Andy Mitchell
@andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
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Scottish football historian. Edinburgh. www.scottishsporthistory.com
reposted by
Andy Mitchell
Over a decade ago, I wrote this blog about Danish footballer Carl Hansen and his wartime experiences. I suggested his book would be a great project for translation and I'm delighted that Ian Hogg has taken up the challenge and produced a free ebook!
www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
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A Danish football drama in Scotland, just waiting to be translated
An interesting little project for a Danish speaker would be a translation of these books by Carl Hansen into English. The Danish international joined Rangers in 1921 and spent three years in...
https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/a-danish-drama-waiting-to-be-translated
about 12 hours ago
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Over a decade ago, I wrote this blog about Danish footballer Carl Hansen and his wartime experiences. I suggested his book would be a great project for translation and I'm delighted that Ian Hogg has taken up the challenge and produced a free ebook!
www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
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A Danish football drama in Scotland, just waiting to be translated
An interesting little project for a Danish speaker would be a translation of these books by Carl Hansen into English. The Danish international joined Rangers in 1921 and spent three years in...
https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/a-danish-drama-waiting-to-be-translated
about 12 hours ago
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Andy Mitchell
BSSH
3 days ago
The venue for the 2026 British Society of Sports History has just been announced. It will be held at the John McIntyre Centre, University of Edinburgh, from 26 to 28 August 2026. See below for more details..
www.sportinhistory.org/articles/edi...
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Edinburgh Venue for the 2026 BSSH Annual Conference
Welcome to the British Society of Sports History website. Our purpose is to promote the study of the history of sport.
https://www.sportinhistory.org/articles/edinburgh-venue-the-2026-bssh-annual-conference
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Andy Mitchell
Great to have helped get this historic Scottish football trophy back on display in its home town, Musselburgh.
www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
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A historic Musselburgh football trophy returns
One of Musselburgh's earliest football trophies, the Simpson Shield , has come home after turning up at auction recently. I was lucky enough to be the winning bidder and have sold it on to...
https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/a-historic-musselburgh-football-trophy-returns
9 days ago
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Great to have helped get this historic Scottish football trophy back on display in its home town, Musselburgh.
www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
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A historic Musselburgh football trophy returns
One of Musselburgh's earliest football trophies, the Simpson Shield , has come home after turning up at auction recently. I was lucky enough to be the winning bidder and have sold it on to...
https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/a-historic-musselburgh-football-trophy-returns
9 days ago
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Andy Mitchell
The Thistle Archive
18 days ago
Sad to hear that staunch Jags supporter, Alan Cunningham (@harrywragg), has passed away at the age of 75. A familiar face in the stands, home and away. R.I.P. Alan, and condolences to his family, many friends and loved ones. ❤️💛
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I wrote an article on The Foot-Ball Club for History Scotland magazine, but it has now ceased publication. Rather than let it go to waste, it makes a long read for my website:
www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
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Edinburgh should be recognised as a 'home of football', thanks to its 19th century pioneers
Next time you hear someone singing Football's Coming Home , ask them where they think 'home' is. They might answer London, Sheffield or Cambridge; maybe even Glasgow. They would be wrong, as...
https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/edinburgh-should-be-recognised-as-a-home-of-football-thanks-to-its-19th-century-pioneers
19 days ago
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Andy Mitchell
Sarah Elizabeth Cox
19 days ago
It's UK Black History Month. Resharing
@lanre-bakare.bsky.social
's article from Feb! The stories of Black boxers in 1880s England are missing from every boxing history or Black British history I've read. But there are LOTS! Feel privileged to help find them:
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
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From racist bans to lion-tamer fighters: the wild history of Britain’s unsung Black boxing superstars
A Thousand Blows, the knockout new drama from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, puts Victorian-era boxer Hezekiah Moscow in the spotlight. But it doesn’t even begin to do justice to the astonishin...
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/feb/26/from-racist-bans-to-lion-tamer-fighters-the-wild-history-of-britains-unsung-black-boxing-superstars
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I think they might just have a photo of the wrong stadium here.
www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/202...
