Hampden Collection Makars to perform at Paisley Book Festival

The Hampden Collection Makars—poets Julie McNeill, Donna Matthew, and Hugh McMillan—will perform at the Paisley Book Festival on Friday, May 15, honouring the deeply rooted cultural traditions of football and poetry in Scottish life.

Running from 1.15pm to 2.15pm as part of the festival programme, the event will shine a light on grassroots volunteers, unsung teams, and pioneering figures in the game.

It is designed to blend spoken word and sporting heritage to create a meaningful celebration of community storytelling.

The performance also arrives at a fitting moment, with Paisley’s St Mirren FC recently celebrating Premier Sports Cup success and the Scottish national team preparing for the 2026 World Cup.

Julie McNeill, St Mirren’s poet-in-residence, said: “If we don’t keep telling these stories, they're lost forever.

“Without storytelling, physical spaces and shared memories risk disappearing.”

Julie McNeil, St Mirren’s poet-in-residence (Image: Supplied)

The Hampden Collection began as a volunteer-led project dedicated to preserving and promoting the social and cultural legacy of Scottish football.

Through poetry, live events, and community outreach, the initiative has grown into a living archive that captures voices from across the football spectrum, from local clubs to the national team.

Central to the Makars’ work is the conviction that poetry, like football, is for everyone.

Their performances aim to dismantle the idea of poetry as an “elite pursuit”, using the familiar language of football to reach new audiences and connect with people’s everyday experiences.

Hugh McMillan, Makar for the Scottish Men’s National Team Collection, said: “Football and poetry are both art forms.

“They’re both ways of communicating our lives, our communities and our histories.

“Poetry and football have a direct connection because poetry historically was a way that people communicated about their lives, about their culture to each other, to mark life's events.

“The connection between football and poetry to me seemed a completely sort of natural one, not just writing about football, but the fact that it's a people's game or a people's sort of art form.

“Bringing them together feels completely natural.”

Hugh McMillan, makar for the Scottish Men’s National Team Collection. (Image: Supplied)

Donna Matthew, Makar for the Scottish Women’s National Team Poetry Society, emphasises the unique impact of live poetry.

She said: “I think there's something really magical about hearing people read their work out loud.

“I remember the first time I heard poetry read aloud by the person who'd written it, and actually, it's a different thing than seeing it on the page sometimes.

“It brings it to life in a completely different way.”

Dibnna also draws a parallel between the accessibility of football and poetry.

She said: “As long as you've got a ball, you can play football wherever, whenever really, can't you?

“So it's accessible really for anyone.

“The same can be said of poetry—all you need is your mind, a pen, a bit of paper and the wherewithal to write about something that means something to you.

“That’s something we should be celebrating.”

Donna Matthew, makar for the Scottish Women’s National Team Poetry Society (Image: Supplied)

The Paisley Book Festival is organised by OneRen, a leisure and cultural charity, with additional support from Creative Scotland.

Their event, The Beautiful Game with the Hampden Collection Makars, is part of a wider programme exploring identity, tradition, and the stories that shape communities.

A full programme of events—including booking details—is available at www.paisleybookfestival.com.