Ian Plenderleith
@plenderleithian.bsky.social
Football writer and retired rogue referee. Latest book: 'The Last Amateur', published by halcyonpublishing.co.uk.
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**PRE-ORDER** The Last Amateur and Other Stories
**SPECIAL BUNDLE - ONLY 25 AVAILABLE: BOOK PLUS INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED AND SIGNED 'FLASH FICTION' SHORT STORY ** PUBLISHING 16 SEPTEMBER 2025 by Ian PlenderleithPaperback, 258 pagesISBN: 9781068439490D...
halcyonpublishing.co.uk
This is now available for pre-order: halcyonpublishing.co.uk/products/the...
In the penultimate tale of The Last Amateur, 'health product company' VitaHerb's newest recruit is charged with telling the fourth-tier club he's followed all his life that the company will no longer be its sponsor. Buy from: @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social, @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 11:26 AM
In the penultimate tale of The Last Amateur, 'health product company' VitaHerb's newest recruit is charged with telling the fourth-tier club he's followed all his life that the company will no longer be its sponsor. Buy from: @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social, @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The ninth story in my new collection 'The Last Amateur' is about a player "in the shop window" after a decent World Cup. It's time for lunch to discuss the no doubt lucrative future with his eager, pushy agent... Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social, @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The ninth story in my new collection 'The Last Amateur' is about a player "in the shop window" after a decent World Cup. It's time for lunch to discuss the no doubt lucrative future with his eager, pushy agent... Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social, @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
In the title story to my new collection, Scotland's greatest ever player refuses to go pro or to play for his country, opting instead to help his village team, the Thankerton Swifts, rise up the league pyramid. Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 11:48 AM
In the title story to my new collection, Scotland's greatest ever player refuses to go pro or to play for his country, opting instead to help his village team, the Thankerton Swifts, rise up the league pyramid. Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The seventh story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, sees some well-paid pros ask their manager for a well-earned rest. They can't be arsed going to Carlisle in the FA Cup, so give the kids a runout... Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The seventh story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, sees some well-paid pros ask their manager for a well-earned rest. They can't be arsed going to Carlisle in the FA Cup, so give the kids a runout... Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The sixth story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, is about a cult-name, old-school commentator who keeps 'forgetting' to mention his station's fast food sponsor while on air. Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 11:21 AM
The sixth story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, is about a cult-name, old-school commentator who keeps 'forgetting' to mention his station's fast food sponsor while on air. Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The fifth story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, sees an ex-player with Alzheimer’s making a daily call to an old team-mate to discuss the same dramatic FA Trophy game they both played in some 50 years ago. Buy from: @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
October 24, 2025 at 10:44 AM
The fifth story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, sees an ex-player with Alzheimer’s making a daily call to an old team-mate to discuss the same dramatic FA Trophy game they both played in some 50 years ago. Buy from: @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The fourth story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, is narrated by a Premier League fan who goes viral at half-time for his 'passionate' reaction to a throw-in call. The book is available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The fourth story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, is narrated by a Premier League fan who goes viral at half-time for his 'passionate' reaction to a throw-in call. The book is available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
In the third story of my new collection, The Last Amateur, a disused city pitch is taken over on weekday afternoons by 27 refugees and their battered ball. Elderly Frank and his dog Sadie become regular spectators. Buy now: @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
October 22, 2025 at 10:04 AM
In the third story of my new collection, The Last Amateur, a disused city pitch is taken over on weekday afternoons by 27 refugees and their battered ball. Elderly Frank and his dog Sadie become regular spectators. Buy now: @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The second story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, sees a downtrodden former international taking £5k to make the draw for the Scottish Cup semi-finals live on TV. What could possibly go wrong? Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The second story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, sees a downtrodden former international taking £5k to make the draw for the Scottish Cup semi-finals live on TV. What could possibly go wrong? Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The opening story in my collection The Last Amateur revolves around The Foaming Quart‘s Sunday League team and its two lone supporters - bald-headed Billy (a man of few words, but many hard stares) and his lively girlfriend Sally. Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 10:53 AM
The opening story in my collection The Last Amateur revolves around The Foaming Quart‘s Sunday League team and its two lone supporters - bald-headed Billy (a man of few words, but many hard stares) and his lively girlfriend Sally. Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk
Remember, every day, what fascism will lead to.
18 October 1944 | A transport of 1,500 Jews deported from the Theresienstadt ghetto arrived at #Auschwitz. Among those murdered in gas chamber and crematorium III after the selection were three distinguished composers: Pavel Haas, Hans Krása, and Viktor Ullmann.
October 18, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Remember, every day, what fascism will lead to.
Another analogue snapshot. Sundown in Burgundy, August 2025.
October 16, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Another analogue snapshot. Sundown in Burgundy, August 2025.
This summer (old fart alert) I returned to analogue photography and tried to remember why I ever dropped such a simple, rewarding hobby. Here are some French cows ignoring some French clouds.
October 16, 2025 at 9:49 PM
This summer (old fart alert) I returned to analogue photography and tried to remember why I ever dropped such a simple, rewarding hobby. Here are some French cows ignoring some French clouds.
Brilliant interview with @labourlewis.bsky.social in the September issue of @bylinetimes.bsky.social (I‘m a couple of issues behind…). Whether you’re on the vague left or the sane left, this magazine is a crucial and absorbing read, every issue.
