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Andrew Gillan

@andrewrgillan.bsky.social
96 followers 199 following 368 posts

Writer/English teacher from Northern Ireland, currently based in Madrid. 🇪🇸 ✝️ | Football | Travel | Sunsets | Tea Author of A New History of Coleraine FC

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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Twenty years ago yesterday, Northern Ireland beat Spain in Belfast. The fallout from that result forced Luis Aragonés into some significant changes and less than two years on, Spain were European champions and on their way to dominating international football for the next few years.
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When Northern Ireland Beat Spain…
How one night in Belfast inspired hope for Northern Ireland but also possibly changed the course of modern football.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Another historic moment in a momentous year for Deportivo. Almost 80% of members who voted have approved the motion for Dépor to adapt the club’s name to include the official name of the city. The club will now be known as Deportivo de A Coruña in Spanish and Deportivo da Coruña in Galician.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Cup Final glory, promotion, relegation, a ten-goal thriller, a man with a star for a head, a shipping container stand and football club names in Netflix rom coms. Welcome to my 2025/26 end of season awards! 🏆🥇
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It’s the 2025/26 Awards!
At the end of another jam-packed season, it’s time to look back at the best, the worst, the weirdest and the everything in-between of my 2025/26 campaign.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
As I wrote about a few weeks ago, Dépor are giving club members the opportunity to decide if they should use the Galician name of the city (A Coruña) in the club’s name. If this proposal is accepted, they would be known as Deportivo de A Coruña” in Spanish and “Deportivo da Coruña” in Galician.
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Dépor and Galician Identity
Today is Día das Letras Galegas, a public holiday in the region I first called home in Spain and a day for celebrating the Galician language and culture.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Such a shame the Azteca isn’t hosting any games after the last 16. A proper cathedral of football.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
From Pavarotti to the Qatari desert via lots of Eagles, a French restaurant, Michael Owen superimposed on a train, two songs that will be stuck in your head for weeks and The Greatest Showman! It’s my look back at the BBC and ITV World Cup intros!
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Rating the World Cup TV Intros
It’s the biggest clash of the summer! I rate the intros from the BBC and ITV coverage of every World Cup since 1990!
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
A dose of pre-World Cup nostalgia as I go through all the BBC and ITV intros from their coverage of the tournaments from 1990 to 2022. Who has the best ones? Click below to find out!
open.substack.com
Rating the World Cup TV Intros
It’s the biggest clash of the summer! I rate the intros from the BBC and ITV coverage of every World Cup since 1990!
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
As Dépor’s players clinched promotion back to La Liga in Valladolid, I found myself thinking about the long and torturous path the club has taken back to the top…
open.substack.com
Don’t forget where you’ve come from…
After eight years in the wilderness, Deportivo La Coruña are back in the promised land of La Liga - the long way round.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
🩵⚪️⚪️ ⚪️🩵⚪️ ⚪️⚪️🩵 It’s Día das Letras Galegas again and thus the perfect time to pay tribute to Deportivo’s 12 seasons of shirts inspired by the Galician flag.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
▪️Three relegation places doubled to six. ▪️The possibility of a seventh team (out of 18!) going down. ▪️ 40+ points doesn’t guarantee safety. ▪️ Lots and lots of permutations! ▪️ Biblical rain 🌧️ Welcome to the final day in Tercera Federación Group 7!
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The Relegation Game
Welcome to final day of the season in Group 7 of Spain’s Tercera where the danger of relegation is all around.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
It wasn’t without its nervy moments, but my trip home for the Irish Cup Final was a success as I saw Coleraine lift the trophy for the seventh time in the club’s history! 🔵⚪️🏆
open.substack.com
Seventh Heaven
Coleraine survived more than a few scares to lift the Irish Cup for a seventh time and cap off a memorable season.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Pretty decent day… up the Bannsiders! 🔵⚪️🏆
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
The important packing for tomorrow is done! 🔵⚪️
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
NIFL title race pretty much done and dusted after last night. Can’t imagine Larne not picking up at least a point at home on the last day. We’ve got second place in our own hands, two wins will do it - or a win today and a draw next week.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
As if to prove the point I made in my latest post, only two of the top six in Segunda won this past weekend. Defeats for leaders Racing and Las Palmas (who dropped out of the playoffs) Draws for Dépor, Málaga and Castellón. The unpredictability of the Segunda strikes again!
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The Segunda Conundrum
Deportivo La Coruña toiled away for four seasons trying to get back to la Segunda. Now they’re hoping to escape it. But nothing is ever simple in one of the most unpredictable leagues in the world.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
With three games in the next eight days, it’s a pretty huge part of the season for Deportivo La Coruña as they look to keep their promotion bid on track in one the most unpredictable leagues in the world.
open.substack.com
The Segunda Conundrum
Deportivo La Coruña toiled away for four seasons trying to get back to la Segunda. Now they’re hoping to escape it. But nothing is ever simple in one of the most unpredictable leagues in the world.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
A visit to the brand new Deportivo La Coruña museum at the Estadio Riazor was a highlight of my weekend in the city. 🔵⚪️
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Visiting the Dépor Museum
I take a look at the recently-opened museum at the Estadio Riazor, a celebration of the club’s history and looking ahead to a hopefully bright future.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Buenos días! 🔵⚪️
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
Don Arsenío Iglesias Pardo. O Bruxo de Arteixo. Architect of the first great SuperDépor side which went so close to winning La Liga in 1994 and then won the Copa del Rey in ‘95.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Highlights of last weekend in Lisbon featured in my latest post on Substack! 📨 ⭐️ Estrella da Amadora, a wonderful old-school ground. 🦅 Benfica, the modern splendour of the Estádio da Luz. 🍽️ Eating incredibly well without spending a lot.
open.substack.com
Obrigado Lisboa!
A weekend in Portugal’s capital packed with sunshine, sightseeing, pastéis de nata, bifanas and obviously football!
