The Pioneers

Podcast: Athletic Club de Bilbao

The Mr Pentland Club, a London-based supporters group of Athletic Club de Bilbao [Photo: Mr Pentland Club] Athletic Club de…

3 years ago

Podcast: The History of Women’s Football in Latin America

My guest co-authored this book on women's sport in Latin America My guest is Brenda Elsey from Hofstra University in…

3 years ago

Carlo Carcano: Italy’s Forgotten Genius

In this guest article, Paul Grech looks back at the career of Carlo Carcano, who built the first great Juventus…

3 years ago

Podcast: 150 Years of the FA Cup

Season 2021-22 marks the 150th anniversary of the world's first and oldest Association football rules knock-out tournament, the FA Cup.…

3 years ago

The Story of the First African Football Team to Tour Britain

The 1899 team from South Africa that toured Britain, Ireland, and France (Credit: The National Archives, ref. COPY1/442/254) African footballers are now…

3 years ago

Podcast: Glasgow’s Early Football History

Queen's Park FC, Scotland's pioneer Association rules club [Photo: Queen's Park FC] My guest is Richard McBrearty from the excellent…

3 years ago

How Vasco Da Gama fought for equality in early Brazilian football

Vasco flag fluttering by the beach in Rio de Janeiro Football was established relatively late in Brazil. When Charles Miller…

3 years ago

Podcast: The History of Dutch Football

Gary Thacker's book on Dutch football is out in summer 2021 (Photo: Pitch Publishing) I welcome Gary Thacker back onto…

4 years ago

El Clásico Uruguayo: The Roots of South America’s Oldest Derby

Nacional fans at the Estadio Centenario (Photo: Marcus Haydon) Between them, Peñarol and Nacional have won 98 of the 116…

4 years ago

Visiting the Royal Arsenal – and other important Arsenal sites south of the river

The Royal Arsenal, the workplace of the original 'Gunners' [Photo: Christopher Hylland] In this guest post, Arsenal fan and author…

4 years ago