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.

[Le Footichiste] Le 12 mai 1976, il y a cinquante ans aujourd’hui, l’aventure de l’AS Saint-Etienne prenait fin à Glasgow. La finale sert de trame au roman de Laurent Seyer, « Les poteaux étaient carrés » paru en 2018 aux éditions Finitude.

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.

Unfamiliar with what The Scottish Football Kick-Off actually is? Let these people tell you what it is and why they are fans. Once you’ve read them all, get involved here: www.scottishfootballkickoff.co.uk

What did we do before the internet? Today marks 30 years since Hearts became the first Scottish football club to launch an official website - reported in the Edinburgh Evening News, 11 May 1996. Of course there were fan sites before then but this was the first by a club in Scotland.

What did we do before the internet? Today marks 30 years since Hearts became the first Scottish football club to launch an official website - reported in the Edinburgh Evening News, 11 May 1996. Of course there were fan sites before then but this was the first by a club in Scotland.

Registration is now open for the 2026 BSSH Conference in Edinburgh, August 27th to 28th. For more details see below... www.sportinhistory.com/pages/2026-b...

Please vote tomorrow.

You probably haven't heard of him, but £1 in every £5 banked by Scottish parties came from the fortune of one businessman made in the obscure industry of gas generators for science labs. He’s this election's biggest money man https://www.theferret.scot/meet-the-donors-funding-scottish-politics

I know you guys have been clamoring to see me and Werner Herzog talk about the NASL & American soccer absurdity, right? Right? Ok well here you go. On Roku, “Soccer Meets America” is out now! Legitimately great doc, a must watch. Tons of other (far more important) voices as well!

On a eu l'honneur de parler du plus beau championnat du monde avec Scipion ! Une heure de discussion sur le football en Alba à retrouver sur Youtube et sur les plateformes de podcast ! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj3U...

On this day, 30 April 1895, the British Ladies Football Club played in Scotland for the first time, drawing a crowd of 6,000 to Paisley. They went on to play 14 times around Scotland that summer, but interest soon dropped off.

The biggest obstacle investigative journalists face in 2026 is not the threat of SLAPPs or the ever-diminishing resources at their disposal. It is apathy, as if bad/fraudulent/criminal behaviour was now *expected* of anyone in a position of power and of all institutions. Expected, and accepted.

100 years ago today, Arsenal proved too strong for Hibernian in an end-of-season friendly, winning 5-0 at Highbury.

🚨NEW Blogpost🚨 #Easter 1598, a three-a-side football match led to controversy, violence, & eventually death. ⛹️‍♂️ Depositions from a #Tudor Star Chamber case reveal what happened that day, & also challenge some preconceptions about #earlymodern football #history. ⚽🏉👇 drtayloraucoin.com/2026/04/22/e...

JOHN CAMERON is a Jag; a hidden secret from 1883 is revealed! 👀 @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social 👉 www.thethistlearchive.net/john-cameron-i

The trailer for "El Partido" (The Match) has just been released ahead of the film's premiere at Cannes. An Argentinian movie about the 1986 World Cup Quarter-Final between Argentina and England, it features contributions from a host of players who played in the game, including Lineker & Valdano.

1 of 6 #scotsfoundedfootball The Dangers of Artificial Intelligence. The esteemed historian Andy Mitchell made the point to me, recently, that AI is ‘like arguing with Wikipedia, no matter how wrong, it is 'a source’. No-one ever grades these sources. For me they ‘flood the zone’. © Steve Bannon

Linlithgow Rose win 2-1. League champions. Scenes.

Watching the battle of the Roses - Bonnyrigg v Linlithgow - in the Scottish Lowland League title decider. Big crowd. Bonnyrigg lead 1-0 from a penalty.

Am going to see Scotland v Belgium at Easter Road this evening, in the Women's World Cup. The first time the countries met was in 1981 in a tournament in Sardinia - here's a photo of the Scotland squad on a rock hard pitch, and a match report of the 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Fiona Winchester.

Born #OTD 13 April 1846, William McGregor, Scottish founder of the Football League. He brought his enthusiasm for football to Birmingham, helped make Aston Villa one of England's top clubs, and founded the world's first league. A plaque in his honour stands in his home village of Braco, Perthshire.

We're in a big auditorium at UCL on Weds for Champion Black Boxers and Businessmen in 1800s London - talk, film, panel, about Bill Richmond, Tom Molineaux, Bridgerton, A Thousand Blows! Join Tony Warner, Roberto Nigro, Luke G. Williams, S. I. Martin & me: FREE: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/champion-b...

Things are hotting up for next month's 50th anniversary of the 1976 European Cup final at Hampden Park between St Etienne and Bayern Munich. It is the French team - who lost - who are marking the event simply because it was such a crazy adventure for Les Verts. This new book updates the original.

Born #OTD 13 April 1846, William McGregor, Scottish founder of the Football League. He brought his enthusiasm for football to Birmingham, helped make Aston Villa one of England's top clubs, and founded the world's first league. A plaque in his honour stands in his home village of Braco, Perthshire.

Oh look, my new book available for preorder on amzn and elsewhere (pub date subject to change). Can’t wait for people to read. www.amazon.co.uk/Uruguay-Foot... Also: cover reveal!!

An intriguing #sporthistory acquisition - a manuscript poem from the 1830s dedicated to the Six Feet Club, an Edinburgh club for athletic sports. Written by poet Charles Doyne Sillery and unpublished as far as I can tell. Mentions steeplechase, quoits, hammer throwing and (obliquely) football.

But shall this crazed old man be tamely suffered to drag a whole ship’s company down to doom with him?

Starting shortly at 10am on Radio 4.

Coming up on BBC Radio 4: The Reunion with Kirsty Wark, looking back at Scotland in the 1998 World Cup from all angles. Featuring Paul Lambert, Craig Burley and a variety of others, including me. Broadcast on Easter Day at 10am and then available on iPlayer. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

It's Wembley Wizards day!

Coming up soon on BBC Radio 4: the Scotland World Cup 1998 Reunion: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... Had fun taking part and remembering those crazy days!

Philip Gale, The National Archives: “Sports are a mirror to society… Without sporting heritage records, we’d have an incomplete landscape of society.” Watch the discussion: tinyurl.com/mrybax3s

Everyone at Hibernian FC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hibs legend Alex Cropley, at the age of 75. Rest in peace, Alex 💚

Good piece on the Clapton history blog about John Lambie, another example of a Scotch Professor bringing the "combination game" to England. Likely to be of interest to @gedboy58.bsky.social & @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social tonshistory.co.uk/2026/03/18/j...

#OTD 27 March 1871, Scotland v England in the first rugby international at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh. A few years back I discovered the only known illustration of the match: www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...

Fascinating piece which debunks the fabricated 'official' Crystal Palace version of its own football history, covering the date of formation and the role of Hermann Hurni. www.holmesdale.net/page.php?id=...

🆕 The History Of The Partick Thistle Football Club by R. M. Connell, 1927 - In our 150th anniversary season, we're absolutely delighted to present a full original copy of the first official history book, enjoy! 👀 👉 thethistlearchive.net/archive-muse...