Poetic Writing of ROBBIE KENNEDY BENNETT © www.rkbpoetry.co.uk Born in Wolverhampton of English and Scottish parentage. He grew up on the Rough Hills Estate area of the town and his Scottish ancestral roots are in the Kingdom of Fife and Dundee. The author is now residing in Codsall, Staffordshire. Drawings, pictures and writing are copyright of the author Robbie Kennedy Bennett. JOHN STEIN. In July of 2007, Scotlands First Minister Alex Salmond backed the campaign for football Legend Jock Stein to be knighted. He said 'Jock Stein should have been properly honoured as one of the greatest managers of all time'. Rod Stewart also backed the campaign during his concert at Hampden Park. He beamed a huge photo of Jock Stein behind the stage complete with ''Give Jock his knighthood''. Stein was manager of Celtic when they were the first British team to win the European Cup in 1967. It is thought that he was snubbed of a knighthood due to a pitch fracas between his Celtic team and Racing Club of Argentina the previous year. MARIE STUART. A poem about a hotel near Hampden Park, Glasgow, and a famous customer.
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Additional Information
A friend of mine told me his story of the game when the big man died.
He had a ticket for the game but he suffered a leg injury and was in plaster. He had planned to go to the game with his dad and friends. He gave his ticket away and listened to the game at his parents’ house in Cardiff.
As the story of Jock Steins death was unfolding he was listening to it on a car radio as a passenger driving to the ground to collect his dad. There was not another vehicle on the road as they approached the stadium. In the distance an ambulance came towards them with lights flashing, and he knew who was inside.
John Stein © Robbie Kennedy Bennett
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MARIE STUART ©
by Robbie Kennedy Bennett
They celebrated, commiserated in Celtic style,
In the echo's of Hampden no more than a mile.
The last time I saw the Marie Stuart I was sad,
Only killing time a dad and his lad.
There is nothing quite like derelict places,
Where once they were filled with stories and faces.
Perhaps it is once more adored,
Plastered and painted and lovingly restored.
We walked by not knowing what we had seen,
In this boarded up building the big man had been.
Inside the Marie Stuart in the palm of his hand,
The green half of Glasgow was in his command.
There he assembled his green and white team,
He held all the promise of a green and white dream.
They came into the Marie Stuart through the entrance and hall,
When the final whistle blew after a game of football.
Legends who live on in Celtic folk law,
Disembarked from their team coach and walked through that door.
They celebrated, commiserated in Celtic style,
In the echo's of Hampden no more than a mile.
They watched as the big man sang his song,
After one or two drinks they would all sing along.
We walked by not knowing what we had seen,
If I knew I would have listened for the voice of Jock Stein.
The Marie Stuart © Robbie Kennedy Bennett