The collision of history and poetry can produce effects akin to some kind of communal hallucination.
This occurred in a patch of Partick last week when one witnessed the effects of a Scottish World Cup qualification allied to the launch of a song and a collection of poetry.
The most obvious effects of this phenomenon was a chap in lame jacket and odd headwear being pursued by a drone while practising cricketers were accompanied by a wondrous samba band. And, of course, a piper.
There is an explanation for all of the above, so bear with me. The site was the West of Scotland Cricket Club on a fine night. The first football international between Scotland v England was staged there in 1872 so it seemed appropriate that We are Scottish Football: World Cup Celebration, published by Luath, should follow on atop this historic turf.
The book is a lovely object. It fits into back pocket or sporran and contains the poetry of Julie McNeill and the photographs of Campbell Ramage. This a beguiling mix with the poems of McNeill — affecting, emotional and capable of wit and humour — being set against the backdrop of Ramage’s inventive scenic takes.
This launch was given the sort of creative impetus that produced the scenes that must have confused the cricketers practising in the outfield. First, Colonel Mustard was on the boundary dodging the swoops of a drone while performing keepy-uppies.
Glasgow band SambaYaBamba perform their World Cup song to an eclectic crowd in Partick
The colonel, decked in sparkly jacket, is the leader of Colonel Mustard and the Dijon Five. This is not a T20 franchise or even an enhanced five-a-side team but a group billed as a Scottish/alternative/dance/rock group. Later scenes produced a briefer verdict: they are very good. And their World Cup song is a banger, as the young folk say.
In front of the clubhouse, the serried ranks of SambaYaBamba — glorious name and tremendous sound — were welcoming guests to the book launch, allowing a wee interlude for a more traditional introduction by a piper.
All this was witnessed by a throng of people that included a genuine Scottish football legend.
It was, as one has already gathered, quite the evening. Before McNeill read poems from the book, she found a moment amid the mayhem to talk about her work and its purpose.
‘It is great to be here,’ she said. ‘This is an historic site for football. What better place to launch a World Cup edition than here?’
McNeill has been writing her poetry since she was a teenager. ‘I was this sort of kid who couldn’t say what she felt so I wrote it down. I ended up loving it. I studied English literature at Glasgow University and then got back into it when I had children.
Julie McNeill has compiled a riveting book celebrating Scottish football and its idiosyncrasies
‘I was about 40 and poetry for me was like taking a photo, a snapshot of something. I was writing about their smiles, their first steps…
‘When one of my children was about five, the women’s team had qualified for the World Cup in France so I was writing about this brilliant achievement, writing about community, writing about my kids but coincidentally writing about football.’
She is linked to the Hampden Collection, the group that seeks to promote the extraordinary history of what can be called the world’s largest outdoor museum which sits in the South Side of Glasgow.
‘My mind was blown by all these historic sites. So they all have a poem in the book and the purpose is to make sure people know the history.’
McNeill, who was born in Carlisle to native Scots and moved to Scotland aged 17, is a St Mirren supporter, giving her the traditional experience of the highs and lows that come with fandom, particularly this season when the Paisley side could be trophy winners who are relegated.
‘All of this new edition is of World Cup poems,’ she said. ‘I won’t be going to the World Cup. I have been lucky as I have been to the Euros and the women’s World Cup, so I will be sitting in front of the big screen.’
The West of Scotland Cricket Club pitch plays host to a colourful and impromptu kickabout
Colonel John McMustard hopes to be there, if only in song. The vision is of the band’s composition being a musical accompaniment to the greatest show on earth.
‘We are doing the first performance of our song, the Fathers of Brazilian Football,’ he said as the drone landed and filming of the music video was temporarily halted. The song celebrates Thomas Donohue, Charles Miller, Archie McLean and Jock Hamilton.
Colonel McMustard, whose day job is as a mental health nurse, has taken the band around the world, including two engagements in South Korea. ‘It started as a hobby but it has gotten bigger,’ he said.
He certainly takes the filming of videos seriously. ‘I did a Western song and ended up watching hundreds of Westerns,’ he said.
The band is a collection of football supporters and Colonel McMustard has studied the history of the global game to write the song. It is blistering, captivating and entertaining. So if Steve Clarke’s side could just be the same…
The Brazilian theme was echoed by SambaYaBamba, Glasgow’s homage to the tradition of the Rio carnival.
Glasgow rock band Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5 keep the football-mad crowd entertained
Roddy Dickson, the leader of the band, was a gas engineer who was musical. He was seduced by the sound of percussion.
‘It started as a hobby 26 years ago and it has become more serious,’ he said. ‘I have been lucky enough to to go to the carnival in Rio a couple of times and I stayed in Brazil for three months and played in a band.’
SambaYaBamba was already going when Dickson joined but now he is a director. He does workshops in schools.
‘We do traditional Brazilian samba with influences from nearer home,’ he said. ‘It’s a bit of a melting pot.’ It was simmering in front of the clubhouse,
‘We do gigs, festivals, football matches. My first gig was a long time ago at Celtic Park. We played at the Champions League final.’
Er, what?
‘Yes, Real Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden in 2002. We were part of the half-time entertainment.’
Scotland legend Rose Reilly (centre) was on hand to join in the pre-World Cup excitement
The main event was indoors with poetry readings preceding the formal musical offerings.
A figure, sitting at a corner table, was referenced in the works. It was Rose Reilly, now 71, but a history-maker in the Scottish game. She travelled abroad to France and Italy to play professionally when the women’s game was banned by the SFA. Reilly won a global international tournament with Italy before returning to her native Ayrshire.
She has hopes for Scotland in the World Cup in Italy. But she is welded to realism.
‘There is work to do over there but there is also work to do here on women’s football. We have to strengthen the game here as a lot of girls are heading down south,’ she said.
The music began and such cares disappeared for the moment as gold lame swayed to a samba beat. It’s going to be a strange summer. Bring it on.
