Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 14/08/2026Here's a piece for 'The Dugout' on the Aficionados travel website, written this very week. Lots of never-before- revealed info on the Basque invasion of the EPL this season and the chaps behind it. And if you fancy the Feb trip over here, you can buy me a drink. aficionadosft.com/thebasqueinv... 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 17/05/2026Wonderful stuff from Led by Donkeys. Love the way that the morons just drift past it, although one tries to unplug the truth. Kind of tells you a lot. youtube.com/shorts/JUeC_...youtube.comImmigration makes Britain brilliant. 🇬🇧YouTube video by Led By Donkeys 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 12/04/2026Whilst the world goes to hell in a whatsit and a June World Cup ticket just got pricier as I blinked, this mag is still going, and is still the best, by a long shot. I first wrote for them in late 1986 and without them, 'Morbo' would never have seen the light. Here's to 40 more! 020
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 08/03/2026New piece on Liga Fever, calling for the return of dignity. Enjoy: ligafever.wordpress.com/2026/03/07/s...ligafever.wordpress.comStrafing the forests of shithouseryWhat’s the greatest moment in post-modern football – if by ‘post-modern’ we mean this crestfallen and cankered millennium? What was the brightest moment for you? We need to narrow the field a… 010
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 15/12/2025Tommy Robinson's song for Christmas. Hope you like it. Peace on Earth! suno.com/s/VbOjdHainf...suno.comTommy Robinson is kingListen and make your own on Suno. 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 10/12/2025"Trump accusing Ukraine of a lack of democracy is like an arsonist criticising the fire department’s safety procedures.” (Me + Chat GPT, Dec 10, 2025). 😎 Can anyone think of some more? 010
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 09/12/2025You have to love this guy. Uses his money to get a twice-impeached felon halfwit into power so that he can spend 10 mins in the White House sacking 300,000 workers and then pay a fascist Brit (Tommy Robinson) to help undermine a society of which he has no understanding. Elon's a true democrat. Yeah! 000
Reposted by Phil BallAnother Europe Is Possible @anothereurope.bsky.social · 05/12/2025HOT OFF THE PRESS: Time for Change is here! Sick of the constant demonisation of migrants? Want to see an alternative plan? Our new report by @zoejardiniere.bsky.social outlines 9 steps to a system that delivers dignity for all. Read it here: www.anothereurope.org/time-for-cha...anothereurope.orgTime For Change: The evidence-based policies that can actually fix the immigration systemA new report from prominent migration expert Zoe Gardner has been enthusiastically welcomed by senior Labour backbenchers. 5158114
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 05/12/2025Richard Tice paraphrase of the day: 'Right-wing people have good memories. Left-wing people do not'. 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 22/11/2025Voilà. The 4 Pillars of Trumpism: 1. If you’re asked a difficult question, insult or threaten. 2. Suck up to murderers and bullies (Saudi chap, Putin, Netanyahu) 3. Refuse to accept election results that don’t go your way. 4. Spaff your dad’s money and then call everyone else a loser. Please add. 020
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 20/11/2025My son today from deepest Laos, showing a touching allegiance to the colours of Real Sociedad and the national flag. A fine combi. 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 15/11/2025Whilst Infantino jabbers on about his latest whizz-bang loadsamoney scheme and brownoses Trump & Saudi in a paean of praise to sportwashing, I'm driving 200k to attend this event today cos it makes me feel better about the world, at least for 90 minutes. Well done to the Basques. 010
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 12/11/2025Sorry, but how can you defame Trump? He's been self-defaming for his entire life. Trump suing for defamation is a contradiction in terms. And wasn't he impeached for a 2nd time for incitement of insurrection? So, sure, the BBC messed up, but ffs..... www.reuters.com/world/does-t...reuters.com 020
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 20/09/2025Problem is, if Reform get in, publications that tell the truth will probably be banned too. 010
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 28/08/2025Living the Bream. Reflections on Grimsby's wonderful win against Man Utd. Remember - it's not about football. ligafever.wordpress.com/2025/08/28/l...ligafever.wordpress.comLiving the BreamRoll out the barrel of adjectives! Awesome, monumental, surreal? Or a touch more street, like dope, sick, epic, banging? Whatever, I prefer the old-fashioned dog’s bollox, which is of course a … 020
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 27/08/2025Nice piece on Grimsby's Cod Almighty this mo', which is better than anything I can say. If we win, I'll write something. But for now, this is spot-on. I watched Utd beat Benfica in 1968 on our black n' white TV, and it nailed down my emotional connection to football. codalmighty.com/site/ca.php?... 010
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 16/08/2025Wisdom's in prison, Punks are in power, Cometh the crooked Cometh the hour youtube.com/shorts/W8BQD... 010
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 07/07/2025My mate was complaining the other day that nobody's raising a fuss about the awfulness of Gaza, Ukraine, Trump etc with actual songs - save Kneecap. Oh well....I had a go. White pensioner-rap. Maybe stick to the day-job? suno.com/s/vwgMmy1s4H...suno.com 100
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 04/07/2025That's the funniest headline I've seen this decade from the Guardian. But I prefer the take on Wikipedia: "Since the 1970s, at least 25 women have accused Donald Trump of rape, kissing and groping without consent; looking under women's skirts, and walking in on naked teenage pageant contestants"🤔 010
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 28/06/2025It's a very simple question - are these not illegal acts (see pic)? And yet the British govt intends to proscribe a bunch of harmless dudes as 'terrorists' for spraying a bit of red paint on a plane, trying to disrupt the flow of arms to Israel as it commits war crimes? Hmm🤔 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 28/06/2025I'm interested in Yvette Cooper's proscription of this group. Yet surely, the Labour Party's continuing support of Israel and its incaction in what is clearly genocide makes them complicit. It's an ineffably logical argument. Can we therefore proscribe Yvette Cooper as a terrorist? 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 12/05/2025This took me 10 seconds to produce on AI this morning. Thanks Mr Starmer, for maintaining the Labour Party's Christian Socialist traditions intact* (*irony warning). 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 04/05/2025After the money-luvin' shysters have gone, after the smoke has faded, after Pérez has retired to his care-home, after Laporta has not paid off his debts & the Super League my friend is blowin' in the wind, there'll still be the Basque derby and two half-decent clubs, to make a whole. Bring it on! 033
