Chris Lepkowski
@chrislepkowski.bsky.social
Academic | sports journalist | author | comms
Birmingham City University sports journalism course director. Freelance, FWA member
Author: THE SLUM SPORT
Ghostwriter: THE THIRD DEGREE
Sport, media, football finance, politics
Birmingham City University sports journalism course director. Freelance, FWA member
Author: THE SLUM SPORT
Ghostwriter: THE THIRD DEGREE
Sport, media, football finance, politics
@carlosourjackal.bsky.social forecast for tonight?
January 20, 2026 at 6:46 PM
@carlosourjackal.bsky.social forecast for tonight?
Reposted by Chris Lepkowski
Today, @scraggy74.bsky.social & @chrislepkowski.bsky.social remove their boots, stick on some trainers & kick balls against a wall of Perspex.
Please raise a glass to the 1986 Guinness Soccer Sixes: festive fun from Manchester's G-Mex
yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com/p/module-13-...
Please raise a glass to the 1986 Guinness Soccer Sixes: festive fun from Manchester's G-Mex
yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com/p/module-13-...
MODULE 13: 1986 Guinness Soccer Sixes
Good things come to those who wait 39 years
yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Today, @scraggy74.bsky.social & @chrislepkowski.bsky.social remove their boots, stick on some trainers & kick balls against a wall of Perspex.
Please raise a glass to the 1986 Guinness Soccer Sixes: festive fun from Manchester's G-Mex
yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com/p/module-13-...
Please raise a glass to the 1986 Guinness Soccer Sixes: festive fun from Manchester's G-Mex
yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com/p/module-13-...
Reposted by Chris Lepkowski
On the subject of World Cup boycotts, this is a story which ought to be much better known: why African countries decided not to compete for a place at the 1966 tournament. One of Fifa's most shameful moments, which hardly ever gets a mention.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-a...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-a...
How Africa boycotted the 1966 World Cup
The BBC's Piers Edwards explains the little-known story behind the African boycott to the 1966 World Cup, the only World Cup in history to have been snubbed by an entire continent.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 20, 2026 at 11:46 AM
On the subject of World Cup boycotts, this is a story which ought to be much better known: why African countries decided not to compete for a place at the 1966 tournament. One of Fifa's most shameful moments, which hardly ever gets a mention.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-a...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-a...
Immediately makes you realise how poor football is in 2026. The technique and aptitude of footballers in 1986 is way above anything we see now. They are somewhat fitter now, of course
The Fifa+ app might just absolve Fifa from anything they do now. Who doesn't want to watch Brazil v France from Mexico 86?
January 19, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Immediately makes you realise how poor football is in 2026. The technique and aptitude of footballers in 1986 is way above anything we see now. They are somewhat fitter now, of course
The Fifa+ app might just absolve Fifa from anything they do now. Who doesn't want to watch Brazil v France from Mexico 86?
January 19, 2026 at 11:27 PM
The Fifa+ app might just absolve Fifa from anything they do now. Who doesn't want to watch Brazil v France from Mexico 86?
If there are any Barclays-era Premier League chairmen/directors on this platform, I have a very simple question:
How the f*** did you go through an entire matchday at the St Mary's Stadium, or at your stadium, without laying out the mad, bad racist Rupert Lowe?
How the f*** did you go through an entire matchday at the St Mary's Stadium, or at your stadium, without laying out the mad, bad racist Rupert Lowe?
January 19, 2026 at 6:10 PM
If there are any Barclays-era Premier League chairmen/directors on this platform, I have a very simple question:
How the f*** did you go through an entire matchday at the St Mary's Stadium, or at your stadium, without laying out the mad, bad racist Rupert Lowe?
How the f*** did you go through an entire matchday at the St Mary's Stadium, or at your stadium, without laying out the mad, bad racist Rupert Lowe?
If you get a spare few minutes, do watch this full video. Absolutely extraordinary stuff
A walk-off, crowd trouble, a press conference abandoned for journalist behaviour… Senegal win the Cup of Nations.
