I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐

It is with profound sadness that The Yorkshire County Cricket Club announces the passing of Harold Dennis “Dickie” Bird MBE OBE, one of cricket’s most beloved figures, who died peacefully at home at the age of 92. Read more: yorkshireccc.com/news/harold-...

#OnThisDay 23 Sept 1919 🇵🇹 Former Benfica and Sporting players meet at a local park bench to form a local football club to represent their area of Lisbon, Belém Os Belenenses is formed... They are one of only two clubs outside the 'Big Three' along with Boavista to win the Portuguese title 🏆

Football #Quiz 🧠 Which European club side's name translates into English as 'The People from Bethlehem'? 🤔

NEW POST 🗞️ The Coronation Cup and the birth of Spanish football 🇪🇸🏆 Read on… #spain #laliga substack.com/@outsidewrit...

NEW POST 🗞️ The Coronation Cup and the birth of Spanish football 🇪🇸🏆 Read on… #spain #laliga substack.com/@outsidewrit...

#OnThisDay 21 Sept 1949 The Republic of Ireland becomes the first non-UK side to beat England in England. Many mistakenly believe it to be Hungary in 1953, but 26 counties withdrew from the UK to create the Irish Free State in 1921/22 More on the Irish football split in my latest book…

It's the #DerbyDellaCapitale today 🇮🇹 Roma 🐺 v Lazio 🦅 For more on this iconic rivalry, check out this podcast with a guy who runs tours to the match: open.spotify.com/episode/7AvH...

What can cemeteries tell you about South American history? 🪦 Quite a lot, as it happens. Here are three national football pioneers, William Leslie Poole 🇺🇾, Charlie Miller 🇧🇷, and Alexander Watson Hutton 🇦🇷 More in this week's podcast with @shafikmeghji.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/4zzf...

#OnThisDay 20 Sept 2004 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Brian Clough dies, aged 69. "We talk about it for 20 minutes, and then we decide that I was right." 🏆🏆 2x English league titles with 'unfashionable' clubs 🏆🏆2x European Cup titles 🏆🏆🏆🏆4x League Cups For many, including me, the best manager England never had. #NFFC

The Bohs shirt as a sign of protest www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

#OnThisDay 19 Sept 1926 🇮🇹 Stadio San Siro is opened with a derby between the occupants Milan and Inter. It was extended in time for the 1990 World Cup final and is a must for any groundhopper. Have you been? 📸 A rainy Sunday heading to the stadium. It’s one of my favourite #groundhopping shots

#OnThisDay 19 Sept 1926 🇮🇹 Stadio San Siro is opened with a derby between the occupants Milan and Inter. It was extended in time for the 1990 World Cup final and is a must for any groundhopper. Have you been? 📸 A rainy Sunday heading to the stadium. It’s one of my favourite #groundhopping shots

NEW POST 🗞️ The latest in my ‘Iconic Football Stadiums’ series looks at Gran Parque Central in Montevideo 🇺🇾 ✅ oldest football ground in the Americas ✅ home to Nacional ✅ hosted the first World Cup match Read on… #Groundhopping #Uruguay open.substack.com/pub/outsidew...

NEW POST 🗞️ The latest in my ‘Iconic Football Stadiums’ series looks at Gran Parque Central in Montevideo 🇺🇾 ✅ oldest football ground in the Americas ✅ home to Nacional ✅ hosted the first World Cup match Read on… #Groundhopping #Uruguay open.substack.com/pub/outsidew...

#OnThisDay 17 September 1921 🇮🇪 The League of Ireland tournament kicks off in the Irish Free State, with football splitting along geographical/political lines St. James's Gate, the team of the Guinness Storehouse, wins the inaugural league and cup double 🏆🏆 More in my book... #IrishHistory

New Post 🗞️ Iconic Football Shirts: The story behind @claptoncfc.co.uk’s International Brigades-inspired away shirt First released in 2018, it has proven so popular that it’s still being used in 2025/26. Read on… ❤️💛💜 #footballshirts open.substack.com/pub/outsidew... 📸 @hylland.bsky.social

LATEST: Calls for Musk to face UK sanctions after ‘disgusting’ Tommy Robinson rally speech

NEW PODCAST 🎙️ I discuss the British pioneers of South American football with @shafikmeghji.bsky.social, whose new book looks at the broader British legacy in South America Find it wherever you get your podcasts Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4zzf...

NEW PODCAST 🎙️ I discuss the British pioneers of South American football with @shafikmeghji.bsky.social, whose new book looks at the broader British legacy in South America Find it wherever you get your podcasts Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4zzf...

Walked 12 miles/15 kms from Seven Sisters to Eastbourne Town FC today Got a bit wet and windswept on the way but what a lovely #nonleague ground #groundhopping

Dropping Sunday 🎙️ My guest is @shafikmeghji.bsky.social, discussing the role of the British community in introducing football to South America Here's a taster...

#OnThisDay 12 Sept 1885 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Arbroath beat Bon Accord 36-0 It's the largest ever recorded margin of victory in a senior match More on the roots of football in Scotland and elsewhere in my first book, Origin Stories... 📕

20 years ago today 🏏 The best £10 I ever spent was buying a Day 5 ticket in advance for the final Ashes test series (I already had Days 3 and 4 tickets). It was the first time final day tickets had been sold in advance, and tests usually go to five days at the Oval, so glad I did!