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 27/04/2025This is very good. Unfortunately it might be too close to factual for the MAGA crowd, and all those who float in that wobbly boat: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj1g...youtube.comTrump GETS SNUBBED at Pope Funeral in DISASTER DAYYouTube video by MeidasTouch 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 10/03/2025Working in Santander last week, I had the mornings free to explore the lovely Sardinero beach area. Took a few mid-mornin' photos - some of them were half-decent. 120
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 01/03/2025Good piece here: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...theatlantic.comIt Was an AmbushFriday marked one of the grimmest days in the history of American diplomacy. 010
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 26/02/2025Excellent piece by Andy Beckett. It won't be read by the populist right for 2 reasons: a) The truth is problematic for them and b) The article requires an adult reading-age. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...theguardian.comDo Trump and co want a world reclaimed by straight white men? It’s not certain they’ll get it | Andy BeckettTrump calls diversity policies ‘immoral’ and Badenoch says they’re ‘poison’. But businesses know multiculturalism is good for the economy, says Guardian columnist Andy Beckett 000
Reposted by Phil BallWhen Saturday Comes @wsc.co.uk · 11/02/2025Group travel for like-minded enthusiasts – join Aficionados Football Travel for a fútbol-filled weekend in Seville in May, accompanied by Spanish football expert @philballauthor.bsky.social Sale now on – plus WSC subscribers save another £75! Find out more and book: aficionadosft.com/seville 011
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 22/01/2025Aren't tomatoes just wonderful in their diversity? Couldn't resist snapping these, this morning in my local Basque veggie-shop. It's so sad that in Trump's USA they're only going to allow two varieties. 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 18/01/2025I saw Forest v Man Utd on Tues March 31, 1970 under floodlights at the City Ground. You just turned up and paid. Utd played in blue. 1-2. Law was injured and so I never saw him, but the other two of the trinity were on. It was rather wonderful. Law - lithe and lethal. The 3 Ls. RIP to an era. 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 21/12/2024Here's a little song for Xmas. I sent it to the BBC in 1980 and Simon Bates' PR wrote back to me (in those days they actually used to reply) 'Simon really likes it but thinks that certain lines might cause offence'. 45 years later, I thought it deserved an airing. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BzH...youtube.comThe Manger Mash (Phil Ball)YouTube video by Phil Ball 130
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 09/12/2024This was the cleaning roster for the apartment buildings where we stayed a week or so ago, in La Rioja in Spain. I was wondering if they might have worked out a more concise way of indicating who was on and who was off, as it were. Good to see that Jesus makes the cut in December though. 000
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 06/12/2024It's kind of nice when you realise your kids are ok at something, especially when they insist to you that they're not. I managed to get my reluctant daughter (now aka DJ Chilli Flakes) to sing this one day. Still glad I did. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqFG...youtube.comPhil 'n Lil: Cover of Dido's 'Thank you'YouTube video by Phil Ball 030
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 01/12/2024I first heard Beefheart at an early age, and life was never quite the same again. But I enjoyed this classical musician's first take on 'Moonlight on Vermont'. Instead of rejecting it, she sees the structure in the apparent chaos - which was the whole point, I guess: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRiq... 110
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 29/11/2024Saw Real Sociedad beat Ajax last night (on the telly - I gave my tickets to 2 Dutch friends, because I'm a saint👼). But Remko Pasveer, the Ajax goalie, is a ringer for the bassist in a band I saw in Norwich in summer doing rubbish covers of Eagles songs in some dodgy pub one night. Definitely him. 110
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 28/11/2024Nipped out on a chilly night here in San Sebastian to see the band Public Service Broadcasting. Very enjoyable. Stayed behind to chat with the main man J Willgoose Esq who's actually called John (no secrets there) and is the son of an acquaintance. He looks very young, or maybe I'm just old.... 240
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 25/11/2024Went for a little wander at the weekend, along the Camino near Cirueña, in La Rioja. Cold, brutal wind, but kinda peaceful. Then, talking of La Rioja..... 030
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 22/11/2024Still stepping cautiously here, unsure of protocol and netiquette...not wanting to be too fulsome or fanatical about anything. But this piece today is really the best thing I've read about the conflict - from a guy employed as a sports writer. He's very,very good. www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/n...theguardian.comSport may be a blunt tool of social change, but it’s time to take a stand against Israel | Jonathan LiewAs the bombardment continues in Gaza, bodies such as Fifa and the IOC have evaded taking a stand. But fans’ solidarity with Palestinians is growing and should not be ignored 021
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 18/11/2024As a visual means of introduction, here's my pile, as it were. As a writer, it's sometimes nice to see your past, in vertical terms, and the faithful slippers that have accompanied you on the often lonely journey. I'm perfectly gregarious, but this represents years without human contact. I forget. 241
Phil Ball @philballauthor.bsky.social · 16/11/2024Well now - this is interesting. Looking back at my previous virgin steps on social media sites I've learned to begin cautiously, but hoping for a little more warmth on here after the recent arctic blizzards of hate on you-know-where. Erm...hello. 240
