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Dr Alexander Jackson

@dralexanderjackson.bsky.social

Curator @nfmofficial.bsky.social Former utility DEF. Views my own. 2023 Lord Aberdare Literary Prize Winner for Football's Great War by Pen & Sword.

331 Followers  |  203 Following  |  335 Posts  |  Joined: 13.11.2024  |  2.4288

Latest posts by dralexanderjackson.bsky.social on Bluesky

Sorry I haven't shared this before then! The artist is a very interesting person, as he made almost daily sketches of Sheffield life for approx. 7 years. These also included attending the annual Burns night at the Sheffield Caledonian Society, if you are looking for more Scots connections!

07.12.2025 18:02 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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May have shared this with already. James Dowd sketch/cartoon for the Sheffield Evening Telegraph, 31 January 1912. Think there is a separate written report.

06.12.2025 18:55 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Little research snippet from today's work - a letter to the Liverpool Daily Post (3 November 1920) by a disabled ex-serviceman, describing the lack of consideration given to him and other veterans after the Merseyside derby.

May interest @footballandwar.bsky.social

24.11.2025 15:10 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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a cartoon character holding a baby with a pacifier ALT: a cartoon character holding a baby with a pacifier

Wot about the wee one?

20.11.2025 12:07 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Oh no it isn't!...

19.11.2025 13:18 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ˜„

06.11.2025 12:13 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@drpetewatson.bsky.social - perhaps Manning and Co were missing a trick...

05.11.2025 13:09 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Is it going to be one of those Opus ones that requires a dedicated support team to carry the book and open the pages?...

05.11.2025 13:01 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Going through some research and reminded myself that I came across an artistic depiction of a Black British soldier in the 4th Manchester Regiment in April 1916.

If anyone would like it and the source info, would be happy to share it. Please share with anyone who might like it.

#BlackHistoryMonth

23.10.2025 15:21 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Naturally this is from West Yorkshire - the wierdos! πŸ˜„

10.10.2025 16:40 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Somewhere in the BNA, I hope we find it's natural conclusion, "socker-ball"

10.10.2025 15:54 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

But this relied on away clubs hiring special charter trains. In the end it was used only 4 times in the 1990/91 season.

Opened by England manager Bobby Robson, at Β£320,000 it was something of a white elephant.

And that's all for our #Railway200 thread! We hope that you enjoyed the ride!

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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And we now finish our journey at the now defunct Ramsline Halt station. We have the sign in our stores.

It opened near Derby County's Baseball Ground in 1990. It closed in 1997. It was designed to avoid altercations between opposing fans at Derby station by sending away fans direct to the game.

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The 1970s also saw the railways become sites for the growing menace of football hooliganism.

Vandalism of British Railway carriages became one part of the bad behaviour exhibited by travelling fans.

This 1968 Daily Mirror cartoon at least finds a bit of fun by imagining a retaliatory raid!

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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We next head off on a works excursion with workers from Littlewoods Pools in the 1970s.

Despite its large workforce, Littlewoods was renowned for its family atmosphere, with lots done to help its workers socialize. It looks like these women are ready for a fun day out!

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Our next journey takes in a boat-train from France to England, as taken by the Italian national side in 1949.

Flying would have been quicker. But in 1948 the tragic Superga disaster killed 18 players from Torino, including many internationals. As a result, the Italian FA opted against flying.

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Our next stop is Liverpool via Preston - with times provided by Everton manager Cliff Briton to amateur goalkeeper Keith Mitton.

I'm not sure how I feel about 15 min being enough time to get from the station to Goodison though! Feels a bit of a rush to me.

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Our perhaps you fancy adding it to your model railway? The world famous Hornby company produced this model version - this one represents Loco 61648 - or Arsenal.

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Fancy some reading for our imaginary journey?

This article from the FA Book for Boys looks at the trains named after football clubs between 1936 and 1943.

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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As a result, some teams started to experiment with alternatives.

Before coaches there was the charabanc - a bigger version of a car and also uncovered.

Barnsley took one to a game around Christmas 1916 - through sleet and snow! Unsurprisingly, their players struggled somewhat during the game!

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Our next stop is Penistone Station in South Yorkshire - and if you want to change trains, be quick about it!

Men's football continued during the FWW. With reduced train services, journeys were much longer and harder.

Many teams found themselves at Penistone having missed a connection!

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Our next destination is Derby during the First World War.

Women's football boomed in popularity as part of charity efforts on the Home Front.

This is one of over 240 teams formed during the war - this is from workers in the Chief Mechanical Engineer's Department of the Midland Railway.

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Amongst the players listed on the trophy is one JosΓ© Nasazzi. He captained Uruguay to victory in the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Football Tournaments and the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930.

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Next Stop Uruguay - where British railway workers set up sports clubs.

This trophy was presented in 1921 to Athletico Roland Moor. It would seem the club was connected to Roland Moor, Director of the Central Uruguay Railway, who was also involved with Club AtlΓ©tico PeΓ±arol

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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We next alight at the 1900 and 1901 FA Cup Finals - refereed by Arthur Kingscott, an auditor for the Midland Railway.

As well being a top-level referee, Kingscott was on the FA Council. He acted as its Treasurer, helped select Int teams and travelled with them to Europe and Canada.

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Next stop - the FA Cup Final in 1891 and 1889. The railways famously allowed northern working class fans to "invade" London, seen here in these contemporary images for illustrated magazines.

What became a well-worn trope in reports was ironically most likely first written by a northerner

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Our first stop is one of the best known connections - Manchester United's origins in Newton Heath FC, which was founded by workers from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company.

Baines card depicting Welsh Int John Powell, who worked as a fitter.

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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a man wearing a hat is playing with a train set . ALT: a man wearing a hat is playing with a train set .

With it being #Railway200 this weekend, here is a potted look at what @nfmofficial.bsky.social has in its collections related to football and the railways (plus the odd bit from my own research)

All aboard! πŸ§΅πŸš†

28.09.2025 16:51 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Looks suspiciously like the Players Union Armband/badge of the 1910s?

25.09.2025 19:56 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Looks suspiciously like the Players Union Armband/badge of the 1910s?

25.09.2025 19:54 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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