November 2022 was the scheduled release of a 42 year in making book, my epic ChampIAN STEWARTnova. Following the Northern Ireland football team 1980-2009. In true irony, the only parts of that book that remain…
My New Football Book: ChampIAN STEWARTnova – Following the Northern Ireland Football Team 1980 – 2009 is currently in its final edits. This took a lot longer than I anticipated – the writing was basically…
“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…
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…
“Gerry Armstrong, what a worker he is” – John Motson. In February 2020, when I hit country 186 on my personal list of recognised separate states, one of my priorities was to watch a football…
“Where do you go? Buttoned in your favourite coat, stepping out to a different world. And you might be home late.”- Ocean Colour Scene. Aged 17 I flicked through the CDs in His Master’s Voice…
“I look to the future, it makes me cry. But it seems too real, to tell you why. Escape from our history. Free from the memory” – Nicky Wire. I didn’t know what to write…
“Michael O’Neill’s Green and White army” – Northern Ireland football fans. Now that June 2016 has arrived, it feels crazy that this month, I am finally living out a childhood dream. Since my early days…
As we travel to countries torn apart by war (past or current), let’s not forget that football is the people’s game, the one happy medium from my journeys through a century of countries. Football brings…
Here goes. This is a big one. A big one for me personally. Every single time I hear the mention of Maradona, Norman Whiteside, Jose Batista, Joel Bats etc. I get inspired. The 1986 World…