3-0 Up On PlayStation In The Lockdown Champions League

In this poem which is written on women’s football during the time of lockdown I examine the idea that players could become master technicians by playing football manager on PlayStation. Like Pre Season Dreams I tried to write it in the voice of a player as she narrates the story of keeping on with the football she can’t go and out to play. Though it may have a very slight bias towards to Glasgow City, I’ve tried to be as neutral as possible so players and supporters of all clubs can think of a player like this in their own teams and relate to it that way.  I’ve titled it 3-0 Up On PlayStation In The Lockdown Champions League I hope you enjoy the read.

3-0 Up On PlayStation In The Lockdown Champions League


Normally we’d be in the changing rooms
getting ready for the game
and listening to the final words of wisdom
from the boss
as we walked out in front of the crowd
we’d be proud of ourselves and our colours
dreaming of glory league titles and trophies
but for now at least things have changed
it feels strange to be training in our gardens
or the local park where we take our daily exercise
and practice our keepy uppy skills
which some girls can do whilst playing guitar
personally I couldn’t manage that
it’s a skill set too far
even for someone like me
whose usually good at multitasking
trust me lockdown leagues are no laughing matter
but we need to stay safe and practice social distancing
for all our sakes
one mistake could cost a lot more
than a game
and that’s not a risk I’m prepared to take
so I’m playing my football on virtual reality
and now they’ve a version of football
manager for the women’s game
I was talking to one of the girls
in a what’s app group and she says
that her team had went 100 games unbeaten
without conceding a goal.
Honestly the poor soul
but that’s what you get
when you grow up supporting Thistle
one day reality will blow the whistle
on her dream
as for me I’m managing our team
in the lockdown champions league
and we’ve reached the quarter finals
with the home crowd roaring us on
we’re 3-0 up on playstation
with only seconds remaining.
and heading for the semis
to play opponents selected by computer.

© Gayle Smith 2020

Ceaser (In Memory Of Billy McNeill)

On the anniversary of his death I share what I hope is a fitting tribute to the legacy and in memory of our greatest ever captain Billy McNeill. I’ve given it the title Ceasar I hope you enjoy the read

Ceaser

The epitome of all
that is good about our club
he is and ever shall be
one of our true greats
a giant in both height and  in stature
he looked so I was told
like a movie star
and would become our leading man
as on the field and off
he set examples for others to follow
for Celtic and Scotland he played without fuss
he was in every sense one of us
the captain who led us during our glory years
to nine league titles in a row
and countless other trophies
including that night in the Lisbon sun
when a team of local bhoys
destroyed the greatest defence in the game
to bring the big cup home to paradise
and in doing so changed the course of our history
on the night that made lions
of a team now forever immortal
this did not phase him
to him he was just our centre half
though he scored a few goals in his time
he knew his main job was defending our lines
to the best of his considerable ability
to the man we called Ceasar dignity mattered
it was how he played the game
and as the sun set on a glittering career
it was fitting he lifted one final trophy
in his last game for the team
Airdrie defeated in the cup final of 75
a Scottish Cup medal the last prize
to bring the curtain down
on a career which spanned almost two decades
of course we knew he’d be back one day
our manager’s chair seemed destined
for a man who knew duty
in two spells in the job
he had a decent trophy haul
but the man who followed Stein
had the toughest task of all
yet still gave us memories to cherish
like the night ten men won the league
in his very first session
and a centenary double the highlight of a  second spell
which never quite captured
the magic of his earlier years
on hearing of his passing
as we flocked to the stadium 
many in tears as we laid scarves over paradise
and placed his number in the centre circle
of the place he called home
and we said our goodbyes
to our most iconic captain
the man who’ll be forever known
as Ceaser

© Gayle Smith 2020

(Picture ) Billy McNeill In The Colours He Was Proud To Wear For Famous Glasgow Celtic

I’m Ready To Go For Nine In A Row On This Journey Through The Blogosphere (Happy Birthday Tartan Tights)

On Tuesday night my blog turned eight and as I reflect on that fact I can honesty say it only feels like yesterday since I took my first nervous steps in to the blogosphere. It’s safe to say we live in a very different world than was the case in March 2012, there have been significant changes to our lives in the past eight years some good others less so but whatever happened I’d like to tartan tights has covered those events openly, honestly, and with fairness. Though much of the focus of tartan tights has tended to be on my personal life and my poetry. It has to be said that the blog has returned at least to some extent to the political roots that birthed it and though poetry has tended to dominate in terms in content, the topics and tone of the poems written in the last 12 months has become a lot more political. This has been due to three main factors Brexit transphobia, and the continuing fight for our national independence.

