Announcement – Tuesday 9th July 2024
Over the last seven years, The Hampden Collection has developed from a blank sheet of paper to a cart-upending juggernaut that is telling Scotland’s trailblazing footballing story in a whole new way.
Our mission is to tell the world the ‘Greatest Story Never Told’ through poetry, art, and the written word. We are therefore delighted to announce the appointment of Julie McNeill as the new Gaffer of The Hampden Collection. Julie has worked up through the ranks of our fabulous poetry section to lead the team into the future.
Julie explains, “I’m excited to help shape the next chapter for The Hampden Collection and keep poetry, culture, and people at the centre of our footballing life. We are a nation of storytellers. Let’s tell Scotland’s stories with pride. Thank you to all those who have supported and encouraged me. I hope I can do you all proud.”
In 2021, The Hampden Collection announced plans to build the world’s biggest open-air football museum. In 2024, we achieved our ambition, and 21 sites are now demarcated across Glasgow with signs and plaques. Our mission is to shine UNESCO stars on our creation, and therefore, we are formally announcing the new organisation of The Football’s Square Mile Company Limited. This not-for-profit organisation is led by three Directors: David Coutts, Richard Young, and Graeme Brown.
David explains, ‘It’s been an exciting year for us all involved with The Hampden Collection and Football’s Square Mile. We have moved to a more formal structure with Graeme, Richard, and I becoming Directors of The Football’s Square Mile Company Ltd. I’ll be the Company Secretary, and in keeping with the fun part of our objectives, and to recognise our Scotch Professors contribution to Latin American football, I’ll become ‘El Presidente’ for Football’s Square Mile. Viva la football revolution!’
Over the last three years, we have been explaining football’s global ties and how football and cricket collided in the 19th century to create the beautiful game we know today.
Richard explains, “Having spent a sporting lifetime telling all I encountered about the symbiotic relationship between cricket and football and how their conjoined efforts triggered the association football explosion upon the world, it is now joyous to watch the looks of astonishment and genuine shock on the faces of cricketers and footballers alike as Glasgow’s forgotten sporting legacy to the world emerges as the best story they have never heard.
They have now…Football’s Square Mile!”
The formalised legal structure and the new organisation are fitting ends to the first chapter. Graeme Brown explains, “It’s been a privilege and an honour to establish The Hampden Collection as a leading voice in promoting the rich story of Scotland’s footballing history. The last 7 years have been thrills, spills, laughs, and roars whilst we have built a squad of 14 dedicated volunteers. Julie is one of life’s trailblazers, and I am so excited to see where she takes The Hampden Collection next. I am looking forward to concentrating on our Football’s Square Mile UNESCO ambitions with #Restore1stHampden, a project 9 years in the making, at its core.”
The final words are left to thank everyone who has been part of this unbelievable journey. If you think the last 7 years were bonkersly brilliant.
You ain’t seen nothing yet…..
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