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Steve Walmsley

@s10countryman.bsky.social
108 followers 230 following 255 posts

Hallam FC. More sustainable running of football. Politics and current affairs. Music. Books. Oh, and real ale in great pubs!

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Reposted by Steve Walmsley
Alskicav @alskicav.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
BBC News - "The Smith's Johnny Marr's guitars sell for almost £4m at auction...100% of the hammer price of 31 lots... donated to two charities: The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society" What a top fella. Achieving national treasure status (if he wasn't already)
bbc.co.uk
The Smith's Johnny Marr's guitars sell for almost £4m at auction
One instrument was used on the The Smiths' debut album and also appeared on the cover of Oasis's debut single.
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Hassinator @hassinator.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
a great letter in the times today. perhaps worth sharing in these troubled times. #RNLI #heroes
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Easy to donate: rnli.org/support-us/g...
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Chaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I think the worst part of Labour's response to the fascist mobilisation is Andy Burnham's absence. He's the most popular politician in the country, with social media reach and actual powers of persuasion, and he's saying nothing in public. He can actually be of use here but he's choosing not to
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
What Sam said. Meanwhile, in Denmark, migrants' kids lag 20/30/40 points behind on average -and there are still people here who think *we* should copy *them* on immigration/integration.
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History and Heritage Yorkshire @handhyorkshire.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
🧵It might be an appropriate time to remember the Battle of Holbeck Moor ninety years ago this month.
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James Ball @jamesrball.com · 05/08/2026
There is never a bad time to watch this video.
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Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Can electoral lightning strike twice? #VoteBinface #Clacton
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Ian King @twoht.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Earlier today, on FIFA's latest bullshit and why Bald FIFA Guy may have bitten off more than he can chew. unexpecteddelirium.substack.com/p/grand-thef...
unexpecteddelirium.substack.com
Grand Theft Futbol: Why Infantino's latest heist may be his European Super League moment
The announcement of a decision to to sell off a chunk of the World Cup to his mates has been met with a furious response, and this hubris might even effect much-needed reform.
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
I know people like to take the p*ss out of Adrian but this is a great piece of writing.
theguardian.com
I’d never cried during a live broadcast – then three poignant words had me sobbing | Adrian Chiles
I couldn’t help choking up when the writer Katriona O’Sullivan told me her life story. Now I’m on a mission to get everyone to read her memoir, writes Adrian Chiles
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Michael Calvin @mcalvinbook.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Excellent analysis from Nick. Our FA will be deservedly damned if it does not immediately rescind its endorsement of Infantino. England should also be among the nations threatening a boycott of FIFA’s tainted showpiece.
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John Crace @mrjohncrace.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
No one thinks they will have to pay for social care. Until they find they do
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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
It is very hard to see how anything other than a secession of all UEFA countries from Fifa (which other confederations would follow, as the WC is worth very little without European teams and markets) can put a stop to the assault Infantino and his US friends are leading on football.
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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
This feels more relevant than ever.
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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Gerard Lopez, the club killer. There is no better example of football's total regulatory failure at European level than to have allowed Lopez to seize control of club after club after club, only to destroy them in record time. Mouscron, Bordeaux, now Boavista.
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Common Wealth @cmmonwealth.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
“Essential services ... that were privatised are no longer working ... there’s a different way of organising it ... it’s not going back to the 1970s, it’s saying that a modern, dynamic economy has to fix those essentials.” @mathewlawrence.bsky.social on @lbc.co.uk 👇
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James Ball @jamesrball.com · 20/07/2026
An interesting thread on what seems like a real shame: Timpson was an effective, unusual and principled CEO – and a real expert committed to prisons reform. His appointment was one of the most interesting innovations the Starmer era.
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Chris Weatherspoon @cweatherspoon.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
A huge, *huge* issue football has is for the most part its financial rules are backward-looking. Let teams spend themselves into oblivion, inflate the market, fix it later Rare exception: La Liga rules - while far from perfect - look ahead and try to stop the spending at source
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Thangam Debbonaire @thangamdebbonaire.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Ed Miliband has qualifications, knowledge, a political economy that serves the people and the planet. He has substantial government experience. He would be a brilliant Labour Chancellor.
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
"A closed country will be poorer. A country that underinvests will not grow. A state that refuses to reform tax will ration ambition. And a Labour government afraid to say these things will discover once again that caution, too, has costs." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Burnham must learn from Starmer’s mistakes: Labour was elected to transform the economy, not just stabilise it | Jonathan Portes
Devolution, tax, the EU and immigration: these are all opportunities for growth if Burnham abandons the excessive caution of the past few years, says economist Jonathan Portes