There were also more personal reflections on political figures such as our country’s first ever first minister Donald Dewar and and a man with whom I have much more in common the firebrand socialist hero of Red Clydeside John MacLean. I also examined environmental issues in Letter To Earth and looked back on my student days in poems such as Textbooks And Daffodils and Clipboards And Pens.

Football was also covered in the blog and the poems weren’t just about Celtic as both the junior game and the Women’s game were also given the respect they deserve. However one of the saddest posts of the year was written on the death of Celtic’s greatest ever captain the legandry Billy McNeill who is , was, and will probably remain the only captain of any Scottish club ever to win The European Cup.

Still on the subject of death , there were poems for friends , relatives, and public figures who had passed away in the last 12 months and these poems touched raw nerves for me on writing them and did so for very different reasons . Other topics covered included Bisexuality, Brexit, Faith, Glasgow, Mental Health, The UK General Election, and Trans Issues the later included posts for Common Space and National Coming Out Day both of which have become regular features on tartan tights in the last few years.

One area which was a wee bit quiter than useful was my cultural posts. This was partly due to the fact that an injury picked up on only my second visit to the Edinburgh fringe ruled me out of the rest of it and there were also fewer book reviews than is usually the case. This is something I’ll need to rectify as I have a bookshelf full of poetry collections I’ll need to get round to reviewing and eventually will as long as I don’t put a deadline on when eventually is

So that was the last year and in all fairness it was a year which provided challenges and opportunities in fairly equal measure. What the next year will bring I really don’t know What I do know however is that as long as there are readers who want to catch up with my news , views, and occasional rants and ramblings I will keep sharing them for you to enjoy. Having made that promise I conclude this post by wishing this blog a very happy birthday and hope you’ll keep on reading tartan tights as we start the 9th year in a row on this journey through the blogosphere

Till next time

Gayle

(Picture ) Me At Mardi Gla aka Pride 20-07-3019 at Strathclyde University

Passport To Reality

As I reflect with sadness on the events of Brexit Day This poem sees me travel back in time in to the early days of 1973 and a football game played in the spirit of European Unity. This purpose of this game was to welcome Britain along with Denmark and the Republc Of Ireland in to what was then the Common Market and would eventually evolve in to the European Union and I many others are so heartbroken to have left. Billed as the three against the six that’s a team of three new members (listed above) against the six original members (Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, (it was West Germany at the time) Luxembourg , and The Netherlands. As for the score the three won 2-0 but to me as an 11 year old the score was irrelevant it was about what the game represented that really mattered and that was a genuine hope of friendship between nations. For more than 40 years this idea worked well until a group of hardline extreme British Nationalists decided to force the UK in to holding a referendum on Britain’s future membership and we who wanted to remain in the European Union were defeated by combination of Conmen, Liars , and Sociopaths, 90% of whom were also deluded right wing racist, xenophobic lunatics. Being Scottish I watched my country being ignored by British Nationalist Westminster politicians on both left and right as this dystopian nightmare began to unravel and thought to myself if only we had voted yes to independence in 2014 we wouldn’t be in this catastrophic mess but we are where are until we right that criminal act of self harm we inflicted upon our nation which I believe we will but not before we have to endure yet more wanton destruction from an idiot Westminster government I wouldn’t trust to run a bath let alone a country. In this poem I look at the optimism of that football match and how imperialist fanatics who were obsessed by blue passports couldn’t and still can’t accept that the British Empire is dead destroyed our European future. I’ve given it the title Passport To Reality at the suggestion of my friend Paddy Callaghan I hope you enjoy the read.

Passport To Reality

Football welcomed our entry in Europe
as three new member states
played a game against the original six
the Brits the Irish and Danes united against a team of Dutch masters
with Italian artists
and superb German technicians
flavoured with French resistance
Belgian brilliance
not forgetting Luxemburgers
This was a sporting display of European unity
to welcome us to a community of nations
built to heal post war divisions
but the British establishment were always individuals
content to go their own way
when the rules didn’t suit
even though their people were pro European
except those who yearned for nostalgia
and an empire which enslaved them as much as any colony
this was always the way Westminster played the game
they never were good at being part of a team
except that night in 73 when the three beat the six 2-0
to give us hope under the Wembley floodlights
as a continent welcomed our arrival
now as we battle for survival
we think not of football but of lifeboats
as we seek to escape from the madness
of an island of illusions
they’ll be no game played as we depart
and leave our membership card at the door
the Wemebly memories replaced
by prayers and candlelight vigils
as we journey to a past without
a passport to reality