October 16, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Brilliant interview with @labourlewis.bsky.social in the September issue of @bylinetimes.bsky.social (I‘m a couple of issues behind…). Whether you’re on the vague left or the sane left, this magazine is a crucial and absorbing read, every issue.
Reposted by Ian Plenderleith
🚨SPECIAL OFFER 🚨 We've got 25 beautifully printed, individually numbered & signed short stories from @plenderleithian.bsky.social available as a bundle with The Last Amateur.
Just click 'Flash Fiction bundle' on the listing. They're an absolute treat.
halcyonpublishing.co.uk/products/the...
Just click 'Flash Fiction bundle' on the listing. They're an absolute treat.
halcyonpublishing.co.uk/products/the...
September 24, 2025 at 12:21 PM
🚨SPECIAL OFFER 🚨 We've got 25 beautifully printed, individually numbered & signed short stories from @plenderleithian.bsky.social available as a bundle with The Last Amateur.
Just click 'Flash Fiction bundle' on the listing. They're an absolute treat.
halcyonpublishing.co.uk/products/the...
Just click 'Flash Fiction bundle' on the listing. They're an absolute treat.
halcyonpublishing.co.uk/products/the...
Always a thrill to open up that box of 10 comp copies when your new book‘s published. This looks beautiful thanks to @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social and jacket designer Doug Cheeseman.
September 3, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Always a thrill to open up that box of 10 comp copies when your new book‘s published. This looks beautiful thanks to @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social and jacket designer Doug Cheeseman.
Book recommendation - We Were There by Lanre Bakare, which made me realise how largely clueless we were about our own country growing up in Lincolnshire during the 70s and 80s. *****
August 28, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Book recommendation - We Were There by Lanre Bakare, which made me realise how largely clueless we were about our own country growing up in Lincolnshire during the 70s and 80s. *****
So tough watching Bayern v Leipzig when you desperately want both teams to lose. When will they finally change the rules to make that possible?
August 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM
So tough watching Bayern v Leipzig when you desperately want both teams to lose. When will they finally change the rules to make that possible?
I quit refereeing in May after 17 years, and haven't regretted it for a second. Any time I do, though, I'll just go back and read my old blog posts:
refereetales.blogspot.com/2024/06/yet-...
refereetales.blogspot.com/2024/06/yet-...
Yet another series of Mad Men
Games 52-53, 2023-24 I'm reffing a boys' U13 promotion playoff game - intensive, hectic etc. The home team is leading 2-1 with three minutes...
refereetales.blogspot.com
August 15, 2025 at 12:32 PM
I quit refereeing in May after 17 years, and haven't regretted it for a second. Any time I do, though, I'll just go back and read my old blog posts:
refereetales.blogspot.com/2024/06/yet-...
refereetales.blogspot.com/2024/06/yet-...
This is now available for pre-order: halcyonpublishing.co.uk/products/the...
**PRE-ORDER** The Last Amateur and Other Stories
**SPECIAL BUNDLE - ONLY 25 AVAILABLE: BOOK PLUS INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED AND SIGNED 'FLASH FICTION' SHORT STORY ** PUBLISHING 16 SEPTEMBER 2025 by Ian PlenderleithPaperback, 258 pagesISBN: 9781068439490D...
halcyonpublishing.co.uk
August 14, 2025 at 12:13 PM
This is now available for pre-order: halcyonpublishing.co.uk/products/the...
Unfortunately FIFA - like the dictators it courts to host its bloated tournaments - does not give a shit what anyone thinks. Time for countries and federations to leave it or abolish it.
FIFA says that "football unites the world" but ten years on from the most serious scandal in its history it has succeeded in uniting expert opinion on its unfitness to govern world football and the need for meaningful reform of the organisation.
fairsq.org/fifa-joint-s...
fairsq.org/fifa-joint-s...
Joint Statement: “FIFA arguably more poorly governed today than a decade ago”
NGOs, academics, writers, whistleblowers and football supporters’ groups are among those who today condemned serious ongoing misgovernance at football’s world governing body FIFA in a joint statement ...
fairsq.org
May 27, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Unfortunately FIFA - like the dictators it courts to host its bloated tournaments - does not give a shit what anyone thinks. Time for countries and federations to leave it or abolish it.
Reposted by Ian Plenderleith
Football in a Library #19
For Whom the Ball Rolls
By Ian Plenderleith
@plenderleithian.bsky.social
Love this. Short stories, some about football. You can dip into any page and read a couple of sentences that draw you in and make you want to carry on reading.
For Whom the Ball Rolls
By Ian Plenderleith
@plenderleithian.bsky.social
Love this. Short stories, some about football. You can dip into any page and read a couple of sentences that draw you in and make you want to carry on reading.
May 12, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Football in a Library #19
For Whom the Ball Rolls
By Ian Plenderleith
@plenderleithian.bsky.social
Love this. Short stories, some about football. You can dip into any page and read a couple of sentences that draw you in and make you want to carry on reading.
For Whom the Ball Rolls
By Ian Plenderleith
@plenderleithian.bsky.social
Love this. Short stories, some about football. You can dip into any page and read a couple of sentences that draw you in and make you want to carry on reading.
I have no connection at all to Crystal Palace, but I think this is my favourite football shirt of all time.
January 24, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I have no connection at all to Crystal Palace, but I think this is my favourite football shirt of all time.