Square Baw by Hamish MacDonald
Scotland Street Press
Published 8th October 2025.
Square Baw is a collection of football poems that not only covers personal experience, but takes a deep dive into the history of the Scottish game itself, and thereby goes to the heart of Scottish masculinity. The poems are mainly told through the experiences of Mac- Donald’s grandfather William McKenzie Grant (b. 1887). Grant played at Junior and amatuer level, including with Queens Park in 1917-18, before playing at top level in Scottish football, with their home being the legendary Hampden Park. MacDonald’s interest in Scottish football was rekindled in his grandfather’s story after a post- card from a distant relation was discovered, which had been sent from the Western Front in May 1915 by his grandfather to his nephew in Glasgow. It prompted MacDonald to re-ex- amine his grandfather’s life, through his 95 year old mother’s memories, books, records and war diaries.
Square Baw is a collection of football poems that not only covers personal experience, but takes a deep dive into the history of the Scottish game itself, and thereby goes to the heart of Scottish masculinity. The poems are mainly told through the experiences of Mac- Donald’s grandfather William McKenzie Grant (b. 1887). Grant played at Junior and amatuer level, including with Queens Park in 1917-18, before playing at top level in Scottish football, with their home being the legendary Hampden Park. MacDonald’s interest in Scottish football was rekindled in his grandfather’s story after a post- card from a distant relation was discovered, which had been sent from the Western Front in May 1915 by his grandfather to his nephew in Glasgow. It prompted MacDonald to re-ex- amine his grandfather’s life, through his 95 year old mother’s memories, books, records and war diaries.
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