#afcon2025 #morocco #senegal
jonawils.substack.com/p/afcon-dail...
#afcon2025 #morocco #senegal
jonawils.substack.com/p/afcon-dail...
January 19, 2026 at 10:03 AM
If you get a spare few minutes, do watch this full video. Absolutely extraordinary stuff
Reposted by Chris Lepkowski
'It comes to something when the level of discontent at Tottenham had people who have spent all season watching West Ham wondering if it was all a bit much.'
By @jacobsteinberg1.bsky.social
By @jacobsteinberg1.bsky.social
It’s so toxic at Spurs even West Ham were shocked: Frank’s race looks run | Jacob Steinberg
Saturday’s visiting fans know a thing or two about being a dysfunctional club but the level of hate inside Spurs’ gleaming home surprised even them
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 1:50 PM
'It comes to something when the level of discontent at Tottenham had people who have spent all season watching West Ham wondering if it was all a bit much.'
By @jacobsteinberg1.bsky.social
By @jacobsteinberg1.bsky.social
The fixture schedule is a menace for Ramsay. By the time we play Derby on friday, Ramsay will have probably had about 5 proper training sessions (not including recovery/pre-match prep) & 3 games! That puts more focus on Bilkul's decision to prevaricate over Mason. Really doesn't help Ramsay #wba
January 18, 2026 at 1:53 PM
The fixture schedule is a menace for Ramsay. By the time we play Derby on friday, Ramsay will have probably had about 5 proper training sessions (not including recovery/pre-match prep) & 3 games! That puts more focus on Bilkul's decision to prevaricate over Mason. Really doesn't help Ramsay #wba
Enjoyed recording this. Lots to talk about regarding Ramsay's first game, a lovely reflection about the great man Cyrille, and the trivia question to end all trivia questions
NEW EPISODE: Calling All Baggies Fans
⚽️ Eric Ramsay first impressions
⚽️ Last Gasp Gloom (Again!)
⚽️ Cyrille Regis
#wba @goldbergradio.bsky.social @chrislepkowski.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/0RJN...
⚽️ Eric Ramsay first impressions
⚽️ Last Gasp Gloom (Again!)
⚽️ Cyrille Regis
#wba @goldbergradio.bsky.social @chrislepkowski.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/0RJN...
Eric Ramsay First Impressions; Last Gasp Gloom; Cyrille Regis
open.spotify.com
January 18, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Enjoyed recording this. Lots to talk about regarding Ramsay's first game, a lovely reflection about the great man Cyrille, and the trivia question to end all trivia questions
A phenomenal talent
The great Gilles Villeneuve was born #OnThisDay 76 years ago. Remember him this way: sideways, en route to victory, in his Ferrari 312T4, at Long Beach, in ’79.👌
January 18, 2026 at 10:45 AM
A phenomenal talent
Reposted by Chris Lepkowski
NEW EPISODE: Calling All Baggies Fans
⚽️ Eric Ramsay first impressions
⚽️ Last Gasp Gloom (Again!)
⚽️ Cyrille Regis
#wba @goldbergradio.bsky.social @chrislepkowski.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/0RJN...
⚽️ Eric Ramsay first impressions
⚽️ Last Gasp Gloom (Again!)
⚽️ Cyrille Regis
#wba @goldbergradio.bsky.social @chrislepkowski.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/0RJN...
Eric Ramsay First Impressions; Last Gasp Gloom; Cyrille Regis
open.spotify.com
January 18, 2026 at 7:09 AM
NEW EPISODE: Calling All Baggies Fans
⚽️ Eric Ramsay first impressions
⚽️ Last Gasp Gloom (Again!)
⚽️ Cyrille Regis
#wba @goldbergradio.bsky.social @chrislepkowski.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/0RJN...
⚽️ Eric Ramsay first impressions
⚽️ Last Gasp Gloom (Again!)
