Football kicked into River Tay during game washes up in Netherlands

A football kicked into the River Tay in Dundee has netted international headlines after washing up on a beach in the Netherlands.

The ball was kicked by a Dundee Athletic defender during a league match at Riverside Drive last month.

To the amazement of the amateur team, it turned up two weeks later on an island off the Netherlands, a journey of more than 400 miles.

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It was found by Esther Verhees as she walked along a beach on Vlieland with her partner Paul van Aken.

Posting on Facebook on Saturday, she said: “Do you miss a football? We found one at the beach of Vlieland, the Netherlands. It travelled a long way!”

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Team manager Matt Smith said the whole team was astonished by the ball’s travels, and the team’s newfound fame.

“During the match a defender got a bit over excited and hoofed it into the river,” he explained.

“When this happens they usually wash up a few miles away in Broughty Ferry and the kids there get a new football.

“I was a bit annoyed at the time, I thought there goes £20, but for it to make it all the way to the Netherlands is amazing.

“It’s getting lots of coverage and has become something of an internet sensation. It’s been really positive for the team and we’re all chuffed about it.”

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Ms Verhees added: “A small message goes viral and is picked up by Scottish and Dutch news sites.

“I think we are all longing for happy and connecting news.”

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