Andy Mitchell
@andymitchellmedia.bsky.social
Scottish football historian. Edinburgh. www.scottishsporthistory.com
Today's reading matter - at the National Library of Scotland. The very first book dedicated to football, published in 1866 by Samuel Beeton.
January 22, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Today's reading matter - at the National Library of Scotland. The very first book dedicated to football, published in 1866 by Samuel Beeton.
So, will the Herald be brave and sacrifice those 121,000 followers?
January 13, 2026 at 9:48 AM
So, will the Herald be brave and sacrifice those 121,000 followers?
They'll need a ladder if they do! That's not a challenge, by the way...
January 8, 2026 at 2:17 PM
They'll need a ladder if they do! That's not a challenge, by the way...
New plaque unveiled in Edinburgh today to commemorate 150 years since the first Hibs-Hearts match on the Meadows. Pat Stanton, Gary Locke and other club reps did the honours (with the East of Scotland Shield), and I was delighted to be asked to speak about the history.
January 8, 2026 at 1:53 PM
New plaque unveiled in Edinburgh today to commemorate 150 years since the first Hibs-Hearts match on the Meadows. Pat Stanton, Gary Locke and other club reps did the honours (with the East of Scotland Shield), and I was delighted to be asked to speak about the history.
And by the way, that final meeting in 1933 in the Scottish Cup provoked this rather wonderful little 'in memoriam' card.
December 19, 2025 at 1:33 PM
And by the way, that final meeting in 1933 in the Scottish Cup provoked this rather wonderful little 'in memoriam' card.
Sorry to clip your wings, but that's actually a bastardised version of the St Bernard's Boys Club badge, rather than the old senior club. They did use the well, but either on its own or with simple writing above and below.
December 19, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Sorry to clip your wings, but that's actually a bastardised version of the St Bernard's Boys Club badge, rather than the old senior club. They did use the well, but either on its own or with simple writing above and below.
Still time to order these football history books for Christmas!
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
December 16, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Still time to order these football history books for Christmas!
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096TN55XY/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1986612449/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1475206844/
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085HMV4CS/
New book just out: Fifty Scottish Footballers by Alistair Firth and Martin Donnelly. Fascinating project to celebrate the memorials to Scotland caps. £10 from www.lulu.com/shop/alistai...
December 15, 2025 at 10:21 AM
New book just out: Fifty Scottish Footballers by Alistair Firth and Martin Donnelly. Fascinating project to celebrate the memorials to Scotland caps. £10 from www.lulu.com/shop/alistai...
The full story of the world's first football club, founded #OTD in 1824 in Edinburgh, is told in this ground-breaking book. Price now just £10, post free, and available worldwide: www.amazon.co.uk/Worlds-First...
December 11, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The full story of the world's first football club, founded #OTD in 1824 in Edinburgh, is told in this ground-breaking book. Price now just £10, post free, and available worldwide: www.amazon.co.uk/Worlds-First...
Happy birthday football!🎂 201 years ago today, on 11 December 1824, the world's first football club was founded in Edinburgh. The players hired a field, bought a ball, set up goalposts and continued to play regularly for almost two decades. More: www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
December 11, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Happy birthday football!🎂 201 years ago today, on 11 December 1824, the world's first football club was founded in Edinburgh. The players hired a field, bought a ball, set up goalposts and continued to play regularly for almost two decades. More: www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo...
Stuck for a Scottish football book as a Christmas present? My Who's Who contains comprehensive biographies of every one of the 615 internationalists who represented Scotland between 1872 and 1939. Every review on amazon is five stars! www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
December 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Stuck for a Scottish football book as a Christmas present? My Who's Who contains comprehensive biographies of every one of the 615 internationalists who represented Scotland between 1872 and 1939. Every review on amazon is five stars! www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
The world could be a dangerous place in the 1930s! I'm loving these Safety First cigarette cards, especially the advice not to read while walking - just replace newspaper for smartphone. Nothing about the dangers of smoking, curiously enough.
