5 of 5 So What? I did have a previous image of Ian’s book in the cowp that was my garage office. Now I have an excuse for another shot in my new super duper tidied up Mancave. It is sad that Ian does more for Scottish Football History than a thousand Anglocentric books, but it is what is is. Mate.

4 of 5 It is no coincidence that two of the pitches I love: Anwoth and Glasgow University Old College are about 85% the size of a modern pitch. These pitches made short, on the ground passing the tactic of choice. This led to a game nothing like M&@ F*&^%$@@ I cannot say those evil words.

2 of 5 An example: Iain Campbell Whittle’s comments about the Burnbank and West of Scotland pitches. Before the tenements, Burnbank ran almost from St. George’s Cross up to the River Kelvin. It was flat and could contain any size of pitch you wanted. This was crucial, in the early days.

1 of 4 #scotsfoundedfootball There is a quote from the article ‘The First Game of Football’ that is grist to my mill. Recall my hatred of any narrative that includes Mob Football on the ten century path to the Association Game. We must concentrate on WHY the scientific game took over the world.

1 of 4 #scotsfoundedfootball The Scots Football Historians’ Group is close to my heart. It brings together a group of experts who have each made a serious intellectual contribution in developing the true narrative of world Football. Discussing issues with your peers is the way forward. Contending.

5 of 5 So What? Two things - we need to give Archie MacLean a place in world Football History. A statue like Thomas Donohoe’s? A bust would be fine but that cost East Ren £30,000. 2nd thing - if we don’t explain that Scottish football is separate from and superior to English Dodoball, we fail...

1 of 5 #scotsfoundedfootball I took a photo of one of Malcolm McLean’s archive articles: Renfrewshire Gazette Nov 9th 1912. Entitled ‘Coats’ Football Team [Scottish Wanderers] in Brazil - A Game Varied With Fists and Knives’. It was apparently written by ‘RR” - who wished to remain anonymous.

3 of 5 There will be a better translation. Look at the names ICW has highlighted: John Hamilton. Jock from Fulham refereeing all the games and raising the level by example. And look at Germânia v Americano top middle column: MacLean. Is that Archie, or are there two Macleans in SP pre WW1?

2 of 5 But first ICW showed us his book from São Paulo, which contains all the information you would need about game splayed before 1930 when the Brazilian game went professional and the #scotchprofessor drops off the narrative. Check this out: ‘O Caminho da Bola’. The Passage of the Ball.

1 of 5 ‘Giants’ has the opinions of John Tait Robertson, of Rangers and MTK Budapest fame, has a few pages to describe his footballing philosophy. ‘It is co-operation all round, which leads to success.’ So far, so good. He must have had something, to have been feted in Europe.

1 of 4 #scotsfoundedfootball Fun fact: 11 ‘Giants’ discuss football. 10 Scots. 1 Welshman. Did the introduction draw any observation from this? Who said yes? You little scamp. First up, Harry Rennie goalkeeper of Hibs. One of the exponents of a scientific approach to goalkeeping.

3 of 5 The paradox here is that the pamphlet was published by John Leng and Co. Hull family and Liberal in his politics, but he was influential in Scottish publishing. He was MP for Dundee 1892-1905 and founded The People’s Friend. This does not necessarily indicate his Football position.

3 of 5 ‘The duffer, having dribbled clear, and been rewarded with the cheers of his friends, will continue to dribble along in all his glory until he loses the ball and sees his handiwork go for nothing.’ I like the dissing of the ‘duffer’. Only science will do for John.

1 of 5 #scotsfoundedfootball I have taken to John Campbell of the Third Lanark. He seems to be the sort of man who understands scientific football. ‘Football Described by Giants of the Game’. ‘To dribble or not to dribble’ is the subtitle in his chapter ‘The Duties of Inside Right’

1 of 4 #scotsfoundedfootball Billy Wright’s autobiography ‘Captain of England’ was published in 1950 after the 1-0 defeat to the USA in the Brazil World Cup. p. 181 “To be beaten by the United States at football was like the MCC being beaten by Germany at cricket!” #EnglishExceptionalism

4 of 4 So what? Jonathan Wilson identifies an English businessman Edward Shires from Manchester, with bringing Robertson over in 1911. The reasoning is obvious. Wilson does a superb and detailed job of underlining the brilliance of the #scotchprofessor I visited Jackie last week. He is a neighbour.

