I’ll be signing copies of ‘Made in Manchester’ and ‘Northerners’ for the next hour at the wonderful Waterstones Altrincham. Six customers so far.

Ghost Sign (Newcastle-under-Lyme) #NewcastleunderLyme #NorthStaffordshire

Gallowgate still like that when I started going. Just thinking of the toilets makes me shudder. Leaning against the concrete barriers wasn’t advised as people seemed to just use them instead 🤢

Dalymount Park #Dublin Home of Bohemian FC 📸 Getty Images

St. James' Park, home of Newcastle United in 1975 📸 Newcastle Chronicle

Wood & Goldstraw built the extensive Brownhills Tileries in Tunstall for Richards Tiles Out soon, 'Designing the Future, Respecting the Past: The Wood Goldstraw Yorath Story' Detailing the 150-year history of Stoke-on-Trent's oldest architectural practice 📸 Historic England

"And that’s the thing, realising that it’s there. It dawned on me that perhaps I hadn’t been searching properly, and that I needed to look beyond those signs on lampposts and headlines about playing field sales" Out in 2026 via Pitch Publishing #StreetFootball

The Strand #Longton #ThePotteries #StokeonTrent My city in ruins....

Daily Mail's parent company agrees a deal to buy Telegraph for £500m! Media consolidation, let's go, ya gonna blink and stop this competition regulators? Over to you, Nandy? Strong potential everyone just waves the sale through to STOP HAVING TO READ OR THINK ABOUT IT. www.ft.com/content/cd8e...

I meant to do a thread on this but got sidetracked. So a couple of thoughts…

'Factory' Ink. Varnish on Paper #SixTownsSketchbook Barewall : www.barewall.co.uk/products/ips...

Cheers Captain! Fenton.. ever seen it?

Dalymount Park #Dublin Home of Bohemian FC 📸 Getty Images

'Side-street Factory' Ink. Varnish on Paper #SixTownsSketchbook Barewall : www.barewall.co.uk/products/ips...

St. James' Park, home of Newcastle United in 1975 📸 Newcastle Chronicle

Wood & Goldstraw built the extensive Brownhills Tileries in Tunstall for Richards Tiles Out soon, 'Designing the Future, Respecting the Past: The Wood Goldstraw Yorath Story' Detailing the 150-year history of Stoke-on-Trent's oldest architectural practice 📸 Historic England

"And that’s the thing, realising that it’s there. It dawned on me that perhaps I hadn’t been searching properly, and that I needed to look beyond those signs on lampposts and headlines about playing field sales" Out in 2026 via Pitch Publishing #StreetFootball

ICYMI: My latest for @tribunemagazine.bsky.social on how Reform is dominating towns like #Biddulph

The Strand #Longton #ThePotteries #StokeonTrent My city in ruins....

My latest for @tribunemagazine.bsky.social On how Reform are making waves in towns like #Biddulph #NorthStaffordshire

In 1892, A.R. Wood built the offices of the Sneyd Colliery & Brickworks Co. in Burslem. Much altered, the building still stands Out soon, 'Designing the Future, Respecting the Past: The Wood Goldstraw Yorath Story' Detailing the 150-year history of Stoke-on-Trent's oldest architectural practice

@ianrpearsall.bsky.social @minxyowlwriter.bsky.social @daveproudlove.bsky.social I didn’t know I was getting the book but then again I didn’t know it was coming framed 😂🙏 When I first opened it I thought it was a bit duller than I expected but then I noticed it was condensation from the cold 😜 😍

'Furrows (Winter)' Charcoal on Paper Private Collection Print exhibition.. congleton.nub.news/whats-on/art...

Sounds to me like there's a strong case for that state to get back to building houses, rather than relying on the private sector which builds out to maximise the return to shareholders, not to deliver government targets

Meanwhile in North Staffordshire, bus services virtually disappear after 6pm

Ribblehead Viaduct, Yorkshire, photo by landscape photographer Paula Beaumont.

There is, between Moorland Road and the building you show, somewhere at the back of the college, an overgrown area with the remains of a house. I have memories of visting that house in the very early sixties with my parents. I believe it was the house the manager of the Pit lived in?

As kids, we used to play around the Brickworks and the Pit. It was towards the end of their lives but I remember the brick kilns being filled and bricked up before firing. And the miners official office which is now still there (under the soil/grass), that when abondoned, we used as a gang base.