© Gayle Smith 2020

I Stand In Silence

This is my Remembrance Poem in memory of the fallen. For those of you who don’t know I’m both a Celtic supporter and long time advocat of Scotland’s Independence and I’m really fed up with the demonisation of my communities at this time of year. To counter this prejudice I have made passing references to both groups within the text of the poem and make no mistake this was deliberate. You see if there is one thing I loathe about the run up to this event it’s the constant hijacking of both the act of remembrance and the poppy by a small but vocal group of unionists many of whom support what they laughably call the loyal orders and other right wing political groups and whose footballing loyalties reflect this deep seated if irrational prejudice. If you were to listen to those people you would think that no Celtic Supporter or member of the independence movement had ever fought in any wars and conflicts to defend these islands. This disgusting attitude is an insult to my dad and his two older brothers who all did what they had to do not for any UK union but for democracy and the families they loved. At the suggestion of my friend Paddy Callaghan I have given it the title I Stand In Silence because that’s what we do on Remembrance Day and we do it to honour the memory of the fallen who gave their lives for our freedom and defeated the tyranny of fascism. But, and be under no illusions about it, as well as honouring the dead of two world wars this title also sends a message to leaders far closer to home and that message is that I won’t stand in silence when it comes to fighting the fascists in our country today and I won’t let them claim either remembrance day nor the poppy for their twisted unionist political ends. I hope you enjoy what I think will be a thought provoking read.

I Stand In Silence

Remembrance Sunday
I stand in silence
to remember the fallen
Poppy worn on the lapel of my jacket
I wear it for James Stokes and Willie Angus
a fan and a player from my team
who wore my colours
and won the highest award
this country can bestow upon civilians
for missions of bravery in action
I wear it for them and for family who served in campaigns in Italy and North Africa
every year my uncle
attended the cenotaph
now I attend the service of Remembrance
in his memory and my dad’s
I am glad to be able to do it
but refuse to sing a hymn of hate against my people
in 45 we defeated the evils of fascism
yet this creeping beast though beaten was not completely destroyed
as it should have been
instead it slept quietly
in pastures green
now we must fight it in the country we said it would never reach
this we claimed was a European plague
we defeated on the beaches of Normandy
gloating in victory we lacked the dignity
to learn from history’s mistakes
so now we must fight it again
this time not on foreign shores
but our on our own
drawing battle lines to stand against
those who claim that the blood shed on Flanders fields
belongs only to them
boasting of empire, crown, and glory
and of wars fought before they born
I treat such claims with the scorn they deserve
yes there were Celtic fans who never came back
they didn’t all fight for the union flag
this lie cannot be allowed to stand
and like autumn leaves needs swept away
on the day we pray for the fallen
who died not for the UK union
but democracy
to say otherwise is to make a mockery
of those who made greatest sacrifice
and gave their lives for freedom

© Gayle Smith 2019

And So It Begins

Ever since becoming Prime Minister Boris Johnson has shown such total and complete contempt for both Scotland and Democracy that I and many others believe the United Kingdom us only one step away from dictatorship. It is for this reason I have titled this poem And So It Begins. I hope you enjoy the read

And So It Begins

And so it begins
amid the chaos and confusion
the bewildered call for revolution
whilst those with most to lose
advocate civil war
invoking images of Cromwell and Carson
naming tyrants as heroes
while billionaires add zeroes
to offshore accounts
and questions are asked
as to whether a divided kingdom
will ever again be truly united
or whether it is time to part company
Machiavellian skulldugary
the weapon of entitlement
used by those who control the propaganda machines
the press and TV sell unattainable dreams
to those in schemes and sink estates
the culture of othering a useful tool
for training those you need
to hate those you don’t
this was how the Nazis blamed the communists
for the burning of the Reichstag
the Conservative right rally round the union flag
whilst their enablers slaughter
those with other banners
promoting alternative visions
and so it begins
the funeral service for the death of democracy

© Gayle Smith 2019

We Have To Defend Democracy From This Parcel Of Proroguers In A Nation

On the day that the supreme court has ruled the prorogation of parliament illegal the British Conservative Colonial Establishment are it seems trying their hardest to erase the role of the SNP in defeating the this affront to democracy. This, to me, only goes to show we are not nor have we ever been in a union of equals.

