Andy Mitchell
@andymitchellmedia
Scottish football historian. Edinburgh. www.scottishsporthistory.com
The Edinburgh University group included Bob Last and Hilary Morrison, later the gurus of Scottish indy music. A random favourite was the Doomcaster Town Book of Football, by Strode-Jackson. And none of the Fringe shows I saw in 1976 cost more than £1 (he said, wistfully). A lifetime of hoarding!
A very young Crispin Letts did an open air show on Calton Hill, while the RSAMD featured a number of young Scottish actors who went on to successful careers, eg Ian Aldred, Julie Ann Fullarton, Jennifer Black. /
There was Rowan Atkinson with the Oxford University Theatre Group, doing his famous biscuit sketch on a park bench. And Griff Rhys Jones with the Cambridge Footlights. /
I've also been looking through my tickets and show programmes, rediscovering some famous names starting out in their careers. /
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe starts this weekend but the 416 pages of tiny print in the weighty programme are nothing less than daunting. So I'm hankering after simpler times, and dug out my programme from 50 years ago (1976) which was a single fold-out sheet. And there's more.../
Very sad news about Kevin Keegan, a player who was a major presence throughout my younger football days. One strange quirk, towards the end of his career in 1984 he played once for Hearts, in Alex MacDonald's testimonial. londonhearts.com/scores/games...
It's in the Saints history. Can you read this? If not I can transcribe.
Fascinating stuff. Seeing you mention Newton Heath L&YR, in a horrific and tragic irony their club secretary William Lord was killed by a train in 1886. He was 44.
Now, this is esoteric. Hugo Oliveira, the new manager of Racing Club de Strasbourg, has a photo of Albion Rovers on his profile page over on X -it's a classic image by Iain McLean, looking over the wall at an Albion Rovers v St Mirren game in 2016.
I've got a copy of McFlannels United, signed by the author Helen Pryde and the cast of the radio recording.
Indeed it is. Scenes from Flodden and Bannockburn just in case anyone doubted how serious it was...
I chanced across one of Britain's biggest sporting trophies today - a Victorian masterpiece, six feet high and displayed in a sideboard which is fifteen feet wide. Gold star if you know what it is!
Been reading this fascinating book. Can't wait to get stuck into the sequel.
Today I visited the rather forlorn but historic stand at Whitestone Park, home of Peebles Rovers FC until they withdrew this summer. 100 years ago this was a Scottish League ground! Future now uncertain, hope it survives.
Just had a wee trip to Maryhill for the Partick Thistle 150th exhibition. Highly recommended. It's at Maryhill Burgh Chambers and it's free!
Now that's what I call a bargain. Ged O'Brien's seminal sports history book Played in Glasgow is on sale at just £5 from the publishers - post free! If you don't have one already, get it now. www.playedinbritain.co.uk/books/played...
Interesting event coming up at Historic Scotland, archive material on sport. 27 July in Edinburgh: www.historicenvironment.scot/whats-on/all...
#OTD 30 years ago today, Scotland beat Switzerland 1-0 at Euro 96. Went out of the tournament on goal difference despite getting four points in the group.
#OTD 16 June 1954, Scotland played their first ever World Cup finals match. Despite dominating much of the play, it didn't end well, losing 1-0 to Austria.
Argentina start their World Cup tonight, so here's my story about Alexander Watson Hutton, the Edinburgh man who overcame personal tragedy to become 'the father of Argentine football' www.scottishsporthistory.com/sports-histo... [image from the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry]
Doing a bit of background reading, Jules Rimet's wonderful memoir on the history of the World Cup. Love his chapter on the 1930 tournament, and detailed account of the transatlantic voyage to Uruguay. France, Belgium and Romania teams all travelled on the same boat.
Bit of a 'wow' moment - have been loaned the Minute book of the Glasgow Lawn Tennis Club, founded in 1877. Any tennis historians know of an earlier club in Scotland? I can't find one.
Actually, it hasn't. The designation only applies to the site of the pavilion, in Kingsley Gardens. The bowling club site is not included.
You can also choose from a number of wistful tee shirts, for those who can't forget.
Despite ending in defeat for St Etienne, the match at Hampden is remembered vividly in France and at least three books have been written about the club's adventures.
Glasgow extended a warm welcome to the thousands of French and German visitors, notably by extending the opening hours of the city pubs which normally closed at 10pm. Needless to say, this was also welcomed by thousands of locals who had no interest in the football.