The Pioneers

Historic Stadiums: Gran Parque Central – The Oldest Football Stadium in the Americas

Gran Parque Central, Montevideo, home of Club Nacional de Football (Photo: Chris Lee/Outside Write) Walking through the Montevideo district of…

3 days ago

The ‘Rules Derby’: The Story of Football’s Oldest Rivalry

Rules Derby action in 2017 as Sheffield FC in red attack the Hallam (blue) goal (Photo: Chris Lee/Outside Write) At…

3 weeks ago

Podcast: The Roots of Argentinian Football

Argentine pioneer club Alumni's shirt; Quilmes Atlético Club murals; plaque marking the first match in Argentina [Photos: Chris Lee/Outside Write]…

2 months ago

Podcast: The Industrial Roots of English Football

My guest is David Proudlove, whose new book Work and Play: The Industrial Roots of English Football looks at the…

4 months ago

There is no single ‘home of football’: Here’s who contributed what…

Clockwise from top-left: FA foundation plaque, London; Queen's Park FC (photo: Queen's Park FC); the Football League foundation plaque, Manchester;…

6 months ago

Football’s Pioneer Clubs: Where Are They Now?

Clockwise from top left: Sheffield FC, a mural to Cliftonville in Belfast, Koninklijke HFC, Albion FC [Photos: Sheffield FC/ author/…

7 months ago

How Football Got Started in Germany

Hertha Berlin fans at the Olympiastadion In April 2021, Pitch Publishing released my first book, Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who…

7 months ago

Billy Barnes in Bilbao: A Forgotten Trailblazer of Spanish Football

Athletic Club players acknowledge their supporters at San Mamés [Photo: Tom Wardle] In this guest post, Tom Wardle explores the…

10 months ago

Kit Evolution: Who wears what because of whom?

The Art of the Football Shirt, Brick Lane, London, some years ago Many people know the famous origin stories of…

11 months ago

Podcast: The Foundation of Celtic FC

Dr Michael Connolly's biography of Celtic FC founder, Brother Walfrid My guest is Dr Michael Connolly from the University of…

1 year ago