Glasgow City – Skirtingroundmylife

Skirting Round My Life 2021 My Year On The Blog

As I look back on the events of 2021 I have to say that it wasn’t the year I or anyone hoped or expected it would be. These past 12 months have been a difficult year for us all and this continues to be reflected in Skirting Round My Life as it has in every blog, journal , magazine or other news outlets.

On looking at the statistics, this year has seen Skirting Round My Life on a bit of downward trajectory which I think was to be expected given the circumstances. Hopefully this will change in the next 12 months. Though that will, to a certain extent at least, depend on things opening up a bit post Covid and providing me with more opportunities to enjoy myself and post about my exciting experiences.

The first thing to say that Skirtingroundmylife gained 2, 507 views in 2020. This represented an drop of 16% from it’s 2020 total of 3,018. Though disappointed with the drop I am not in the least bit surprised as continued uncertainty from Covid19 played havoc with our lives and restrictions on what we could and couldn’t do meant opportunities for growth were very severely limited.

This lack of opportunity resulted in a very dramatic drop in the number of posts in the last twelve months as they fell by almost half from 98 to 50. It can also be said that the number of both visitors to the site and comments on posts are both down with the later dropping from 28 to 16 and likes falling by more than 60% from 83 to 36

Topics covered in the last twelve months included Acceptance, Age, Bisexuality, Childhood, Christmas, Coming Out, Ceilidhs, Concerts, Covid19, Crossdressers, Dancing , Dating, Death, Discrimination, Equality, Faith, Fashion, Friendship, Grandparents, Holidays, Lockdown, Love, Memories, Mental Health, Poetry, Relationships, Secrets, Sensuality, Sex, Sexism, Sexuality, Stereotypes, Transition, Transphobia, Visibility, Women,

2021 again saw a slight dip in my global reach as visiting nations were slightly down from 31 in 2020 to 27 last year. The top five countries were UK , USA, Ireland, Germany and Finland, with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Guernsey, and Sweden. making up the top ten. There were also readers from countries including France, Croatia The Philippines, Denmark, Colombia, Peru, Norway, India, and Poland amongst other nations who paid this a visit

As all the statistics have now properly evaluated it is time to bring this review to its conclusion but before I do so I just want thank all my readers. Whether you subscribe to the site or read the posts on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter it doesn’t really matter, the main thing is that you read them and find them entertaining, enjoyable , thought provoking and maybe in some cases challenging. I really hope you’ll continue to do so as that’s what makes blogging so enjoyable for those us who put our opinions out there on the blogosphere for you to read. So all that remains is for me to wish you A Happy, Successful, and Peaceful New Year and I hope you’ll keep skirting round my life throughout 2022 and beyond .

Till next time

Gayle X

Hold The Front Page

As Scotland’s women start our campaign to qualify for the 2023 World Cupagainst Hungary in Budapest tonight , I thought I would write this poem to wish them well in their efforts. Noting my natural Glasgow City bias I have given special mentions to two of our young stars Jenna Clark, and Lauren Davidson, who’ve been called up to the colours for the first time. I’ve given it the title Hold The Front Page as I believe this team could surprise a few people and that in this new era we will see Scotland’s women take our rightful place on the global stage. I hope you enjoy the read.

Hold The Front Page

As a new campaign begins
seeds of hope are planted
emerging names are given their colours
and a chance to liven up the squad

Fresh faces of youth mingle
with the older more experienced
players
prayers are offered for Jenna and Lauren
that new stars will be born in Scotland jerseys
and a better harvest will be grown this time than last.
those were barren nights when we wilted on frosty evenings
more suited for cups of coffee
and comfort TV
than grinding out results in games
which would have been played earlier
had we not been plagued by events
we could never have foreseen

now a changed team starts afresh
as some less familiar names take the stage
the manager tells the press to hold the front page
there are headlines waiting to be written
and you are the girls to write them.

For 90 Minutes I Have To Remember Not To Love You (For Nicola Docherty)

In this poem I hope I show that at least in women’s football it is possible to like a player from an opposing side . You know the mortal enemy and a side who in other circumstances you wouldn’t want to win a raffle even if they bought every ticket bar one. As some of you may have guessed by my rather tounge in cheek introduction this poem is for a Rangers player. The player in question is perhaps unsurprisingly a former Glasgow City stalwart , Scotland full back Nicola Docherty who left us at the beginning of 2020 to join the club she had always supported. Well as we say at Glasgow City when you become involved with the club you soon realise that Once City Always City actually means exactly what it says and binds us together as one big happy if slightly mad family . It is for this reason that I’ve given it the title For 90 Minutes I Have To Remember Not To Love You. I hope you enjoy the read.

