Our Poetry Collection explained
The Hampden Collection created its poetry section on 26th March 2018, and we have an open poetry submission for all three of our collections. Two focus on the Men’s and Women’s Team, and the third is a dedicated collection to encourage children to pick up their pens.
the last stanza
The Hampden Collection announces a new call for poetry called ‘The Last Stanza’ to spotlight that the 1st Hampden Park site has an uncertain future, and without intervention, we may lose it forever. Hampden Bowling Club, which has protected the site for the last 120 years, will close on 28th February 2026, and there is real concern that this incredible football heritage site could be lost to history.
To submit your poem, please chose your collection to submit into –
Men’s Team Collection – Hugh Mcmillan (aka our Hampden Collection Curator) will select the best ones to be posted –
SWNT Poets’ Society – Donna Matthew (our SWNT Poet) will select for the Women’s Team Collection
Braw Words – Gaby Barnby (our Bairns Bard) will select for our Young People’s Collection –
Good luck to everyone!
Meet our poets
The curators of the collection have been Stephen Watt (2018), Jim Mackintosh (2019), Julie McNeill (2021), and our current curator is Hugh McMillan (2024).
Hugh is a history and landscape enthusiast. Lover of pubs old or undiscovered. Hugh lives and works in Penpont in Dumfries and Galloway.
He is a writer of poetry and short stories. He has appeared many times on radio and Literary Festivals, most recently in sell-out performances at the Stanza International Festival, Wigtown International Book Festivals in Scotland, and the Edmonton Poetry Festival in Canada.
( https://www.hughmcmillanwriter.co.uk/)
Hugh is joined by two other leading Scottish Poets, Donna Matthews and Gaby Barnby to form our poetry team, who will ensure that Scotland takes its rightful place as the world football of football poetry.
All submissions are carefully reviewed and the best are included within the finest collection of football poetry on the planet.
Please send your poems by using the forms on the BRAWWORDS (for Young People); Womens Collection: and Mens Collection pages.
The Hampden Collection 