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Martin Calladine @uglygame.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Worthy winners, but the Spanish players' universal willingness to roll around pretending to be hurt really makes it hard to cheer for them.
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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Nothing is beneath this man. This is yet another egregious breach of Fifa's Code of Ethics by Infantino, which, if Fifa's Ethics Committee still had a modicum of independence, would immediately trigger an investigation.
insideworldfootball.com
Infantino uses FIFA staff to lobby MAs for his March 2027 presidential re-election - Inside World Football
July 15 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been using the governing body’s staff to lobby and pressure national associations in to sending letters of support for his own re-election to the presiden...
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Ian King @twoht.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
The lad whose mum is on the pitch giving him a dressing down's career is essentially over, isn't it?
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JosimarFootball @josimarfootball.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
New! Ny! Every World Cup is meant to have a legacy, this one could be the moment when the process of reclaiming and reforming the governance of football begins. By @davidgoldblatt.bsky.social josimarfootball.com/2026/07/14/d...
josimarfootball.com
Dystopia  - josimarfootball.com
Every World Cup is meant to have a legacy, this one could be the moment when the process of reclaiming and reforming the governance of football begins.
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The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Have now seen Gentlemen Prefer Blondes on the big screen for the first time, and the full-scale High Society production - both within a few days. As a 1950s musicals/movies obsessive, this is as good as it gets. Am in heaven, as much as any of the characters. Thinking about doing a review of both.
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 10/07/2026
So refreshing to hear a politician actually answer the questions
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Tobique Mike🇨🇦 @tobiquemike.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
No matter what happens now, this World Cup will always be remembered as the one where the political leader of a participating nation leaned on FIFA to have the rules thrown out for his countrymen and FIFA caved. FIFA needs a purge. #cdnpoli #uspoli
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Conor Sewell @ccsewell.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
I’m sorry, but this is some utter bullshit. As someone who thinks TMO has overall been positive for rugby, I supported VAR when it came in. But this isn’t fair or right. Get rid of VAR ASAP.
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Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
On my way, Clacton.
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Robert Shrimsley @robertshrimsley.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
The prospect of Nigel Farage fighting a people vs the establishment by-election in which the only other candidate is Count Binface - is too hilarious for words.
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Hugh Brechin @hughrbrechin.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Marine Le Pen having to leave campaign events early to avoid setting off her ankle monitor, like a presidential campaign brought to you by early-career Jamie Vardy
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Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 07/07/2026
Perfect response from one @thetimes.com reader to J.D. Vance's nonsense.
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Will Jennings📉🗳️ @drjennings.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
This is a really excellent piece by @will-davies.bsky.social, not least it very clearly explains the (economic) state we are in (something that most political commentary seems unable to do).
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Sam Kunti @samindrakunti.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
“Fifa’s World Cup expansion was always about generating revenue.” On the format, smaller nations and diluting the tournament‘s quality. www.newindianexpress.com/opinion/2026...
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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
When "right" is wrong. Did anyone think this "goal" was offside when it was "scored"? According to the letter of the current law, it is. The problem, here, is the isolation of a single, ephemeral moment in a continuum - a continuum in which Iran derived no advantage from Khalilzadeh's position.
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Jo Michell @jomichell.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
The attacks on Miliband from unions are misguided and unhelpful. His agenda is not anti-worker or anti-jobs. The climate transition is not optional. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
Progressive economists reject Unite leader’s criticism of Ed Miliband
Sharon Graham is urged to withdraw her claim that the energy secretary would cost jobs if he became chancellor
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Steven Fielding @polprofsteve2024.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Not all BBC journalists are the same, thankfully.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
The joy today is that hatred lost. Doesn't matter what you think of Burnham. Farage tried to invite a race riot. He dealt in explicitly racial rhetoric. If he'd won, many journalists would have considered it a vindication of his approach and branded our outrage evidence of how out of touch we are.
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LBC @lbc.co.uk · 19/06/2026
'If you have any information about the whereabouts of Nigel, whose mummy is very worried about him, the number is 0345 6060 973.' After Andy Burnham's Makerfield win, James O'Brien wonders why the Reform UK leader is not doing any live interviews.
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Jonn Elledge @jonnelledge.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
It is extremely annoying the way that Hunt, like Osborne before him, personally undermined the foundations of the British state and now gets to opine as if this mess was absolutely nothing to do with him.
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Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 15/06/2026
NIGEL FARAGE - AN APOLOGY. thecritic.co.uk/once...
NIGEL FARAGE — AN APOLOGY. Last week, I noted that since The Guardian revealed that he’d accepted a £5 million “gift” from a crypto-billionaire, the leader of Reform has carefully avoided places where people might ask him questions. In response, I find I’m now being shunned by Reform: when shame-vacuum finance spokesman Jenrick spoke on Monday morning, I was the only sketchwriter not invited. 