⚽️ Cyrille Regis
#wba @goldbergradio.bsky.social @chrislepkowski.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/0RJN...
Best wishes to James McClean as he completes his move to Derry City.
One of the most generous, kindest and decent people I've had the pleasure of working with.
One of the most generous, kindest and decent people I've had the pleasure of working with.
January 18, 2026 at 12:42 AM
Best wishes to James McClean as he completes his move to Derry City.
One of the most generous, kindest and decent people I've had the pleasure of working with.
One of the most generous, kindest and decent people I've had the pleasure of working with.
Seeing a lot of discourse about #wba defenders. Most arrived with proven pedigrees. Which begs the question: why so many lapses? One possible reason: a limited midfield (including wide players). If the central pack leave a defence vulnerable, concentration dips & errors creep in 1/
January 17, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Seeing a lot of discourse about #wba defenders. Most arrived with proven pedigrees. Which begs the question: why so many lapses? One possible reason: a limited midfield (including wide players). If the central pack leave a defence vulnerable, concentration dips & errors creep in 1/
Looking forward to seeing what edgy crap SecondTierpod offer up.
January 16, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Looking forward to seeing what edgy crap SecondTierpod offer up.
Much for Ramsay to chew on. His first question ought to be to the recruitment team.
"What the F*** have you lot been doing?"
It would be a fair question. #wba
"What the F*** have you lot been doing?"
It would be a fair question. #wba
January 16, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Much for Ramsay to chew on. His first question ought to be to the recruitment team.
"What the F*** have you lot been doing?"
It would be a fair question. #wba
"What the F*** have you lot been doing?"
It would be a fair question. #wba
Going to be interesting to see how tonight goes vs Boro. Very early days for Ramsay but hopefully his first task will be to make us hard to beat. That's the most important thing; the rest will follow as the players settle into his ways #wba
January 16, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Going to be interesting to see how tonight goes vs Boro. Very early days for Ramsay but hopefully his first task will be to make us hard to beat. That's the most important thing; the rest will follow as the players settle into his ways #wba
Reposted by Chris Lepkowski
Five US publishers sue Google over ‘deceptive and manipulative’ adtech practices.
Penske, The Atlantic, McClatchy, Conde Nast and Vox Media take a stand against Google on adtech pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/fi...
Penske, The Atlantic, McClatchy, Conde Nast and Vox Media take a stand against Google on adtech pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/fi...
Five US publishers sue Google over 'deceptive and manipulative' adtech practices
Five US publishers have filed lawsuits against Google claiming its adtech practices seriously limited their potential revenue.
pressgazette.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Five US publishers sue Google over ‘deceptive and manipulative’ adtech practices.
Penske, The Atlantic, McClatchy, Conde Nast and Vox Media take a stand against Google on adtech pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/fi...
Penske, The Atlantic, McClatchy, Conde Nast and Vox Media take a stand against Google on adtech pressgazette.co.uk/marketing/fi...
Reposted by Chris Lepkowski
📖THE SLUM SPORT tells the story of 1985/86.
Football readjusts to the post-Heysel ban, no televised matches, a 3-way dice for the title, #OUFC Wembley win, #WBA misery, #Boro fight for survival + more
All told by those who were there.
🛒To order pls go to: www.curtis-sport.com/all-programm...
Football readjusts to the post-Heysel ban, no televised matches, a 3-way dice for the title, #OUFC Wembley win, #WBA misery, #Boro fight for survival + more
All told by those who were there.
🛒To order pls go to: www.curtis-sport.com/all-programm...
THE SLUM SPORT - Story of 1985/86
PRE-ORDER - Release date: Mid-October 2025 THE SLUM SPORT is the in-depth story of the 1985/86 Football League season, as told by those who were there. As football dusted itself down following the traumas of Heysel and Bradford, THE SLUM SPORT features the highs and lows of an unforgettable season. Chris Lepkowski's book includes exclusive interviews with former players, managers and broadcasters
www.curtis-sport.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:42 PM
📖THE SLUM SPORT tells the story of 1985/86.
