Andrew Newton
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aa7n.bsky.social
Andrew Newton
@aa7n.bsky.social
Archaeologist. Non-League Football Scout/Oppo Analyst. Football history obsessive. Work published by @barpublishing.bsky.social @footballheritage.bsky.social and others. Owner of too many football shirts for a man my age.
Pinned
Why are Sunderland called the Black Cats?

#safc

To find out more, read this:

www.footballheritage.co.uk/the-curious-...
The Curious Case of the Black Cats — Football Heritage
www.footballheritage.co.uk
A horn from an aurochs, an extinct form of wild cattle, found in a Bronze Age pit in Cambridgeshire
#FindsFriday
February 13, 2026 at 10:31 AM
47 years ago yesterday. The game ended in a 3-3 draw with Bob Lee and Wilf Rostron (x2) scoring for Sunderland and Pop Robson and David Cross (x2) for West Ham.
#SAFC
#hammers
February 11, 2026 at 2:08 PM
The pictograms for the individual sports at the Lillehammer 94 games were based on prehistoric rock carvings found in Norway, including the earliest known depiction of a skier, found in Rødøy
#archaeology
#WinterOlympics
February 6, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Raich Carter mural. The Blue House, Hendon, Sunderland
#SAFC

📸 aa7n
February 6, 2026 at 12:34 PM
#FindsFriday - a stone, probably from the Lake District, perforated for use as a pendant, found in an #IronAge pit in Suffolk
February 6, 2026 at 12:32 PM
My latest article for @footballheritage.bsky.social
The Hemy Painting is possibly the first depiction of Soccer in fine art.
#SAFC
#AVFC
New Article: The Hemy Painting

Thomas Marie Madawaska Hemy was an artist known for the striking level of detail he included in his work.

He also produced one of the most famous football artworks of all time.

Words: Andrew Newton

Available to read here⬇️

www.footballheritage.co.uk/the-hemy-pai...
January 31, 2026 at 10:49 AM
Football is the world's most popular sport. There were several similar games in the ancient past, around the world. This has probably contributed to football's success. It also suggests something about human nature.

Read more in my latest piece for @footballheritage.bsky.social
✍️ New Article: The Prehistory of Football, Part II

Following on from Wednesday’s article, which explored football’s different codes, Andrew explores the ancient ball games which laid the groundwork for football.

Words: @aa7n.bsky.social

Read here ⬇️

www.footballheritage.co.uk/the-prehisto...
October 31, 2025 at 7:29 PM
My latest article for @footballheritage.bsky.social

Football wasn't just a 19th century invention. It has a much longer history.

From these games of the distant past, all of the modern forms of football evolved.
✍️ New Article: The Prehistory of Football Part

Football and its terminology have a long history.

In fact, origins of football and its different codes can be traced back hundreds of years.

Words: Andrew Newton

Read here ⬇️

www.footballheritage.co.uk/the-prehisto...
October 30, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Reposted by Andrew Newton
✍️ New Article: KF Tirana’s Stolen Title

Football in Albania suffered immensely under Enver Hoxha’s oppressive regime.

The powers that be ensured their state-sponsored teams ruled the roost.

Words: Miguel Sanchez

Read here ⬇️

www.footballheritage.co.uk/kf-tiranas-s...
September 17, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A football shirt and an archaeological context board in one photo! I never thought I'd see archaeological excavation methodology used to promote a football shirt. But this is the advertising material for @fcaugsburg1907.bsky.social new #Roman themed third shirt!
#archaeology
August 18, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Here's the story behind the Black Cats nickname
#SAFC
www.footballheritage.co.uk/the-curious-...
August 14, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Not particularly surprised by this. I've always been of the opinion that people moved around in the past more than we give them credit for.
#archaeology
August 13, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Andrew Newton
Sporting CP playing against Sunderland at Roker Park in the European Cup Winners' Cup, 1973.
July 1, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Reposted by Andrew Newton
Instead of simply reading great works of literature on your own and expanding your knowledge to better understand them, you could waste gallons of water and a shit ton of electricity to turn it into sub par slop.
This article is going to turn me into the Joker. Literary style is not a puzzle you solve to get a little information treat 😩😩😩
June 22, 2025 at 1:19 PM
In my latest article for @footballheritage.bsky.social, about #football and #archaeology, I mention a project that I worked on which revealed important information about the interiors of a certain type of #AngloSaxon building. That project is described in this book:
eaareports.org.uk/publication/...
Small Communities: Life in the Cam Valley in the Neolithic, Late Iron Age and Early Anglo-Saxon Periods
Andrew A.S. Newton, 2018. 'Small Communities: Life in the Cam Valley in the Neolithic, Late Iron Age and Early Anglo-Saxon Periods', East Anglian Archaeology 168
eaareports.org.uk
June 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Reposted by Andrew Newton
We would like to extend our sincerest wishes to the Brescia Calcio fans at this difficult time.

As lovers of the beautiful game - its history and its tradition - we stand with you.
June 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I've managed to write about two of my favourite things in one article! #Archaeology and #football!
This explores how one can help us understand the history of the other!
✍️ New Article: Have a Dig

One the face of it, archaeology and football seemingly have very little to do with each other.

But, as veteran archaeologist Andrew explores, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Words: @aa7n.bsky.social

Read here ⬇️

www.footballheritage.co.uk/have-a-dig
June 6, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A thread of photos (of varying quality) that I have taken at #nonleague #football grounds.

Basildon Utd
June 4, 2025 at 3:01 PM
As an Englishman-
NBA: not the NBA, but London Lions
NFL: Once yearly pretend interest, give up 5 minutes into the superbowl
NHL: VGK (I can do this one!)
MLB: I saw the Mets play Cincinatti Reds once. Does that count?
WNBA: Vegas Aces (only team I know)
US Soccer: Las Vegas Lights (see the theme?)
NBA: Knicks I guess?
NFL: Bucs and Giants
NHL: Islanders and a little Bolts
MLB: Rays and Mets
WNBA: Liberty
Soccer: Rowdies & Gotham
NBA: Cavaliers
NFL: Browns & Packers
NHL: No team, yet
MLB: Guardians
WNBA: The Rockers (coming 2028)
soccer: The Crew
college: OSU Buckeyes 4eva
June 3, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Delighted to see this in print! Many, many thanks to @barpublishing.bsky.social and to my brilliant co-authors and the other fantastic contributors to this volume.
Pleased to announce the newest addition to our British series: Late Iron Age to Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon Settlement at Barton Seagrave, Northamptonshire by @aa7n.bsky.social🏺

This book documents the first excavation of this site including the discovery of a unique semi-subterranean structure.
May 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Andrew Newton
Pleased to announce the newest addition to our British series: Late Iron Age to Romano-British and Anglo-Saxon Settlement at Barton Seagrave, Northamptonshire by @aa7n.bsky.social🏺

This book documents the first excavation of this site including the discovery of a unique semi-subterranean structure.
May 28, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Just arrived! My latest volume for @barpublishing.bsky.social, which describes an #IronAge and #Roman site in #Northants, with an unusual subterranean, souterrain-like structure. The book is available to buy here: www.barpublishing.com/late-iron-ag...
Thanks to all contributors.

#archaeology
May 21, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Andrew Newton
WE'RE GOING TO WEMBLEY!! 😍

#TilTheEnd
May 13, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by Andrew Newton
May 13, 2025 at 3:26 PM