The remarkable tale of how US backer Paul MacDonald aims to take the Highland League’s bottom club ‘from worst to first’ has already made national headlines.

But the prospect of a clutch of American football stars being drafted into Lochaber from across the Atlantic was just too good a story to miss for programme makers, Aberdeen-based Midas Multimedia, and BBC Alba, which commissioned the documentary and will broadcast it in September.

Filming for the as yet un-named show will start in March, and will have as its theme Mr MacDonald’s transformation of Fort William into ‘America’s Team FC’ and his ambitious scheme to land the 2009-10 Highland League aided by ‘seven to ten’ US football imports and thousands of online supporters.

Midas Multimedia producer Patricia MacLeod, a native Gaelic speaker originally from Stornoway, told The Oban Times the story was a winner from the start and said Lochaber and its people would form a key part of the documentary. ‘As soon as we began researching and the America's Team story began to unravel we were hooked,’ she said. ‘We sent a hopeful and enthusiastic email to Paul McDonald who replied within an hour and it has snowballed from there. 

‘BBC Alba agreed and here we are looking forward to capturing an amazing 2009 for Fort William.

‘Paul McDonald could not be more helpful while Fort William FC has promised to help us every step of the way and give us unique access to a landmark year for the club. We could not have wished for a more friendly welcome.’

After covering several games in the spring, the team hope to visit the States to film how player recruitment was progressing, before covering the US contingent’s arrival in Lochaber in the summer and ‘their induction into the squad and community’.

‘The programme will culminate by covering the first few games of the 09/10 season which should enable us to gauge how immediate an impact the new recruits will make,’ said Ms MacLeod. ‘We plan to have regular input from all levels of club management and staff and will conduct a full interview with Paul McDonald. In addition, we also plan to meet John McGinlay, the Highland League and a selection of media observers and the fans.

‘Of course all of this will be set against the most stunning landscape and scenery which is yet another reason for us to be hugely excited about the project.

‘Midas Multimedia has Scotland’s first RED digital camera, which shoots in ultra high definition. It is currently the talk of Hollywood and we can’t wait to see what it makes of the beautiful Lochaber landscape and the spectacular setting of Claggan Park.

‘We look forward to hearing both the positives and negatives, and capture an exciting period for both the football club and the town.  

‘We would urge passionate supporters, representatives and residents of Fort William who would like to contribute to get in touch, whether they are for or against the project. They can do so via info@midas-multimedia.com or on 0845 680 0028.’

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