My Films

I make films. Writing, producing and directing fantastic stories for my TV production company, purpleTV. You can find out more on IMDb but here’s a wee taster of each.

Gothenburg ’83, broadcast on BBC ALBA, was nominated for an RTS Scotland Award. It followed Sir Alex Ferguson’s journey to European success in 1983 capturing the emotion and cultural significance of an historical moment in Scottish history.

Honeyballers tells the incredible story of the pioneering Scottish women who fought against adversity to develop women’s football. It was premiered on TV in September 2013.

Jock Stein, tells the story of a coalminer born in South Lanarkshire in 1922 who became one of the most revered figures in Scottish football and Scottish popular culture. The film won the RTS Scotland Award for Best Sport Film. The film was premiered at the GFT in June 2014 with it’s television broadcast coming shortly after. 

Tartan Pride is a film about the social, cultural and emotional impact of the Scotland v England football fixture first played in 1872. Tartan Pride was premiered at the Glasgow Film Theatre in December 2014 and broadcast on television in January 2015.

Jim Baxter is an intimate portrayal of the personal and professional life of the renowned Scottish football legend who died of pancreatic cancer following two liver transplants. The film was premiered at the Glasgow Film Theatre in September 2015 and won the Royal Television Scotland award for Best Sport Documentary in 2016.

The Famous Five is the remarkable story of Smith, Johnstone, Reilly, Turnbull and Ormond; Hibernian FC’s talented “Famous Five” forward line who dominated Scottish football in the post-war period. The premiere screening was held at the Dominion Cinema in Edinburgh on the 20th of January 2016. It was broadcast on BBC ALBA on the 24th of January.

Jimmy Johnstone is a feature length documentary film about a working-class former welder from a small town near Glasgow. A European Cup winner in 1967, voted the Greatest Ever Celtic player in 2002 and revered by football fans and peers the world over, he sadly lost his life ten years ago, on the 13th of March 2006, having being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2001. The film was premiered to much acclaim at the IMAX cinema in Glasgow and broadcast on BBC ALBA in autumn, 2016.

Tannadice 87, is an aspirational tale, rooted in popular culture, showcasing a snapshot of one of the most dynamic periods in the city of Dundee’s sporting history. The film, about Dundee United’s remarkable run to the UEFA Cup final in 1987, was premiered at the Dundee Contemporary Arts cinema, and broadcast on television on the 20th of May 2017.

Third Lanark is the inspirational and at times heartbreaking story of a club that, despite its previous successes, folded in 1967. Its narrative is deeply embedded in social and popular culture, as well as footballing history. The film was premiered at the GFT in early 2018 and was broadcast on BBC ALBA on the 27th January.

Steelmen tells the story of a remarkable football team. In 1991, as the town of Motherwell faced the crippling social, economic and cultural impact of the closure of the Ravenscraig steelworks, its football club, locally known as the Steelmen, lifted the prestigious Scottish Cup for the first time in 39 years, the victory a glimmer of light in the ensuing darkness. 

My feature-length documentary film about Tommy Burns was broadcast in autumn 2019 and went on to win the Royal Television Scotland award for best sport film. Produced ten years on from his death from cancer at just 51 years old, Tommy Burns’ daughters and sons looked back on the life and career of their beloved father, a much-revered player and manager of both Celtic and Kilmarnock.

The feature-length documentary Rose Reilly is the incredible story of a Scottish pioneer. In the 1970s, 17-year-old Rose Reilly left Ayrshire determined to realise her dream to play professional football. A World Cup winner in 1984 for Italy, and named the best female footballer in the world in the same year, she made her dreams a lived reality. ‘Rose Reilly’ is the empowering story of a feminist icon, a transgressor whose tenacity and talent paved the way for women in football.

My next film was also a feature-doc, this time about the brilliant Ukranian-Scottish tennis player Elena Baltacha. An empowering role model, talented Scottish tennis player Elena Baltacha was just 30 years old when she died from cancer in 2014. Her family, friends and coaches tell the story of her remarkable resilience to become British No.1 and achieve a top fifty world ranking, despite struggling with severe illness throughout her career. 

In spring 2020 my film, The Women Who Built Glasgow City was broadcast to wonderful reviews and it went on to win the Royal Television Society Scotland award for best sport film. It tells the story of Carol Anne Stewart and Laura Montgomery, the formidable duo who had a vision of creating opportunities for women and girls in Scotland. Denied opportunities in football as children they founded Glasgow City FC in 1998  with aspirations to become a dominant force in Scottish football and a strong contender in Europe. They delivered in spades!

Iron Women explores the extraordinary history of women’s golf in Scotland. From the early pioneers of the eighteenth century, to formidable role models who challenged the patriarchal constraints of male dominated golfing arenas, this story celebrates the trailblazers who put Scottish women’s golf firmly on the world map.

Broadcast in April 2022, Sadie Smith tells singer/songwriter Eddi Reader’s journey to find out more about her grandmother, a superstar footballer of the 1920s. Sadie played with Rutherglen Ladies and didn’t tell her family about her football stardom. Eddi Reader is enthralled to learn more.

Also in April 2022, Julie Fleeting tells the feature-length story of Scotland’s modern day football superstar. Determined to play, nine-year-old Julie Fleeting’s life in football began with a local boys club. It was the first step in achieving a dream she didn’t even know existed. From playing professionally in America to winning multiple honours with Arsenal, and scoring more goals for Scotland than anyone else, Julie has consistently inspired, empowered and led from the front. In a story of tenacity and triumph, Julie’s journey in football is also one of family, humility and respect. 

In April 2023, Cold War Hockey was broadcast. This is a fascinating historical documentary film that has relevance today. When the Scotland hockey team was invited to play against West Germany in Berlin in September 1961, it was just weeks after the Berlin Wall had been constructed.  Many feared the world was on the verge of war. In Cold War Hockey, four women from the Scotland team recall playing hockey and politics as they came face to face with the shocking reality of the Berlin Crisis. With aggression and war once again on the agenda in Europe, two of the team, Jenna and Valerie, revisit the city for the first time in sixty years, understanding the significance of the trip to their lives, and to the history of the Cold War.  The film was nominated for a bronze torc award for excellence by the Celtic Media Festival on the 7th of March 2023 and the award ceremony will be held in Wales on the 4th of June.

I am also delighted to be able to show you the film I made about the East Lighthouse on Rathlin Island, featuring former keeper, Noel McCurdy. I (purpleTV) was commissioned by the Rathlin Island Oral History Group and I am really thrilled to have contributed to this extensive project, given my connection to the island.