Andy Mitchell
@andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
860 followers 240 following 250 posts
Scottish football historian. Edinburgh. www.scottishsporthistory.com
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andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
A fascinating hour this evening listening to @malikalnasir.bsky.social on his new book "Searching for my Slave Roots" which I look forward to reading - not least finding out more about footballer Andrew Watson. Well done to @portybooks.bsky.social for putting on the event.
Malik al Nasir speaking at Portobello Bookshop, 1 October 2025
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
Sorry to dampen this, but the players mentioned were active in the mid-late 1880s, including Archibald Carswell, Lochgilphead goalkeeper, who wrote the piece. So the timescale was out. Having said that, there are reports of New Year football at Bonawe from 1869.
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
50 years ago, 28 Sept 1975, an astonishing result in the Scottish Women's League Cup: Lochend Thistle 0 Edinburgh Dynamos 42. Cuttings from the Evening News, with a photo of Dynamos earlier in the year.
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
50 years ago, 28 Sept 1975, an astonishing result in the Scottish Women's League Cup: Lochend Thistle 0 Edinburgh Dynamos 42. Cuttings from the Evening News, with a photo of Dynamos earlier in the year.
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
footycon.bsky.social
We’re excited to announce that the location for #FootyCon26 is…

LONDON!!

Join us at Fulham FC’s Craven Cottage on the 12th & 13th of June 2026 for the latest edition of our annual conference to enjoy lots of great people talk about Football of all codes from multiple backgrounds
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
gedboy58.bsky.social
A nice boost today, for those of us who value our Footballing Heritage. Historic Environment Scotland registered (New) Cathkin Park - the site of the Second Hampden, as a Scheduled Monument. tinyurl.com/59nccjea
Search
Use search terms such as addresses, local authorities, parishes, burghs and types of building to find desingations and decisions.
tinyurl.com
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
More in the British Newspaper Archive, small snippets from a tragic tale.
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
A spot of local trouble for John Gilkes in 1911
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
thethistlearchive.bsky.social
Pictured on this night 1921 is the Partick Thistle team which became 'champions of Britain' when, as Scottish Cup holders, they defeated Tottenham Hotspur, the FA Cup holders, by 3 goals to 1! Read all about it... 👀

👉 thethistlearchive.net/match-1921-0...
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
#OTD 18 September 1965 - Brazilian striker Francisco Filho played for Dunfermline Athletic against Morton, his sole game in the Scottish League. Alongside him was Alex Ferguson and four decades later they were reunited at Manchester United, when Filho was appointed youth coach and SAF's assistant.
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
If his parents were illiterate, they wouldn't have noticed it at the time. My guess is that James needed his birth certificate for something when he was 14, perhaps an apprenticeship, and found the error.
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
As for the parents' names in the birth record, it appears to be simply a mistake by the Registrar. So if you look at the next family birth, twins John and Charles in 1867, the parents are correctly recorded as David and Agnes. Same for James's marriage in 1891, his parents are David and Agnes.
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
He was definitely born on 25 January 1865 in Burns Street, Renton, as you suspect. The 'wrong' date came from Douglas Lamming's who's who of Scotland internationals (pub 1987) and it has only been corrected in recent years, including in my own book.
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
gedboy58.bsky.social
1 of 4 #scotsfoundedfootball I was checking wiktionary the other day. Great place for factual documents. I was childishly pleased to see John Hope’s rules sitting atop the mountain as the only known rules in the subheading Laws of Football 1830s. tinyurl.com/2vvumnx9
Rules of The Foot-Ball Club (1833) - Wikisource, the free online library
tinyurl.com
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
oldfirmfacts.bsky.social
On this day in Scottish football: 2003
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
oispooky.bsky.social
Enjoyed #AThousandBlows + looking forward to season II (SOON)? Want to know about the real Hezekiah Moscow, Alec Munroe & Sugar Goodson? There are some options! Please visit my blog (scroll, or check The Cast List page)! Or buy my book! Out Autumn '26, details soon 🥊🤜🏻

www.grapplingwithhistory.com
Grappling With History
By Sarah Elizabeth Cox | Rediscovering the wrestlers and boxers of late-Victorian London
www.grapplingwithhistory.com
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
David McCreadie (1860-1917), born Glenluce and came to Glasgow to work as a draper. Played for Glenkilloch FC and ran at QP Sports 1879, so probably a club member. Emigrated to Queensland 1882. Died in an asylum/poorhouse 1917.
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
historymartin.bsky.social
My new blog post: A Plaque for a Pioneering Pilgrim #blueplaques #sportshistory #jackleslie #plymouth #blackhistory #historicengland martinpolley.co.uk/2025/09/01/a...
A Plaque for a Pioneering Pilgrim – Martin Polley, Sports Historian
martinpolley.co.uk
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
portybooks.bsky.social
We can’t wait to welcome @malikalnasir.bsky.social to the bookshop on Wednesday 1st October! He’ll discuss his soon-to-be-published book, Searching for My Slave Roots, with Rebecca Bailey from Historic Environment Scotland.

🎟️ Sign up here: www.theportobellobookshop.com/events/malik...
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
Still not as early as the Oxford Magazine, 2 February 1887 which used 'socker' - as did several others around that time (inc the Oxford Review in Nov 1888). More here: www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
evertonheritage.bsky.social
133 years ago, to the day, marked the official opening ceremony (but not first match) for Goodison Park. Lord Kinnaird, pictured, was guest of honour. Read about it in this @MikeRoyden.bsky.social
piece: efcheritagesociety.com/august-1892-...
Today, marks the baptism of our gleaming new home.
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
Reposted by Andy Mitchell
andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
Referee stops game after player is racially abused, spectator is ejected. It happened last night, it also happened as far back as 1968 when ref Jim Finney took action on behalf of Scunthorpe's Scottish winger Peter Foley. If only others had been so proactive.