Andy Mitchell
@andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
Scottish football historian. Edinburgh. www.scottishsporthistory.com
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
A special plaque has been unveiled in the Meadows commemorating the first ever Edinburgh Derby back in 1875! 🪧
The special occasion was officially marked on Thursday with a plaque on Boroughloch Lane.
🔗 tinyurl.com/4ek3wbnf
The special occasion was officially marked on Thursday with a plaque on Boroughloch Lane.
🔗 tinyurl.com/4ek3wbnf
January 9, 2026 at 10:58 AM
A special plaque has been unveiled in the Meadows commemorating the first ever Edinburgh Derby back in 1875! 🪧
The special occasion was officially marked on Thursday with a plaque on Boroughloch Lane.
🔗 tinyurl.com/4ek3wbnf
The special occasion was officially marked on Thursday with a plaque on Boroughloch Lane.
🔗 tinyurl.com/4ek3wbnf
One for @refbooks.bsky.social and others interested in Scottish football referees - a new book by Drew Herbertson, ex-SFA. www.amazon.co.uk/Scotlands-In...
Scotland's International Football Referees
Scotland's International Football Referees : Herbertson, Drew: Amazon.co.uk: Books
www.amazon.co.uk
January 8, 2026 at 4:06 PM
One for @refbooks.bsky.social and others interested in Scottish football referees - a new book by Drew Herbertson, ex-SFA. www.amazon.co.uk/Scotlands-In...
New plaque unveiled in Edinburgh today to commemorate 150 years since the first Hibs-Hearts match on the Meadows. Pat Stanton, Gary Locke and other club reps did the honours (with the East of Scotland Shield), and I was delighted to be asked to speak about the history.
January 8, 2026 at 1:53 PM
New plaque unveiled in Edinburgh today to commemorate 150 years since the first Hibs-Hearts match on the Meadows. Pat Stanton, Gary Locke and other club reps did the honours (with the East of Scotland Shield), and I was delighted to be asked to speak about the history.
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
1 of 5 OTD 1885 John Malcolm Eadie Fraser died in Sydney, Australia. He must never be forgotten. I went to see his grave site when I was in Australia, Dec 2024. He is buried in a Presbyterian lair in the far west of Rookwood Cemetery. I want to explain why this topic is so important.
January 8, 2026 at 9:51 AM
1 of 5 OTD 1885 John Malcolm Eadie Fraser died in Sydney, Australia. He must never be forgotten. I went to see his grave site when I was in Australia, Dec 2024. He is buried in a Presbyterian lair in the far west of Rookwood Cemetery. I want to explain why this topic is so important.
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
1 of 5 #scotsfoundedfootball On my walk on Friday, I passed by Hampden Bowling Club. It looks fine, despite its impending closure. By the end of February, it will be no more. I have no idea what Glasgow City Council are going to do with it. That £150,000+ repair to the roof is not going away.
January 4, 2026 at 11:36 AM
1 of 5 #scotsfoundedfootball On my walk on Friday, I passed by Hampden Bowling Club. It looks fine, despite its impending closure. By the end of February, it will be no more. I have no idea what Glasgow City Council are going to do with it. That £150,000+ repair to the roof is not going away.
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
As 2025 comes to an end, a thread looking back at some of my sports history endeavours over the past year. In January, a story about Bomanjee Dadabhoy, an Indian rugby player in Scotland in 1869. www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
Blog Archives
A couple of football match reports from 1869 caught my eye. Dollar and Alloa, neighbouring towns in Clackmannanshire, were playing 15-a-side to rugby rules, and what really stood out was the...
www.scottishsporthistory.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:53 PM
As 2025 comes to an end, a thread looking back at some of my sports history endeavours over the past year. In January, a story about Bomanjee Dadabhoy, an Indian rugby player in Scotland in 1869. www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
As 2025 comes to an end, a thread looking back at some of my sports history endeavours over the past year. In January, a story about Bomanjee Dadabhoy, an Indian rugby player in Scotland in 1869. www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
Blog Archives
A couple of football match reports from 1869 caught my eye. Dollar and Alloa, neighbouring towns in Clackmannanshire, were playing 15-a-side to rugby rules, and what really stood out was the...
www.scottishsporthistory.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:53 PM
As 2025 comes to an end, a thread looking back at some of my sports history endeavours over the past year. In January, a story about Bomanjee Dadabhoy, an Indian rugby player in Scotland in 1869. www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
This looks interesting, book due out in the summer, loosely based on Nettie Honeyball and the British Ladies Football Club. www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/The-Sc...
