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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

The #WorldCup is finally over. 39 days, 48 teams, 3 hosts, 2 spotlight-loving Presidents and one overturned red card. As for that final: “They aren’t the Messi-ahs, they’re just very naughty boys.” Please do have a read, then we all need a lie down. open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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Bye-bye World Cup

We're exhausted after the biggest show in football

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

“Is relegation from #PremierLeague end of the world?” Perspective is needed. Football wasn’t actually invented by TV execs in 1992. #Tottenham were relegated in the 1970s. It wasn’t exactly a tragedy. One of the themes of my piece: 🙏🏼✍🏼 #Spurs #LivSpu

open.substack.com

Is Premier League relegation end of the world?

The turmoil of Tottenham

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

It’s #WorldBookDay. Many of the stories in my book Football Fables are still being played out for real. From greed to ghastly #VAR to epic cup runs. Please do buy a copy if you don’t have one and do keep spreading the word! Thank you! :) Here: tiny.cc/7jqtzz 📚⚽️

tiny.cc

Football Fables: The First Eleven

Buy Football Fables: The First Eleven by Wellings, Lee, Green, Chris, McMahon, Brendan, Green, Chris, Miles, David (ISBN: 9798343983920) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

#PremierLeague football is made for screens not fans. Many of you have had enough. They have stolen your clubs. I have written about it ✍🏼⚽️ open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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They have stolen your clubs

Premier League football is made for screens, not fans in the ground

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

New from The Sports Specialist on Substack Ten years of #GianniInfantino as #FIFA President. How the most powerful man in world football enjoys the spotlight… 👀✍🏼 open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

The #T20WorldCup in India and Sri Lanka is underway.🏏 20 teams are taking part including, for the first time…Italy. 👀✍🏼 open.substack.com/pub/leewelli... #Italycricket

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Italy dreaming of World Cup glory...

....in CRICKET!

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

New from The Sports Specialist… ‘The Scott Hanson Appreciation Society’ A tribute to the best in the business, from the UK open.substack.com/pub/leewelli... #ScottHanson #NFL #NFLRedZone #SuperBowl 🏈

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The Scott Hanson Appreciation Society

The best in the business

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

New from The Sports Specialist…. Is the Premier League boring? (Spoiler, yes it is) “The fluency, pace and purpose of Norwegian underdogs #BodoGlimt was embarrassing for Pep and a reminder of how stale the Premier league is in comparison” open.substack.com/pub/leewelli... #Guardiola #Pepball

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Is the Premier League boring?

Footballers lack flair in the age of Pepball

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Norwegians #BodoGlimt have taken a 2-0 lead against #ManchesterCity in the #ChampionsLeague. 🇳🇴 Fact can be stranger than fiction. I’d written a fable about a Norwegian team in yellow who shock Europe. As I explain here: 👀✍🏼 open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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The Glimt of reality

Football fiction is playing out for real....

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

New from ‘The Sports Specialist’ on Substack. As #MichaelCarrick starts his caretaker manager role at #ManchesterUnited “It can’t get any worse.” open.substack.com/pub/leewelli... (Please do subscribe in 2026 and share this link)

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It can’t get any worse for Manchester United

Can it?

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

What should be a highlight of the football year arrives. The #FACup 3rd round. But many kick-offs are scheduled to suit (global) TV audiences, I wrote about fans being treated like mugs overall and posted this video. Please do watch, read and share it. open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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DON’T TREAT FANS LIKE MUGS

The state of football in 2026

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Subscribe to The Sports Specialist in 2026…. open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

First article of the year for The Sports Specialist. Important subject. “They show smiling, wisecracking fans on their way to the stadiums, creating the illusion they know and care that football is about fans. “ “Don’t Treat Fans Like Mugs” 👀✍🏼

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DON’T TREAT FANS LIKE MUGS

The state of football in 2026

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

THE EPIC FAIL “It’s like a piece of work designed to shock. Perhaps we should consider Piero Manzoni’s infamous 1961 piece of ‘art’, where he literally filled 90 tin cans with faeces and displayed them. England’s performances feel like they are from the same scene.” #TheAshes

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The Epic Fail

From the ashes, let us start to celebrate the art in this England team's failure...

