Four years ago, I attended the 85th anniversary memorial in Gernika, honouring those who lost their lives in the devastating bombings of 26 April 1937. The sound of the air raid sirens was chilling. It’s hard not to feel that history’s lessons are still being ignored. #Gernika #StopWar #StopFascism

I post this every year. Ray Wilkins sadly passed away on this day in 2018. Many moons ago I wrote to Ray when he was at Chelsea as my late Grandad always used to tell me about being in the army with Ray’s Dad. He replied with this handwritten letter - what a gentleman! #MUFC

This is a nice piece about the Newport County shirt being on display at the Gernika Peace Museum in The Basque Country. Such a brilliant Museum. We must never forget. www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/2596145... #AthleticClub #Newport #StopWar #RefugeesWelcome 🔴⚪️⚫️🟠

Aupa Athletic ❤️🤍 Gora Euskal Herria 💚❤️🤍 Viva Palestina 🇵🇸 This article just reinforces why I love Bilbao and Euskal Herria so much

It was great to speak to Azad Essa about #AthleticClub, the Basque Country and Palestine and the shared histories of identity, solidarity and resistance that connect them for this brilliant piece. #EuskalHerria #Euskadi #Palestine www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/wh...

"When expressions of solidarity with Palestine have appeared in the stands at San Mames, they reflect positions that are already widely held within Basque society – it’s not a sudden politicisation driven by the club hierarchy" @jervisevans.bsky.social

Pen-blwydd hapus / Happy Birthday to the Football Association of Wales, formed #OnThisDay 2 Feb 1876 as the Cambrian Football Association🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 150 years ago today, solicitor Samuel Kendrick led the organisation's formation More on football's roots👇🏼 www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/origin-... #Cymru

The Basque Derby finished all square tonight. Want to know all about this most friendly of rivalries? Listen to my podcast with @jervisevans.bsky.social, who wrote *the* book on Athletic Club 👇🏼 open.spotify.com/episode/08Jz...

It’s Basque Derby day. On 5/12/1976, one of the most powerful moments of Basque political symbolism unfolded when captains Iribar and Kortabarria carried the still-illegal Ikurriña onto the pitch. I explore the ‘Euskal Derbia’ in my book. #RealSociedadAthletic #AthleticClub

#OnThisDay in 1927, #AthleticClub faced MTK Budapest at San Mamés. Before kick-off, a Hungarian player laid flowers at the bust of Pichichi, earning a standing ovation - the origin of a tradition now observed by captains of teams visiting San Mamés for the first time. 🔴⚪️🦁

Perfectly done. Well done iFollow for the footage, well done BBC Radio Wales for the commentary, well done everyone - including the away fans - for joining in and making it so poignant. #ncafc 🧡🖤 #Spireites #ChesterfieldFC 🔵

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#OnThisDay in 1921 #AthleticClub legend Pedro Telmo Zarraonandía Montoya, better known as Telmo Zarra, was born in the Bizkaian town of Erandio. He scored an unbelievable 335 goals in 354 matches. Read more about Zarra in my book ‘Los Leones’ - now available in castellano 🔴⚪️🦁

Zorionak/Happy Birthday to #AthleticClub hero Julen Guerrero! 52 today! I was lucky to interview ‘El Rey León’ (The Lion King) for my book ‘Los Leones’. There is a chapter dedicated to the great man. I love this recreation of the famous Pichichi painting . What a legend!👌🏻🔴⚪️

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis... This was a great watch about Euskadi. A nice little piece about the Newport County shirt honouring the Basque children refugees and #AthleticClub too 👏🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🟢⚪️🔴 #Gales #Euskadi #EuskalHerria #Wales #BasqueCountry

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda/Urte Berri On/Happy New Year! Have a great 2026 all! Eskerrik Asko for all of your support & interaction. It was an honour to release ‘Los Leones’ in Castellano and see it in bookshops in Bilbao! Huge thanks to @beinatguti.bsky.social & Aitor Salinas-Armendariz 🙌🏻 #AthleticClub

#OnThisDay in 2023 #AthleticClub paid tribute to their ultimate hero José Ángel Iribar by unveiling a statue outside San Mamés. It was an honour to interview ‘El Txopo’ for my book ‘Los Leones’. What a man! ‘Iribar, Iribar, Iribar es cojonudo, como Iribar no hay ninguno.’ 🔴⚪️🦁

