2 of 5 You know how I played as small part in ensuring that Cathkin Park might remain as a Park for the public to enjoy. Designation. I take no pleasure in shouting ‘I told you so’ with the following news. On Friday 10th July, the Jimmy Johnstone Charitable Trust will go to the Sheriff Court.

1 of 5 #scotsfoundedfootball An extra post today, due to the urgency of the situation. www.scotcourts.gov.uk/court-rolls/...

Been reading this fascinating book. Can't wait to get stuck into the sequel.

NEW POST 🗞️ Many places claim to be the ‘Home of Football’, but one early test-bed for the world’s most popular sport was indisputably South London. Read on… #footballhistory #Skystorians open.substack.com/pub/outsidew...

Today I visited the rather forlorn but historic stand at Whitestone Park, home of Peebles Rovers FC until they withdrew this summer. 100 years ago this was a Scottish League ground! Future now uncertain, hope it survives.

Today I visited the rather forlorn but historic stand at Whitestone Park, home of Peebles Rovers FC until they withdrew this summer. 100 years ago this was a Scottish League ground! Future now uncertain, hope it survives.

Just had a wee trip to Maryhill for the Partick Thistle 150th exhibition. Highly recommended. It's at Maryhill Burgh Chambers and it's free!

Historic England photo exhibition 'Football Grounds of England' now open at Swindon Central Library’s Courtyard Gallery until 24 July, using photos from 1880 to 2019 by architectural historian and sports heritage pioneer Simon Inglis @swindoncouncil.bsky.social stfcmuseum.org/football-gro...

Now that's what I call a bargain. Ged O'Brien's seminal sports history book Played in Glasgow is on sale at just £5 from the publishers - post free! If you don't have one already, get it now. www.playedinbritain.co.uk/books/played...

🚨Announcement!🚨 I'm now offering freelance services (archival photography, transcription, bespoke research...) 📜✒️ Please get in touch if you or someone you know has #history research needs in the UK (esp Scotland & northern England) #Medievalsky #Earlymodern #c18th drtayloraucoin.com/freelance-hi...

As Wimbledon gets under way, a look back at the handsome tennis player whose photograph was taken in Edinburgh around 1843 - thought to be the world's earliest sporting photo. www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...

1 of 3 #scotsfoundedfootball A wee bit of help needed, here. Observe my crappy image of footballers in Queen’s Park. Apologies for the low quality of the photocopy. It must have been given to me, decades ago. And yes - I didn’t write any notes on the back. Do any of you recognise it?

If you’re feeling down, remember that Scotland owns a bit of England because we kept beating them at football. Ownership of the Ba Green was decided by an annual game of “mob football” between 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Coldstream & 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Wark: eventually, demographics made it Scotland for ever 🏆 starkeycomics.com/2023/04/02/t...

As a carioca do subúrbio™, I dare say that it was not Charles Miller, but Thomas Donohoe (a scottish) who brought football to Brazil a few years before Miller. We even have a monument for him in Bangu.

Interesting event coming up at Historic Scotland, archive material on sport. 27 July in Edinburgh: www.historicenvironment.scot/whats-on/all...

Looking for a ticket to Scotland v Brazil? 🎟️⚽ Here's a ticket to our last World Cup match against them in '98, which we keep safe at the National Library in Edinburgh.

1 of 4 #scotsfoundedfootball OTD 1880 Alex ‘Sandy’ Young born Slamannan. All time 4th highest scorer for Everton. League’s top scorer 1906-7 Scored only goal in EFA Cup win 1906. This post is why you buy ‘The Men Who Made Scotland’ from @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social

Happy #HandofGod Day to all who celebrate.

1 This has a big impact. If goal difference were still in play it would be impossible to be eliminated after two matches. Teams on zero could end on three. Neither Mexico nor the US has any incentive to field a full strength team in the last game www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

Join us in Glasgow in July to celebrate a century of sporting stories contained in the amazing Team Scotland Archive! www.eventbrite.com/e/a-history-... @sportingheritage.bsky.social @arascot.bsky.social @scotsarchives.bsky.social #SportingHeritage

#OTD 30 years ago today, Scotland beat Switzerland 1-0 at Euro 96. Went out of the tournament on goal difference despite getting four points in the group.

Argentina start their World Cup tonight, so here's my story about Alexander Watson Hutton, the Edinburgh man who overcame personal tragedy to become 'the father of Argentine football' www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo... [image from the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry]

#OTD 16 June 1954, Scotland played their first ever World Cup finals match. Despite dominating much of the play, it didn't end well, losing 1-0 to Austria.

