Peak USA - World Cup trophy to be presented by Beavis and Butthead.
Ian Plenderleith
@plenderleithian.bsky.social
Football writer and retired rogue referee. Latest book: 'The Last Amateur', published by halcyonpublishing.co.uk.
For old school analog hacks, nothing beats the thrill of seeing a piece in print - from today‘s @tagesspiegel.de
Revealed: The Russian Neo-Nazi Network Pushing ‘White Lives Matter’ Division in Britain – Promoted by Tommy Robinson As riots spread across Belfast, Tommy Robinson promoted a movement founded by a sanctioned Russian oligarch, which has pushed white supremacist propaganda about the death of Henry…
Revealed: The Russian Neo-Nazi Network Pushing ‘White Lives Matter’ Division in Britain – Promoted by Tommy Robinson
As riots spread across Belfast, Tommy Robinson promoted a movement founded by a sanctioned Russian oligarch, which has pushed white supremacist propaganda about the death of Henry Nowak
bylinetimes.com
Would love to have this on my CV: “Failed to write a self-help book.”
This one was my favourite together with Cinder Park Refugees. But the whole book was great. I tried to read it one story per day so I could enjoy it over the whole week.
Einreiseverbot für ICE-Beamte! Wir können und müssen verhindern, dass dieser Faschismus auf unseren Kontinent exportiert wird. Jetzt WeAct-Petition unterzeichnen. weact.campact.de/petitions/tr...
Trump stoppen: Einreiseverbot für ICE-Agenten in die EU!
Die Entsendung von ICE-Agenten zu den Olympischen Spielen ist kein Sicherheitsbeitrag, sondern eine gezielte Machtdemonstration und Einschüchterungstaktik. Die Spiele stehen für Frieden und Völkervers...
weact.campact.de
"This is what player power means: having the money to moan about every tiny thing." Read an excerpt from @plenderleithian.bsky.social's latest book of short soccer fiction, "The Last Amateur and Other Stories" paperback. @mikewoitalla.bsky.social www.socceramerica.com/managing-kid...
Managing Kids: It’s all about player power these days - Soccer America
An excerpt from the “Managing Kids,” a short story in Ian Plenderleith‘s latest book of soccer fiction: "The Last Amateur and Other Stories Paperback."
socceramerica.com
A novella completes my new collection ‘The Last Amateur’. A multi-billionaire decides to take the small-town club of his youth to the heights of glory, re-building the stadium where he was a free-scoring teen. Buy at @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
‘Britain’s Media Has Let Nigel Farage Reshape Political Journalism’. Another spot-on analysis in @bylinetimes.bsky.social - this time from @jamesbloodworth.bsky.social
Almost a decade on and it only takes one attempt to post a small parcel to the UK from Germany to trigger me into shouting at innocent passers-by, "Fuck fucking Brexit and all the fucking fuck-wits that voted for it!" €17 worth of frustration.
In the penultimate tale of The Last Amateur, 'health product company' VitaHerb's newest recruit is charged with telling the fourth-tier club he's followed all his life that the company will no longer be its sponsor. Buy from: @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social, @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The ninth story in my new collection 'The Last Amateur' is about a player "in the shop window" after a decent World Cup. It's time for lunch to discuss the no doubt lucrative future with his eager, pushy agent... Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social, @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
In the title story to my new collection, Scotland's greatest ever player refuses to go pro or to play for his country, opting instead to help his village team, the Thankerton Swifts, rise up the league pyramid. Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The seventh story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, sees some well-paid pros ask their manager for a well-earned rest. They can't be arsed going to Carlisle in the FA Cup, so give the kids a runout... Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The sixth story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, is about a cult-name, old-school commentator who keeps 'forgetting' to mention his station's fast food sponsor while on air. Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The fifth story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, sees an ex-player with Alzheimer’s making a daily call to an old team-mate to discuss the same dramatic FA Trophy game they both played in some 50 years ago. Buy from: @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The fourth story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, is narrated by a Premier League fan who goes viral at half-time for his 'passionate' reaction to a throw-in call. The book is available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
In the third story of my new collection, The Last Amateur, a disused city pitch is taken over on weekday afternoons by 27 refugees and their battered ball. Elderly Frank and his dog Sadie become regular spectators. Buy now: @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The second story in my new collection, The Last Amateur, sees a downtrodden former international taking £5k to make the draw for the Scottish Cup semi-finals live on TV. What could possibly go wrong? Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk or @stanchionbooks.bsky.social
The opening story in my collection The Last Amateur revolves around The Foaming Quart‘s Sunday League team and its two lone supporters - bald-headed Billy (a man of few words, but many hard stares) and his lively girlfriend Sally. Available from @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social or @wsc.co.uk
Remember, every day, what fascism will lead to.
Auschwitz Memorial@auschwitzmemorial.bsky.social · 10mo ago18 October 1944 | A transport of 1,500 Jews deported from the Theresienstadt ghetto arrived at #Auschwitz. Among those murdered in gas chamber and crematorium III after the selection were three distinguished composers: Pavel Haas, Hans Krása, and Viktor Ullmann.
Another analogue snapshot. Sundown in Burgundy, August 2025.
This summer (old fart alert) I returned to analogue photography and tried to remember why I ever dropped such a simple, rewarding hobby. Here are some French cows ignoring some French clouds.
Brilliant interview with @labourlewis.bsky.social in the September issue of @bylinetimes.bsky.social (I‘m a couple of issues behind…). Whether you’re on the vague left or the sane left, this magazine is a crucial and absorbing read, every issue.
socceramerica.com/a-soccer-lit.... From socceramerica.com 10:27 PM · Sep 29, 2025
A soccer literature golazo: Ian Plenderleith's short stories deliver the genre's magic - Soccer America
The Last Amateur's soccer themes range from the grassroots to the multi-billionaire dollar industry.
socceramerica.com
🚨SPECIAL OFFER 🚨 We've got 25 beautifully printed, individually numbered & signed short stories from @plenderleithian.bsky.social available as a bundle with The Last Amateur. Just click 'Flash Fiction bundle' on the listing. They're an absolute treat. halcyonpublishing.co.uk/products/the...
Always a thrill to open up that box of 10 comp copies when your new book‘s published. This looks beautiful thanks to @halcyonpublish1.bsky.social and jacket designer Doug Cheeseman.
Book recommendation - We Were There by Lanre Bakare, which made me realise how largely clueless we were about our own country growing up in Lincolnshire during the 70s and 80s. *****