The Scandalous Ladies Football Club
Welcome to the British Ladies Football ClubLondon, 1897. Minnie Newton – twenty-eight-year-old schoolteacher and women’s rights advocate – has a pa...
www.simonandschuster.co.uk
December 31, 2025 at 3:33 PM
This looks interesting, book due out in the summer, loosely based on Nettie Honeyball and the British Ladies Football Club. www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/The-Sc...
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
My family continue to have great taste when it comes to buying football book gifts. This year's Xmas haul includes titles by @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social @simonkuper.bsky.social @futboleslaleche.bsky.social & Aidan Smith
Pictured here along with the now traditional pic of the re-stacked bookshelf
Pictured here along with the now traditional pic of the re-stacked bookshelf
December 29, 2025 at 4:40 PM
My family continue to have great taste when it comes to buying football book gifts. This year's Xmas haul includes titles by @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social @simonkuper.bsky.social @futboleslaleche.bsky.social & Aidan Smith
Pictured here along with the now traditional pic of the re-stacked bookshelf
Pictured here along with the now traditional pic of the re-stacked bookshelf
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
Many years ago I bought a little silver buckle at an antique fair. Now I have finally established that its original owner, Hugh McColl, was a football pioneer in Scotland and Chile. Read about his story: www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
A buckle with a story: Hugh McColl, Scottish football pioneer in Chile
Many years ago I bought this attractive belt buckle at an antique fair, engraved for presentation to Hugh McColl junior by the members of West End Cricket Club for the highest bowling average in...
www.scottishsporthistory.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Many years ago I bought a little silver buckle at an antique fair. Now I have finally established that its original owner, Hugh McColl, was a football pioneer in Scotland and Chile. Read about his story: www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
Search for stolen rugby caps, 40 years on www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...?
Irish Rugby: Former star's family appeal for return of stolen caps
Ken Goodall's haul of Irish international caps were taken from his home in Londonderry in 1987.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 23, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Search for stolen rugby caps, 40 years on www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...?
Many years ago I bought a little silver buckle at an antique fair. Now I have finally established that its original owner, Hugh McColl, was a football pioneer in Scotland and Chile. Read about his story: www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
A buckle with a story: Hugh McColl, Scottish football pioneer in Chile
Many years ago I bought this attractive belt buckle at an antique fair, engraved for presentation to Hugh McColl junior by the members of West End Cricket Club for the highest bowling average in...
www.scottishsporthistory.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Many years ago I bought a little silver buckle at an antique fair. Now I have finally established that its original owner, Hugh McColl, was a football pioneer in Scotland and Chile. Read about his story: www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
Disappointing, not a single induction to the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame again this year. Sportscotland ignore Sir Alex Ferguson, Doddie Weir, Eve Muirhead, David Coulthard, Catriona Matthew, Paul Lawrie, Eilidh Doyle. Is the Hall of Fame dead? sportfirst.sportscotland.org.uk/articles/sco...
Awards represent the very best of Scottish sport
Outstanding sporting achievements from across Scotland were celebrated last night at the Scottish Sports Awards in Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket.
sportfirst.sportscotland.org.uk
December 22, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Disappointing, not a single induction to the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame again this year. Sportscotland ignore Sir Alex Ferguson, Doddie Weir, Eve Muirhead, David Coulthard, Catriona Matthew, Paul Lawrie, Eilidh Doyle. Is the Hall of Fame dead? sportfirst.sportscotland.org.uk/articles/sco...
