GLORY AND DISMAY - Scottish Book Trust

© 2009 The ContributorsAcknowledgementsSponsors: Scottish Book Trust, Learning Connectionsand the Scottish GovernmentProject coordinator: John PlayerSpecial thanks to Carly GillettPrinting: Wm Culross and Son Ltd, Queen St,Coupar Angus, PH13 9DFDisclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are those of the authorsand do not necessarily reflect those of the Scottish Government.

The Glory and Dismay Football Literacy Programme is a partnership betweenthe Adult Learning Project (ALP) Association, Heart of Midlothian Football Club,City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) Community Learning and Development Sectionand City Literacy and Numeracy project (CLAN). The purpose of the initiative isto attract hard-to-reach learners who are keen to improve their reading andwriting skills. The project uses a social practice model of literacy, building uponlearners’ strengths – especially their detailed knowledge of the ‘beautiful game’.The Glory and Dismay programme was set up in May 2004. In May 2004 theProgramme saw the employment of a project development/literacy workerwhose remit was to recruit new learners using recognised issued-basedcommunity development processes. Considerable development time in theinitial CLAN Challenge Fund award was allotted to securing the venue in theWillie Bauld Suite, Tynecastle Stadium (home to Heart of Midlothian FootballClub), enlisting the support of professional footballers and commentators,establishing a city-wide advisory group to assist with promotion andcurriculum development, organising a celebratory learning experience, andattracting 20 new learners and volunteer tutor assistants.The Programme has subsequently become a community of adult learners withclasses now established at the new Spartans Football Academy as well as atthe Willie Bauld Suite at Tynecastle. Moreover the Programme has become anintegral part of the both the Heart of Midlothian Education and CommunityTrust and the energy of the Adult Learning Project (ALP) Association. Thisintegration and energy would not have taken place without the specificsupport of Alan White, Community Development Manager, Heart of MidlothianEducation Trust; Brian McGill, Treasurer, Adult Learning Project (ALP)Association; Literacy tutors: Colin Millar and Hazel Lyons; Volunteers: NicolMcCrossan, Andy Welch, Carly Gillett, John Semple and Jamsey Gilfillan.Most importantly, the Programme wouldn’t have happened without theenthusiasm and exuberance of the Glory and Dismay adult learners.4

The Glory and Dismay is an Adult Learning Project (ALP) which helps otherpeople with their reading and writing and so far I am one of these learners. Ihave been coming to the Glory and Dismay for a couple years now and so farI have enjoyed it since I came along. Since I have been coming along I havehelped the Glory and Dismay organize football games against other ALPprojects and hopefully get a couple of games going this term. I would give thiscourse 10 out of 10 as it has helped me with my reading and writing and I’vemade a couple of good friends during this course. I would totally recommendthis course to other people out there who have a passion for football andenjoy a gossip. The Glory and Dismay has two courses going on and they areat Spartans FC near the Ainslie Park sports complex on a Tuesday night andon a Thursday at the Heart of Midlothian football ground at the Willie BauldSuite from 7 till 9 pm.Stewart Rosie7

My favourite match took place in Istanbul. It was the Champions League CupFinal between Liverpool and AC Milan. Liverpool started the game badly asPaolo Maldini scored in the first minute. They then scored again twice throughHernan Crespo. This meant that they went in at half time three nil down.Liverpool came out a different team in the second half and quickly scored throughSteven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso to level the score. This put thematch into extra time. In this thirty minute period there was no further scoring.This meant that the game went to a penalty shoot out to see who wouldbecome European Champions. The shoot out finished 5-4 to Liverpool withthe winning penalty being scored by Vladimir Smicer as Andre Shevchenkohad his sudden death penalty saved by Jerzy Dudek.I was jumping for joy at the result!!!Graeme Turnbull8

The first tattoo I ever got was a tiger. The next one was of a panther. My othertattoos include other animals and football related.The first football tattoo was when the Jambos won the Scottish Cup in 1998when they beat Gers 2-1, with a penalty scored by Colin Cameron. Thesecond goal was by a Frenchman called Stephan Adam. Then Rangersscored their goal and the game ended. Hearts picked up the cup and cameback to Edinburgh and paraded the cup around along Dalry Rd, then GorgieRd and finished up at Tynecastle Park.Jimmy McArthur9

‘Now, my fear of flying is legendary, but this night Stein, the wily old fox, usedit to Celtic´s advantage: “Jimmy, if we win by four clear goals tonight I will letyou miss the second leg in Yugoslavia.” That was enough for me. I didn´t fancyanother trip in a “big bird”, so I grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck inthe second half and turned in one of my best performances for Celtic, scoringtwice and making another two for Bobby Lennox and Willie Wallace.’Jimmy Johnstone‘Only once in my career did I feel as though I had really reached the heights ofthe game. It was the day I made my debut in the Argentine First Division... Iwas so happy because I felt my life was moving on to another level.The sun was shining, the stadium was packed with fans... that Sunday wouldhave been perfect had we won.’Diego MaradonaThe football of Johnstone and Maradona transcended socio-economicrestrictions like the futile tackles they hurdled with ease. The currencies of skilland glory were what they and their fans prized most highly.“Medicinal” highs briefly fanned their dimming embers, but time lays claim toeven the demigod, and their poisoned chalice hastened their demise.Brian Connelly10