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Highlights of a great football weekend in Lisbon. 🇵🇹 First up Estrela da Amadora 0-2 Tondela. Great old-school ground, superb atmosphere, tasty bifanas and an incredible array of relatives of more famous players on the pitch. João Félix’s brother! Désiré Doué’s cousin! Pierre Van Hooijdonk’s son!
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
In transit through Extremadura on my way to Lisbon and it looks quite nice! To my shame, it’s one of the few regions of Spain I’m yet to visit properly.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Ahead of my trip to Lisbon next weekend, I looked back at my last trip to the Portuguese capital in 2019 - and particularly my experience watching Benfica at the Estádio da Luz.
open.substack.com
Last time at the Estádio da Luz
As I prepare for a trip to Lisbon this coming weekend, here’s a look at my last visit in 2019 - when I saw Benfica at their iconic stadium.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Some of the best backdrops from my football travels, featured in my latest post on Substack! andrewrgillan.substack.com/p/the-200-cl...
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
📨New on Substack 📨 I tick off my 200th ground with a spectacular view in Toledo and I take a look at some other great backdrops from my footballing travels.
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The 200 Club
I took a day trip to Toledo for a personal milestone and some football with a spectacular view.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
A spectacular backdrop for football in Toledo, Spain’s ancient capital.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
A new ground this Sunday morning as I ventured south of the river to see CD Goya against UD Usera B. Nice weather, some decent goals and a good bar across the road for a half time snack in the absence of anything at the ground itself!
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
A fun reminder that because the word “Donut” is a registered trademark in Spain owned by Bimbo, other companies ate prohibited from using the word. As a result, Lidl sells “Floopies”.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Disappointing news from Galicia this morning that Dépor are set to swap Kappa for Nike at the end of the season. Kappa’s five seasons have brought some lovely bespoke designs influenced by the history of the club and the culture of Galicia. Nike basically means a slight variation on a catalogue kit
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Over on Substack, I’ve jumped on the 2016 flashback bandwagon and take a look at some of my football highlights of that year. It was a good year!
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A 2016 Football Flashback
Just jumping on the social media bandwagon of talking about ten years ago.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Football in 2026 might have peaked already. Featuring ruminations on the misuse of “x-goal thriller” by the media and the highest-scoring games I’ve ever seen!
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5-5
Football in 2026 might have peaked too soon.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
I think the competition for game of 2026 might be over already. Atlético Madrid 5-5 Real Sociedad in Liga F. It seems mad to say about a game that featured ten goals, but there easily could have been more!
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Merry Christmas! ¡Feliz Navidad! Here’s a Dépor-themed Christmas tree (from 2015) to celebrate. 🔵⚪️ 🎄
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
What is this? A new post from me on Substack? Apologies for the months of silence, I’ll try to do better in 2026, I promise. 🙏🏻
open.substack.com
Breaking the Silence
It’s been a while since I last posted anything. Here’s an apology and a promise for more consistent writing in 2026.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Calling it “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” is genuinely like calling the third James Bond film “Goldfinger: A Dr No Adventure”
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Saturday afternoon well-spent at the Estadio Román Valero despite Mosca going down 3-1 to Intercity. Who knew that’s where Ian Mackay was plying his trade now? Going by the shouts from the crowd near me,there were a couple of Dépor fans in attendance who haven’t forgotten his head loss in Castellón…
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
Struggling to process the fact that Coleraine and Dépor, whisper it, might both actually… be good.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
All hits, no misses. 🔵⚪️
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Not much of a gap between seasons but here we are, it’s time to start the big 2025/26 match thread! 🧵 ⚽️
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
New Coleraine kits from Macron were definitely worth the wait. Pleased to see blue back as the predominant colour on the home shirt after the mostly white ones of the Nike years. A red away shirt is always nice too.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
The best games, brilliant goals, incredible pre-match food, the luckiest kit in the world, weird weather, unconventional player and supporter headwear and more besides. It’s my belated 2024/25 awards! 🏆
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🏆 It’s the 2024/25 Awards! 🏆
A look back at the good, the bad, the ugly and the just plain weird of my last year watching football.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Last game of the 2024/25 season for me and a fun one to go out on… Spain’s Women beat Japan 3-1 in their final friendly ahead of the Euros in Switzerland.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
Not sure that having a player wearing number 51 is behaviour fitting of Champions League winners tbh.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Genuinely unhinged stuff.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
As it’s #diadasletrasgalegas today, let’s take some time to appreciate 11 years of #Dépor away and third kits based on the design and/or colours of the Galician flag! 🩵🤍🤍 🤍🩵🤍 🤍🤍🩵
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
Had this scheduled to publish while I went under the knife to remove a screw from my ankle yesterday. Hoping for a clean bill of health to make the trip down to Boetticher for the first leg of the playoff tomorrow! 💚 open.substack.com/pub/andrewrg...
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 06/04/2025
A beautiful Sunday morning back at the Boetticher for the first time since my injury and a superb win for playoff-chasing Botti over Collado Villalba. Four of the five’s goals were absolute crackers too!
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Small steps towards a return to normality for me over the last few weeks.
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Small Steps
The last couple of weeks have seen my recovery take some small but significant steps forward.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
If Dépor manage to stay up at the end of the season, it’ll be about 70% down to Yeremay and 30% down to the magic Brazil away kit.
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Andrew Gillan @andrewrgillan.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
The natural order of things has been restored. Coleraine are guaranteed to finish sixth now. Alternatively, five games left and only five points off second, dare we dream of Europe?
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