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Scotland’s Hampden Park site faces threat of redevelopment
The site of the world’s first international football stadium could become flats or a car park unless action is taken, with the original Hampden Park in Glasgow currently home to a bowling club facing ...
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2025/10/20/original-hampden-park-site-faces-threat-of-redevelopment/
20 days ago
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50 years ago today, 19 Oct 1975, a world record football score for a top division match without any contrived skulduggery: Lochend Thistle (Edinburgh) 0 Dundee Strikers 47 in the Scottish Women's League. Quite the run of results for Lochend that season! But they kept going and did win a match later.
22 days ago
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Andy Mitchell
Friends of Warriston Cemetery
23 days ago
#31DaysOFGraves
Day 19: Social group. James Dalrymple, an unmarried upholsterer, died aged 25 of sudden heart failure, having developed heart disease from an earlier bout of rheumatic fever. The Dean Cricket Club is no longer in existence.
#Edinburgh
#Cricket
#EdinburghCricket
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Andy Mitchell
Philippe Auclair
27 days ago
As a friend who was planning to go to the 2026 WC told me, "this settles it". He won't.
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Andy Mitchell
The Celtic Star
27 days ago
Correcting an historical error regarding Celtic’s first captain James Kelly...Story by
@hailhailhistory.bsky.social
in comments below 🍀👇
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The very first Scottish Football Annual was published 150 years ago this week in 1875. You can read a digitised copy on my website.
www.scottishsporthistory.com/digitised-bo...
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Digitised books and articles
This is a personal selection of published articles and books on Scottish sport history. There is a wealth of interesting material online, from digitised books to scholarly research, which I will...
https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/digitised-books-and-articles.html
28 days ago
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Andy Mitchell
Ahead of Scotland v Belarus, a look back at the equivalent match in 1997 which was played in very strange circumstances - a bewildering start to my time as team press officer:
www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
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'Please call the game off' - seven days that shook Scottish football
by Andy Mitchell This is the story of an extraordinary week in 1997 when events unrelated to football conspired to make the Scottish Football Association and its boss vilified throughout the UK. ...
https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/please-call-the-game-off-seven-days-that-shook-scottish-football
about 1 month ago
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Ahead of Scotland v Belarus, a look back at the equivalent match in 1997 which was played in very strange circumstances - a bewildering start to my time as team press officer:
www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
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'Please call the game off' - seven days that shook Scottish football
by Andy Mitchell This is the story of an extraordinary week in 1997 when events unrelated to football conspired to make the Scottish Football Association and its boss vilified throughout the UK. ...
https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/please-call-the-game-off-seven-days-that-shook-scottish-football
about 1 month ago
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A fascinating hour this evening listening to
@malikalnasir.bsky.social
on his new book "Searching for my Slave Roots" which I look forward to reading - not least finding out more about footballer Andrew Watson. Well done to
@portybooks.bsky.social
for putting on the event.
about 1 month ago
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Andy Mitchell
50 years ago, 28 Sept 1975, an astonishing result in the Scottish Women's League Cup: Lochend Thistle 0 Edinburgh Dynamos 42. Cuttings from the Evening News, with a photo of Dynamos earlier in the year.
about 1 month ago
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50 years ago, 28 Sept 1975, an astonishing result in the Scottish Women's League Cup: Lochend Thistle 0 Edinburgh Dynamos 42. Cuttings from the Evening News, with a photo of Dynamos earlier in the year.
about 1 month ago
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Nice to get a mention in this article by
@londonist.com
on the first match played under Football Association rules.
londonist.com/london/sport...
