St Johnstone’s new signing will be poetry in motion.
The Perth club unveiled lifelong supporter Jim Mackintosh as the SPFL’s first poet-in-residence.
The 55-year-old Big County writer joked: “You could call me the Makar of McDiarmid, I suppose.
“It is a real honour. There are clubs in England, like Manchester United, Liverpool and Barnsley, who have poets connected with them.
“We sat round the table and we have loads of ideas about what we can do in the community. Basically I have been given a blank sheet of paper.
“I had written a few pieces which went down well with the club and the fans, with Our Day in Glasgow inspired by the historic 2014 Scottish Cup win over Dundee United.
“That was crying out for a poem. It is a roller coaster ride supporting a team like Saints and that was written in 20 minutes overlooking the beach at Dornoch the day after our first ever national trophy win.
“The follow on from that was A Trip Into Lucerne when we qualified for Europe.
“Sadly the passing of club Hall of Famer Willie Coburn late last year coincided with a piece I was doing for Armed Forces Day. I was honoured to be able to pay tribute to a club legend.
“I have written bits and pieces about football in the past, a club’s relationship with the wider community, and also recalling me and my father going to games together.
“I have supported St Johnstone since before I was born. It is in the DNA.
“I didn’t have any choice in the matter. My father Bill was a supporter and so was his dad, Bob.
“My dad would come in to games at Muirton Park in a wee van from Lochearnhead with a pal. He would come back blue with the cold promising never to go back. But off he would go the next week.
“I think my first game was in 1965 along with my brother Dougie when we were living in Blairgowrie. We lost 4-1 to Celtic. I was told I wasn’t getting back because I was a jinx!”
Jim, who has had four collections published, with another in the pipeline, says his first task will be to pen a tribute to celebrate defender Steven Anderson breaking the club’s all-time appearance record at the weekend in the 3-0 win over Hearts.
He overtook keeper Alan Main with his 362nd game for the club.