Poets Rock From The Spot

Poets from across the UK will gather in Dumbarton next month to perform their work amid the drama of a penalty shoot-out.

The bards will perform at the ‘Poets & Penalties’ competition sponsored by Nil by Mouth as part of it’s campaign to highlight the positives of Scottish football at Dumbarton FC’s Rock Stadium on Sunday 15th November.

The event kicks off at 12.15pm and will feature performance from:

Craig Aitchison 

Thomas Clarke

Charlie Grace 

Kevin Graham

Andy Jackson 

Stuart Kenny 

Jim Mackintosh

Donna Matthew

Hamish McDonald

Attila the Stockbroker

Stephen Watt

Competitors recite lines from their poems in the moments leading up to taking three spot kicks before moving on to a sudden death shoot out to decide the winner of the coveted Poets & Penalties trophy.

The 2025 line up.

Afterwards competitors move indoors to perform some of their favourite football themed poetry with a special headline slot from one of the UK’s best known poets Attila the Stockbroker.

It is the third time Nil by Mouth has organised the event, thought to be the only competition of its kind in the world, and for the first time a female poet will be taking the long walk up the penalty spot with Paisley’s Donna Matthew booked to perform. Dumbarton local Stephen Watt will also be determined to defend the title he won at last year’s competition.

There has been a huge explosion in football themed poetry over the past decade with several clubs, including Dumbarton, having their own poet-in-residence as well as the leading Scottish Football Magazine Nutmeg devoting an entire section in each edition to the art form.

Nil by Mouth has enjoyed great support from Scotland’s artistic community over the years and

hope that the event will encourage more fans to take up writing poetry and remind the world why football is called ‘The Beautiful Game’

There are no age restrictions for the event and tickets are free and can be booked by emailing mail@nilbymouth.org