December 6, 2025 at 11:08 AM
The world could be a dangerous place in the 1930s! I'm loving these Safety First cigarette cards, especially the advice not to read while walking - just replace newspaper for smartphone. Nothing about the dangers of smoking, curiously enough.
I'm always interested to get feedback on my books, but this email I got the other day just sounded a bit 'off' even though it purported to come from a genuine author. I contacted her to check: turns out its an AI-generated scam of some sorts, despite being well written and plausible. Worrying.
December 6, 2025 at 10:47 AM
I'm always interested to get feedback on my books, but this email I got the other day just sounded a bit 'off' even though it purported to come from a genuine author. I contacted her to check: turns out its an AI-generated scam of some sorts, despite being well written and plausible. Worrying.
The Carterhaugh Ba Game was arranged by Walter Scott, who was inspired to write his famous poem The Lifting of the Banner, including the immortal words 'Life is itself a game at football'.
December 4, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The Carterhaugh Ba Game was arranged by Walter Scott, who was inspired to write his famous poem The Lifting of the Banner, including the immortal words 'Life is itself a game at football'.
A few years ago I was lucky enough to be shown the original silk Banner of Bellendaine which was flown at the Carterhaugh Ba Game in 1815. Two metres long, thought to have been created in 1634, it is now kept at Bowhill House by the Duke of Buccleuch.
December 4, 2025 at 7:57 PM
A few years ago I was lucky enough to be shown the original silk Banner of Bellendaine which was flown at the Carterhaugh Ba Game in 1815. Two metres long, thought to have been created in 1634, it is now kept at Bowhill House by the Duke of Buccleuch.
It was not just a comment, it was an integral part of the winning design of the Meadows that it should provide an environment for playing football. In 1855. By the time Hearts and Hibs came on the scene, a whole generation had grown up with it. #EdinburghHomeOfFootball
December 1, 2025 at 3:23 PM
It was not just a comment, it was an integral part of the winning design of the Meadows that it should provide an environment for playing football. In 1855. By the time Hearts and Hibs came on the scene, a whole generation had grown up with it. #EdinburghHomeOfFootball
And we're off.
November 23, 2025 at 2:26 PM
And we're off.
Nearly there. The ground staff are covering the old lines with grass cuttings.
November 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Nearly there. The ground staff are covering the old lines with grass cuttings.
A new experience in 50+ years of watching football. Am in Madeira, about to watch Maritimo v Penafiel in Portugal second division. Kick off delayed by 20 minutes as both touchlines are having to be repainted 🧐
November 23, 2025 at 2:08 PM
A new experience in 50+ years of watching football. Am in Madeira, about to watch Maritimo v Penafiel in Portugal second division. Kick off delayed by 20 minutes as both touchlines are having to be repainted 🧐
And I wonder if this accreditation still works?
November 19, 2025 at 9:22 AM
And I wonder if this accreditation still works?
1901 census, in Willesden
November 4, 2025 at 8:09 PM
1901 census, in Willesden
It took a lot of searching, but I finally got Jem Smith on the 1911 and 1921 censuses! The address, 48 Torbay Road in Willesden, matches a court report from 1908.
November 4, 2025 at 7:20 PM
It took a lot of searching, but I finally got Jem Smith on the 1911 and 1921 censuses! The address, 48 Torbay Road in Willesden, matches a court report from 1908.
50 years ago today, 19 Oct 1975, a world record football score for a top division match without any contrived skulduggery: Lochend Thistle (Edinburgh) 0 Dundee Strikers 47 in the Scottish Women's League. Quite the run of results for Lochend that season! But they kept going and did win a match later.
October 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
50 years ago today, 19 Oct 1975, a world record football score for a top division match without any contrived skulduggery: Lochend Thistle (Edinburgh) 0 Dundee Strikers 47 in the Scottish Women's League. Quite the run of results for Lochend that season! But they kept going and did win a match later.
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.
October 1, 2025 at 7:37 PM
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.