At the weekend I gave a paper at the International Football History Conference #footycon26. I explained how and why the Meadows was so important for the early development of football in Edinburgh, long before association rules came along in the 1870s. www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...

Argentina start their World Cup tonight, so here's my story about Alexander Watson Hutton, the Edinburgh man who overcame personal tragedy to become 'the father of Argentine football' www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo... [image from the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry]

PERSON OF THE DAY. 16 June 2016. Labour MP Helen Joanne (“Jo”) Cox (aged 41), was murdered by a far right extremist in Birstall, West Yorkshire. She was 1st sitting UK MP to be assassinated since the Conservative Party’s Ian Gow, who was killed by an IRA car bomb on 30 July 1990.

Doing a bit of background reading, Jules Rimet's wonderful memoir on the history of the World Cup. Love his chapter on the 1930 tournament, and detailed account of the transatlantic voyage to Uruguay. France, Belgium and Romania teams all travelled on the same boat.

Interesting article on the history of football, with a focus on Scotland, in L'Equipe. www.lequipe.fr/Football/Art...

I'm quoted in this piece on the origin of 'soccer' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Over in Markers 2, @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social tells us about Edinburgh’s meadows and how they are a crucible for football in Scotland’s capital. A literal look at “Grassroots” football

A call for ideas about historic Scottish football sites - what would you suggest? www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/new...

Heading to London for the annual International Football History Conference, which will be at Fulham over the next couple of days. Looking forward to catching up with the leading historians of the game, and to speaking about Edinburgh football origins. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/internatio...

A rare 1888 medal won by a pioneering Scottish footballer in Denmark has sold for way over estimate today. auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-...

Edinburgh. In June. 🙄

Quite a World Cup cover from L’Equipe.

Busy day today! I had a fantastic time speaking with @resistanceschool.bsky.social World Cup Class about @1930worldcup.bsky.social and the culture of soccer in 1920’s and 30’s USA. Then we released the teaser reel for this Soccer History Lives Here project: youtube.com/shorts/fA30c...

Just booked up for this at National Library in Edinburgh. Looks good. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/members-co...

1/15 105 years ago (in 1921), Celtic undertook a unique “Tour de France”. It combined football with remembrance, showing the deep impact of the First World War on the club and wider community. A thread... #Celtic #CelticFC

Donald Trump is often called America's first "soccer president." I wondered: what role did the game play in his upbringing? I talked to Trump's high school teammates about his brief moments on the pitch - and the brutal military school that formed him. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

#OTD 21 May 1904, founding of FIFA, with Robert Guérin elected as its first president. But that wasn't his real name. I dug into the mystery of his identity and found out who he really was. www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...

We’re delighted to share the programme for Refugee Festival Scotland 2026! Over 150 events will take place across the country from 12–21 June. This year’s line‑up is truly international, featuring artists and performers with links to 78 countries. See what's on: https://ow.ly/TsKz50Z2IA5

🚨 DFC Historical Trust Announcement- please read and share! 🚨

#OTD 21 May 1904, founding of FIFA, with Robert Guérin elected as its first president. But that wasn't his real name. I dug into the mystery of his identity and found out who he really was. www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...

Bit of a 'wow' moment - have been loaned the Minute book of the Glasgow Lawn Tennis Club, founded in 1877. Any tennis historians know of an earlier club in Scotland? I can't find one.

Bit of a 'wow' moment - have been loaned the Minute book of the Glasgow Lawn Tennis Club, founded in 1877. Any tennis historians know of an earlier club in Scotland? I can't find one.

The best thing you might read on FIFA this year, never mind today. If you care about football and the way it is being misgoverned and misappropriated, one of the best thing you can do is support @josimarfootball.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2026/05/14/o...

1 of 5 #scotsfoundedfootball I am pleased with the media reaction to Historic Environment Scotland scheduling the Site of the First Hampden. tinyurl.com/43dsezv4 HES has been particularly interested in the remains of the Pavilion, which Archaeology Scotland found - a few years ago.

Supporting Scotland's Sporting Heritage is a great new project led by the Ballast Trust aimed at preserving & celebrating Scotland's rich sporting history. Find out more about the project (& our #SportingHeritage work) at a webinar on Tuesday 19 May: www.eventbrite.com/e/supporting...

Good to see confirmation that the remains of the First Hampden pavilion, built in 1878, have been designated as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland. www.historicenvironment.scot/about-us/new...

50 years ago, 12 May 1976, I was at Hampden Park for a memorable European Cup final between Bayern Munich and St Etienne. The Germans won 1-0, the French were hard done by, with Hampden's square goalposts entering into legend.