The small magpie (Anania hortulata) is a #butterfly that’s mostly active at night. Glad I came across it.

In Gouda. Later meer.

While the information in this post is mostly correct, the photo is either from a film made of the event, or from another event. The #referee is in any event not John Langenus, the tall Belgian. This was him before kick-off:

Just arrived: this beautifully illustrated book and a set of cards by @geertje-geertsma.bsky.social, the prolific fungus photographer and artist. Can’t wait to immerse myself in it! #fungifriends

Denis Howell was also a registered football #referee, even making it to the Football League, and had been in charge of organising the 1966 World Cup as Minister for Sport. He wrote a pretty good book about refereeing too.

Yes, 1966, although he unofficially continued to ref a few more years. I have in my collection the invitation to his farewell bash.

Quite a few #referee biographies too:

The #referee is Pedro Escartín (Spain). Best known for his books on the laws of football.

Comma butterfly from this past weekend. #butterfly #insect

The second leg, in Manchester, did indeed have Roger Machin (France) as the #referee. Judging by appearance (Macon was balding), this does appear to be him. Here’s a press photo of him:

Wonderful to reunite with Phil Martin, peerless football historian. At @footycon.bsky.social, he casually left on my seat a signed (!) copy of Peter Craigmyle's hard-to-find 1949 book, "A Lifetime of Soccer", one of the oldest #referee biographies. Phil, you have my unending gratitude. #footycon 💙📚

It was also great to finally meet Ashley Hickson-Lovence, author of "Your Show", the biography of deceased #referee Uriah Rennie. His presentation on his new book "About to Fall Apart" was emotional and mesmerising. He was kind enough to sign a copy for me. Only cost me this t-shirt😉 #footycon 💙📚

Had a wonderful time last week at @footycon.bsky.social #footycon #footycon26 One thing hardly ever mentioned is the generosity of the presenter, who tend to be very willing to share their research. Some go even farther, like @dralexanderjackson.bsky.social, who kindly gave me a copy of his book ⤵️

Wray Vamplew announced the Routledge Prize winners: Sami Koskelainen and Ashley Hickson-Lovence. The Inclusion Prize went to the group that presented on the Forgotten Heroines. #footycon #footycon26

Closing off the conference, @garyjames.bsky.social tells the story of Pickles, the dog that retrieved the World Cup trophy. #footycon #footycon26

A 10-minute short by @whuhistorian.bsky.social Max Portman starts by an a-capella sing-along of “Forever Blowing Bubbles”, before he goes into the ties of the song to West Ham United.

As the end of the conference approaches, we have Chris Lee @outsidewrite.bsky.social tackling 100 years of football against fascism, and its role in modern life #footycon #footycon26

Malcolm Dowden on ‘Dromio’, the Welsh rugby journalist and historian #footycon #footycon26

Christian Schröder is on next, with a paper on pillarisation: separate religions and migrant communities founding separate leagues in pre-war Germany #footycon #footycon26

Philipp Gollner is up next, speaking about Sarajevo as a battleground and background for nationalism and football, through the person of Ivica Osim #footycon #footycon26

We’ve moved to the @fulhamfc.com press room, where @garyjames.bsky.social interviews Mark Orton on football and the Yugoslav diaspora, and how this still shapes international football #footycon #footycon26

#footycon stalwart Walter Hunt delves into the commentary style, and how it changed over the years, of Kenneth Wolstenhome. #footycon26

I have to miss out on Phil Martin’s presentation, but I simply cannot afford to miss the performance of Ashley Hickson-Lovence on Emmanuel Sala. He’s also speaking on his book “Your Show”, about the late #referee Uriah Rennie.

Having enjoyed their hospitality last night, we’re now in for David King’s paper on Barnes FC’s place in the history of association football #footycon #footycon26

Chris Lepkowski speaking on TV deals throughout the ages, focusing on the 1980s #footycon #footycon26

The other end of the South American double-header, @dralexanderjackson.bsky.social, now speaking on the experiences of British #referees in Latin America #footycon #footycon26

Richard Mills and @dralexanderjackson.bsky.social in a double-header about early encounters between European football and Latin American football, focusing on Yugoslavia in 1930 and #referees in the 1950s #footycon #footycon26

Returning to the other room, where recurring speaker George Kioussis presents on gift-giving among sports officials, focusing on football #footycon #footycon26

On next in the second room are Kieran Manchip and Philip Richardson, presenting on actual football archaeology in Anwoth and Dumfries, with focus on Reverend Rutherford #footycon #footycon26

In the other room, noted Scottish researcher Andy Mitchell presents on the importance of the Edinburgh Meadows for the development of early football #footycon #footycon26