Step Forth students record ‘Gies a Goal’ for Scotland

Two Step Forth students taught by Forth Valley College lecturer Andy Wake, have recorded an inspirational charity song for Scotland at the World Cup.

James McMahon and Graham Blair- aka Talespeed, have recorded ‘Gies a Goal’ for the ‘Fool On’ charity GIE’S A GOAL! ⚽ | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Voted Scotlands 'BEST' Anthem for World Cup 2026 by talespeed  - after attending Andy’s Step Forth classes every Thursday at Recovery Scotland, where they have been learning music studio production and DJ skills, as well as attending the Stress Management and Resilience Toolkit class. 

Step Forth is a one day per week taster/stepping-stone programme Andy developed to complement the Go Forth course, which provides access to further education to members of Forth Valley and North Lanarkshire Recovery Communities, through a 17 year old partnership with Recovery Scotland. The majority of the adult students have little or no experience of post-school education.

The pair of students took their production skills to deliver a series of voluntary fundraising events for the Lanarkshire mental health charity ‘Fool On’, with support and championship from well-known comedian Raymond Mearns, completing Assist with an Event and Practical Abilities qualifications in doing so. The band have been travelling around Scotland, as well as to Liverpool, coinciding with the Cote D’Ivoire Scotland friendly fixture, busking and promoting the anthem.

Step Forth offers a relaxed, confidence-building entry point to learning, for those within the recovery communities perhaps not quite ready to embark on the full Go Forth course, or to current Go Forth students seeking additional skills and confidence before progressing to other courses within the College. 

James said: "If you watch the video and read the lyrics you'll see how much of the Scotland vs Denmark game we encapsulate in one song.

“I've had mental health issues since 1998 and was admitted in 2006. I have a diagnosis of schizophrenia and this has impacted on my life dramatically, especially around work and career prospects. It's been very hard.

“Our weekly classes with Andy have been instrumental in giving us the confidence to develop our musical abilities and creative outlet. Furthermore, the Resilience 'Tool Kit' gained from the Step Forth course allowed us to see the recording process and performance as achievable.

“Our football song ‘Gie's a Goal’ has given me the belief that music is a great healer."

Graham said: "We went to Hampden and my brother was shooting some footage of us performing the song and said he could hear people around him singing the chorus. He couldn't believe it. 

“Everyone has told us that it's a brilliant song and, when we played it at a gig last week, people were dancing and chanting - they loved it.

“Coming to Andy's Step Forth classes and the resilience workshop we did there, as well as learning recording studio skills, has been fantastic and has given us that bit of confidence we needed to get this song out there."

Lecturer Andy Wake said: "I'm really proud of what these two inspiring students have achieved. When they said they were off to Liverpool to busk 'Gies a Goal' to the Tartan Army, in town for the Ivory Coast game, I could hardly believe it. They have been coming every Thursday to my Step Forth Course, delivered in a music studio I have created at Recovery Scotland, who have hosted the Step Forth and Go Forth courses which are offered to members of Forth Valley and North Lanarkshire Recovery Communities. Seeing the progress James and Graham have made has been phenomenal and I have learned a great deal from them.  I hope the song inspires some of that Tartan Army positivity towards the Scotland Squad and their campaign in the World Cup."

James and Graham, aka Talespeed, are using the track to raise funds for Lanarkshire Mental Health charity ‘Fool On’, where they were noticed and championed by comedian Raymond Mearns and also have backing from Limmy. ‘Fool On’ helps adults rebuild confidence and wellbeing through the performing arts. For more information visit  https://foolon.co.uk/