Festive TV entertainment should not start in November. Already over the adverts

Dr Pete Watson discusses the various meanings, symbolisms and power of football in Colombia over the last decade, from the 2014 Men’s World Cup to the 2023 Women’s World Cup and asks: “What power does football really have?” Booking info on: leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk/events/talk-... #languages

Scotland 85 USA 0. Pretty humiliating game. Trump’s boys aren’t up to much, waste of time them playing at this level as they can’t compete

It's not long until the Leeds City of Languages begins. All kinds of great talks, taster sessions, workshops, events and film screenings are on offer. My talk on Colombian football's turbulent and story-full decade 2014-2024 is part of the programme - leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk/events/talk-...

#OnThisDay 30 Oct 1960 🇦🇷 Diego Armando Maradona Franco was born He is now arguably the most muralled person in history, with an almost quasi-religious status in Argentina and Naples @drpetewatson.bsky.social discusses Maradona's cultural significance ▶️ open.spotify.com/episode/35ID...

Alex Hartley is bright, bubbly and an entertaining (if not amazingly insightful) listen. This bit of punditry is an all-time moment of foolishness though prior to a big game. Way to give the South Africans motivation: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricke... Predictably dismal performance when it matters alas

In pain for most of the day 😥

Come along to my talk!

Congratulations Chris and much deserved. This excellent and informative book will now reach a much wider audience

Wondering what work some people actually do

🎙️New Podcast: Displaying Fan Identity We're joined by Stijn van Gerrevink, a recent graduate who's research centres around museums, football kits and how we showcase our identities as football supporters. Listen on your preferred platform here ⬇️ linktr.ee/footyheritage

Off to Leicester for what is happily becoming and annual event, giving a couple of guest lectures for the FIFA MA course at DeMontfort university on my research in Colombian football and nation. Always enjoy this so looking forward to the afternoon and meeting the students.

It’s a really good day but the one thing you really want to see doesn’t happen again. So it’s just deflating

Weird day of ups and downs. Ends with a burst of happiness and yearning. Just takes some words and I fall

Enjoyed this. I wrote a review of the field about digital fan practices and transnational fandoms in Latin America this summer for an edited volume (not published yet), so fascinating to listen and see comparisons and contrasts in the issues discussed between African and LA fans of European soccer

Leeds City of Languages is a vibrant celebration of the city's languages, cultures, and communities, highlighting our connections with the world. Check out our webpage: leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk #leedscityoflanguages #languages #mfl

Randomly on a city break in Paris, years ago, I bought on a whim a compilation of African music called Indigo Africa. On it is one of catchiest football songs, by Mbongeni Ngema, called 'Laduma!' Give it a listen, what a banger www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPPt...

Here’s the link to the webpage with info on all the events going on leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk

Leeds city of languages events coming up next month. So many talks, events, films and language tasters going on. I’m doing a free talk as one event. Here’s the link leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk/events/talk-... if you want to come along. Check out the full programme!

So many things wrong in this article about British ice hockey. Ends up misrepresenting the hundreds of women who regularly attend the sport and are knowledgeable and passionate fans. Crowds at ice hockey much more welcoming and less toxic than most other sports www.ft.com/content/9293...

Our podcast covers the roots, culture and history of the beautiful game. Club histories. Supporter culture. Lost clubs. Everything in between and beyond. You can listen to our podcast and follow us on your preferred platform here ⬇️ linktr.ee/footyheritage

This came out last Sunday but it’s ready and waiting for you to give it a listen … you know you want to

FINALLY!! Only 3 weeks late

I’ve missed this. Really enjoyed lecturing this week after a long summer. Was in full flight today with a very keen 2nd year issues in Hispanic cinema class. Good fun. Looking forward to classes next week already

I am giving a talk about the history of football against fascism 🗓️ Friday, 10 October 2025 ⏰ 18.00 📍 Marx Memorial Library, London, EC1R 0DU 🚇 Farringdon More 👉🏼 substack.com/@outsidewrit... If you're in London, come along!

