Charles Simpson from Keith is a fervent supporter of Keith Football Club (for his sins), nothing remarkable there you might think. Well, he is also a Kingussie Camanachd fan of 30 years and Doric poet who has penned two poems to celebrate their Grand Slam success in 2022. He has since written a further two poems about season 2023, which you can read in full below:
I HID A DREAM
KINGUSSIE WON THE MACTAVISH CUP!
I hid a Dream the ither nicht
An’ they say thit Dreams cam’ true
Thit Kingussie hid beaten Skye
Michty! – Fit a tae do!
‘Twiz fer the MacTavish Cup
In the Final thit they played
At the Bught Park, Inverness
A tough game – it hiz tae be said
Wi’ the Grand Slam in Twinty Twinty Two
The standard hid been set
Nae pressure on new manager “Corky”
Wiz he up fer it? – You bet!!
Tho’ he wizna the only newbie
There wiz a new Captain o’ the team
Kingussie through an’ through
James Falconer wiz livin’ the dream
Noo, abiddy is oot tae beat ye
Fin you are tap o’ the pile
Fower trophies won last ‘eer
Hidna lost a Final fer a file
They went at it haimmer an’ tongs
In the affa bilin’ heat
Wizna very easy – the graiss wiz lang
Neether team wintit tae be beat
Kings began tae press an’ press
A goal they wid surely get
Seen, Reid an’ Blue fans were cheerin’
James hid the ba’ in the back o’ the Skye net
Ach, the cheerin’ wiz gey shortlived
The goal wiz chalkit aff
Appairently it wiz fer affside
‘Gussie diehards didna laff
Ah – bit the Captain widna be denied
Ruaridh’s corner cam’ ower fae the richt
An’ James, weel, he let fly
Man, fit a bonny sicht!
It wiz tough – an’ it wiz hard
Bit the michty Kings widna be beat
The hale team stuck tae it’s guns
An’ didna wilt in the bilin’ heat
The ref, he blew his peeper – “Time Up”!
Sparkin’ scenes o’ jubilation
The MacTavish Cup wiz comin’ back hame
Tae the same Dell Destination
Bob Mcgregor wiz Man o’ the Match
A great goalie fer a’ tae see
Tae wind up a great day for the Winners
KINGUSSIE – MACTAVISH CUP WINNERS – TWINTY TWINTY THREE!!
KINGUSSIE’S TREBLE TRIUMPH!
Anither season hiz cam’ an’ gone
A terrific tale tae tell
Aboot shinty’s Number One team
The Michty Kingussie fae The Dell
It wiz a hard act tae folley
The Grand Slam o’ Twinty Twinty Two
Abiddy’s oot tae beat ye
They’re a’ tryin’ tae turn the screw
Ah – bit Iain “Corky” Borthwick
Wiz the new boy in the hot seat
Helpit bi new captain James Falconer
Kings widna be easy tae beat
So.. back in Mairch o’Twinty Three
We hid the first throw up
An’ games cam’ thick an’ faist
First Trophy won? – The MacTavish Cup
Lined up agin’ the men fae Skye
James wiz Captain Victorious
Leadin’ bi example
Won the Cup wi’ a goal sae glorious
Noo.. ye micht think it wiz a cakewauk
Bit a constant battle wiz focht
Twa pints teen aff fer nae phonin’ the ref
“That’ll fix ‘em” abiddy thocht
Time wint on, an’ games were hard
Speshully wi’ Roddy bein’ oot
Bit the boys a’ stuck thegither
Their famous spirit nivir in doot
Oh, sae close tae keepin’
The Macaulay Cup eence again
Bit Oban Camanachd spiled the pairty
Odd goal in three – man, fit a pain
It wiz an affa disappintment
Tho’ ”Corky’s “ Boys nae doon fer lang
Mair trophies up fer grabs
Let’s get back on sang
Within a month it wiz smiles again
Camanachd Cup Final, the occasion
An absolute belter fae Ruaridh Anderson
Big cheers fae those o’ reid an’ blue persuasion
The bit wiz atween the teeth
Cwid the boys owercome the fatigue?
You bet! Wiz the answer
Fin they retained the Mowi Premier League
Three Titles in a ra’
Fit a tremendous feat
Makkin’ a Trophy Treble for Twinty Three
Fer the fans a fantastic treat
Then twa stalwarts decided
Tae hing up the Caman – ca’ it a day
“Hutch” an’ Fraser wi’ piles o’ medals
Incredible careers – fit else kin ye say
So, there ye hiv it, shinty fowk
Anither remarkable ‘eer
Three oot o’ fower’s nae bad
Tae Kingussie Camanachd – a hefty cheer!