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
🇲🇦🇰🇲 Scotland's World Cup opponents, Morocco, kicked off the African Cup of Nations finals in Rabat with a 2-0 win over Comoros. Ayoub El Kaabi scored Morocco's second with a McTominay-esque overhead kick.
AFCON is in session 👀
And what a better way to start the tournament than with an overhead GOLAZO by #Morocco attacker Ayoub El Kaabi 🤩
And what a better way to start the tournament than with an overhead GOLAZO by #Morocco attacker Ayoub El Kaabi 🤩
December 21, 2025 at 9:31 PM
🇲🇦🇰🇲 Scotland's World Cup opponents, Morocco, kicked off the African Cup of Nations finals in Rabat with a 2-0 win over Comoros. Ayoub El Kaabi scored Morocco's second with a McTominay-esque overhead kick.
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
Less than 3 weeks until #AThousandBlows season 2!
Here's my season 1 'true stories Vs the show' blog.
Hezekiah might not be Jamaican
He didn't arrive with Alec
He wasn't a bareknuckle guy
He didn't dream of lion taming
Wife WAS white & called Mary &c.
grapplingwithhistory.com/2025/03/11/h...
Here's my season 1 'true stories Vs the show' blog.
Hezekiah might not be Jamaican
He didn't arrive with Alec
He wasn't a bareknuckle guy
He didn't dream of lion taming
Wife WAS white & called Mary &c.
grapplingwithhistory.com/2025/03/11/h...
Hezekiah Moscow Vs Hezekiah Moscow and A Hundred Thousand Thank Yous
At the time of writing this post – less than three weeks after the release of A Thousand Blows on Disney+ and Hulu – my blog has been viewed 100,600 times by more than 58,500 people aro…
grapplingwithhistory.com
December 20, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Less than 3 weeks until #AThousandBlows season 2!
Here's my season 1 'true stories Vs the show' blog.
Hezekiah might not be Jamaican
He didn't arrive with Alec
He wasn't a bareknuckle guy
He didn't dream of lion taming
Wife WAS white & called Mary &c.
grapplingwithhistory.com/2025/03/11/h...
Here's my season 1 'true stories Vs the show' blog.
Hezekiah might not be Jamaican
He didn't arrive with Alec
He wasn't a bareknuckle guy
He didn't dream of lion taming
Wife WAS white & called Mary &c.
grapplingwithhistory.com/2025/03/11/h...
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
🆕 TTAM-0048 St Bernard's 'In Memoriam' Card
- This little postcard-like oddity belonged to an old St Bernard's supporter whose collection was inherited by @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social many years ago; a bit of black humour from the Saints fans!
👉 www.thethistlearchive.net/archive-muse...
- This little postcard-like oddity belonged to an old St Bernard's supporter whose collection was inherited by @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social many years ago; a bit of black humour from the Saints fans!
👉 www.thethistlearchive.net/archive-muse...
December 20, 2025 at 9:46 AM
🆕 TTAM-0048 St Bernard's 'In Memoriam' Card
- This little postcard-like oddity belonged to an old St Bernard's supporter whose collection was inherited by @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social many years ago; a bit of black humour from the Saints fans!
👉 www.thethistlearchive.net/archive-muse...
- This little postcard-like oddity belonged to an old St Bernard's supporter whose collection was inherited by @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social many years ago; a bit of black humour from the Saints fans!
👉 www.thethistlearchive.net/archive-muse...
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
Well well well (!) a more contemporary representation of the St Bernard's badge is now applied to our Thistle Archive, with thanks to @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social for digging it out...
👉 thethistlearchive.net/versus-st-be...
👉 thethistlearchive.net/versus-st-be...
December 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Well well well (!) a more contemporary representation of the St Bernard's badge is now applied to our Thistle Archive, with thanks to @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social for digging it out...
👉 thethistlearchive.net/versus-st-be...
👉 thethistlearchive.net/versus-st-be...
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
Still time to order these football history books for Christmas!
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
December 16, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Still time to order these football history books for Christmas!
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
Still time to order these football history books for Christmas!
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
December 16, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Still time to order these football history books for Christmas!
