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Rob Conlon

@robconlon.bsky.social
2.5K followers 172 following 279 posts

Writer of words, talker of shite — @thesquareball.net, @realclass.co.uk Subscribe to the free Real Class rugby league newsletter and podcast realclass.co.uk

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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Best I’ve ever seen Johnstone play, and he’s torn Leeds apart a fair few times.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Be still my beating heart
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Can’t believe Leeds spent over a year playing Matt fucking Frawley rather than giving Jack Sinfield a run of games, but still, g’warn Wakey.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I believe this is what they call evergreen content
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Just the 5-0 win for Castellon yesterday.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
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The Square Ball @thesquareball.net · 07/09/2026
Brighton 1-1 #LUFC: New Energy Zoom out and it becomes apparent just how far this Leeds United team has come. Zoom in a little closer and it’s evident Leeds are still getting better. by @robconlon.bsky.social thesquareball.net/leeds-united...
thesquareball.net
Brighton 1-1 Leeds United: New Energy • The Square Ball
Zoom out and it becomes apparent just how far this Leeds United team has come. Zoom in a little closer and it’s evident Leeds are still getting better.
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The Square Ball @thesquareball.net · 05/09/2026
Blood, snow & espionage — #LUFC behind the Iron Curtain, 1965 “What happened in those early European games had a big impact on how Revie wanted us to play. He knew we had to look after ourselves.” by @robconlon.bsky.social, free to read from issue one of the mag thesquareball.net/leeds-united...
thesquareball.net
Blood, snow & espionage • The Square Ball
Missing Bobby Collins, Leeds’ adventure behind the Iron Curtain to face SC Leipzig forced Don Revie’s team of young upstarts to grow up quickly.
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The Square Ball @thesquareball.net · 03/09/2026
Deadline day from the other side For once we could sit back and enjoy the loathsome madness clubs put themselves through on deadline day. Hi, Angus! by @robconlon.bsky.social #LUFC thesquareball.net/leeds-united...
thesquareball.net
Deadline day from the other side • The Square Ball
For once we could sit back and enjoy the loathsome madness clubs put themselves through on deadline day. Hi, Angus!
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The Square Ball @thesquareball.net · 28/08/2026
The Square Ball: Season 37, Issue 01 We're back, we're full of optimism and in this mag we've got: - #LUFC behind the Iron Curtain - England No.1s - Blackwell's boys on drugs - Dublin On sale now + @ Elland Road on Sunday! Cover by Tom Lathom-Sharp
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
It's a good rabbit hole! There are so many conflicting ones that could all make sense it means you can still make your own mind up. (I'm more than happy to just accept it's pretty batshit and leave it at that anyway.)
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The Square Ball @thesquareball.net · 22/08/2026
Well that was nice, wasn't it? #lufc So nice, that perhaps we should make a t-shirt: thesquareball.net/shop/united-...
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The Square Ball @thesquareball.net · 15/08/2026
Everyone at TSB is very saddened to hear the news that our good friend Ottar Kvalheim has passed away. A truly lovely guy & dedicated Norwegian White, who will be missed by many #LUFC fans. Our thoughts are with his daughters Mari & Sarah and all family & friends.
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The Square Ball @thesquareball.net · 14/08/2026
Never devalue the value of Bruno Fernandes making a tit of himself @robconlon.bsky.social on three days of #LUFC fun in Dublin. thesquareball.net/leeds-united...
thesquareball.net
Never devalue the value of Bruno Fernandes making a tit of himself • The Square Ball
The wait for the Boyle Sports Cup goes on. But I'm all for trying again to win it next summer.
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btngnrtn @btngnrtn.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Wrote some words because I'm as mad as hell and I'm not gonna take this anymore. #neinzuRB #lufc
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Good idea, will save a few quid — thanks!
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Sadly he's already spent £70 on a membership for a chance to buy (or be allocated) a £50 ticket when the proper stuff starts — and he's still trying to justify getting an £80 away shirt.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Will have to ask my friend too... ...he says LUTV wasn't working on his firestick.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Glad you’re enjoying it man! I’m gearing myself up for 1Q84 but think I need a stopgap or two first!
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The Square Ball @thesquareball.net · 22/07/2026
Ahead of #LUFC's trip to Anderlecht, Eirik Bakke warned their dismissive manager Aime Anthuenis: “I’ll be perfectly fit to go hunting for scalps.” "We didn’t care who we were playing," Bakke tells @robconlon.bsky.social 25 years later. "We thought we could beat anyone.”
thesquareball.net
Hunting For Scalps • The Square Ball
“We didn’t care who we were playing,” Eirik Bakke tells Rob Conlon. “We thought we could beat anyone.”
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Good stuff from @cmcmenamy.bsky.social👇
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Turns out the handbrake does exist
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Got to admire the dedication to it. Simeone doesn’t even seem to be a footballer yet he’s playing in a World Cup semi-final
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Loved that. Bastards make football ace* *Apart from that Sunderland game at Elland Road
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
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The Square Ball @thesquareball.net · 07/07/2026
