Aidan Williams

Well, would you look at that...

This here book of mine is on a special offer currently, with a whopping 43% off.

If ever there was a time to take the plunge, and then celebrate like a last gasp Platini winner, this is it 🇫🇷

Uefa Euro 1984

amzn.eu/d/eT5taN5

Delighted to launch my latest book, THE SLUM SPORT - the story of the 1985/86 Football League season, as told by those who were there.

"It truly is a cracking read" - Barry Davies MBE

Out mid-October. To pre-order your copy please go to: www.curtis-sport.com/all-programm...

The Sting, for me.

Revert the World Cup to 32 teams.

But also introduce a global play-in competition to expand on the intercontinental playoffs.

Have 16 or even 32 teams in that, like a mini World Cup. That way, more nations get something beyond the norm and some get to reach the big finals if they're good enough

Award penalties for any denial of a goalscoring opportunity, no matter where on the field the offence took place.

A Scandinavian top division?

A Benelux league?

A Balkan league?

A Mediterranean league featuring Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey perhaps?

Incendiary but strong.

I'd take this thought and go further. Multi national leagues across Europe would perhaps strengthen many teams.

How about a league of all top Spanish, Portuguese, and French clubs together, with national leagues feeding into it?

How about Austria, Switzerland, and Germany?

And while I'm at it, merge Asian and Oceanian federations too.

Merge concacaf and conmebol.
Copa America then becomes a tournament requiring qualifiers, but bri is meaningful competition to the stronger teams from both, and chance to develop for the rest.

World cup qualifying becomes more meaningful too.

Selling fast: Francesco Totti and Philosophies.

First up, Totti in all his glory, covering the highs and lows of his Roma and Italy career. Just look at that cover! Alongside it comes our exploration of the philosophies and systems that made football.

thesefootballtimes.shop/mag

Essentially increasing the prospect of a mid table Championship team being promoted. May be unlikely, sure, but would be possible.

The current set up is fine.

YouTube video by GreatRunTV We Are The Great North Run | GNR25 | Poem by George Caulkin

We are The Great North Run and every one of us is a story.

#GreatNorthRun #WeAreTheGNR

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-rZ...

Love that quote. Magnificent

YouTube video by The Pitch Inspection Gaza's Vanishing Stadiums. The Football Story That Is Being Ignored.

FIFA has multiple obvious grounds to suspend or expel the Israel Football Association and in doing so apply meaningful pressure to stop the slaughter in Gaza. It has done nothing. Great piece of work here from @thepitchinspection.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfjD...

And so we reach the end of our trip back to Euro 84. The excellent @aidanwilliams74.bsky.social & Jonathan O’Brien take us through a nervy final, it’s legacy and just how authoritative a performance it was from France & Platini.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/n...

open.spotify.com/episode/4dzs...

The greatest European Championship game of all time? @aidanwilliams74.bsky.social and Jonathan O’Brien run the rule over an incredible night when France and Portugal met in Marseille.

Out in the usual places now!

open.spotify.com/episode/1VZX...

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/n...

MODULE 8: YBTAHOAB Origin Podcast Lord Beaverbrook, Clement Attlee, Lady Diana, your boys took a hell of a beating

Lord Nelson, Lord Beaverbrook, Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Anthony Eden...etc

It's 1981. Join @scraggy74.bsky.social and @themagicofthecup.bsky.social for England's World Cup qualifier in Norway

The story of our 'album' title track ... yourboystookahellofabeating.substack.com/p/module-8-y...

Is this the greatest tournament group of all time? 23 goals, drama to the very end, the emergence of 3 young talents, a disgrace that derailed the Belgians and, of course, Platini.

@aidanwilliams74.bsky.social guides us through

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/n...

open.spotify.com/episode/53xC...

Part 2 of our Euro ‘84 series is available now in all the usual places as @aidanwilliams74.bsky.social & Rob Smyth wrap up the drama of the qualifiers. Italy’s gap year, Northern Ireland managing to beat West Germany twice and not qualify and Spain needing to beat Malta by 11 clear goals…

Our Euro ‘84 deep dive is underway with the story of the qualifiers that is as dramatic and remarkable as the finals themselves.

@aidanwilliams74.bsky.social joins Rob and Martyn to set the scene…

open.spotify.com/episode/3IrQ...

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/n...

MODULE 1: Everton v Liverpool: 1986 General Motors FA Charity Shield (Admit it, you'd forgotten about the General Motors bit)

substack.com/@yourboystoo... It's Friday afternoon, you need something to help the last few hours of the working week melt away, and we've got you covered. Join @aidanwilliams74.bsky.social and @scraggy74.bsky.social for Module 1 of Your Boys Took a Hell of a Beating. 1980sTastic.

If you enjoy your football nostalgia and have a penchant for the 1980s, we have just the thing for you...

Shades of Green: a journey into Irish football Podcast Episode · These Football Times · 27/03/2025 · 58m

What are you listening to today? 🎧

Please check out my third appearance on @thesefootballtimes.shop where I discuss my new book 📗☘️with @aidanwilliams74.bsky.social and Matthew Gibbs 👇🏼

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Carabao Cup final review: @aidanwilliams74.bsky.social enjoys that rare feeling of Newcastle glory while a chilled Steven Scragg knows Premier League glory is on the horizon.

Listen and download ⬇️

Apple bit.ly/3oyPu89
Spotify bit.ly/3BVb3Tm
Online bit.ly/

Shearer's ready for the final...

Top of the league!

Yes, lots to learn. It just hasn't been well covered before beyond the more recent superstars. So much depth to discover on this book.

And what a superb book this is from a terrific writer.

Can thoroughly recommend this book to enhance and grow your understanding of the fabulous world of Portuguese football.

🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹

Bring Me That Horizon: A Journey to the Soul of Portuguese Football Bring Me that Horizon is a quest into the heart and soul of Portuguese football. From Eusebio's glorious career to Cândido de Oliveira's adventures as a British intelligence agent, the book reveals a ...

If you are more curious than ever before regarding Portuguese football and culture then gift yourself or someone you care (or don't, that's up to you) the only book you'll find out about it. Just follow the link for options on where to buy 👇

www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/bring-m...

A journey to the soul of Portuguese football These Football Times · Episode

open.spotify.com/episode/7stm...

We're going on a tour of Portugal! @miguelpereira.bsky.social is our guide as we discuss his fantastic book 'Bring me that horizon'.

Featuring @aidanwilliams74.bsky.social & @scraggy74.bsky.social