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The First Ever FA Football Match, Played In A London Park In 1864
A week earlier than most people thought...
https://londonist.com/london/sport/first-fa-football-match-london-battersea-park
about 1 month ago
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Andy Mitchell
FootyCon
about 2 months ago
We’re excited to announce that the location for
#FootyCon26
is… LONDON!! Join us at Fulham FC’s Craven Cottage on the 12th & 13th of June 2026 for the latest edition of our annual conference to enjoy lots of great people talk about Football of all codes from multiple backgrounds
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Andy Mitchell
ScotsFoundedFootball
about 2 months ago
A nice boost today, for those of us who value our Footballing Heritage. Historic Environment Scotland registered (New) Cathkin Park - the site of the Second Hampden, as a Scheduled Monument.
tinyurl.com/59nccjea
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Search
Use search terms such as addresses, local authorities, parishes, burghs and types of building to find desingations and decisions.
https://tinyurl.com/59nccjea
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Andy Mitchell
The Thistle Archive
about 2 months ago
Pictured on this night 1921 is the Partick Thistle team which became 'champions of Britain' when, as Scottish Cup holders, they defeated Tottenham Hotspur, the FA Cup holders, by 3 goals to 1! Read all about it... 👀 👉
thethistlearchive.net/match-1921-0...
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#OTD
18 September 1965 - Brazilian striker Francisco Filho played for Dunfermline Athletic against Morton, his sole game in the Scottish League. Alongside him was Alex Ferguson and four decades later they were reunited at Manchester United, when Filho was appointed youth coach and SAF's assistant.
about 2 months ago
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Andy Mitchell
ScotsFoundedFootball
about 2 months ago
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#scotsfoundedfootball
I was checking wiktionary the other day. Great place for factual documents. I was childishly pleased to see John Hope’s rules sitting atop the mountain as the only known rules in the subheading Laws of Football 1830s.
tinyurl.com/2vvumnx9
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Rules of The Foot-Ball Club (1833) - Wikisource, the free online library
https://tinyurl.com/2vvumnx9
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Andy Mitchell
Oldfirmfacts
2 months ago
On this day in Scottish football: 2003
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Andy Mitchell
Sarah Elizabeth Cox
2 months ago
Enjoyed
#AThousandBlows
+ looking forward to season II (SOON)? Want to know about the real Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe & Sugar Goodson? There are some options! Please visit my blog (scroll, or check The Cast List page)! Or buy my book! Out Autumn '26, details soon 🥊🤜🏻
www.grapplingwithhistory.com
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Grappling With History
By Sarah Elizabeth Cox | Rediscovering the wrestlers and boxers of late-Victorian London
https://www.grapplingwithhistory.com
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Andy Mitchell
Martin Polley
2 months ago
My new blog post: A Plaque for a Pioneering Pilgrim
#blueplaques
#sportshistory
#jackleslie
#plymouth
#blackhistory
#historicengland
martinpolley.co.uk/2025/09/01/a...
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A Plaque for a Pioneering Pilgrim – Martin Polley, Sports Historian
https://martinpolley.co.uk/2025/09/01/a-plaque-for-a-pioneering-pilgrim/
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Andy Mitchell
The Portobello Bookshop
3 months ago
We can’t wait to welcome
@malikalnasir.bsky.social
to the bookshop on Wednesday 1st October! He’ll discuss his soon-to-be-published book, Searching for My Slave Roots, with Rebecca Bailey from Historic Environment Scotland. 🎟️ Sign up here:
www.theportobellobookshop.com/events/malik...
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Andy Mitchell
Everton FC Heritage Society
3 months ago
133 years ago, to the day, marked the official opening ceremony (but not first match) for Goodison Park. Lord Kinnaird, pictured, was guest of honour. Read about it in this
@MikeRoyden.bsky.social
piece:
efcheritagesociety.com/august-1892-...
Today, marks the baptism of our gleaming new home.
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Andy Mitchell
ScotsFoundedFootball
3 months ago
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#scotsfoundedfootball
Again I quote Richard McBrearty
tinyurl.com/2zzhvcht
‘If the first official international match signalled the lighting of the touch paper to create a football explosion, then there had to already be a large powder keg waiting to be ignited.’
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Glasgow Before The Explosion: the role of migration and immigration in the development of football cultures in the city prior to 1873.
