to chow down on. There is even an idyllic garden outside where you can sit for some peace and quiet if you get lucky with the weather.
For those keen to check out the world’s oldest football for themselves, The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum is open from 10am until 5pm between Wednesday and Sunday and entry is free. Who knows, seeing the ball for yourself might just bring good luck to Scotland at the Euros this year.
More information can be found on The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum website.
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