Eskerrik Asko to the bookshops in Bilbao for stocking the Spanish language version of my book ‘Los Leones’. More importantly, Eskerrik Asko to the amazing @beinatguti.bsky.social for spotting it during his walks around Bilbao - Mila Esker, lagun! #AthleticClub #UniqueInTheWorld 🔴⚪️🦁

Mi libro "Los Leones: La Historia Única Del Athletic Club" se publica ahora en castellano en Euskal Herria y España. ¡Gracias a El Gallo de Oro por publicarlo! Eskerrik Asko a todos los que ayudaron en el proceso! #AthleticClub #AthleticPSG #UniqueInTheWorld

It's been a good year for new football publications. Let us know below what football books you've read this year, or any recommendations you have for next year.

Well worth listening to this talk this evening by @jervisevans.bsky.social if you are in and around Newport this evening

Sorry for the self-promotion - I’m doing a talk tomorrow at the Cwtsh Arts Centre in Newport about Basque Boys AFC - a refugee football team in Caerleon - & my book ‘Los Leones’. Come along if you can. Licensed bar! 😃🍺 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #Newport #Casnewydd #AthleticClub #OneClubOneCounty

If you’re in or around Newport on Friday evening I’m doing a talk at the Cwtsh Arts Centre about Basque Boys AFC - a refugee football team in Caerleon - & my book ‘Los Leones: The Unique Story of Athletic Club Bilbao’. Come along 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #Newport #AthleticClub #OneClubOneCounty

Newportonians! I’m doing a talk/presentation about Basque Boys AFC (a refugee football team in Caerleon) & my book ‘Los Leones’ (about #AthleticClub) on 5th December at the Cwtsh Arts Centre . A licensed bar too, just in case I’m boring! 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #Newport #AthleticClub #OneClubOneCounty

If you’d like to know a bit about the Basque refugee children you can listen to me chat to the brilliant Chris Lee on the @outsidewrite.bsky.social podcast. Some of the children went on to play for the likes of #AthleticClub and #RealMadrid.🎧Listen here: tinyurl.com/2dc3hfmr #Euskadi

Sorry, another reminder 😬 - I’m doing a talk about the Basque children refugees (with a focus on Basque Boys AFC) in Caerleon & my book ‘Los Leones’ at the @CwtshArtsCentre on 5th December. Come along if you can 👍🏻 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #Newport #Euskadi #AthleticClub #Basque #OneClubOneCounty

Mi libro "Los Leones: La Historia Única Del Athletic Club" se publica ahora en castellano en Euskal Herria y España. ¡Gracias a El Gallo de Oro por publicarlo! Eskerrik asko a todos los que ayudaron en el proceso! #AthleticClub #SlaviaPrahaAthletic #UniqueInTheWorld 🔴⚪️🦁

Just a reminder so hopefully I’m not just talking to myself! I’m doing a talk about the Basque children refugees in Caerleon & my book ‘Los Leones: The Unique Story of Athletic Club Bilbao’ at the Cwtsh Arts Centre on 5th December. Come along! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #Newport #Euskadi #AthleticClub #RefugeesWelcome

Big thanks to the legend that is @beinatguti.bsky.social who sent me this photo of my book ‘Los Leones: La Historia Única Del Athletic Club’ at ‘Binario Libros’ in Bilbao. Great to see it available in Euskadi and next to what I am told is a legend in Karlos Arguiñano! #AthleticClub 🔴⚪️

Go to this if you can, Chris is brilliantly knowledgeable and engaging. If you can't go buy his book it's fabulous. Chris was instrumental in the research to the names that appear on our Bilbao themed away shirt this season. Support him !

I’ll be doing a short talk about the Basque children refugees in Caerleon & my book ‘Los Leones: The Unique Story of Athletic Club Bilbao’ at the Cwtsh Arts Centre in Newport on 5th December. Come along if you’re free 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🔴🟢⚪️ #Newport #Casnewydd #Euskadi #RefugeesWelcome #AthleticClub

¡Muy emocionado y un poco nervioso porque mi libro Los Leones: La Historia Única del Athletic Club ya está disponible hoy en las librerías de Euskadi y de España! ¡Gracias a El Gallo de Oro por publicarlo y a todos los que me ayudaron en el camino! Eskerrik asko! #AthleticClub🔴⚪️