For 90 Minutes I Have To Remember Not To Love You (For Nicola Docherty)

You were always a rock in the heart of defence
when you wore our colours
now other supporters cheer you on
it is their fans who chant your name to the skies
the heart never lies and your smile
tells the world
how happy you are to play for the club
you’ve supported since you were a girl
I know how much it means to you
to wear the Rangers blue
as well as the darker hue of your country
but when your playing for our rivals
for 90 minutes I have to remember not to love you
this is not as easy as I would like it to be
you see you’d be a stonewall cert
to captain my equality eleven
a courageous leader on mission to win
and not just during the game
fairness not fame has always been
your way
you play the same as you’ve always done
a fierce tackler and a ferocious defender
you have the equalities agenda
in the centre circle of your world
you champion women and girls
with the same passion you show
whenever you pull on the jersey
and give all you have from kick off to final whistle
it’s always been the way you are
you never shirk a challenge nor will you ever do
no matter what shade of blue you’re wearing
your good positional sense dictates that you play it with care
it’s always been your tactic of choice
your loyalties can never be questioned
wearing your crest with pride illustrates the hallmark of the quality defender you are
combining a brave heart and an even braver head
which is why I need to try as best I can
to remember your an opponent now
you no longer grace our colours
so for 90 minutes I have to pretend
not to love you
and then when the final whistle blows
Remember exactly why I do

Last Line Of Defence (For Lee Alexander)

As any football fan knows goalkeepers are an essential and some would say much maligned breed of players. There are few positions more important to a team’s success than a good last line of defence yet few if any others come in for harsher criticism when things go wrong. Fortunately at Glasgow City we have one of the best goalkeepers not just in women’s football but the game more generally and I’m sure all City fans will agree that we are a very lucky club to have the brilliant Lee Alexander as our custodian between the posts and that’s why I’ve written this poem in tribute to her which I’ve titled Last Line Of Defence I hope you enjoy the read.

Last Line Of Defence (For Lee Alexander)

In big games she makes big saves
the keeper who turns defeats into draws and draws into victories
her bravery and agility
and an ability to see things before they happen
Illustrates why she’s the best in the land
Lee commands her penalty box
like It’s her own personal property
and opponents are trespassers she will fend off
with all her considerable skills
her will to win is incredible
and more than makes up for her
not being the tallest goalie I’ve ever seen
the fact she’s kept more clean sheets
than a hundred thousand hotels will ever see
shows why Glasgow City fans
love our Lee
we know the leagues and cups
it’s been easier to win
with her between the sticks
than would otherwise have been the case
when it comes to big games she makes big saves
and she does it time after time
season after season
and you had better believe that
when it comes to saving penalty kicks
she’s the best you’ll get
in any team I’ve watched through the years
as the last line of defence she is fearless
and just gets on with the job
without fuss
she is the reason
that when Erin is finally wearing
the first team gloves
the club will still have the best keeper in the land
well when you’ve learned from Lee Alexander
you’ve learned from the best
when it comes to dealing with pressure
and how to cope with the demands of making big saves in big games
time after time season after season

Smiling Through The Tears. (A Poem For Glasgow City On Winning Our 14th League Title In A Row)

It’s not that often I get too emotional over football and when I do it usually involves either the Scotland national team or the famous Glasgow Celtic. However since I started following the women’s game just after the 2019 World Cup I have supported Glasgow City and have done so because they stand alone as the only team in Scotland not to be part of a men’s club and focus exclusively on women and girls. Trust me I love this club with a passion just as I love Celtic with a passion and nothing will ever change that. So it is to celebrate the winning of a 14th consecutive league title that I’ve written this poem for my girls. I’ve titled it Smiling Through The Tears I hope you enjoy the read.

Smiling Through The Tears

This was it there was no turning back
death or glory rested on this 90 minutes
there could be no slip ups
as rivals lay waiting to take advantage of any mistakes
claim the title and make history of their own

they started well with two early goals
and trust me the news spread quickly
but we didn’t panic
we just kept calm and got on with the job
in the manner that champions do
though I won’t deny it was bricking it
especially in the early stages

with the game still tied
Lee pulled off the kind of save
that wins titles
it was vital not to lose an early goal
as I screamed beautiful9 expletives
at my TV screen
in poetic sighs of relief

then just like a dream we take the lead
Hayley rifles a shot to the net
suddenly we’re 1-0 in front
I let my emotions rip
yelling ya dancer at the top of my voice
I scream with delight
whilst praying all will be well
who says transwomen can’t multi task.