To some journalists, the discovery that they were no longer going to have to attend events with Richard Tice would be a source of profound relief. Such hacks might take it as a compliment to have so riled the not-at-all fragile people who run Reform that they enacted petty revenge. But I am not that kind of writer. Goodness no. 

So I would like to take this opportunity to say that I apologise for ever implying that Farage might be scared of questions. Quite the opposite: the leader of Reform is a giant among pygmies, a vigorously healthy man of tremendous moral and physical courage who has only
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Emma Hayes: "this is a victory for immigration" (because the team are all disaspora). I thought I couldn't like her any more.
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Peter Smith @redpeter99.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Sad news about Roy Hattersley. Staying with Labour and not joining the four who formed the SDP probably saved the Labour Party. Left on some issues, centrist on others he was the embodiment of the post war Labour Party. #RIP
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Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
I hope Hull History Centre won't mind me sharing this lovely letter from Roy Hattersley's papers, on the sad news of his passing aged 93. RIP.
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Steve Walmsley @s10countryman.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
www.theguardian.com/politics/202... Lovely tribute from Neil Kinnock. RIP Roy
theguardian.com
‘A giant of the labour movement’: Roy Hattersley, former Labour deputy leader, dies aged 93
Labour grandee was MP for Birmingham Sparkbrook from 1964 until his retirement from the Commons in 1997
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George Eaton @georgeeaton.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
A great loss, Hattersley was a wonderfully articulate and thoughtful politician who made a consistent case for the power of social democracy to spread freedom. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
theguardian.com
‘A giant of the Labour movement’: Roy Hattersley, former Labour deputy leader, dies aged 93
Labour grandee was MP for Birmingham Sparkbrook from 1964 until his retirement from the Commons in 1997
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Tom Clark @tom-clark.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
RIP Roy Hattersley. A pragmatic style of politics in unswerving service of radical, egalitarian ends. A rare blend then, which would be rarer still today. www.thenewworld.co.uk/matt-kelly-r...
thenewworld.co.uk
Roy Hattersley, former Labour deputy leader, dies
Committed pro-European who formed half of the so-called dream ticket with Neil Kinnock was 93
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James Ball @jamesrball.com · 14/06/2026
"It is not the duty of government to abandon online territory, to cede it as ungovernable. It is the duty of the government to provide safe public spaces, both online and offline. Children need those on the internet just as much as they need them in their neighbourhood."
jamesrball.com
A teen social media ban is an admission of total and utter failure to govern online spaces
The UK government is currently calling for steps that fall short of a teen social media ban. Here's why it shouldn't take the next step.
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Paul Taylor @wotmtpaul.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Fabulous event this morning unveiling the Ambrose Langley headstone at Burngreave Cemetery. Top commitment from David Storch who - after an eight hour flight and a three hour drive - came straight here after reading about the unveiling on the plane 👏 @swfc.co.uk
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Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
"Why adopting Reform-lite rhetoric or intensifying enforcement measures rarely resolves the political problem for centre-left parties: the goalposts constantly move because the politics is not designed to produce resolution. It is designed to sustain a permanent sense of crisis and cultural threat."
blogs.lse.ac.uk
Why public attitudes to immigration don’t respond to falling migration | LSE British Politics
Migration numbers are falling, but attitudes towards immigration are hardening. That's because immigration concerns are a symbol for other anxieties.
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