It was July 2005 when my team and I set off from Meadowbank Stadium forGlasgow to play in the Special Olympic Games.We had entered teams in the 5 a-side and the 11 a-side tournaments. I wasin the 5 a-side team and we played between 2 and 5 games a day atGlasgow Green.After our group games, we made the play offs for 3rd and 4th place. I wasinjured for that game but my team had won the game and came 3rd. We weregiven a BRONZE medal for our hard work.I scored 2 goals in the group stages so I felt I had earned my medal.My 1st goal was the best I have ever scored. I was half a metre from thetouch line and 3 metres from the near post when I hit the ball with my foot.I thought it was going to hit the post but it went towards the keeper whogot a hand to it and deflected the ball on to the right hand post then intothe back of the net.Andrew Power12

This course is about other Glory and Dismay learners telling us about football.None of us are ever to old to learn. Doug (the Development Manager) fromSpartans Football Academy was telling us about his life, his passion forfootball, what makes him what he is today. From Doug I took that football isgood for keeping your fitness up to scratch and for bringing people together.I think he is a genius. He does it for the good of the community. People whodo this kind of work know what they are doing. He started from the bottom,that is how you do it. You start from scratch and work your way up. He issharing his skills with us.I would like to help in the community there. I would like to train some of theyoung ones. I feel they are very talented and very good. I think that theSpartans can help me to help the kids become more confident and moreprofessional players. Spartans is good because it keeps them of the street.I think the council should listen more to what the young ones say because it istheir community.Kenny Fyfe14

The first time I ever saw Rangers at Ibrox was in the early 60’s againstAberdeen and the game finished 0-0. In December 1967 Rangers hostedRaith Rovers and won 10-2 after being 5-1 up at half time. Raith Roverssecond goal was an own goal from Dave Smith, the Rangers number 6.In January of 1971 Celtic came calling; Jimmy Johnstone of Celtic opened thescoring and with time running out Rangers equalised with about the last kickof the ball. What happened later is that two of my friends were killed alongwith another 64. This was the second time something like this had happenedat Ibrox in the 20th CenturyJohn MacLean Abercrombie15

The Scottish Cup Final 1998The day was hot the sun was bright. The air was bright with maroon andwhite. The atmosphere was buzzing. It didn’t take long before the Heartsfans had their nerves settled by a wonderful decision by Willie Young and ahorror tackle by the Rangers player. Wee Mickey Cameron stroked an earlypenalty away. The Hearts end was full of excitement and this carried on forthe whole game.It was just after half-time that the game was over as a contest, as a veryslow Amoruso was caught out by a lightning Adam. Then it was time to bitemy fingernails as time was running out for a ageing Rangers team, and thenthe party started. This made me very happy and also the victory in 2006was an excellent day as well.Chris Rankin16

The first time I went to see Hibs play at Easter Road, I was 22 years old. Mybirthday is August 24th 1984. I enjoy football as much as listening to myfavourite Heavy Metal band, Vintage. The band are from Edinburgh and myfavourite football team are from Leith.My Dad is a footballer and so is my wee brother, Bradley. I played for myschool a long time ago. I played at Meadowbank for Pilrig Park school footballteam. We didn´t win though.Jay Mercer17

The game of football can be traced back through the centuries. In Britain itwas mainly the working class who played in their leisure time. The workingclass was dictated to by the industrial magnates who controlled the workinghours. Unlike today, football was considered a “cheap sport” as all oneneeded was a ball.It was village against village, town against town. Football and heavy industrywent hand in hand.It could be assumed that aristocracy used football as a means to appease theworking class by giving them an identity or a sense of belonging. Even todaythe aristocracy can be seen in the many “corporate hospitality” seats, whilstworking class get terracing seats due to the pricing policy of all clubs.With the invention of television it opened up football to a world wide audience.Football clubs then became money making businesses until the plug waspulled on television revenue. The Bosman ruling also changed the transfersystem giving the football players a bigger say in their future and the salariesthey can demand.Sponsorship on shirts and stadiums brought in new revenue. World widemerchandising and club tours were turning football into Hollywood andplayers into superstars. The rich were getting richer and the poor were beingforced into administration.The only revenue a club can depend on is gate receipts, which do notgenerate enough revenue to keep a football club in solvency.The main objective for teams is to qualify for the big money earnings of theChampions League and other competitions suffer as a result.John Semple18

My favourite Hearts game was against Gretna in the Cup Final. The score was1-1 at full-time. There were no further goals in the extra time so the result wasdecided on penalties, which Hearts won 4-2. They brought the Cup back toGorgie. What a feeling! It was brilliant.Eric Hogg20

One new year game against Hibs, John Robertson scored from a penalty.Hearts went on to win the game from a penalty. It felt great.I felt like dancing in the street.Tracey Mcinnes21

Thanks again to the amazing crowd who have made this production possible.Whether you cheered from the sidelines, maybe even play some footie withus, or have become a regular in the Glory and Dismay team, we thank you foryour encouragement, time and effort.If you want to improve you reading and writing, share your football knowledgeand maybe join us for a kick-about, or want more information about theproject, then contact John Player at the Adult Learning Project on 0131221 5800. The courses start in September and February and are likely to runon a Tuesday 7-9pm at Spartans Football Academy, Pilton and a Thursday7-9pm at Heart of Midlothian Football Stadium, Gorgie.22