By ignoring Joanna Cherry, a talented MP, with whom I have profound disagreements on other issues they have insulted an able politician and QC who brought this issue to the Scottish courts and proved the validaty of it to have it upheld by the Scottish judiciary. Also by trying to downplay the status of Nicola Sturgeon who whether they like it or not is this country’s democratically elected First Minister and leads a far more competent government than any UK government since the first term of Tony Blair’s administration the hounds of Conservative unionism may well be stoking the fires which eventually destroy the United Kingdom.

These people, if one can call them that, insult both Scotland and democracy. This is something at which all Scots be they for or against independence should be outraged , and yet there are those especially in the vote for the Queen and Country brigade who will be salivating at such a prospect. These people are not only uneducated they are completely and totally beyond any capacity of ever engaging with the learning process. This is not because they can’t learn but because they don’t actually want to as they have been told be happy in their little Brexit bubble and they’ve received their instructions from the billionaire owners of the Express, the Mail, and the Telegraph.

What they and other working class Tory Brexiteers fail to realise is that they are viewed by the conservative establishment they are all too willing to serve as useful idiots to do the bidding of billionaires whilst they are trapped in poverty from which they have no means of escape now or ever. Now I don’t know about you but this we was poor but we was happy narrative may have worked in Victorian days but somehow it just doesn’t ring true in the 21st century except of course for billionaires who wish to avoid paying tax and those who support in spite of their economic circumstances. These people really need to waken up and they need to do it now.

Yet still they wave their flags and pretend they still have an empire despite the fact that the only empire they’ll ever see is if they rent the star wars DVD of the Empire Strikes Back. Now some might say that their ignorance is more to be pitied than laughed at , I you might not be surprised to know completely disagree with that aassessment as it is their wilful ignorance which if Brexit goes ahead without a deal as is according to the Conservative right the will of the people, will cost both jobs and lives.

It really saddens me to say this but there are too many people both in Scotland and in the United Kingdom who would happily turn their backs on democracy as long as the dictatorship which replaced it was run by someone who could smile for the cameras and crack a few jokes. Now pardon me for saying it but I want my politicians to be serious people in the mould of Nicola Sturgeon, Ian Blackford , Green Party Westminster leader Caroline Lucas, and and Labour MP Jess Phillips, I want politicians who are interested in reducing child poverty , and tackle carbon emissions not attention seeking halfwits who act like circus clowns and want to be a carbon copy of Roy Chubby Brown. I want a democracy that works for our people, a democracy which through a system of checks and balances holds parliament to account, a democracy which our people can believe in and be proud of.

It is for this reason I say as an SNP Member I am delighted if slightly stunned that the prorogation of the Westminster parliament has been stopped in its tracks and parliament can get on with scrutinising the Brexit process and making sure that we remove any possibility of the madness of a no deal Brexit. After all to paraphrase Robert Burns we have to defend democracy and defeat this irresponsible government and its parcel of prorougers in a nation

Till next time
Gayle X

By Any Other Name

This poem is my latest on the ongoing madness that is Brexit loving right wing populism so loved by Boris Johnson and the xenophobes who never wanted Scotland or the UK to be in Europe let alone at the heart of it. Not only did not want to have a European future they made promises they knew they would be able to keep in order to get the result they needed to win the European Union Referendum. Before I go any further I would like to thank my Words And Music co-host Jen Hughes for looking over this poem for me and whether she knows it or not helping me with the editing process which has improved the quality of it till it is now at a place where I am happy to share it. I’ve given it the title By Any Other Name, I hope you enjoy the read

By Any Other Name

Promises from the lips of liars,
tempted you to kiss them at the station.
honeyed words were sweeteners for the soul.
when they talked of taking back control,
you jumped at the chance for a dance
ignoring the risks, you kissed again
till they left you, holding you holding the baby
and their unpaid bills .
the promised land they offered
is not where we are at this time
the dream they sold you ,
when the sun set, on that summer evening
was a promise that was never going to be kept
they respected you, only till the morning after
their laughter could be heard
by all who were willing to listen .
they never saved a prayer for you
or anyone else.
on the day they had you believing everything they said.
as if it were biblical truths
confused, you wonder how it came to this
on the night the bucks fizz went to your head
and you left the club with rogues
falling for the silver tongued chancer
rather than stay with the friends
who begged you to remain
now as a new day dawns
a realisation comes to you
and you know you will never be better together
and a ride on the back of a tandem
is isolation
by any other name

© Gayle Smith 2019

Images Of Democracy ( Photographs Taken At The Defending Democracy Protest 31-08-2019 )

This is a personal snapshot of the defending democracy protest I attended in Glasgow city centre this afternoon.