Football readjusts to the post-Heysel ban, no televised matches, a 3-way dice for the title, #OUFC Wembley win, #WBA misery, #Boro fight for survival + more
All told by those who were there.
🛒To order pls go to: www.curtis-sport.com/all-programm...
Football readjusts to the post-Heysel ban, no televised matches, a 3-way dice for the title, #OUFC Wembley win, #WBA misery, #Boro fight for survival + more
All told by those who were there.
🛒To order pls go to: www.curtis-sport.com/all-programm...
📖THE SLUM SPORT tells the story of 1985/86.
Football readjusts to the post-Heysel ban, no televised matches, a 3-way dice for the title, #OUFC Wembley win, #WBA misery, #Boro fight for survival + more
All told by those who were there.
🛒To order pls go to: www.curtis-sport.com/all-programm...
Football readjusts to the post-Heysel ban, no televised matches, a 3-way dice for the title, #OUFC Wembley win, #WBA misery, #Boro fight for survival + more
All told by those who were there.
🛒To order pls go to: www.curtis-sport.com/all-programm...
THE SLUM SPORT - Story of 1985/86
PRE-ORDER - Release date: Mid-October 2025 THE SLUM SPORT is the in-depth story of the 1985/86 Football League season, as told by those who were there. As football dusted itself down following the traumas of Heysel and Bradford, THE SLUM SPORT features the highs and lows of an unforgettable season. Chris Lepkowski's book includes exclusive interviews with former players, managers and broadcasters
www.curtis-sport.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:42 PM
📖THE SLUM SPORT tells the story of 1985/86.
Football readjusts to the post-Heysel ban, no televised matches, a 3-way dice for the title, #OUFC Wembley win, #WBA misery, #Boro fight for survival + more
All told by those who were there.
🛒To order pls go to: www.curtis-sport.com/all-programm...
Football readjusts to the post-Heysel ban, no televised matches, a 3-way dice for the title, #OUFC Wembley win, #WBA misery, #Boro fight for survival + more
All told by those who were there.
🛒To order pls go to: www.curtis-sport.com/all-programm...
Reposted by Chris Lepkowski
England F.... can only mean England taking on Bulgaria. Likely lads @scraggy74.bsky.social & @themagicofthecup.bsky.social talk international football in today's instalment. What a load of Balkans.
yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com/p/para-110a-...
yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com/p/para-110a-...
1979/80: Para 1.10a England v Bulgaria 21/11/1979
England f...
yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:29 AM
England F.... can only mean England taking on Bulgaria. Likely lads @scraggy74.bsky.social & @themagicofthecup.bsky.social talk international football in today's instalment. What a load of Balkans.
yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com/p/para-110a-...
yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com/p/para-110a-...
Reposted by Chris Lepkowski
The Reform pitch is increasingly “the last government was terrible, so we’ve hired everyone who was in it”.
January 15, 2026 at 4:50 PM
The Reform pitch is increasingly “the last government was terrible, so we’ve hired everyone who was in it”.
Of all the very few things that AI might be good for, this isn't one of them
What happens when you let AI write match reports? You end up with reports for games that never happened. Levante v Villarreal was postponed due to bad weather but according to this site it was played, finished 0-0 and was very dull. They even awarded a man of the match! www.bwin.com/en/news/post...
Levante 0-0 Villarreal: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments
Bwin’s post-match review of Levante 0-0 Villarreal in the La Liga on Sunday, 14 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.
www.bwin.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Of all the very few things that AI might be good for, this isn't one of them
One has been used extensively for research purposes.
I also sometimes have a look at wiki.
I also sometimes have a look at wiki.
Wikipedia and Phoenix Nights both being launched in the same week, back in 2001, is no coincidence. #DasBoot!
January 15, 2026 at 7:19 PM
One has been used extensively for research purposes.
I also sometimes have a look at wiki.
I also sometimes have a look at wiki.