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
New book just out: Fifty Scottish Footballers by Alistair Firth and Martin Donnelly. Fascinating project to celebrate the memorials to Scotland caps. £10 from www.lulu.com/shop/alistai...
December 15, 2025 at 10:21 AM
New book just out: Fifty Scottish Footballers by Alistair Firth and Martin Donnelly. Fascinating project to celebrate the memorials to Scotland caps. £10 from www.lulu.com/shop/alistai...
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
[Sport à lire] Le 15 décembre 1995, il y a trente ans aujourd’hui, l’arrêt Bosman était promulgué par la Cour européenne. Une révolution dans le monde du football, mais une victoire amère pour Jean-Marc Bosman, l’homme à l’origine de l’affaire…
MON COMBAT POUR LA LIBERTÉ (Jean-Marc Bosman) - Sport à lire
Sport à lire - “Mon combat pour la liberté” de Jean-Marc Bosman (Solar 2025). 232 pages. 140x225mm (19,90€). Disponible dans toutes les bonnes librairies et sur le site de l’éditeur Solar.
www.sport-a-lire.fr
December 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
[Sport à lire] Le 15 décembre 1995, il y a trente ans aujourd’hui, l’arrêt Bosman était promulgué par la Cour européenne. Une révolution dans le monde du football, mais une victoire amère pour Jean-Marc Bosman, l’homme à l’origine de l’affaire…
New book just out: Fifty Scottish Footballers by Alistair Firth and Martin Donnelly. Fascinating project to celebrate the memorials to Scotland caps. £10 from www.lulu.com/shop/alistai...
December 15, 2025 at 10:21 AM
New book just out: Fifty Scottish Footballers by Alistair Firth and Martin Donnelly. Fascinating project to celebrate the memorials to Scotland caps. £10 from www.lulu.com/shop/alistai...
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
The Scots revolutionised football, but did Scotland invent soccer? It's complicated... The new episode of 'Rugby Reloaded' unravels the tangled origins of the round-ball game north and south of the border: on.soundcloud.com/jfgUfdyTeFiE...
209. Did Scotland Invent Football?
This week's episode looks at how soccer emerged in Scotland in the mid-1800s. By the early 1880s not only was Glasgow the world capital of football, but Scottish players playing for English clubs had
soundcloud.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The Scots revolutionised football, but did Scotland invent soccer? It's complicated... The new episode of 'Rugby Reloaded' unravels the tangled origins of the round-ball game north and south of the border: on.soundcloud.com/jfgUfdyTeFiE...
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
#OnThisDay 12 Dec 1872 🏴
Third Lanark Athletic Club was formed out of a Scottish regiment
The club won 1x Scottish League title🏆 and 2x Scottish Cups🏆🏆
‘The Thirds' played here at Cathkin Park, Glasgow, until folding in 1967. The stadium still exists as a unique public park.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was formed out of a Scottish regiment
The club won 1x Scottish League title🏆 and 2x Scottish Cups🏆🏆
‘The Thirds' played here at Cathkin Park, Glasgow, until folding in 1967. The stadium still exists as a unique public park.
December 12, 2025 at 9:12 AM
#OnThisDay 12 Dec 1872 🏴
Third Lanark Athletic Club was formed out of a Scottish regiment
The club won 1x Scottish League title🏆 and 2x Scottish Cups🏆🏆
‘The Thirds' played here at Cathkin Park, Glasgow, until folding in 1967. The stadium still exists as a unique public park.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was formed out of a Scottish regiment
The club won 1x Scottish League title🏆 and 2x Scottish Cups🏆🏆
‘The Thirds' played here at Cathkin Park, Glasgow, until folding in 1967. The stadium still exists as a unique public park.
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
Happy birthday football!🎂 201 years ago today, on 11 December 1824, the world's first football club was founded in Edinburgh. The players hired a field, bought a ball, set up goalposts and continued to play regularly for almost two decades. More: www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
December 11, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Happy birthday football!🎂 201 years ago today, on 11 December 1824, the world's first football club was founded in Edinburgh. The players hired a field, bought a ball, set up goalposts and continued to play regularly for almost two decades. More: www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...