Category: Football

Maradona has Burruchaga to his left and Valdano to his left. He doesn't use them. He won't need any of them. You have to say that's magnificent.

Maradona has Burruchaga to his left and Valdano to his left. He doesn’t use them. He won’t need any of them. You have to say that’s magnificent.

Posted on by Jonny Blair

“His taints and honours; waged equal with him” – William Shakespeare. The curtain falls in the city of Buenos Aires. Tears flood the streets and a city mourns in heavenly rest. And you know why it does. DAM. Diego Armando Maradona. Modern day wannabes Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo simply don’t even come close. Diego Read more about Maradona has Burruchaga to his left and Valdano to his left. He doesn’t use them. He won’t need any of them. You have to say that’s magnificent.[…]

Countries That Have Won The World Cup

Posted on by Jonny Blair

Today I thought I would publish a list of countries that have won the World Cup since the official FIFA tournament began in 1930. Down the years I have been to 4 World Cups, not including the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland. I actually attended quite a few Milk Cups from around 1992 – 1997, Read more about Countries That Have Won The World Cup[…]

Ulster Cherry: My Story on Becoming An AFC Bournemouth Supporter

Ulster Cherry: My Story on Becoming An AFC Bournemouth Supporter

Posted on by Jonny Blair

“I’m tired of telling the story, tired of telling it your way” – Sharleen Spiteri. Down the years I have covered my journey to becoming an AFC Bournemouth supporter more times than I ever imagined. I never realised that people would have to justify which football team they support. In countries I backpacked, wearing a Read more about Ulster Cherry: My Story on Becoming An AFC Bournemouth Supporter[…]

Up the Cherries! Watching Bournemouth at West Ham, London

Ulster Cherry Feature on AFC Bournemouth Website

Posted on by Jonny Blair

With the English Premier League finally due to restart this month, I have been featured on the official AFC Bournemouth website telling my story of following the Cherries. You can read the article here – Ulster Cherry’s AFC Bournemouth story.

Sam Robinson with Afriyie Acquah (Glentoran and Ghana 2014)

Foreign Footballers Who Were at Northern Irish Clubs and Went to the World Cup (Non-Irish)

Posted on by Jonny Blair

As a Northern Irishman, growing up watching the Irish League supporting Glentoran FC, there were not an abundance of foreigners in our league, nor many foreign World Cup stars. But football was always beautiful regardless of that. I saw a load of Northern Ireland internationals playing live in the Irish League though! Down the years, Read more about Foreign Footballers Who Were at Northern Irish Clubs and Went to the World Cup (Non-Irish)[…]

Staying At Home: Top 5 Football Podcasts To Listen To

Staying At Home: The Best Football Podcasts To Listen To

Posted on by Jonny Blair

“England Wednesday. Sheffield Saturday” – Chris Woods Advert (1990s). When I worked in the “high flying” PR industry in London from 2006-2007, I was into Podcasts a lot. I downloaded lots of them and always listened to them on the tube on my way to work and back. It was a sweet release from the Read more about Staying At Home: The Best Football Podcasts To Listen To[…]

Argentina in 1946 - Champions of South America

Backpacking Football Geek: Who Won the 1946 World Cup?

Posted on by Jonny Blair

“Schillaci, yes….it’s that man again” – British TV commentator, 1990. My ubiquitous love affair with football dates back to the 1980s. I was a kid in the Northern Irish seaside resort of Bangor with a green international football shirt, a green and white ball and a passion for everything football. The 1982 and 1986 World Read more about Backpacking Football Geek: Who Won the 1946 World Cup?[…]

Backpacking Football Geek: Who Won the 1942 World Cup?

Posted on by Jonny Blair

“Mussolini hangs from a butcher’s hook” – Richey James Edwards. I love the World Cup. It is the most magnificent tournament in the world. It is the reason I fell in love with travel and football all in one. Mexico 86. I had the Panini sticker album, my Dad bought me a Northern Ireland scarf, Read more about Backpacking Football Geek: Who Won the 1942 World Cup?[…]