Last year I wrote a piece for Time Out about how working men's clubs are reinventing themselves for the 21st century, and I saw how they're bringing back a sense of community to their local areas. So it's exciting to see a crowdfunder has been launched to ensure their survival. Please support!

Happy birthday, football!

I was so moved by Chantal. She's whip-smart, driven and deeply compassionate. She's been an unpaid carer for her son Harry, for the last 22 years. Once Chantal claims her pension, she won't receive carer's allowance any more. She'll have just £15 a month to live on uk.news.yahoo.com/carers-allow...

The future of one of Sheffield’s most celebrated arts venues looks set to be secure for the long-term with the announcement that its city centre site will be acquired by @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social for the benefit of the city. ✍️ @sammgreg.bsky.social #GutLevel #MusicVenues #Dance #Clubbing

There's so much wrong with single file queuing at bars, but I think the worst might be that it's way less efficient. A single file queue takes far longer to clear than the traditional ruck. Also, bars were literally built with the ruck queuing system in mind. To go against it is fucking insane.

ANTICIPATE!

'Gotta support the team though, haven't you?' I wrote about the world of shit TV football dialogue for @mundialmag.bsky.social, to learn why characters always talk about football in such a deeply weird way. Cheers to Adam from @footballcliches.bsky.social and Sean for chatting with me!

Intriguing to see the page layouts, text formatting, placement of illustrations, and exact colour scheme of our small mag The Fence (L) receiving such 'sincere flattery' from a 200k+ circulation 'nuke the small boats' newspaper like The Telegraph (R). Very cool.

this is absolutely horrifying www.reuters.com/investigates...

Looks like Jarvis has got his wish - the plaque outside the Leadmill commemorating Pulp's first ever gig appears to have been taken down #sheffield #leadmill #pulp

Missed this last week but it's not wrong www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...

"Cuts to creative degrees would narrow the already limited pathways into the creative workforce for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds." magazine.qs.com/qs-insights-...

At least 14 UK unis are currently implementing redundancy programmes affecting creative degrees - or closing them altogether. The culling of creative degrees is narrowing the already limited pathways into the creative industry for working class students. My latest piece for QS Insights Magazine:

Always on the benches, people you wish you'd met.

I have written again! This time, a live review of the wonderful Songhoy Blues at Sidney and Matilda last month.

Penniless and homeless, Raynor and Moth Winn found fame with their story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. The Salt Path became a global bestseller and was adapted into a major film. But we can reveal it wasn’t the whole truth. @chloehadj.bsky.social Read more:

Insane decision from owners who have already made a series of poor decisions. Wilder completely revitalised the club after one of the most embarrassing seasons in our history. Won 92 points and only denied promotion because we managed to lose the most one-sided play-off final you'll ever see.

SHEFFIELD - ART-PRINTS! Highest quality prints on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag paper. - large A2 size (limited edition, signed, numbered & stamped). - A3 size (unsigned, embossed with a Tapir stamp bottom right). There’s also a FREE high res download! 👇👇👇 coldwarsteve.bigcartel.com/product/shef...

For QS Insights Mag I delved into the wonderful world of weird uni degrees, and why the likes of Folklore Studies, Puppetry and Baking Science hold more value than you might think. thanks to Ceri from @herts.ac.uk, Bart from @uconn.bsky.social and Aaron from @kstate.bsky.social for chatting!

Sheffield-born Helen Sharman became the first Briton to go into space #OTD 1991. She was a research chemist working for a confectionery company when she was chosen to participate in a mission to the Soviet space station Mir.

The DWP promised the coroner leading an inquest into Errol Graham's they would carry out a safeguarding review, putting off further investigation. Now, it seems that the review never happened. I spoke to Errol's daughter-in-law about her family seeking justice: uk.news.yahoo.com/dwp-benefits...

Really enjoyed the new book from @danielgraywriter.bsky.social, fittingly finished off on a leisurely Sunday!

Looking forward to diving into Lowry's Going to the Match. Booked a cheeky visit en route to the @thefsa.bsky.social's AGM day in June www.bbc.com/news/article...

This is not a drill… Yup, it’s here. And we’re gassed to officially drop the phenomenal first lineup for 2025, the big one, our 🌟TENTH-ANNIVERSARY🌟 #Sheffield festival celebrating sanctuary.

Amazing end to a brilliant season for @hallamfc1860.bsky.social - coming back from 2 goals down to win promotion to the Northern Premier (tier 8) on penalties. I didn't choose a bad year for my first as a season ticket holder...

G'wan Hallam! @hallamfc1860.bsky.social 🏆

I expect a great read, and will no doubt get it!

Last month I went to see Antony Szmierek at @theleadmill.bsky.social - and this month my review has popped up in the pages of Exposed. Web link here for those who don't appreciate ink smudges on the page: www.exposedmagazine.co.uk/whats-new/it...

As drop-out rates at universities continue to rise, I wrote about the new-fangled ways that schools are measuring (and improving) student happiness. For QS Insights Magazine. magazine.qs.com/qs-insights-...

Wrote an article for Clash all about music and minority languages.

I reviewed @dublonde.bsky.social at Yellow Arch for Exposed Mag, and wrote about the spectacular amount of (du) blonde hair you could find on stage (I also discussed the music).

The world's oldest derby took place last night at the world's oldest ground, as HallamFC met Sheffield FC in front of a sold-out crowd. It was a belting night, as a rivalry dating back to 1860 drew fans in from far and wide to savour a slice of history. ⬇️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/603...

My latest monthly match report ⬇️

Mirrors my daily struggle of trying to switch off unwanted and useless AI tools that do more harm than good

Ey up! Here are some of the pieces I've written in recent years: muckrack.com/nickharland I mainly write about music, but also venture into culture and film from time to time.

My first article for Time Out and my first Bluesky post. Had a blast writing this piece! www.timeout.com/uk/nightlife...