meanwhile Jo is making sure
we deny our opponents chances
by staying focused in midfield and defence
I am calm yet apprehensive
for those fans lucky enough to be there
I worry it could still go wrong
and others may yet sing a song of victory

we’re controlling the game
but for me there are shades of 98
I know what it’s like
praying for that second goal
to arrive
how my fingernails survived this 90 minutes
I’ll honestly never know

fortunately I didn’t have as long to wait
as I did for Brattbakk’s glory moment
and the second goal settled the nerves
Hayley the architect with a perfect delivery
setting up Niamh to score
I let out a roar when her header hit the net
and I realised that barring miracles fourteen in a row was really going to happen.

we played out the second half
with superb game management
as our injured skipper sat on the bench
kicking every ball in the way a legend does
as full time approached I was buzzing
but as soon as the whistle was blown
the emotions kicked in
as they do on days like this
when dreams come true
and early evening skies show names
of those written in glory

I was just about holding it together
then they interview my shero
who in case you didn’t know
scored the opening goal
and was named as player of the game
that was when the tears came
not in trickles but in torrents
I knew they would if I’m honest
it’s just the way I am
this fan has always worn her heart on her sleeve

then just as I’m drying my eyes
Jo comes up to the mic
as she smiles for the camera
to nobody’s surprise
the rivers run again
and I’m smiling through the tears
at a much deserved success
for our club , our colours. and our girls

Captain Our Captain (For Leanne Ross )

This short poem will hopefully be a rallying call to Glasgow City for the game on Sunday in which our girls need only one point to win the league for the 14th consecutive year. It is I think fair to say that one amazing woman has been instrumental in that glory run, I refer of course to our captain Leanne Ross. It is to Leanne I dedicate this poem which I’ve titled Captain Our Captain I hope you enjoy the read

NB As someone who listenes to Behind The Goals I thank Leanne Crichton for some important information on birthday’s which may have featured in this poem.

Captain Our Captain (For Leanne Ross).

As the big game approaches
our team knows the story
success can be ours
we’re just one game from glory
and we know who will lead us
to answer the call
the legend whose heart
is the biggest of all.

Captain Our Captain
we know what to do
as we go in to battle
we’ll win this for you
you have a big birthday
Leanne let us know
and the party can start
with 14 in a row

Dreamcatchers

On World Football Poetry Day I’ve written this poem on the importance of role models in the women’s game. I’ve given it the title Dreamcatchers I hope you enjoy the read.

Dreamcatchers

The dreams of the next generation
rest on your shoulders
it’s time to be bold
lift them like trophies
holding them proudly like
the glittering prizes they are
wear them like medals that shine brighter than stars
let those keepers and centre halves know
their ambitions are in safe hands.

see that tricky wee winger
that dances round defences
she needs to be told
she has a future in the game
as does the midfielder who looks forward to training even in the rain
and the star striker
who in an equal opportunities home
gets her mum and dad to take turns
at playing the goalie
it’s time to be bold
and claim those trophies
like glittering prizes
be the dreamcatchers
for the stars of the next generation

the ones who aspire to be the girls
who will make your boots their own

Women Of Wisdom (A Poem For International Women’s Day ).

I wrote this poem on International Women’s Day to celebrate some of the best women I know or have ever known. These women come from all walks of life from family to football, from poetry to politics, but make no mistake they have earned there place in this poem which I have titled Women Of Wisdom and by the end of it I think you’ll know me a lot better than you already do even if you’ve known me for years. I hope you enjoy the read.

Women Of Wisdom (A Poem For International Women’s Day )

My maternal gran
left school at the age of nine
having learned all she was allowed
she was proud to be red Jess
a woman who fought for equality
in the years between the wars
with the banner of justice held high
for the Scotland of MacLean

my paternal gran made enough soup
to feed the close
and brought her children up
in the faith of our fathers and theirs
she taught them the value
of sharing what they had
and being glad for the grounding they received
in doing whatever they could do help others

my auntie Helen was my mum’s older sister
she moved to Manchester during the war
to work in munitions
eventually agoraphobia would keep her prisoner
in the home she seldom left
and hardly ever stopped cleaning

my mother worked in engineering
as an inspector Clouseau had nothing on her
never missing a trick
when it came to keeping me in line
even if it was a struggle to deal
with a bolshie trans daughter
who had very definite opinions on almost everything
and wasn’t afraid to tell you
exactly what they were and why
she held those beliefs

Mrs Dowling was the English teacher
who opened my eyes to the world
as she taught me the meaning of poetry
introducing me to Lochhead and a world beyond Burns
where women’s voices were
not only listened to but respected
for what they had to say and stories only they could ever tell