High Plains Drifter in old South Wales

Pelé - the miracle street footballer Out in 2026 via PitchPublishing 'Street Football: The Real Grassroots of the Beautiful Game' #StreetFootball

Arsenal v Rangers at Highbury, 17 October 1951 One of the greatest footballing photographs I've ever seen 📸 Arsenal FC

In 1895, Wood & Hutchings built the new National School in Burslem Out soon, 'Designing the Future, Respecting the Past: The Wood Goldstraw Yorath Story' Detailing the 150-year history of Stoke-on-Trent's oldest architectural practice

During the 1930s, Wood & Goldstraw were responsible for a number of additions to Burntwood Sanatorium in Loggerheads. The site is now a housing estate Out soon, 'Designing the Future, Respecting the Past: The Wood Goldstraw Yorath Story' A history of Stoke-on-Trent's oldest architectural practice

In 1892, A.R. Wood built the offices of the Sneyd Colliery & Brickworks Co. in Burslem. Much altered, the building still stands Out soon, 'Designing the Future, Respecting the Past: The Wood Goldstraw Yorath Story' Detailing the 150-year history of Stoke-on-Trent's oldest architectural practice

My latest for @tribunemagazine.bsky.social On how Reform are making waves in towns like #Biddulph #NorthStaffordshire

Pelé - the miracle street footballer Out in 2026 via PitchPublishing 'Street Football: The Real Grassroots of the Beautiful Game' #StreetFootball

Trying to make a payment to a department of HM Government for the second day running Yesterday, I was on hold for 40 minutes and moved from 24th in the queue to 21st and gave up So far today, I've been on hold for 49 minutes and have gone from 14th in the queue to 12th Productivity, eh?

Arsenal v Rangers at Highbury, 17 October 1951 One of the greatest footballing photographs I've ever seen 📸 Arsenal FC

In 1895, Wood & Hutchings built the new National School in Burslem Out soon, 'Designing the Future, Respecting the Past: The Wood Goldstraw Yorath Story' Detailing the 150-year history of Stoke-on-Trent's oldest architectural practice

Something I got involved in thanks to @municipaldreams.bsky.social 100 years of #socialhousing in #StokeonTrent youtu.be/Eo5JCOu0P4c?...

I'm doing an online talk about this project (and exhibition) this coming Wednesday night if you want to come along! www.inaland.uk/workshops/p/...

This is every bit as good as people are saying. One of the most sensible pieces of analysis and linked policy proposals that I’ve read in a very long time. Two comments. Bus franchising requires ongoing revenue support if the aim is to provide a cheap and comprehensive network.

During the 1930s, Wood & Goldstraw were responsible for a number of additions to Burntwood Sanatorium in Loggerheads. The site is now a housing estate Out soon, 'Designing the Future, Respecting the Past: The Wood Goldstraw Yorath Story' A history of Stoke-on-Trent's oldest architectural practice

With my third book for Pitch Publishing on its way, a reminder of my first two: www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/when-ci... www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/work-an... #WhentheCircusLeavesTown #WorkandPlay

"In a world dominated by technology-based distractions, the Shrove Tuesday football is a living artefact of an old nation and a powerful expression of historical continuity, community cohesion, and local cultural heritage" Out in 2026 via Pitch Publishing #StreetFootball

Wood & Goldstraw rebuilt Hanley Pottery for the Johnson Bros. in 1935 following a fire. The site is now a housing estate Out soon, 'Designing the Future, Respecting the Past: The Wood Goldstraw Yorath Story' Detailing the 150-year history of Stoke-on-Trent's oldest architectural practice

New Park in Trentham was built by Wood & Goldstraw in 1935 for the Tellwright family of the Sneyd Colliery & Brickworks Company Out soon, 'Designing the Future, Respecting the Past: The Wood Goldstraw Yorath Story' Detailing the 150-year history of Stoke-on-Trent's oldest architectural practice

With my third book for Pitch Publishing on its way, a reminder of my first two: www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/when-ci... www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/work-an... #WhentheCircusLeavesTown #WorkandPlay

"In a world dominated by technology-based distractions, the Shrove Tuesday football is a living artefact of an old nation and a powerful expression of historical continuity, community cohesion, and local cultural heritage" Out in 2026 via Pitch Publishing #StreetFootball

If you want people to feel that their day to day lives are improving then make sure that local government is properly funded. You could call it “the pothole theory of everything”.