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 in full are the only TWO parts NOT done by me. 1.The cover art and design. I have them on Read more about My book ChampIAN STEWARTnova Was Stolen[…]
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 completed by October 2010, but one thing after another led to delays. Many chapters had to be skipped, cut, replaced, Read more about My New Football Book: ChampIAN STEWARTnova – Following the Northern Ireland Football Team 1980 – 2009[…]
“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.[…]
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⚽🌎🏆[…]
“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⚽🌎🏆?[…]
“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⚽🌎🏆?[…]
“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 match there. That country was Lesotho and I arrived into the capital city Maseru ready for the big match. That Read more about My 100 Top Football Moments From 100 Countries[…]
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 the people together and in most cases, it acts as some kind of peaceful entity between people. Anyone who has Read more about My Top 10 Football Stadiums From My First 100 Countries[…]