Margo was my earliest political heroine
a woman of independent mind
her fight for Scotland’s independence
inspired the teenaged me
to campaign for freedom and fairness
as I continue to do to this day
in honour of the legacy that inspired generations
to believe we could do better

Fiona was the artistic director
who helped me to express myself
during workshops in the Gallowgate
then eventually on stage
inducting me in the ways of theatre and especially voice projection
for maximum power and effect

Janette is the flatmate and friend
who knows both my weaknesses and strengths
though sometimes I don’t think
she knows her own
especially her good points
of which she has more than a few
though supporting a team in light blue may not be one of them

Sam would disagree with that last comment
and get away with it
well she plays for that team
I am trying so hard not to mention
creative licence means it’s not always easy to avoid suggesting
who they might be
let’s just say they aren’t Glasgow City or Celtic or even Partick Thistle
and blow the whistle now
before some people see their name
through my carefully constructed disguise

Ailie is always there when required
a friend who encourages me
to aim higher in every possible way
shoot for the stars every day
and accept myself for who I am
embracing my identity without compromise
to please the opinions of those
who’ll never really matter

Stacey is the superstar stylist
who tries to find bargains
to flatter my figure on a budget
I don’t know how she does it
I only know that she does
she never gives up
till I’m looking my best
and I really am dressed to impress

Pamela was and still is the writing mentor
who initially nurtured my creativity
persuading me to test my ability
in ways beyond what I thought was possible
preparing me for leadership
and the day I would mentor others

Lesley discovered the power of a women’s collective
to put this in perspective
we were fierce in our words and in our friendships
self censorship was not allowed
we were women and as a transwoman I was proud to be included
with these women of wisdom

Leanne has a vision of a kinder world
where poverty no longer exists
her christian faith by which she lives the rock of principled beliefs
for a woman of the book

Patricia plays the flute
schooling future generations to do the same .
to be proud of their tunes and their heritage
and not let a beautiful instrument be tainted
by those who scar the summer
when puppets march in malice

Laura is a fiddler known in her field
as one of brightest stars
in the traditional music community
an ally to others who need support
in personal battles
she has always championed the rights
of those who need lights shone
to navigate safely to the shore

Rachel sings and writes songs
on environment , community , and belonging
with a warmth that makes you want
to listen
to both the lyrics and the melodies
as it establishes connections
between audience and performer
whilst stilling the souls
of those who see her concerts

Hayley is a gifted footballer
standing tall as any man
who has ever played the game
she works in the caring profession
as women players don’t get
the fame their talents deserve
not in this country at least not yet
a star both on and off the park
she’s a team player who always hits the net
when it comes to supporting friends

Jen is much more than a co-host for our event
a loyal friend she is blessed with kindness and compassion
and editing skills beyond my reach
a double act was born on discovering
we shared a passion for the craft
now we support each other to express ourselves without inhibitions
as Pamela’s prediction is fulfilled
and having come full circle
I am the one doing the mentoring
she will one day give as a gift
to those who will follow the path we are currently traveling

Chilled Out ( For Nicola Docherty)

In this poem I look the value of friendship and show that even in this winter weather real friends will still find a reason to smile. It was inspired by a photograph posted on Instagram by Rangers and Scotland international footballer Nicola Docherty who was enjoying some quality time with her Rangers and Scotland teammate Sam Kerr and their former Glasgow City And Scotland teammate and now renowned football commemtator Leanne Crichton. I’ve given it the title Chilled Out, I hope you enjoy the read.

Chilled Out (For Nicola Docherty)

The warmth of friendship
on the coldest of days.
Three chilled out stars
share fun times
in a local snow covered park.
Smiling for the camera
placed on the branch of a lightly dusted tree
they capture a scene straight from a Glasgow winter wonderland.
The postcard image of the season
gives us a reason to remind ourselves
it is not yet spring.
Though I can’t help but speculate,
as to who will win the snowball fight

Yes Lads Girls Can Boogie.

If you are a regular reader of my musings on this site you will know of my love for Scotland’s number one women’s football team the wonderful Glasgow City. Well yesterday in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik they qualified for the last 32 of the UFEA Champions League for the 10th successive season by beating Icelandic champions Valur 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

With so many new players settling in to the Glasgow City family it was always going to be a tough ask of the girls. But this team has a winning mentality to get them over the line in games like this and despite a few scares they got there in the end. The celebrations afterwards were as befits a ten in a row a thing of pure joy and as this video which was tweeted by future Glasgow City star Kara Scally shows they gave our tartan army lads some serious singing lessons. If you check it out you’ll see what I mean. You could even say, yes lads girls can boogie.

https://twitter.com/KaraScally/status/1329194199258894336?s=09