Spencer Vignes

It's 126 years to the day since legendary goalkeeper Leigh Roose won his first Wales cap in a 2-0 win against Ireland. He was playing for Aberystwyth Town at the time having just completed a science degree at Aberystwyth University. Very proud to be Leigh's biographer, so I am.

Meet Brian Powney, Dave Hollins and Eric Gill. Three former Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeepers aged 81, 88 and 95 respectively. Still living in Sussex, still (relatively) fit and healthy, still friends. The goalkeepers' union of all unions.

'A sporting story for the ages' - Adrian Chiles, BBC Radio 5 Live

‘An absolutely brilliant book’ – Paul Ross, talkSPORT

'A remarkable book' - The Daily Express

Just some of the great reviews for Postcards From Santiago, my biography of George Robledo, out now from @bitebackpublishing.bsky.social

You cannot be serious! 25% per cent off my forthcoming book about the Wimbledon tennis Championships when you pre-order through the Waterstones website today. Just search for 'The Wimbledon Anthology' & use the code FEB26. Offer closes at midnight tonight.

You cannot be serious! 25% per cent off my forthcoming book about the Wimbledon tennis Championships when you pre-order through the Waterstones website between now & this Friday. Just search for 'The Wimbledon Anthology' & use the code FEB26. An ace offer, if ever there was one.

"I am anxious to get started and I understand there is quite a bit of work to be done." - Brian Clough, Nov 1973, on taking over at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Check out 'Bloody Southerners', my book about arguably the strangest managerial appointment ever made in English football.

It's 120 years to the day since the pioneering Welsh goalie Leigh Roose punched the guest of a Sunderland director after a Wearsiders v Stoke City match at Roker Park. Leigh, a Stoke player at the time who later joined Sunderland, received a 14 day FA ban for his actions.

"He was made up and possibly the happiest I'd seen him in a long time." - Elizabeth Robledo recalls her father, George Robledo, the first overseas star of English football, after his return to Chile from a 1981 tour of Yorkshire & north east England, including this visit to St James' Park.

"Being a northerner, I didn't understand the rivalry between Brighton and Crystal Palace. To me, Crystal Palace was in London and Brighton was on the south coast. That didn't say to me 'This is a local derby'." - Brighton's Barry Butlin, taken from my book 'Bloody Southerners'

My piece in today's Daily Express on punk turning 50, complete with my choice of top five punk songs. It's subjective, of course it is, but what would your choice be?

Thanks to everyone who's been in touch saying how much they've enjoyed reading 'Postcards From Santiago', my biography of George Robledo, the first overseas star of English football. It means a lot, every single message. Together, we're keeping George's remarkable story alive.

A belated happy birthday to Dave Hollins, ex-last line of defence for Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, Mansfield Town, Aldershot & Wales, who turned 88 yesterday. Being his biographer & author of the book 'Eric & Dave', I really have no excuses!

Brian Horton turns 77 today. But in my head he'll always be 30 summers young.

Happy birthday, 'El Capitano'.

Thanks Iain - glad you liked it!

"I knew if he came in and said 'Young man' even once then I'd be in trouble, because I wouldn't be able to keep a straight face." - Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Peter O'Sullivan recalls the team's first meeting with new manager Brian Clough, taken from my book 'Bloody Southerners'

Not strictly true. They did regularly haul morning & evening commuter trains between Kings Cross and Peterborough. The express trains they pulled also stopped at Stevenage and Peterborough and were used by commuters.

Today marks the 150th anniversary of the formation of the Football Association of Wales, all the more reason to post a picture of one of its first star players, goalkeeper Leigh Roose, declared MIA in France in 1916. Very proud, so I am, to be this wonderful man's biographer.

Brighton v Everton from another time & place, namely the Goldstone Ground, 3 May 1980. It finished 0-0, a typical end-of-season nothing to play for match. The most memorable thing about the whole afternoon? Watching Everton's Trevor Ross doing his ball trickery in the warm-up!

His is a story worth telling, albeit ultimately a sad one.

I was there (and for the first match at Anfield). I concur, both games were right up there, the scorelines ebbing and flowing like crazy.

Another beautiful cover from Jamie Eke for tomorrow's game, based on the 70/71 issue. Inside, all the usual suspects, with
@spencervignes.bsky.social looking at the dark days of Gillingham between 1997 & 1999. Once again, a superb printed programme from @officialbhafc.bsky.social
#BHAFC #BHAEVE

Barrie Rees signs for Brighton from Everton in January 1965 under the watchful eye of manager Archie Macauley. Three months later the talented Welshman would die in a car crash, aged 21. "Just thinking about it all these years later still makes me sad," says ex-teammate Brian Powney.

"I just thought he came from another planet, another world" - Bobby Robson on George Robledo, the ex-Barnsley, Newcastle Utd & Chile player regarded as the first overseas star of English football. Read 'Postcards From Santiago', my biography of George's remarkable life, out now.

Manchester United versus Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup from another time, another place.

Managers Ron Atkinson and Jimmy Melia lead their respective sides out ahead of the 1983 final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 21 May.

FA Cup 3rd round weekend & it's Everton v Sunderland, better known in my house as the Leigh Roose derby.

.....and if you don't know who Leigh Roose was, then you need to treat yourself to a copy of 'Lost In France', my biography of the man who virtually invented goalkeeping.

"Mullers said ‘You’re just the fella we need. You’ve got nuisance value. Will you come and play for us?’ And, to tell you the truth, I was flattered that somebody wanted me."

Martin Chivers, who has died aged 80, remembers his career swansong at Brighton in 1979. RIP big man.

That was the 1983 game 👍

Northern Ireland & Brighton winger Steve Penney skips past Paul Gascoigne and various other Newcastle players at St James' Park on 4 January 1986. Second tier Brighton beat top flight Newcastle 2-0 in this FA Cup 3rd round tie, played the same day Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy died.

One of my personal highlights of 2025 is reading Postcards From Santiago by Spencer.

A must for all #NUFC fans imho. Get on it if you haven't. Social history, Newcastle United history. It needs to be kept alive. Newcastle United pre dates the Saudi takeover.

A tip of the hat to anyone who bought one of my books in 2025. For those who didn't, they're still on sale in 2026, so what are you waiting for?