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 👍🏻

Che Guevara was murdered #OnThisDay in 1967. I wrote about how Owain Glyndŵr allegedly inspired Che Guevara and Fidel Castro & when Che’s inspirational daughter Aleida visited Wales to talk about the #NHS tinyurl.com/ub2vfu8w #CheGuevara #CheVive #SaveOurNHS 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇨🇺

#OnThisDay in 1968 #AthleticClub played Liverpool in the second leg of the Fairs Cup at Anfield. The tie finished 3-3 on aggregate with Athletic bizarrely going through on the toss of a coin! I spoke to the legendary José Ángel Iribar about the incident in my book Los Leones.🔴⚪️🦁

#OnThisDay in 2021, #AthleticClub great Iñaki Williams surpassed Real Sociedad’s Juan Antonio Larrañaga’s record of playing in 202 La Liga matches in a row. His incredible run finally came to an end after a remarkable 251 matches. Read more in ‘Los Leones’🔴⚪️

Egun On/Bore da - #ICYMI I was on the El Partido podcast this week chatting to the lovely Nick and Paul about my book ‘Los Leones’ and the unique #AthleticClub 🎧👉🏻 open.spotify.com/episode/3KkJ... 🔴⚪️🦁

#OnThisDay in 1962 #AthleticClub icon José Ángel Iribar made his debut against Málaga at La Rosaleda stadium. I spoke to Iribar (known as ‘El Txopo’) for my book ‘Los Leones’. He’s a deity in Bilbao. He was a brilliant player but most importantly he’s a great man! 🔴⚪️🦁

#OnThisDay in 1992 the iconic Julen Guerrero made his official #AthleticClub debut in a 2-1 win against Cádiz at San Mamés. I was lucky enough to interview ‘El Rey León’ about his amazing career for my book ‘Los Leones’ - Julen was some player and of course super cool! 🦁👑🔴⚪️

Fantastic belated birthday present from my wonderful wife (the delay was at their end), the Basque refugees/Athletic Club inspired Newport County away shirt. The names of the Basque children are written in the stripes...

Athletic Club have made a superb start to the season! Find out more about this unique and special Basque club in my book ‘Los Leones’. Aupa Athletic! #AthleticClub #Euskadi #UniqueInTheWorld #LaLiga 🔴⚪️

Penblwydd Hapus to the great Dafydd Iwan who is 82 today! A while back I was lucky enough to interview the great man about Wales, music, politics, independence, Victor Jara and much more. What a life! It was an honour. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿. nation.cymru/culture/dafy... #Cymru #Wales

Yep. My favourite picture of the day is this one. I’ve no idea who this lady is but she’s now my hero.

Zorionak/Happy Birthday to #AthleticClub legend Andoni Goikoetxea! Goiko wrote the foreword for my book & unbelievably came to my book launch. I’ll never forget him introducing himself to my family and knowing their names despite having never met them. What a player & gentleman! 🔴⚪️🦁

#OnThisDay 21 Aug 1913 'The Cathedral', the original Estadio San Mamés, was opened to house Athletic Club de Bilbao It was the first purpose-built football stadium in the Basque Country or Spain at the time For more on Athletic Club, read @jervisevans.bsky.social's exceptional 'Los Leones' 🦁

Love this Chris - Aupa County, Ymlaen Athletic 😉👍❤️🧡🖤🤍👏⚽

Following on from last night about the speaker of Herri Harmalian wearing the #AthleticClub inspired Newport County shirt - look at these photos. The kit and San Mamés in all their glory 👌🏻. Aupa Athletic! 🔴⚪️

Some great spotting at San Mamés from my Basque friend Aitor - the speaker of the Herri Harmalia wearing the #AthleticClub inspired Newport County jersey during the win over Sevilla. Aupa Athletic! Up The County! 🔴⚪️⚫️🟠