My book ‘Los Leones: La Historia Única del Athletic Club’ is released in Spanish tomorrow in the Basque Country. Thanks to El Gallo de Oro for publishing it — I hope it translates ok! 🤞🏻 Eskerrik asko to everyone who helped! #AthleticClub

Mi libro “Los Leones: La Historia Única del Athletic Club” se publica en castellano mañana en Euskal Herria. Gracias a El Gallo de Oro por publicarlo — ¡espero que la traducción haya salido bien! 🤞🏻 ¡Eskerrik asko a todos los que ayudaron en el proceso! #AthleticClub

Bihar aterako da Euskal Herrian nire liburua “Los Leones: La Historia Única del Athletic Club”, gaztelaniaz. Eskerrik asko El Gallo de Oro-ri argitaratzeagatik — itzulpena ondo atera dela espero dut! 🤞🏻 Eskerrik asko lagundu didaten guztiei! #AthleticClub

Mi libro ‘Los Leones: La Historia Única Del Athletic Club’ ha sido traducido al castellano y verá la luz con El Gallo de Oro el 10 de noviembre. Mila esker/ Eskerrik Asko a todos los que me habéis acompañado en este camino - ya sabéis quiénes sois 🙌🏻 🔴⚪️ #AthleticClub 🎥 Maitane Recio

It was Real Sociedad player José Antonio de la Hoz Uranga - a staunch Basque nationalist - who came up with the idea. He’s the owner of those legs in the blue jeans below the flag! His sister Ane had sewn the flag with no idea of how iconic it would become. #RealSociedadAthletic

It’s always a pleasure to speak to Chris on his brilliant podcast! Have a listen below 🎧👇🏻 #RealSociedadAthletic #AthleticClub

It’s Basque derby day! On 5/12/1976 a significant expression of Basque political symbolism & solidarity took place as captains Iribar & Kortabarria carried out the still illegal Ikurriña. There is a chapter about the ‘Euskal Derbia’ in my book. #RealSociedadAthletic #AthleticClub

Eskerrik Asko, Euskal Herria! #AthleticClub 🔴🟢⚪️

📚✍️ My book ‘Los Leones: La Historia Única Del Athletic Club’ is released on November 10th. There are some early copies available now at Librería Universitaria in Bilbao (Maestro García Rivero, 9) #AthleticClub 🔴⚪️🦁

Not a great game or result to say the least. But not a bad view to wake up to! Aupa Atheltic! Gora Euskal Herria! #AthleticClub

If you’re around in Bilbao tomorrow please come and say Kaixo 🔴⚪️ #AthleticClub #AthleticGetafe

📚✍️ My book ‘Los Leones: La Historia Única Del Athletic Club’ is released next month. I will be signing early copies at Librería Universitaria in Bilbao from 2pm on Saturday before the #AthleticClub v Getafe game. Come and say Kaixo! Aupa Athletic! #AthleticClub 🔴⚪️🦁

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

Estoy encantado (¡y un poco asustado!) de anunciar que mi libro "Los Leones" ha sido traducido al castellano y será publicado por El Gallo de Oro el 10 de noviembre. Gracias a todos los que me habéis ayudado en el camino - ya sabéis quiénes sois 🙌🏻- Eskerrik Asko! #AthleticClub 🔴⚪️

I am delighted (and slightly terrified!) to announce that my book ‘Los Leones’ has been translated into Spanish and will be published by El Gallo de Oro on November 10th. Thanks to everyone who has helped along the way - you know who you are 🙌🏻- Eskerrik Asko! #AthleticClub 🔴⚪️

Oso pozik (eta ikara pixka batekin) iragartzen dut nire 'Los Leones' liburua gaztelaniara itzuli dutela eta El Gallo de Oro argitaletxeak azaroaren 10ean argitaratuko duela. Eskerrik asko bidean lagundu didazuen guztioi - badakizue nortzuk zareten - Eskerrik Asko! #AthleticClub 🔴⚪️

Really enjoyed chatting to Chris Lee on the excellent @outsidewrite.bsky.social podcast about the Basque refugee children in Caerleon and those who went on to play for the likes of #AthleticClub and #RealMadrid. Have a listen in the usual places 🎧👍🏻 #RefugeesWelcome #StopWar #Euskadi #Gales #Cymru

It was great to be back on Chris Lee’s brilliant @outsidewrite.bsky.social podcast talking about the Basque child refugees who went on to become professional players. Available from Sunday 👍🏻