Richard
@vicdon.bsky.social
Not Vic (but I live here), not Don (but I am one). Will write for money, or just for the hell of it. https://richardwatt.ca
What to write about when there are no midweek games? Well, Jackie Stewart and a few other managers you’d forgotten about. Plus #Nessie, obviously. #SPFL #ScottishFootball
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
Stocktaking
A quiet midweek allows me to catch up
open.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:02 PM
What to write about when there are no midweek games? Well, Jackie Stewart and a few other managers you’d forgotten about. Plus #Nessie, obviously. #SPFL #ScottishFootball
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
Another week, another team top of the Scottish Premier Division. But that's not my primary concern this week in 1975. Should #OorWullie have been cancelled? open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
Another week, another league leader
Also, we need to talk about Oor Wullie.
open.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Another week, another team top of the Scottish Premier Division. But that's not my primary concern this week in 1975. Should #OorWullie have been cancelled? open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
I dug out one of my abandoned writing projects yesterday, just to see if it was as bad as I remembered. And - it wasn't. It's a first draft of something I hadn't properly planned, but I kind of like it. editor.reedsy.com/s/mCVYGHr
Reedsy Book Viewer
editor.reedsy.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I dug out one of my abandoned writing projects yesterday, just to see if it was as bad as I remembered. And - it wasn't. It's a first draft of something I hadn't properly planned, but I kind of like it. editor.reedsy.com/s/mCVYGHr
Disaster for Scotland as they fail to qualify; England on the verge of being knocked out, but Wales safely through. A tough World Cup draw rounds off a dismal week…
Not this week; 1975.
Also features a dead fascist and a newspaper ad which sent me into a reverie:
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
Not this week; 1975.
Also features a dead fascist and a newspaper ad which sent me into a reverie:
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
The reign in Spain
and the pesky "Rumanians"
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Disaster for Scotland as they fail to qualify; England on the verge of being knocked out, but Wales safely through. A tough World Cup draw rounds off a dismal week…
Not this week; 1975.
Also features a dead fascist and a newspaper ad which sent me into a reverie:
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
Not this week; 1975.
Also features a dead fascist and a newspaper ad which sent me into a reverie:
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
Ayr playing in Barcelona's kit, the first team star on 42 quid a week, Motherwell leading the way, and Priscilla, queen of the thimbles.
It was all happening 50 years ago this week: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot... #ScottishFootball #SPFL #AyrUtd #Motherwell
It was all happening 50 years ago this week: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot... #ScottishFootball #SPFL #AyrUtd #Motherwell
Well, Well, Well...
Also, psychedelic Ayr.
open.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Ayr playing in Barcelona's kit, the first team star on 42 quid a week, Motherwell leading the way, and Priscilla, queen of the thimbles.
It was all happening 50 years ago this week: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot... #ScottishFootball #SPFL #AyrUtd #Motherwell
It was all happening 50 years ago this week: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot... #ScottishFootball #SPFL #AyrUtd #Motherwell
Ah, the magic of having a game in hand. Right up until you lose the game, of course: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot... Also, Sunday football - it'll never catch on #1975 #ScottishFootball
A game in hand is worth...
A couple of points, if you're lucky
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Ah, the magic of having a game in hand. Right up until you lose the game, of course: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot... Also, Sunday football - it'll never catch on #1975 #ScottishFootball
The HONest Man: Ally McLeod comes to save Aberdeen, and the Sunday Post journalist ready to murder his editor. 1975 had it all: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
The HONest Man
Ally's here to save Aberdeen. Just not quite yet.
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
The HONest Man: Ally McLeod comes to save Aberdeen, and the Sunday Post journalist ready to murder his editor. 1975 had it all: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
A big week for Aberdeen. In 1975, to be fair, and some actual football things happened that week, too. I'm still smiling at the idea of Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan sharing a sleeper berth as their train is diverted to Carlisle...
bairnsotherevolution.substack.com/p/a-big-week...
bairnsotherevolution.substack.com/p/a-big-week...
A big week for Aberdeen
Also, Scottish teams were playing in Europe...
bairnsotherevolution.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:49 PM
A big week for Aberdeen. In 1975, to be fair, and some actual football things happened that week, too. I'm still smiling at the idea of Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan sharing a sleeper berth as their train is diverted to Carlisle...
bairnsotherevolution.substack.com/p/a-big-week...
bairnsotherevolution.substack.com/p/a-big-week...
Remember when #U23 football was a thing? I do: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
Punching holes in the Danes
And pulling them apart like some kind of pastry, probably.
open.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Remember when #U23 football was a thing? I do: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
If this was 1975, the first silverware of the season would just have been handed to John Greig: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
It's all about the silverware
And the first trophy of the season goes to...
open.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
If this was 1975, the first silverware of the season would just have been handed to John Greig: open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
#NowPlaying #PicturesAtAnExhibition I’ve long wanted a good piano version, and this not only pairs Ashkenazy with a full orchestral version, it cost me pennies. More bargains to follow this week as I sort through them
October 20, 2025 at 6:08 PM
#NowPlaying #PicturesAtAnExhibition I’ve long wanted a good piano version, and this not only pairs Ashkenazy with a full orchestral version, it cost me pennies. More bargains to follow this week as I sort through them
It's October #1975, and the revolutionary new league format isn't exactly packing them in. The #SundayPost has some answers. Also, fog.
