THIS IS GRETNA, USA

THE people of Gretna have been swept by cup final fever - thousands of miles from Scotland in Louisiana.

Locals in Gretna - a small city just outside New Orleans - are looking for a bit of cheer after the misery caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Gretna, Louisiana, was named after the Scottish town because it too used to perform quickie weddings for eloping couples.

Mayor Ronnie C Harris said: "The people of Gretna are very excited to know that Gretna FC has achieved this level of prestige and honour in the sporting world in Scotland because we're very proud of the Gretna name.

"When we see our namesake do well and gain some recognition from the rest of the nation, I'm very happy for them and very proud.

"That's the amazing thing about sport. It really brings the community to the forefront and brings everyone together.

"When you are on the same side, there is nothing to argue about.

"I was happy to hear of the Gretna football club's success. Gretna FC is a very small club and has done some amazing things. It's almost like the mouse that roared.

"I want to let people here know our namesake has done so well.

"One of the things I have got to do is search the internet and find out more information about the game."

Our Gretna benefited from a tightening of marriage laws for England and Wales which made the first stop across the Border a haven for eloping couples.

The other Gretna cashed in on the constraints of French Catholicism.

Tucked behind the fire station, founded by Alamo hero Davy Crockett, Gretna also has its own blacksmith's shop for the wedding ceremonies.

Mayor Harris explained: "New Orleans in the 1800s was very French and very Catholic and very strict socially. If you were in love and wanted to get married, you had do it a certain way -or you could cross the Mississippi and get married in my community.

"There's thousands of documented weddings justices of the peace performed."

Current lustice of the Peace Vernon Wilty III is carrying on the tradition.

He said: "It's a lot of fun and, for a long time, a lot of people have been coming over to Gretna and knocking on the judge's door in the middle of the night to get married here.

"We are going to have to keep track of Gretna FC on the sports channels.

"We gotta support Gretna all the way and wish them all luck.

"We came back after Katrina so if these guys are long shots, maybe they could go all the way with it. It'd be great."

Like much of south Louisiana, Gretna is still coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina which hit last August.

Mayor Harris, in particular, remembers the hard decisions it brought with it. With the hurricane bearing down on him, he did the unthinkable.

Harris closed Gretna to prevent those fleeing from other towns overwhelming his city.

He said: "It was very unfortunate. People say it was because we didn't want blacks here and claim we are a predominantly white community, which is false.

"My community is made up of 34 per cent African American, six per cent Hispanic and eight per cent Asian.

"Yes, we are majority white but not predominantly white. It wasn't a black or white issue but an issue of security. You could see fires on the horizon - there was no electricity. All of New Orleans was totally blacked out, including Gretna.

"The storm was 100 miles wide and the eye itself 20 miles wide. The impact of the storm was far-reaching.

"More than 1.1million people had no electricity. You can't run a sewer system without electricity. We had no water, no bottled water, no food and no shelter.

"Just about every building had damage. A portion of the city was flooded by rain water so we had our own problems. Everybody was traumatised and resources were very limited. We didn't have enough supplies for our own police department.

"I still had 5000 people who stayed in the city of Gretna that we had to take care of. It was a dire time."

Now, Mayor Harris is convinced that Gretna FC can inspire the people of his city.

He also hopes his town can inspire Gretna FC to Scottish Cup victory.

With a charming Southern drawl, he admitted: "It is sad that it has taken a football game to bring it to the forefront but the legacy that Gretna, Scotland, has made on the United States and ? certainly on my community is one that should be with us all the time.

"It'll bring us closer together. One of the things I think would be very nice would be to see the Gretnas get together.

"Of course, fighting hurricanes over here has kind of taken the spotlight but I love my community and the history associated with Gretna is something I cherish."

Taken from the Daily Record