Abstract The purpose of this paper is to highlight ongoing research suggesting that numerous football cultures existed in Glasgow and the surrounding area prior to what the Scottish Football Museum…
https://tinyurl.com/2zzhvcht
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Andy Mitchell
Frank MacDonald
3 months ago
Ahead of Monday's 40th anniversary, a bit about the 1st USWMNT and WA's strong influence.
www.frankmacdonald.net/the-absolute...
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The Absolute Beginning - The Frank MacDonald Blog
Eight members of the first U.S. Women’s National Team were from Washington. On Aug. 18, the Reign celebrates the 40th anniversary of their historic debut. They were the first. And whatever has happene...
https://www.frankmacdonald.net/the-absolute-beginning/
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reposted by
Andy Mitchell
Referee stops game after player is racially abused, spectator is ejected. It happened last night, it also happened as far back as 1968 when ref Jim Finney took action on behalf of Scunthorpe's Scottish winger Peter Foley. If only others had been so proactive.
3 months ago
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Referee stops game after player is racially abused, spectator is ejected. It happened last night, it also happened as far back as 1968 when ref Jim Finney took action on behalf of Scunthorpe's Scottish winger Peter Foley. If only others had been so proactive.
3 months ago
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Andy Mitchell
ScotsFoundedFootball
3 months ago
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#scotsfoundedfootball
One of the many things that bug me about the Dodoball version of history is the nonsense about QPFC getting the Lilywhite London Association Rules and Football only then starting in Scotland. Look at the John Hope Rules of 1833 and his later Stockbridge Rules of 1854.
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Andy Mitchell
Today is the 150th birthday of Hibernian Football Club, founded in Edinburgh on 6 August 1875. To mark the occasion I've been on the trail of Pat Cavanagh, one of the founders. Here's a thread about a man who literally left his mark on the city's streets.
3 months ago
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Today is the 150th birthday of Hibernian Football Club, founded in Edinburgh on 6 August 1875. To mark the occasion I've been on the trail of Pat Cavanagh, one of the founders. Here's a thread about a man who literally left his mark on the city's streets.
3 months ago
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Andy Mitchell
Sporting Heritage CIC
3 months ago
Join Hugh Dan MacLennan of the University of Edinburgh as he sheds light on the vulnerability of cherished collections. Imagine your garage housing a treasure trove of sporting memorabilia, signed shirts, vintage equipment, and cherished moments. Yet, amidst the nostalgia lies a lurking danger.
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Very much looking forward to this! Elsie Cook, the godmother of Scottish women's football, has written her autobiography and it will be launched next week.
tombrown.online/2025/07/28/a...
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A Kiss Fae Pele
The inspirational life story of Women’s football pioneer, Elsie Cook
https://tombrown.online/2025/07/28/a-kiss-fae-pele/
3 months ago
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Andy Mitchell
ScotsFoundedFootball
4 months ago
OK mes amis... France now gets to hear about how
#scotsfoundedfootball
Hope you like what they've done.
tinyurl.com/3fef9m9d
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Découverte historique : et si le football était né en Écosse, et non en Angleterre ? | TF1 INFO
[VIDÉO] Depuis toujours, les Anglais ont une certitude, celle d'avoir inventé le football. Mais la découverte d'un historien remet en question cette paternité. Et cela devrait accentuer la rivalité qu'ils entretiennent avec leurs voisins écossais. - Découverte historique : et si le football était né en Écosse, et non en Angleterre ? (Sports).
https://tinyurl.com/3fef9m9d
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Great to see this memorial bench to John White at Musselburgh Athletic's ground. It was restored by club supporters as a tribute to the Spurs and Scotland great. More on the story here:
www.facebook.com/the1934club/...
4 months ago
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Andy Mitchell
Edinburgh Libraries
4 months ago
As the #WomensEuros final approaches, we look back to women’s football in the 1950s, a time when the Edinburgh Dynamos weren’t allowed to join the Scottish Football Association! Does anyone know where this pic was taken? #ThrowbackThursday thanks to @ThelmaScotland
zurl.co/itoNC
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#OTD
22 July 1865, Kilwinning Monkcastle beat Irvine Eglinton to win what I believe was the world's first knock-out cricket tournament. Read my blog about the silver-buckled belt that was presented:
www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
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A Scottish cricket prize from 1865, the world's first?