#SPFL #SPFLHistory #FiftyYearsAgo #Inflation
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
#SPFL #SPFLHistory #FiftyYearsAgo #Inflation
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
Lost in the fog
Could the revolution be faltering already?
open.substack.com
October 18, 2025 at 5:11 PM
It's October #1975, and the revolutionary new league format isn't exactly packing them in. The #SundayPost has some answers. Also, fog.
#SPFL #SPFLHistory #FiftyYearsAgo #Inflation
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
#SPFL #SPFLHistory #FiftyYearsAgo #Inflation
open.substack.com/pub/bairnsot...
#NowPlaying #DSCH #ActuallyWriting You know I’m buckling down to serious writing when the Shostakovich comes out - I have better recordings than this, but this was dads copy which he bought from Norco House for 99p roughly at the time I’m writing about
October 17, 2025 at 6:29 PM
#NowPlaying #DSCH #ActuallyWriting You know I’m buckling down to serious writing when the Shostakovich comes out - I have better recordings than this, but this was dads copy which he bought from Norco House for 99p roughly at the time I’m writing about
#NowPlaying What is the favourite band of the falconer who is too busy to do his housework during the day? #HawkKestrelManHooversInTheDark #OMD #Architecture&Morality #ligature
October 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM
#NowPlaying What is the favourite band of the falconer who is too busy to do his housework during the day? #HawkKestrelManHooversInTheDark #OMD #Architecture&Morality #ligature
Wednesday October 8, 1975 - midweek League Cup thrills and a replica siege cannon: bairnsotherevolution.substack.com/p/all-eyes-o...
All eyes on Hampden
October 1975, and it's League Cup semi-final time
bairnsotherevolution.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Wednesday October 8, 1975 - midweek League Cup thrills and a replica siege cannon: bairnsotherevolution.substack.com/p/all-eyes-o...
I'm trying something new to get myself in the rhythm of writing more now I'm retired...
Bairns o' the Revolution
bairnsotherevolution.substack.com?r=5fznzv&utm...
Bairns o' the Revolution
bairnsotherevolution.substack.com?r=5fznzv&utm...
Bairns o' the Revolution | Salty Don | Substack
1975/76 in Scottish football - a time of revolution and lumbering about in the mud. Click to read Bairns o' the Revolution, by Salty Don, a Substack publication. Launched 3 hours ago.
bairnsotherevolution.substack.com
October 5, 2025 at 9:10 PM
I'm trying something new to get myself in the rhythm of writing more now I'm retired...
Bairns o' the Revolution
bairnsotherevolution.substack.com?r=5fznzv&utm...
Bairns o' the Revolution
bairnsotherevolution.substack.com?r=5fznzv&utm...
#NowPlaying #Free An album which opened 20-year-old me’s eyes to a band I’d really only vaguely heard of. Sparked a change in the way I was buying music and caused me to spend a lot more time in the ‘back catalogue’ sections
September 20, 2025 at 6:09 PM
#NowPlaying #Free An album which opened 20-year-old me’s eyes to a band I’d really only vaguely heard of. Sparked a change in the way I was buying music and caused me to spend a lot more time in the ‘back catalogue’ sections
I'm definitely not turning my random weekly musings into a '50 years ago in Scottish football' thing, but - well, I couldn't let this slip by, could I? open.substack.com/pub/saltydon...
Big Night Out
It's another '50 years ago this week' post
open.substack.com
September 5, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I'm definitely not turning my random weekly musings into a '50 years ago in Scottish football' thing, but - well, I couldn't let this slip by, could I? open.substack.com/pub/saltydon...
August 31, 2025 at 2:21 AM
It may have escaped your attention, but it's a significant anniversary in Scotland: saltydon.substack.com/p/a-grand-ex...
A Grand Experiment
That time there was a revolution in Scottish football...
saltydon.substack.com
August 29, 2025 at 10:04 PM
It may have escaped your attention, but it's a significant anniversary in Scotland: saltydon.substack.com/p/a-grand-ex...
I have resumed writing: open.substack.com/pub/saltydon...
The 1975 (post)
I've been away, you'll have noticed
open.substack.com
August 8, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I have resumed writing: open.substack.com/pub/saltydon...
After a gap due to life getting in the way, the turntable is back in action - nothing better for a warm summer Saturday than some #Joni #HissingOfSummerLawns
August 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
After a gap due to life getting in the way, the turntable is back in action - nothing better for a warm summer Saturday than some #Joni #HissingOfSummerLawns
Not-so-sudden realisation dawning that the reason why I keep hearing early 80s pop hits in stores (two different venues this morning) is because they are stores aimed at people with dodgy knees who are about to retire.
July 12, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Not-so-sudden realisation dawning that the reason why I keep hearing early 80s pop hits in stores (two different venues this morning) is because they are stores aimed at people with dodgy knees who are about to retire.