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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford
@jpstafford.bsky.social
1.7K followers 460 following 1.9K posts
Author of 'The Sorrowful Putto of Prague', 'Unbelievable Underdogs', the 'Illustrated History of Rugby' series, 'How Wales Beat the Mighty All Blacks', 'Ragby' (Czech), editor of the East Terrace (theeastterrace.com). #booksky Prague based. Welsh born.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 25d
🚨 NEW BOOK INCOMING! 🚨

My new children's book 'Wonderful Welsh Sporting Heroes' is almost ready to go to print.

Here's a little sneak preview of the cover art. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

I'll be posting more details in the coming days...so stay tuned.
@ylolfa.bsky.social

🔵📚 #booksky #WritingCommunity #KidLit
A sneak preview of the cover art of James Stafford's new children's book. It features Alun Wyn Jones (rugby), Gareth Bale and Jess Fishlock (football), Colin Jackson (athletics) and Tanni-Grey Thompson (wheelchair racing).
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 6h
Dear Rugby Broadcasters,

There is nothing good about using this angle for live lineouts.

It's not impressive or immersive.

And it often obscures key moments.

Hope that helps.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 8h
No idea why Cardiff turned down the three during last play of first half. Especially in a fixture that is so often a close game.

Good to hold on, Cardiff would have lost that a year ago.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 8h
This is how you celebrate the win. Superb stuff from the @cardiffrugby.bsky.social coaching team.

#CARvCON #URC @cf10rugbytrust.bsky.social
The Cardiff coaching team seconds after securing the win.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 21h
Hmm...making a smear like that against him is what the Antichrist would say.

I'm watching you.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 21h
Agree. Frustratingly, lots of sports teams still aren't posting here, which also reduces sports chat and content.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 21h
A genuinely scary and very dangerous (and of course, very hypocritical) person.

If there even was an Antichrist, this guy would be Team Antichrist anyway.

'Inside tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s off-the-record lectures about the antichrist' www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Inside tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s off-the-record lectures about the antichrist
The political svengali and investor has been giving lectures on ‘an evil king or tyrant … who appears in the end times’
www.theguardian.com
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 1d
Brilliant. Cheers for this.
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Reposted by James Stafford
cupking11.bsky.social
Benny Brycheiniog @cupking11.bsky.social · 1d
This provides me with an excuse (I don't need one) to post this video of two Welsh villages divided by drink:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAL9...
Sunday Opening, 1961
YouTube video by Archif ITV Cymru/Wales @ LlGC | ITV Cymru/Wales Archive @ NLW
www.youtube.com
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Reposted by James Stafford
jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 1d
Nov 1968: 'The Welsh and English can drink together on Sunday in the Lion Hotel in Llanymynech following the Welsh referendum on Sunday opening for licensed premises. Previously the hotel was only 1/2 open on Sundays because the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿/🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 border line ran through it.' #welshhistory 🍺
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Reposted by James Stafford
stephencollins.bsky.social
Stephen Collins @stephencollins.bsky.social · 1d
All my comics have happy endings!
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 1d
@curegigstats.bsky.social How many times have The Cure played Wales? Would you know, please?
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 1d
Nov 1968: 'The Welsh and English can drink together on Sunday in the Lion Hotel in Llanymynech following the Welsh referendum on Sunday opening for licensed premises. Previously the hotel was only 1/2 open on Sundays because the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿/🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 border line ran through it.' #welshhistory 🍺
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 1d
My new book 'Wonderful Welsh Sporting Heroes' covers modern female stars like Lauren Price 🥊 and Jess Fishlock⚽, as well as forgotten heroes of yesteryear like Olympian Irene Steer 🏊‍♀️.

Available to preorder now from all good bookstores. Perfect for schools and libraries. @ylolfa.bsky.social #booksky
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Reposted by James Stafford
alistairbarrie.com
Alistair Barrie @alistairbarrie.com · 3d
Excellent. In the parents’ spare room tonight, and just discovered both bedside tables are stuffed with copies of every memorial service/funeral they have ever been to.
They’re in their mid-eighties.

Sleep well between the Drawers of Death.
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Reposted by James Stafford
junoryleejournalism.com
Juno Rylee Schultz @junoryleejournalism.com · 3d
David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)
SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems... SIMON: What? SHAPIRO: ...Or saying... SIMON: You imagine that? SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over. SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level. SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this. SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 2d
It's actually happening.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 2d
It's actually happening.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 2d
Hoping the Czechs can get a win tonight against Croatia.

But I am also delighted to see Croatia play, a team I loved watching growing up. 🇨🇿 🇭🇷

#VĚŘÍME #ROUTE2026
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 3d
That's awful news. Sorry to hear this. Take care.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 3d
Writing night. #writing
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 4d
Not a Victorian boxer, @oispooky.bsky.social, but Jimmy Wilde has one hell of a story!

I'd argue the 'Ghost with the Hammer in His Hand' is possibly boxing's best nickname too.
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Reposted by James Stafford
jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 4d
One of my favourite bios in my book is on the legendary Jimmy Wilde aka 'The Mighty Atom' or 'The Ghost with the Hammer in His Hand'.

Hailing from Merthyr Tydfil, 'The Tylorstown Terror' has one of the most incredible stories in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 sport. He is still considered one of the best punchers ever. 🥊📚
Illustration of the boxer Jimmy Wilde from James Stafford's new book 'Wonderful Welsh Sporting Heroes'.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 4d
We can blame you then for the financial state Welsh rugby is in.

Buying a real jersey could have saved everyone.

Shame on you.
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jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 4d
I consider the Cymru thing. But eventually came to the fake conclusion.
jpstafford.bsky.social
James Stafford @jpstafford.bsky.social · 4d
'I raised a family in times of austerity with sweat at the foundry, between the wars...'

Billy Bragg 40 years ago with 'Between the Wars'.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjUA...
Billy Bragg - Between The Wars
YouTube video by Doug Tilley
www.youtube.com
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