🎤☘ TSB LIVE SEASON PREVIEW, DUBLIN We'll be at the Laughter Lounge for a #LUFC season preview podcast on 11 August, the night before Leeds play That Lot at Croke Park. 🎟️ Tickets on sale now! laughterlounge.com/products/the...
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Leeds playing Bradford at Magic Weekend gave us a nice excuse to look back at one of the daftest games of rugby league you'll ever watch. "A total and complete and utter mess." I thought it was ace. open.spotify.com/episode/27A0...
open.spotify.com
Cult Classics: Gansongate, Leeds Rhinos vs Bradford Bulls 2007
Real Class: Rugby League · Episode
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
I'm not sure how likely we've ever been of getting him but I'd hope they're two separate targets — Wilson the left-footed right winger we wanted last summer, Brandt the 10 who Farke has wanted since Rutter left. So if not Brandt, I'd still love someone of that ilk.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Can’t stop thinking about him now
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Well put!
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The Square Ball @thesquareball.net · 10/06/2026
Pablo Hernandez can’t escape the ghosts of #LUFC @robconlon.bsky.social has seen this film before, only this time it was soundtracked by Ennio Morricone rather than Joy Division.
thesquareball.net
Pablo Hernandez can't escape the ghosts of Leeds United • The Square Ball
We've seen this film before, only this time it was soundtracked by Ennio Morricone rather than Joy Division.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
A Fistful of Dollars meets A Mouthful of Tissues thesquareball.net/leeds-united...
thesquareball.net
Pablo Hernandez can't escape the ghosts of Leeds United • The Square Ball
We've seen this film before, only this time it was soundtracked by Ennio Morricone rather than Joy Division.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Especially given he was supposedly one of the leading voices in implementing the curfew. The story that he was initially considering retiring altogether before calming down the following day just sounds like a bloke dealing with a crippling hangover.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
The line about the ECB's problem being that they can organise a piss up in a brewery was good, but his argument of, 'Well, fans get pissed at the cricket, so what do you expect?' was mental. (Although sport would be loads better if athletes drank as much as supporters, as Leeds proved at Derby.)
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
That's part of the reason I didn't watch it! So technically you can all thank me. I scored those two goals really.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
I've vowed to never watch it back. Not even out of heartache (well, partly), but because it was so mind-bending inside the stadium I'd like to keep my memory of it that way.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
The good news is Pablo has got Castellon playing like Bielsa's Leeds. The bad news is they've just recreated the play-off semi-final against Derby.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Even watching it back six weeks later I started feeling sick when Calvert-Lewin cleared one off the line.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Gonna be good fun if he loses the captaincy for getting into trouble while boozing only to be replaced by, erm, Harry Brook.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
I've waited my entire lifetime for a league win at Old Trafford, so naturally I missed it. Saved watching back the whole game for a little treat at the end of the season, and bloody hell, we really were brilliant.
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Chris McMenamy @cmcmenamy.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Wrote about the origins of the Yorkshire Rose crest. An incredible competition with mad designs that ended with #LUFC refusing to pay the winner. thesquareball.net/leeds-united...
thesquareball.net
The price of identity • The Square Ball
With Leeds United returning to the Yorkshire Rose crest, it's time to give designer Brenda Reader her credit — and start looking to the future.
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The Square Ball @thesquareball.net · 03/06/2026
The existential crisis of James Milner retiring @lukebre7.bsky.social missed James Milner's #LUFC debut, since the view from his dad’s testes was quite unclear, but he's sure he enjoyed it nonetheless. thesquareball.net/leeds-united...
thesquareball.net
The existential crisis of James Milner retiring • The Square Ball
I missed James Milner's Leeds debut, since the view from my dad’s testes was quite unclear, but I’m sure I enjoyed it nonetheless
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Never seen a man so disappointed. Been meaning to send him an unspoiled copy ever since
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
One of me faves
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Paul Thompson @jakethackrayfan.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
A football column quoting a Jake Thackray lyric is a fine thing indeed.
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Absolutely loved the biography mate! I even stole a phrase of Jake's when describing Lewis Jones scoring a try for Leeds for the title of a rugby league blog: www.realclass.co.uk
realclass.co.uk
Real Class
A rugby league podcast and blog • The only class is real class
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Rob Conlon @robconlon.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
One for the Jake Thackray Ultras🤝
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btngnrtn @btngnrtn.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
Congrats on doing what I never did in 10 years at Viz: getting “fuck” on the front cover 👍 @robconlon.bsky.social @eamov1.bsky.social @oddytsb.bsky.social @michaeltsb.bsky.social @dan.thesquareball.net @cmcmenamy.bsky.social 👏 #lufc
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Zac Connolly @zacconnolly.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
It's been an absolute cracker of a season, hasn't it!? Enjoy this feeling while It's here. #lufc
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