It's amazing what can turn up. This silver buckle, attached to its original belt, was presented in 1865 by the 14th Earl of Eglinton for competition by cricket clubs in Cunninghame, north...
https://www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-history-news-and-blog/a-scottish-cricket-prize-from-1865-the-worlds-first
4 months ago
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Andy Mitchell
ScotsFoundedFootball
4 months ago
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#scotsfoundedfootball
I love the London Hearts website. It offers so much and has done great work for people with no time, such as myself. The simple plan of reading newspapers and scanning in football reports takes more effort than writing about matches. My topic is Glasgow - Sheffield.
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Andy Mitchell
Andrew Reilly
4 months ago
I've just finished the first stage of The Kick Off. A digital history of how association football began in South Australia from 1840 to 1915. It’s interactive, so explore the timeline, story map and people profiles.
thekickoff.com.au
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How Football Began in South Australia | The Kick Off
How football began in South Australia is journey into Timeline, the Story Map, and the Profiles to learn about this football history.
https://thekickoff.com.au/
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Just been told about this new football history website, covering the origins of the game in South Australia, created by Andrew Reilly in Adelaide. It's fascinating.
thekickoff.com.au
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How Football Began in South Australia | The Kick Off
How football began in South Australia is journey into Timeline, the Story Map, and the Profiles to learn about this football history.
https://thekickoff.com.au/
4 months ago
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Andy Mitchell
BSSH
4 months ago
The episode of the People's History Show, featuring football pioneer Edna Neillis, (which was filmed in 2019 but never shown) was finally aired this evening. You can catch up here...
player.stv.tv/episode/4mem...
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Andy Mitchell
The kindness of strangers - someone on FindAGrave found and photographed the burial place of Emma Clarke, a pioneer of the British Ladies Football Club in 1895. She's in Erith Cemetery:
www.findagrave.com/memorial/190...
Thank you, Nigel and Penny Parsons!
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Emma Jane Clarke Porter (1871-1925) - Find a...
Emma was born in Plumstead, Kent around December 1871 to John and Caroline Clarke.The 1891 census recorded her working as a domestic Nurse.I'm informed that she was a player in the British Ladies Foot...
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190428956/emma-jane-porter
4 months ago
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The kindness of strangers - someone on FindAGrave found and photographed the burial place of Emma Clarke, a pioneer of the British Ladies Football Club in 1895. She's in Erith Cemetery:
www.findagrave.com/memorial/190...
Thank you, Nigel and Penny Parsons!
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Emma Jane Clarke Porter (1871-1925) - Find a...
Emma was born in Plumstead, Kent around December 1871 to John and Caroline Clarke.The 1891 census recorded her working as a domestic Nurse.I'm informed that she was a player in the British Ladies Foot...
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190428956/emma-jane-porter
4 months ago
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Andy Mitchell
Sarah Elizabeth Cox
4 months ago
Albert Pearce was an 1880s boxer I wanted to write on years ago. But his career wasn't 'significant' so put him aside for AGES. Little did I know! Albert's become THE most fascinating person I've researched. Three blogs down: a book to go. LOTS more to come:
grapplingwithhistory.com/2024/11/23/p...
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Part I: The Poor Blind Boxer And The Actress Who Married A Sausage Seller (Or, The Tragedy Of Albert Pearce)
Albert Pearce, a Black man from Chicago in his early 30s, 5ft 7, under 11 stone fighting-fit but probably a little heavier at this time, shuffled into the Boxing World and Mirror of Life offices on…
https://grapplingwithhistory.com/2024/11/23/part-i-the-poor-blind-boxer-and-the-actress-who-married-a-sausage-seller-or-the-tragedy-of-albert-pearce-part-i/
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