2 of 4 A #scotchprofessor Another one who was respected more - outside of the UK. Wilson does justice to a Scot. MTK wanted to be better than Ferencváros. Solution? Bring in the English centre forward Joe Lane and get a Scottish Manager. Robertson was born in Dumbarton. Buried in Rutherglen.

1 of 4 #scotsfoundedfootball Another cracking Jonathan Wilson book to discuss ‘The Names Heard Long Ago’ (published 2019). Back to Central Europe and John Tait (Jackie) Robertson of Scotland, Everton, Southampton, Rangers and Chelsea. Managed the latter plus Glossop and MTK Budapest (1911-13).

5 of 5 So What? I try to take pics of important places for sports history. The changing seasons and - as with Hampden BC and Cathkin - the possible change of use or them disappearing for ever. That Washington Wilson photo will now be the only evidence that QPFC played on the Recreation Ground.

4 of 5 Cathkin still has its temporary fence which should have been taken down long, long ago. The marking are on the pitch, so I guess there will be some Football on it soon. As per the lease, I wonder if a local team will ask to use it, so that we can find out the terms. I am bad, today.

2 of 5 I have another suggestion for the Jimmy Johnstone Charitable Trust, instead of removing a public pitch and turning it private. Work with me here: QP Recreation Ground! I know. Some of you wild yins will now be telling the care staff that you used to play matches there, long ago.

1 of 5 #SaveCathkin On my walk yesterday, I swung by some of my historical hot spots. Pathhead Farm in Queen’s Park. The flag staff from where George Washington Wilson took his photos. The old Hampden BC site and Cathkin Park. The foliage on the railway side makes it impossible to see the Mural.

1 of 4 #scotsfoundedfootball Some might wonder why no-one knows the story of the #scotchprofessor Here is another example why. ‘What You Think You Know About Football is Wrong’ by Kevin Moore. Kevin is my equivalent founding director of the (English) National Football Museum.

3 of 4 Space for a Football pitch, once you have cut down the trees and what looks like a 5-a-side pitch as well. Big fence around the site, so that the riff-raff cannot get in. There’s a lot of work already done for you. Good bus links (31, 46, 75). Apple Maps call it Carmunnock Football Pitch.

2 of 4 JJCT say they need that pitch. Let’s forget for a moment that it looks like their kids won’t be using Cathkin Park, either. Let us pretend that they are interested in just finding a place to call their own. How about this one? The site of St. Margaret Mary’s Primary School, on Downcraig Road.

4 of 7 Section 8 of the JJCT Lease. They have to provide ACCESS to the Community when they are not using it. Now this brings up an interesting paradox. When the pitch is being used, for its SIX to EIGHT HOURS PER WEEK - it will be for ‘showpiece’ games i.e. not regular matches. No Community ACCESS.

The site of the second home of Queen’s Park 1884-1903. Plus access gate for the public - which has a giant padlock on it. Looks like the Community have found other ways to access their pitch - until tomorrow, maybe.

1 of 4 #scotsfoundedfootball Queen’s Park’s Birthday Week. First QPFC President was Mungo Ritchie, from Madderty in Perthshire, What is it with Perthshire? Footballers seem to be everywhere. They originally played opposite Lorne Terrace which is on Nithsdale Rd facing a wee triangle of land.

1 of 5 I cannot leave Charles Miller alone. In many ways his existence perfectly exemplifies the need to explain my theory as to how #scotsfoundedfootball Charles Miller’s myth always contains the ball and boots in his bag with the English rules. He wasn’t the first. It is irrelevant, in any case.

1 of 3 #scotsfoundedfootball A wee bit of help needed, here. Observe my crappy image of footballers in Queen’s Park. Apologies for the low quality of the photocopy. It must have been given to me, decades ago. And yes - I didn’t write any notes on the back. Do any of you recognise it?