iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Interesting to see that the site of the first Hampden Park in Glasgow - until recently occupied by a bowling club - is now on the market as an 'exciting leisure opportunity'. g-s.co.uk/properties/p...

Sales brochure for former Hampden Bowling Club

322

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Edinburgh football collector fair tomorrow (Sunday 27 September). Admission is free, come along!

Advert for Edinburgh football collector fair, Sunday 27 September 2026

012

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Fifty years ago tonight: the Bay City Rollers in Edinburgh. I took the precaution of sitting at the back of the rear circle. Should have brought ear plugs as well...

2103

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I've been going through some 1880s cycling programmes and I'm loving the contraptions that were advertised for sale in Edinburgh. Tricycles, tandems, racing bikes and the 'Psycho Safety'.

0199

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The British Society of Sports History @bssh.bsky.social annual conference takes place in Edinburgh this week, and I'm looking forward to meeting some top sports historians. I'll even be giving a talk on 'Why do footballers head the ball?' which looks at the obscure and quirky origin of heading.

065

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

I've just got my copy of this new book, a statistical record of East of Scotland senior football from 1875 right up to 2026. It is an incredible piece of research with 380 pages, A4 size, and costs just £10 from Amazon (with free postage in the UK). www.amazon.co.uk/LOTHIANS-BOR...

042

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Saw this lovely presentation of medals at Edinburgh University AFC, to commemorate the great Dr John Smith - ten caps for Scotland 1877-84, scoring ten goals inc seven against England. Mauchline, EUAFC & Queen's Park. Also a prominent rugby player, went to Australia with the British Lions.

031

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Here's a picture of the KAA Gent squad practising to face Scottish opposition. (and yes, I know it's from a few years ago, when Hein Vanhaezebrouck was the manager, but still...)

100

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Good luck to Hibs when they face KAA Gent tonight - and if they are looking for a good omen, the last Hibby to play a competitive match there came up with the goods! #AndyMurray

Andy Murray lifting the Davis Cup in Gent in 2015

101

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The launch of @davidolusoga.bsky.social #AHouseThroughTime tonight should give a new lease of life to my mother's excellent book, The People of Calton Hill, which covers the history of the same area in Edinburgh. Published in 1993 but there will be second hand copies out there.

34210

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

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!

140

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

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. /

110

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

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. /

220

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I've also been looking through my tickets and show programmes, rediscovering some famous names starting out in their careers. /

120

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

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.../

1158

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

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...

020

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

It's in the Saints history. Can you read this? If not I can transcribe.

110

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

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.

110

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

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.

122

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

I've got a copy of McFlannels United, signed by the author Helen Pryde and the cast of the radio recording.

000

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Indeed it is. Scenes from Flodden and Bannockburn just in case anyone doubted how serious it was...

010

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

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!

310

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Been reading this fascinating book. Can't wait to get stuck into the sequel.

000

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

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.

041

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

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!

1103

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

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...

165

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

And from Liverpool, another famous Scot.

120

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Interesting event coming up at Historic Scotland, archive material on sport. 27 July in Edinburgh: www.historicenvironment.scot/whats-on/all...

011

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

#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.

000

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

#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.

030

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

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]

086

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

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.

010

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

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.

Title page: Minutes of the Glasgow Lawn Tennis Club, 1877

Glasgow Lawn Tennis Club, opening meeting call.

041

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Actually, it hasn't. The designation only applies to the site of the pavilion, in Kingsley Gardens. The bowling club site is not included.

Historic Environment Scotland's map highlighting the area within Kingsley Gardens to be designated as a scheduled monument.

000

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

You can also choose from a number of wistful tee shirts, for those who can't forget.

100

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

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.

020

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

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.

132

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

50 years ago, 12 May 1976, I was at Hampden Park for a memorable European Cup final between Bayern Munich and St Etienne. The Germans won 1-0, the French were hard done by, with Hampden's square goalposts entering into legend.

Match programme, European Cup final 1976

464

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

A few months later, Everton thought they were the first.

000

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

I believe Fulham were the first club in England to create an official website, as reported in May 1995.

100

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

What did we do before the internet? Today marks 30 years since Hearts became the first Scottish football club to launch an official website - reported in the Edinburgh Evening News, 11 May 1996. Of course there were fan sites before then but this was the first by a club in Scotland.

Newspaper cutting, Hearts hit the net - launch of club website in 1996

223

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

On this day, 30 April 1895, the British Ladies Football Club played in Scotland for the first time, drawing a crowd of 6,000 to Paisley. They went on to play 14 times around Scotland that summer, but interest soon dropped off.

Newspaper clipping from the Glasgow Evening Post, 1 May 1895, reporting on the British Ladies FC match.

Statistics for some British Ladies FC matches in Scotland

010

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

I'm pretty sure this is him - died in an Edinburgh hospital on 29 December 1931 of tuberculosis in the middle of winter. No relatives or profession recorded, which fits with his descent into poverty.

Death certificate for Thomas Miller or Millar

000

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

100 years ago today, Arsenal proved too strong for Hibernian in an end-of-season friendly, winning 5-0 at Highbury.

191

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Linlithgow Rose win 2-1. League champions. Scenes.

031

Andy Mitchell @andymitchellmedia.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Half time still 1-0. Nervy game, chances at both ends, but the way things stand, both teams miss out on the title as Clydebank are winning..

100