Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 06/03/2026Wonderful to be part of this lineup at the Manly Writers' Festival. Would love to see you there! 011
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 18/12/2025English cricket fans, get over those Ashes blues by reading "The Coping Stone" about the first English Football tour of Australia in 1925 (England won!) via www.fairplaypublishing.com.au @fairplaybooks.bsky.social @footballandwar.bsky.social @footballheritage.bsky.social @petereedy.bsky.social 022
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 23/07/2025The 100th anniversary of the (English) FA's first ever soccer tour of Australia in 1925 has passed by seemingly unnoticed in both countries. Here I discuss my book about this tour "The Coping Stone" with Suzanne Hill on ABC radio national. www.abc.net.au/listen/progr... @fairplaybooks.bsky.socialabc.net.auSoccer's Rise to Australian Legitimacy - ABC listen"The Coping Stone - the First English Soccer Tour of Australia 1925" tells the story of soccer's rise to popularity in Australia. Paul Nicholls is the author of The Coping Stone, and joins Suzanne Hil... 132
Reposted by Paul NichollsFair Play Publishing @fairplaybooks.bsky.social · 11/07/2025One Hundred Years ago today, #Australia played its third match at West Maitland in a five-match series, their first again #England. We published a book about it from @70smo.bsky.social a couple of weeks ago, 'The Coping Stone'. Find out more. 022
Reposted by Paul NichollsFair Play Publishing @fairplaybooks.bsky.social · 29/06/2025Chapter 1: "23 December 1861, the colony of Victoria Atop the Cape Otway lighthouse on the windswept southern coast of Victoria, a lookout sweeps a broad expanse of Bass Strait with a telescope. He spies something on the horizon. A ship!" It's #football history. But not as you know it! 033
Reposted by Paul NichollsFair Play Publishing @fairplaybooks.bsky.social · 25/06/2025"Is he dead yet?" The opening line of our #newrelease, which is out tomorrow. And it's all about one of the oldest sporting rivalries: AUSvENG. It's #football history, but not as you know it. Join @70smo.bsky.social & @iansyson.bsky.social at Gleebooks. 033
Reposted by Paul NichollsFair Play Publishing @fairplaybooks.bsky.social · 20/06/2025REMINDER: It's 💯 years next week since the first #AUSvENG #football matches. Join us at Gleebooks for the launch of a book that dives deep into the 5-match series written by @70smo.bsky.social with special guest @iansyson.bsky.social. Thursday 26/06, 6.30pm. 033
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 18/06/2025I liked The English Game for the visuals, my wife enjoyed the story. I think drama is Ok if done right - my brother thought The Keeper was excellent. Restoration of the grave by a fan was a great outcome. In fiction, did you mention Bend it Like Beckham? was very popular and influential in Oz 100
Reposted by Paul NichollsFair Play Publishing @fairplaybooks.bsky.social · 17/06/2025Our next #reallygoodfootballbook on the first English Soccer Tour of Australia in 1925, 💯 'The Coping Stone' by @70smo.bsky.social is available now. Launched on 26/06. 034
Reposted by Paul NichollsFair Play Publishing @fairplaybooks.bsky.social · 08/06/2025A reminder about an important #football anniversary at the end of this month. Join us on the eve for the launch of @70smo.bsky.social book, all about it, with @iansyson.bsky.social. June 26th, Gleebooks. gleebooks.com.au/event/paul-n...gleebooks.com.auPaul Nicholls – The Coping Stone – Gleebooks.com.au 043
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 03/06/2025My book, The Coping Stone - The First English Soccer Tour of Australia 1925 launches at Gleebooks in Sydney on 26 June, hosted by @iansyson.bsky.social Join us as we discuss this milestone tour gleebooks.com.au/event/paul-n...gleebooks.com.auPaul Nicholls – The Coping Stone – Gleebooks.com.au 021
Reposted by Paul NichollsFair Play Publishing @fairplaybooks.bsky.social · 02/06/2025An important Australian #football anniversary coming up this month: 100 years since the first #England soccer tour of Australia. @70smo.bsky.social has written a marvellous book about it, which will be launched by @iansyson.bsky.social at Gleebooks on 26th June. gleebooks.com.au/event/paul-n... 034
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 05/05/2025100 years ago today (5/5/1925) the first English FA team to visit Australia arrived in Fremantle at the beginning of a gruelling three month tour. Read all about it in my book, The Coping Stone, coming out through @fairplaybooks.bsky.social on 30 May 2025. 154
Reposted by Paul NichollsFair Play Publishing @fairplaybooks.bsky.social · 25/04/2025Two of the protagonists featured in @70smo.bsky.social forthcoming book, 'The Coping Stone' are the South Coast's James 'Judy' Masters & #Arsenal's Tom Whittaker, both of whom were WW1 veterans for their respective nations. #LestWeForget 023
Reposted by Paul NichollsIan Syson @iansyson.bsky.social · 25/04/2025The failure of sokkahtwitter to migrate over to here is frustrating. Hopefully I can get some take up on issues like this on www.footballvictoria.com.au/news/search-... I don’t really want to dip back in over there but I have on this matter.footballvictoria.com.auThe search for Soccer AnzacsAs we pause to remember those who served on Australia’s National Day of Remembrance, Tony Persogli 2279
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 01/02/2025More symbols than a Dan Brown novel. Is the Griffin smoking a pipe? 010
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 01/02/2025Can never have enough stag badges... except I swear the Watford one is a moose 110
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 29/01/2025Dressage horse maybe? Good on the ball it would seem 110
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 11/01/2025Great find and article Andy. I did notice a mention at the end of the article - the name Clunies-Ross. That family name well known in Australia as a scientist - wikipedia says was related. Cheers, Paul 100
Reposted by Paul NichollsScotsFoundedFootball @gedboy58.bsky.social · 08/01/20251 of 5 OTD 1885 John Malcolm Eadie Fraser died in Sydney, Australia. I have posted on this before. I went to see his grave site when I was in Australia, last month. He is buried in a Presbyterian lair in the far west of Rookwood Cemetery. I want to explain why this topic is so important. 161
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 27/12/2024I'm in awe of anyone who has plotted a novel, let alone written one 020
Reposted by Paul NichollsFair Play Publishing @fairplaybooks.bsky.social · 20/12/2024It's been a while (it's been a really busy two years 😅), but our latest #podcast is available! It's David Weiner & @niavowens.bsky.social talking about 'The Goals That Changed #Australia', our fab YA non fiction. Have a listen & then buy the book! buff.ly/4iMLuIv 022
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 18/12/2024Fun fact. The suburb name was originally Rookwood - but due to supposed negative connotations it was renamed after two local mayors - Lidbury and Larcombe. 120
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 18/12/2024Good shot with his boot as well as a gun. I love some of those reports! Cheers Peter 010
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 17/12/2024Reporting on an Australian v English artillery soccer match on Western Front 1916. Have you got this one Ian? @iansyson.bsky.social nla.gov.au/nla.news-art...nla.gov.au04 Nov 1916 - "SOCCER" AT THE FRONT. - TroveMr. James Hutton, chairman of the Barnsley Patriotic Committee, has received a letter from Sergeant W. J. Snedden, telling of a game of "soccer" football ... 333
Paul Nicholls @70smo.bsky.social · 16/12/2024Just joined blue sky. Just making contact with a few people I know. Cheers @texismith.com @gedboy58.bsky.social @fairplaybooks.bsky.social @stuartthomas72.bsky.social @petereedy.bsky.social 040
