Q & A with Archie Macpherson

DAVID CAMPBELL was born in Edinburgh and spent his childhood in the story-and song-rich North-East of Scotland where he acquired a lifelong passion for poetry and the power of the spoken word. He graduated with Honours in English from the University of Edinburgh. He then worked with BBC Radio Scotland for many years devising, scripting and directing a wide variety of radio programmes. He has also reviewed books and drama extensively in the Scottish press and has published poems and short stories in the Scottish literary magazines Chapman, Words and Textualities. He co-wrote the children’s book The Three Donalds (Scottish Children’s Press, 1996), wrote two collections of stories – Tales to tell I & II (St Andrews Press, 1986 and 1994) and Out of the Mouth of the Morning (Luath Press, 2009). He is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s finest storytellers as a popular ambassador of Scottish lore and literature, he has toured worldwide with his repertoire of talks and stories. He currently lives in Edinburgh.
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.