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

It’s #WorldChampionshipDarts time. Time for DARTS BABY!👶🏻🎯 It’s my fable about an 11-month-old darts phenomenon who becomes a superstar player at the tournament. It’s a much needed bit of fun. Enjoy! #LukeLittler #Darts #Lovethedarts open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

The #WorldCupdraw. Starring… Donald J #Trump Mr Gianni #Infantino Reintroducin’ #RobbieWilliams Toooooom BirmingHAM #Brady Those #VillagePeople & more. The biggest, most beautiful, tremendous star-studded draw EVER!🤩 (at some stage we’ll see who plays who🙏🏼) #wc2026

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The big, beautiful, tremendous World Cup draw

The essential Q & A!

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

New from The Sports Specialist: Party like it’s 1998. How Scotland changed the story. open.substack.com/pub/leewelli... #Scotland #WorldCupQualifiers #McTominay #McLean #Hampden

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Party like it’s 1998

How Scotland changed the story

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

‘The win that Jack built’ A piece on sport giving us the story we crave where the good guy wins after turmoil. Emotional doesn’t cover it. A beautiful night in Belfast where #JackLisowski did himself proud. He wasn’t the only one. open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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The win that Jack built

When sport gives us the story we crave, and the good guy finally wins...

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

The dust has settled, but the disgraceful scenes in New York at the #RyderCup will not be forgotten. Sport reflects society. And the lairy, unruly mob on the Saturday summed up exactly where we are.. Please read: open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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SPORT LOSES ITS MANNERS

There’s nothing like manners.

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

New from ‘The Sports Specialist’ on Substack. #JamieVardy in Lombardy! He’s not always easy to like - maybe that’s why he remains underrated - but there are few more remarkable ⚽️ careers. And his late move to #SerieA with #Cremonese is fascinating! open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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Vardy in Lombardy!

The veteran English striker's move to Italy is a fascinating plot twist

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

New from The Sports Specialist. This article will be like nothing else you read on #VAR. open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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IT SUCKS TO BE RIGHT

VAR cynics called it correctly

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

“Good people are out there”. On trolling and genuine kindness. Please read. open.substack.com/pub/leewelli... #SkyeStout #KilmarnockWomen

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Good people are out there

Good people are out there.

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Are #Chelsea really now the ‘world’s best team’? And yes, I do realize this article could have been a single word only! But #Infantino claimed #FIFAs #ClubWorldCup would prove who is world’s best….I’ve examined the case. open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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Are Chelsea really the world's best team?

That's what FIFA wants us to think

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Fed up of the money & greed in sport? Read this! Sport how it should be😍 open.substack.com/pub/leewelling… The #islandGames is about to start in Orkney. 12 sports, 2 thousand competitors, 900 volunteers. It’s the 40th anniversary and needs celebrating! :) #orkney2025

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THE ISLAND GAMES..a celebration of sport

The purest form of competition can be found in Orkney this month

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Who is the Alien Football Fan? 👀👽⚽️ open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

My new fable is released today. ‘The Red Ball’ explores the pressures of life through cricket. Link to fable: open.substack.com/pub/leewelli... About ‘The Red Ball’ open.substack.com/pub/leewelli... #EngvInd #TestCricket #redball #Headingley

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THE RED BALL

A new fable on cricket and life.....

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

About my new fable The Red Ball: “The game, and the way it was won, was an antidote to the frantic pace of the modern world. It had time to breathe.” 👀 open.substack.com/pub/leewelli... #cricket #Tests #EngvInd #WorldTestChampionship

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About my new fable: THE RED BALL

My sporting fables have mainly been about football.

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

FIFA’s #ClubWorldCup is underway. Global brand #InterMiami drew opening game 0-0 v #AlAhly of Egypt. The MLS team were controversially invited while #Liverpool & #Barcelona are amongst those missing out🧐 My original Q&A on the invite to #Messi’s team. open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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Who got an invite to FIFA's Club World Cup?

The best brand, not the best teams.

