Scotland has always had a wealth of literary talent, from revered crime writers all the way through to some seminal literary fiction greats. What’s not so well known is how many of them have strong ties to their local, beloved football clubs, where sports bets and footballs have been flying for decades. Here we detail just some of the Scottish authors who can often be seen tucking into a pie or two at Scottish league and cup games up and down the land, and who can probably give as good as they get when it comes to giving tips about how footy fans should use their online betting bonuses and sign-up deals. After all, few other things in life inspire stories that live long in the memory quite like Scottish football.
Between them these authors have written hundreds of best sellers and they each know a thing or two about Scotland’s version of the beautiful game
Val McDermid – Raith Rovers
She has been in the news of late, doing her best to ensure that her beloved Raith Rovers remain on the straight and narrow. But McDermid is so much more than just a regular fan, having invested heavily in the club herself and even having a stand named after her. Few authors can claim to have had that honour bestowed upon them!
Irvine Welsh – Hibernian FC
Welsh hit the big time when Trainspotting was turned into a cult movie that defined a generation. Welsh has always been part of the green half of Edinburgh and also appears regularly on the club’s official media channels.
Scottish crime authors seem to have a particular penchant for football, perhaps because they draw inspiration from the culture that springs eternal from Scotland’s football clubs
Ian Banks – Greenock Morton FC
Banks was, and still is, one of Scotland’s most beloved authors, despite having written some of the most genre bending novels ever seen. The Wasp Factory launched him into the mainstream, even though it was a bizarre blend of sci-fi and literary fiction. He was a lifelong supporter of Greenock Morton FC, a team he admitted gave him more grief than pleasure during his time on their terraces.
Ian Rankin – Captain of Scottish Crime Writers FC
When it comes to pure selling power, Rankin sits alone as the most prolific of current Scottish authors. However, when it comes to football he likes to sit on the fence, refusing to choose between his local Edinburgh teams. His main footy connection comes from the fact that he regularly captains the Scottish Crime Writers team, which battles their English counterparts each year at the Bloody Scotland Literary Festival.