Picture (1) This first picture shows why we were demonstrating to stop Boris Johnson progressing with the madness of Brexit.Picture (2) This picture shows Glasgow in the sun as the people gather to raise our voice in protest at this anti democratic outrage.Picture (3) The Scotland flag flies in the city square with the stars of European Unity to illustrate this city is internationalist and extends a welcome to all who call it home.Picture (4) The words of a senior citizen of this great city sends a message to Boris and that message is Glasgow will fight for democracy and when an 87 year old says she’s not giving up , neither should the rest of us.Picture (5) If every picture tells a story then this one spells it out loudly, proudly, and clearly. Scotland says yes to democracy and no to suspending democracy.Picture (6) All female drumming troop Sheboom provide some stunning entertainment for the gathering.Picture (7) This shot shows the horrors that could await us all if this suspension of the democratic process is allowed to stand.Picture (8) The youth of our city show their contempt for Brexit in their own unique way.Picture (9) This protester throws the Prime Minister’s words straight back at him by reminding him of a promise he made but knows he’ll never be able to keep.Picture (10) This shot shows what many people think but won’t say, that Brexit is all about race and blaming Johnny Foreigner for all of Westminster’s problems. This may be an an easy way out for the British press and media but Glasgow as it always has says no to racism.Picture (11) This shot shows why Glasgow says no to Brexit. Glasgow values human rights and will meet in our city square to defend them as we did this afternoon.Picture (12) This to me and many others in attendance this afternoon is only way to make sure we get a culture of friendship and respect in these islands. We have to end the UK and let each country within these islands prosper and succeed as independent nations to get the best future for all our people.Till next time

Gayle X

Summer To Shine

As France and Germany get ready to contest the final of the Women’s Under 19 European Championship at St Mirren Park on Sunday this poem is my tribute to the girls who gave their all for Scotland in our games in the tournament we hosted. I’ve given it the title Summer To Shine I hope you enjoy the read.

Picture. It’s Firhill for thrills on a Friday night as Scotland face Norway at the home of Partick Thistle

Summer To Shine.

As dreams begin to fade
like the scorching summer sun
the memories you made
may well be more important
than any title or trophy you will ever win
having seen you in all three games
I know you gave all you had
till there was nothing left to give
it is thanks to you I now know names unknown to me
before the summer started
I realise Charlotte Newshome is a tiger at the back
Amy Muir has the captain’s heart
you need to wear the armband
and Jamie Lee Naiper has the guts and flair
so essential for a box to box player
not to mention endless energy
supplied by an engine that goes on for miles
and as for Emma Craig well what can I say
about her goal against France
the finish was as cool as you could get
when it hit the back of the net
I felt a surge of optimism
I hadn’t felt in years
I held back tears when they scored
their last minute winner
you deserved better than that cruel fate
on a night heartbreak crossed the generations
you are an inspiration to those girls
who are told to play netball or hockey
but who keep going despite the taunts and name calling
your example will help them to roar
and ignore the shrill voices who will say
there is no glory in defeat
what would they know ?
you’ve competed at a level
they never reached
there are always some who will whine and bleat
and when they do I will raise my voice
in anger and with passion
football for girls is not a seasonal fashion
it was with pride, purpose, and power
the flowers of Scotland bloomed
defeating tunes of prejudice
and ingrained sexist attitudes
you’ll never know how proud of you I really am
this was your summer to shine
and I’m glad I made it along
to cheer you on
from Paisley to Firhill and back to Paisley
I followed you faithfully through your journey
you were, are, and will be
brilliant ambassadors for our country
this to me was about more than just winning
I was discovering role models
I didn’t know we had
and you won’t catch me saying I did
but I do now and that’s what matters
so forget the critics idle chatter
and remember you did Scotland proud
setting examples for generations yet to come
you may not have claimed the trophy
but you won hearts of those who watched
with your commitment and skills
and though statistics will say you lost to better teams
with only final scores recorded for posterity
your achievement
your legacy will be seen
in future years
when Scotland reap the harvest
from the seeds you planted
when you embarked on the road to stardom
in this your summer to shine

© Gayle Smith 2019