Doric Books Tells The inspiring Story Of Denis Law and Rose Reilly
Jackie Ross, author of Fitba Legends featuring Denis Law.
In celebration of world book day, Denis Law Legacy Trust took part in a reading of Doric Books first ever non-fiction book: Fitba Legends. The book by Jackie Ross and Aaron Gale tells the inspiring story of two of Scotland’s Ballon d’Or winners Denis Law and Rose Reilly in Doric.
The reading took place at Riverbank primary school in Tillydrone, a stone’s throw from Printfield Terrace where Denis grew up. The school is also in the vicinity of where Cruyff Court Willie Miller, Aberdeen’s third Cruyff Court, will be built.
Guest speakers on the day included Rose Reilly, who answered plenty of questions from the enthusiastic audience of Riverbank’s primary 4 to 7s, Debbie Law and Denis Law Legacy Trust’s Mark Williams and Hannah Clews who spoke about the new Cruyff Court coming to Tillydrone and the children’s charity’s impactful programmes.
Late last year, the Fitba Legends book was launched with a presentation to Gary Law, Denis’ eldest son, and the Law family at the Denis Law Legacy Trust Annual Fundraising Dinner.
Jackie Ross the author of the book said “We wanted to write a non-fiction book in Doric because you don’t get many factual books written in our mither tongue. “
“We thought it would be good to do a series on weel kent Scots because learning about famous Scots is part of the school curriculum. Obviously, we had to go for the two best Scottish football players ever; for us that meant Rose Reilly and Denis Law.”
“Denis still holds goal scoring records for both Man United and Scotland. And he comes fae Aberdeen! He’ll aye be oor tap loon.”
David Suttie, Trustee at Denis Law Legacy Trust said “The reception today from the children at the Tillydrone school was absolutely fantastic.”
“For local kids in local schools Doric is part of their upbringing and language, their parents probably speak it, so having a book about two football heroes one from Aberdeen and one active on the Scottish scene is special.”
“I think the book is extremely interesting and would be well received in all the schools so, if it was possible to get the council to get it into all of the primary schools and even some secondary schools, that would be fantastic!”
Debbie Law, Denis Law’s niece, said “A lot of books have been written about Denis but, this one is extra special to him and the family because it is written in Doric, the local dialect of the place he grew up in, and he is so proud to be an Aberdonian”
“The book is a very important tool to inspire young people to work award achieving the goals that they want to achieve and through the Denis Law Legacy Trust and Cruyff Courts they will have access to free sport facilities and creative activities.”
10% of the books proceeds will go towards funding Denis Law Legacy Trust’s impactful operations that provide free to access sport and creative activity to young people across Aberdeen.