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

As promised, first article in a busy month for ‘The Sports Specialist’ @SubstackInc Perfect time to sign up to paid content for a month and see if it’s for you. It’s a hard-hitting one about the ‘humorous’ content used by gambling firms as a trap. #banter 👀: open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Happy June☀️😎 Good month to subscribe to ‘The Sports Specialist’ with two new fables released this month….plus #FIFA, #ClubWorldCup, #Ronaldo and the sly ‘banter content’ of betting companies. open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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Lots of content on the way...

TWO new fables released in June....

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

It’s 6 months since the release of #FootballFables (the ‘thinking fan’s book’! Time for a summer push!☀️ You can buy it here: tiny.cc/7jqtzz Please do spread the word (loved this review by the ‘Proper Football’ website) & thanks for your hol pics too! 😎📕 www.properfootball.co.uk/post/footbal...

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Am I a #CrystalPalace fan? No. I’m from South EAST London :) But I’m really pleased for them. Because that emotional #FACup win, and indeed Newcastle’s cup win, showed what fans really want. And it’s not what we’ve been sold for 30 years. New article: open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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ONE DAY LIKE THIS WILL SEE FANS RIGHT

Palace’s Cup final win showed what fans really want

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

What a lovely evening it turned out to be in the Costa del SE13 :) Thank you to all who came, it was great to meet and talk to you, to @andithomas.bsky.social for his hosting & @sirobnik.bsky.social for organising. To be back in childhood library, reading from my book #FootballFables, was a joy.🙏🏼

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Gandermonium @gandermonium.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Nice little jaunt out Blackheath way with a couple of the Welling mob for a soiree listening to @leewellings.bsky.social talk about his new book at Manor House Library. Nice!

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Calico Projects @calicoprojects.com · 13/05/2025

This is happening tonight! Grab your (free!) ticket while you can!

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Reposted by Lee Wellings

Andi Thomas @andithomas.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

I'll be hosting this - please do come along! it promises to be a fun chat about a really fun book

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Please do join us for an event at Manor House Library in south east London this Tuesday. I’ll be with fellow author Andi Thomas to talk about the beautiful & ugly sides of ⚽️ at the library of my childhood. 🗓️Tues May 13. Kick off 7pm Link for free entry: calicolibraries.com/events/footb...

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

For some of us the football season is over. I’ve taken the opportunity to pause sport, and serve Kant. What does this mean? And why is it offensive to some? Have a read 😘 #Eurovision #Eurovision2025 #Serving #Kant #Malta #MirianaConte open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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PAUSING SPORT, SERVING KANT

Warning: Language in this article may offend

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Andi Thomas @andithomas.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

hello London types - if you're free next Tuesday evening I'm hosting an author q&a at Manor House Library in Lewisham. I'll be talking to Lee Wellings about his new book and related matters...

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Perfect words in this FB article from ‘Proper Football’ whose content and ethos is attracting an increasing amount of fans. I’m grateful to them for their support of my own writing and events, including the Q&A at Manor House Library in SE London on May 13. 🙏🏼 👀 www.facebook.com/share/p/15V1...

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

A Norwegian club in yellow, shocking football with incredible run in Europe?! 🇳🇴💛 “You couldn’t make it up?!” Perhaps you could…because I’d written about it in my fable The Man Who Murdered Football” 😉 Article: open.substack.com/pub/leewelli... Good luck to #BodøGlimt v #Spurs #EuropaLeague

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THE GLIMT OF REALITY

Football fiction is playing out for real....

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

When you have an opportunity in life, go for it. My emotional account of an overwhelming, historic day for Horsham FC, the fans and the town. 💛💚 open.substack.com/pub/leewelli...

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SEIZING THE DAY

We did it. It was emotional and overwhelming, but we did it.

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Lee Wellings @leewellings.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

And I reminder I’ll be talking about my books & sport at #ManorHouseLibrary, back where I grew up in south east London. 🗓️Evening of Tues May 13. Be lovely to see you there❤️ calicolibraries.com/events/footb... Please see the short film about my return to library 🙏🏼🥹 m.youtube.com/watch?v=6JmV...

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