Q & A with Archie Macpherson
ALAN LONGMUIR was a Scottish musician best known as the bassist and founding member of the iconic 1970s pop group, the Bay City Rollers. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Alan developed an early passion for music, teaching himself to play the bass guitar. Alongside his younger brother, Derek, he co-founded the Bay City Rollers in the late 1960s, which would go on to achieve massive success in the UK and internationally with hits like Bye Bye Baby and Shang-A-Lang. Known for his quiet and humble demeanor, Alan remained a steady presence in the band during their meteoric rise to fame, which saw them become one of the most popular boy bands of their era.
After leaving the group in the mid-1970s, Longmuir led a quieter life, returning to work as a plumber, a trade he had learned before his music career took off. However, his contributions to music continued to be recognised, and he often participated in reunions and performances with former bandmates. In his later years, Alan embraced his role as a symbol of 70s pop nostalgia, and in 2018, shortly before his passing, he published an autobiography, I Ran With the Gang, chronicling his life and time with the Bay City Rollers.
Alan Longmuir is remembered as a warm-hearted and talented musician who helped shape the sound of an era, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of pop music.
Countdown to Scotland's first game against Haiti in the 2026 FIFA World Cup (UK time).
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Here’s to the players who wear the shirt, thank you for giving us something worth rallying behind, and here’s to the supporters who kept believing even when we were out in the wilderness.
28 years of heartbreak are over, Scotland are back in the World Cup. With a pen dipped in passion, McNeill explores the emotional landscape of football, bringing to life the highs and lows, triumphs and tribulations that define the beautiful game in Scotland.
Praise for We Are Scottish Football:
In this unique and vivid collection of poems and photographs Julie McNeill makes sure we don’t forget the impact our footballing history has had on the world. STUART COSGROVE, author & presenter
A must read for any fan of football, history, poetry and Scotland. IAN MAXWELL, CEO SFA
In this wonderful book of poems and photographs Julie McNeill ties together the past and present of the game and highlights some of its outstanding moments, personalities and controversies. ROSE REILLY MBE, World Cup Winning Footballer
A poetic tribute, capturing the soul-stirring drama and devotion that make Scottish football an enduring and enchanting spectacle. PAUL ENGLISH, The Herald
Timely and well-written by a fine poet [who] acknowledges the popular roots of the male game while inflecting these through a modern female gaze. ALISTAIR FINDLAY, Morning Star
JULIE McNEILL, poet, author and workshop facilitator, specialises in creative writing workshops and talks, focusing on mental
health and supporting individuals with additional needs. Author of Mission Dyslexia and two poetry collections, she’s the Poet in Residence for St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation and the Makar for The Scottish Women’s National Football Team Poets Society. Her performances include notable events like Wigtown Book Festival and StAnza International Poetry Festival.