Cornwall to join UEFA?

I have previously stated in various blog posts that Quebec and Catalonia (should the Catalans not secede from Spain) could be considered to become full national members of the world football family, irrespective of being non-sovereign jurisdictions.  Now it could also be time to make a case for Cornwall.

Cornish people have long campaigned for their homeland to be recognised as more than just another English County.  Unlike Lancashire or Norfolk for instance, Cornwall has it's own language, which is of course a classic sign of a distinct identity.  This week Cornwall was granted minority status by Europe.  The decision does in some respects put the Cornish people on a par with the Scots, Welsh, and Northern Irish.

Cornish problems such as high unemployment will not disappear overnight.  One mechanism which could be strategically positioned to address this unfortunate state of affairs is a Cornish Assembly, which is seen as the main aim of Mebyon Kernow (The Party for Cornwall).  Whilst a Cornish Assembly could still be some way off, perhaps the time is right though for the Cornish to explore ways and means to express their distinct identity through sport.

Football is of course the world's most popular sport, and there are countless precedents of non-sovereign jurisdictions being welcomed into the World Football Family, most notably the other Nations of the UK.  European Football's governing body UEFA gave the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar full membership just under a year ago.  With Gibraltar having a population of just a fraction to that of Cornwall, the case for UEFA welcoming the land of the Cornish Pasty and Clotted Cream is very compelling indeed.