Still waiting and waiting for a job to be done…

Irish rugby touring side beats a Chilean select XV 30-0 at the Stade Français club in Santiago on Saturday 9th August 1952. Always interesting to see these often forgotten sporting encounters and tours #Chilerugby #irelandrugby #rugbyhistory

NEW PODCAST 🎙️ I welcome @drpetewatson.bsky.social onto the podcast to discuss the cultural significance of Diego Maradona as the fifth anniversary of his passing approaches. Find it wherever you get your podcasts... #Maradona

Looking for a football culture podcast? @drpetewatson.bsky.social discusses the cultural, political & historical meaning & significance of 'El pibe de oro' Diego Maradona in the Outside Write podcast as the 5th anniversary of his death approaches. Listen to it on: open.spotify.com/episode/35ID...

The latest podcast episode of the excellent @outsidewrite.bsky.social is available. Chris and I discuss the cultural, political and historical significance and meaning of DIego Maradona as the 5th anniversary of his death approaches. open.spotify.com/episode/35ID... like, share and subscribe

This is contemptible from the USA fans. Not really a surprise. Pretty representative

Unbelievable implosion from Durham. Hampshire saved quite undeservedly. Shouldn’t stop tough questions being asked and a hell of a lot of hard work needed from batters, coaches and the management team over the winter

Ahead of tomorrow's podcast with @drpetewatson.bsky.social from the University of Leeds about the cultural significance of Diego #Maradona, here are a few of my favourite murals that I've taken of him in Napoli 🇮🇹and Buenos Aires🇦🇷 Note the religious vibes; we'll be diving into this... #Argentina

Perhaps one for your diaries

The end to this cricket season could not have gone worse. Added onto some deeply boring kookaburra ball + slow, flat pitches ruining the middle months, the gradual and deliberate running down of the county sides by the ECB and an England side still more style/hype than provable substance… 😥💩😡😳😔😥

Week of meeting, greeting and welcoming students back done. Usual excitement, nerves but also frustrations

NEW POST 🗞️ Searching for Diego Maradona’s roots in La Paternal, Buenos Aires 🇦🇷 Ahead of next Sunday’s podcast with @drpetewatson.bsky.social on the cultural significance of Diego Maradona, here’s a post on discovering his early career. Have a read… #Argentina open.substack.com/pub/outsidew...

Proper rugby conditions. June 1952, at the Grange School pitch in Santiago as the 2nd teams of the Country Club and Universidad de Chile battle it out in the mud. Score es 3-0! Great game

Interested in women’s soccer in Brazil? @drpetewatson.bsky.social just published: The Beautiful Game Reimagined: Women’s Soccer in Brazil, in the Soccer & Society journal. An important read if you are interested in women’s football: www.tandfonline.com/eprint/2FDSY... #soccer #Brazil

One of my favourite headlines that I’ve seen doing this research (wasn’t the monster reffing obvs.)

Two final losses and relegation staring us in the face. What a bleak summer

Are any researchers on women in football in England aware of this story of Jean Tizard prevented from gaining a referee certificate in Durham in April 1952? Reported in Chilean press in La Nación, 10th April 1952. #womensfootball #womanreferee

Here’s a link to the publisher website of The Beautiful Game Reimagined: Women’s Soccer in Brazil if you want to buy or order it. cgscholar.com/bookstore/wo...

My review of the book The Beautiful Game Reimagined: Women’s Soccer in Brazil is now available online on the Soccer & Society journal website. www.tandfonline.com/eprint/2FDSY...

Chilean church against women wrestling

As an addendum to the previous post on the Israelita Maccabi team, 3 players were banned for attacks on the referee and unsportsmanlike conduct for 3 years, 2 years and 6 months at the end of the game.

There is a lot of attention paid to the Chilean club Palestino and what they represent. Lesser known is that there was a football team called Israelita Maccabi who played in the Ascenso. Here is a match report of a rather inauspicious thrashing vs Maestranza Central, January 14 1952

Some of the tackling in the NFL is absolutely abysmal. Explains the wild self congratulations when they actually make one

Just recorded an episode of the Hantsfanpodcast. We talk about the pitch penalty properly discussing the report, I come off my long run about some of the issues that come off that, and then we talk about the Sussex game, the Sundar signing and Birrell leaving. Listen soon

Spinal Tap 2. Possibly not quite as good as the original. Still class