I’ve known about the project itself for a while: with extraordinary results, Alzheimer Scotland’s volunteers use old football images and stories to ignite the imaginations of sufferers. That, my friends, is what football is for.

Their new project website is an ever so slightly brilliant way in which to lose hours. It is, too, a growing record of social history and a chance for me to write about Juninho. Best of all, anyone and everyone is now invited to submit their memories.

The website is at www.footballmemories.org.uk, and my own entry here: In Juninho we trusted

I’ll be appearing alongside Stuart Donald, author of On Fire With Fergie: Me, My Dad and the Dons (‘a magnificent read’ – Sunday Herald). It could be the only event at this year’s festival featuring mention of Albion Rovers, unless Polly Toynbee goes off on one about Vic Kasule again.

Here’s a link with more details and, should you be feeling reckless, a ‘buy tickets’ option. Go on; it’ll be a good ‘un: Edinburgh International Book Festival website

The Edinburgh Book Festival logo. I bet they argued about that comma for ages.

First up, I’ll bleat about smalltown Scotland and pause to guilt the audience into laughing at what I deem to be funny bits. Later Mr William Gould of The Leither will vex me with questions, before we open up for stony silence in the shape of a Q&A section.

*Except for praise-shaped quotes on the covers and inside, and precisely 10 corrections. So, really worth buying even if you have the first print.

King Herald

When I’ve finished chewing on the custard creams, I’ll be speaking, attempting to answer questions and making poorly received jokes alongside Stuart Donald and Rob Robertson.

Stuart wrote the outstanding On Fire With Fergie, while Rob co-authored another stellar book, The Management: Scotland’s Great Football Bosses, with Michael Grant, chair of our event.

Tickets are still available; snap them up so I can make a joke about not knowing what hotcakes are. Here’s the Aye Write link: Aye, alright then

Letters came from relatives of those who had gone to fight or nurse and those with queries or corrections. There was also one from a man asking me to write to the Morning Star and assert Glasgow Rangers’ anti-fascist credentials, but let’s not go into that here.

The signs are that it might just be the same with Stramash: a fortnight ago I received a letter from a Queen of the South fan who had been attending games at Palmerston since 1946; then last week a missive from the father of the word ‘stramash’, Arthur Montford.

As I banqueted on his typed words, I may have been mildly excited. The content was fascinating, the praise flattering; my forehead tattoo of ‘A truly splendid book – Arthur Montford’ is so far turning a lot of heads, I can tell you. 

In old clips, Montford’s voice and his poised yet dramatic phrasing had long made my heart sing (that and my appalling diet). Anyhow, I could go on, as Mrs Stramash has found out since the letter arrived, but here are a few lines contained therein:

Your chapter on my home town team Morton was outstanding, a wonderful blend of the town’s history and the glory years (and not so glory years) of the team. The club chairman Douglas Rae and I watched our first match in 1942 and, during the war, watched Stanley Matthews and Tommy Lawton playing in a Morton forward line.

Cowdenbeath was a gem. I once described Central Park as ‘the ground time forgot’ and got a going over on our next visit and one musn’t linger in case you get attacked by the stock cars coming in at 4.45.

All in all a perfect tonic for this afternoon’s cold. Log fire, kettle on, dog stretched out…a truly splendid book.

Cloud nine? I can just about make it out from up here.

Ian Bell Stramash review

Being behind the scenes at a football ground still brings out a Santa’s Grotto feeling in me. Around every corner are unseen, evocative areas consumed by the crisp stench of Deep Heat. Cluttered, clarty noticeboards list club fines for players who leave socks strewn across the dressing room floor. I particularly enjoyed a Championship Manager ’93-style bash on the tactics board: expect Alloa to play 2-2-6 on Boxing Day.

Anyhow, if you’re still reading then click below and forward to 22.30 mins for the result:

STV News at Six, December 21st