#OnThisDay 11 Sept 1973 🇨🇱 The democratically elected Chilean president, Salvador Allende, died during a military coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet What role did footballers play in resisting Pinochet's dictatorship in #Chile? Find out in my book, The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism

NEW POST 📣 Football in the Shadow of Vesuvius 🌋 My visit to Juve Stabia 🇮🇹, now in Italy’s second tier, Serie B. Many pass by between Pompeii and Sorrento, but they're missing out on one hell of a #groundhopping experience Read on… #Italy substack.com/@outsidewrit...

#OnThisDay 11 Sept 1973 🇨🇱 The democratically elected Chilean president, Salvador Allende, died during a military coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet What role did footballers play in resisting Pinochet's dictatorship in #Chile? Find out in my book, The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism

Some fan stickers plus London landmarks Fiorentina + Tate Modern St. Pauli + St. Paul’s HSV + The Shard Palermo + Spitalfields #london

Back our campaign to balance the BBC now 👇 www.libdems.org.uk/BBC

Can’t lie, I thought Serbia would win tonight - shows how much I know about this football lark #SRBENG

NEW POST 🗞️ My favourite stadium in Europe is The Oval, Belfast, home of Glentoran 🐓 Visiting it was a highlight when researching my book, Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football 📗 Have you been? What did you think? #groundhopping #TravelTuesday open.substack.com/pub/outsidew...

The Green Party has announced it has hit 70,000 members – the highest figure on record. The party says a surge in new members has taken place since the leadership election was called and since Zack Polanski was announced as the new leader a week ago today.

#OnThisDay 9 Sept 1893 🇩🇪 VfB Stuttgart was founded. 🏆 5x Bundesliga titles 🏆 4x DFB-Pokal wins For more on the roots of German football, please read my first book, Origin Stories 👉🏼 www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/origin-...

NEW POST 🗞️ My favourite stadium in Europe is The Oval, Belfast, home of Glentoran 🐓 Visiting it was a highlight when researching my book, Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football 📗 Have you been? What did you think? #groundhopping #TravelTuesday open.substack.com/pub/outsidew...

#OnThisDay 8 Sept 1888 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 The Football League kicked off, the world's first competition of its type, featuring sides from the north and Midlands of England Preston North End went 22 games unbeaten to win the inaugural title - plus the FA Cup 🏆🏆 #Skystorians

REJOIN! True patriots would want their country’s economy to succeed…

#OnThisDay 8 Sept 1888 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 The Football League kicked off, the world's first competition of its type, featuring sides from the north and Midlands of England Preston North End went 22 games unbeaten to win the inaugural title - plus the FA Cup 🏆🏆 #Skystorians

NEW PODCAST 🎙️ We’re discussing all things San Lorenzo de Almagro today, one of Argentina’s ‘big five’ clubs 💙❤️🐦‍⬛ Spotify link below, but find it wherever you get your podcasts. open.spotify.com/episode/2wY3... #Argentina #groundhopping #CASLA

#OnThisDay 7 Sept in football is quite momentous: 🇮🇹 1893 - Genoa Cricket & Football Club was founded ☘️ 1901 - @bfcdublin.bsky.social moved into Dalymount 🇪🇸 1909 - Real Sociedad was founded 🇪🇸 1958 - Estadio Ramon Sanchéz Pizjuán opened #Skystorians

NEW PODCAST 🎙️ We’re discussing all things San Lorenzo de Almagro today, one of Argentina’s ‘big five’ clubs 💙❤️🐦‍⬛ Spotify link below, but find it wherever you get your podcasts. open.spotify.com/episode/2wY3... #Argentina #groundhopping #CASLA

#OnThisDay 6 Sept 1890 @bfcdublin.bsky.social played its first match in Phoenix Park, Dublin Read all about #Bohs in my new book, ‘Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football’ #irishhistory

#OnThisDay 6 Sept 1890 ☘️ Ireland’s first and oldest football (soccer) stadium, Solitude, opened. The first game didn’t go so well for the home side, Cliftonville… (From my book, Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football) 📗

My interview with Libero about how I researched my third and latest book, ‘Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football’ 👇🏼 liberoguide.com/shamrock-rol...

NEW POST 📣 My next podcast, dropping tomorrow, is all about San Lorenzo de Almagro ❤️💙🐦‍⬛ Ahead of that, here’s my #groundhopping guide to visiting the ‘New Gasometer’ Have a read, and sub to the Outside Write podcast so you don’t miss tomorrow’s episode! open.substack.com/pub/outsidew...

On this day in 1913 Arsenal played their first game at Highbury. Here's the full programme and match report for the game from the Islington Gazette. #NorthLondonForever thearsenalcollection.org.uk?page_id=24502

So, if you’re in London tomorrow (7 Sept), @corinthiancasuals.bsky.social will be celebrating the 115th birthday of their Brazilian sister club, Corinthians 🇧🇷 More 👉🏼 www.corinthian-casuals.com/news--interv...

Just a reminder that the international break is the perfect time to go support your local #NonLeague football club #Groundhopping

Need some commuter or weekend listening this morning? Big thanks to @paulmcgarraghy.bsky.social and Nick from the El Partido podcast for having me on to discuss football before, during, and after the Spanish Civil War Have a listen 👇🏼 #LaLiga open.spotify.com/episode/5s5R...

#OnThisDay 5 Sept 1882 Hotspur Football Club was founded in North London, adding 'Tottenham' two years later 🏆 First (and only) non-league side to win the FA Cup 🏆 Won the second League and Cup double (after Preston) 🏆 First British side to win a European trophy (Cup Winners' Cup 1962/63)

Thoroughly enjoyed recording this with @outsidewrite.bsky.social! Give it a listen and hear about football’s significance throughout the 20th century in Spain including the age before #LaLiga. We discuss a wide range of stories, clubs, characters and the wider nuances of football and society. ⤵️