Alex Stone

West Brom's 'Three Degrees' had to endure horrendous abuse in the late 1970s. Here we are (again) in 2026.
breakingthelines.com/historical/w...

'Is this a sport genuinely invested in eradicating racism, or one that regards it as no more than an inconvenience, a distraction, a smudge on the business model?'

Excellent read.

Thinking of Grant Wahl today & sending love to his family, former peers & those who loved his writing.

Last night I found something I wrote after his passing, with help from @meglinehan.com & @jtannenwald.bsky.social. I published it today, as a small tribute.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/grant-...

Volunteers in a 'team photo' formation

As the culmination of a wonderful #WEURO2025 tournament nears, WIF's @alexstone7.bsky.social spoke to some of the volunteers in Zurich who are helping to create the magic 💫

Find out what motivated them to be part of a "summer of dreams" ⬇️
www.womeninfootball.co.uk/news/2025/07...

Switzerland's late show captures the imagination of the country Switzerland's dramatic qualification for the Euro 2025 quarterfinals can only help to grow the game within the host nation.

Despite playing their first match in 1972, Switzerland did not compete at a major tournament until 2015. The country's domestic league is still not fully professional, with an average of just 489 fans attending each game last season.

Change is coming. 🇨🇭
www.espn.com/soccer/story...

We've just published an absorbing and in-depth personal account written by WIF advisor, Alex Stone, about his experiences as a volunteer at this years #WEURO2025 tournament: www.womeninfootball.co.uk/news/2025/07...

Image courtesy of ©Stadt Zürich by Getty Images 🇨🇭⚽

Goosebumps atmosphere in the Zürich Public Viewing site. #WEURO2025

A moment to sense the sheer scale of progress: Euro 2025 set for kick-off | Jonathan Liew The narrative arc of women’s football in Switzerland is a familiar one: from apathy to hostility to mockery to inertia to change. And now one of the biggest sporting events held in the country

A piece that makes you think by @jonathanliew.bsky.social. Really hope tonight is the start of a new beginning here in Switzerland.

'Every woman who ever kicked a ball in anger has always been aware on some level that they are playing for something larger.'
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Popped to the Letzigrund to collect my Women's Euro volunteer accreditation. Stadium was spotless, pitch looked like a carpet and branding now up right across the bridge linking Bellevue to Bürkliplatz. Not long to go now.

Keep up the good work guys. I'd like to see who wins before sunrise. Only two players below par before this. No idea what winning score will be. Surely Jon Rahm on +4 couldn't?

YouTube video by slumberm83 Teenage Fanclub-Broken

After watching the video, this one came up automatically next. Whenever I hear it again in future, I'll remember your description above.
youtu.be/tlA_iO3LEEM?...

Arsenal, a packed Estádio José Alvalade and the reason I fell in love with football | Suzanne Wrack My journalistic cap slipped slightly but the feeling I have seeing the team I adore lift the Champions League is indescribable

Absolutely loved this by @suzywrack.bsky.social. Although a minus point for making me feel old when Faye & Yanks ran her school session!
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Dear Sport, Black girls deserve better.

60% dream of becoming an elite athlete, yet many are falling out of love with sport in their teens.

We need your help to #KeepBlackGirlsPlaying

Be the change they need: womeninsport.org/resource/dea...

PEBE Utilizing Small Business Program To Revolutionise Sports Bra World Lucy Horsell, the co-founder of PEBE sports bras, is one of a number of female entrepreneurs utilizing a bespoke Women in Football and Xero Small Business Program.

When Chloe Kelly scored the winning goal at the Women’s Euro, most saw the moment as a liberating one for women. Lucy Horsell saw it as another instance of a female playing top-level sport without the necessary support to perform at her best.

A really good read.
www.forbes.com/sites/asifbu...

Very quickly becoming one of my favourite football reads. Also resulting in some irrational Google mapping of Scottish stadia.

The Hope that Thrilled Me Thinking back to childhood football games on the Moray coast brings time-travel delight. These were our fields of dreams...

Amother lovely article via @nutmegmagazine.bsky.social.

The 1982 World Cup was when I fell in love with football. 1986, the one I played out down the rec with my best mate. As the Yeovil Laudrup & Elkjaer, recreating goals & dreaming of glory. Still dreaming!
open.substack.com/pub/nutmegfo...

French soccer makes special matchday jerseys to mark International Women's Day Every player in the top two divisions of men's soccer in France will have “WO=MAN” written on the back of their jerseys instead of their names this weekend. It was continuing on Saturday and Sunday w...

Magnifique.

The French league has been working all season to make stadiums safer for women. Among the measures are a system for reporting sexual and gender-based violence & a support and protection procedure in case of incidents, including post-incident monitoring.
sports.yahoo.com/article/fren...

30 years after England hosted a Women's Euro where we had a Rugby League club hosting games, such was the lack of support.

Would love to see this happen.

‘He treated us like idiots’: the crypto mogul and a bitter battle over Bedford’s football clubs Potential merger of Bedford Town and Real Bedford, led by an ambitious owner, causes rancour among fans who fear for the future

What would you do if the club that generations of your family loved, consider merging with their noisy neighbours?

Really interesting story by @benbloomsport.bsky.social.

Really feel for Bedford Town's owners trying to juggle finances & protect traditions.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Moving the Goalposts | Meet Club YLA – the Club Brugge women’s team doing things differently The Belgian club has its own name, unique brand and the freedom to develop a philosophy away from just winning

"It could have only worked by involving those in the club every day. We are linked financially, but with the freedom to develop a philosophy away from just winning. It’s about diversity, inclusiveness & community.” 👏
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Marshall Islands’ vanishing kit for a team under threat from climate crisis The isolated Pacific nation is trying to build its first football team amid a battle for survival against rising sea levels

From the onslaught of atomic bombs to a future threatened by rising tides. Football may not have played any part in the islands’ history, but it could play a crucial role in its future.

Brilliant story.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Young girls playing football Text reads: SQUAD UPDATE / The FA joins forces with WIF Women in Football / The FA For All logos

Super excited and proud to announce our new corporate member: the Football Association ⚽🥅

The English governing body joining #WomeninFootball is amazing news for the women who work for the FA and for football right across the board!

Read the full story: www.womeninfootball.co.uk/news/2025/01...

Record deal for Girma signals arrival of big-spending era in women’s football | Tom Garry Chelsea are signing the USA defender for a world-record $1.1m but the big gap to the rest of the pyramid is unhealthy

In 2015, Chelsea broke the women's transfer record to sign Fran Kirby for £40-60,000. Great stat by @tomjgarry.bsky.social.

Bridging the financial gulf between tiers was also discussed on the Expected Goals podcast. Feels critical for future competitiveness.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Another Christmas treat to myself arrived via my favourite Zürich bookshop today. Looking forward to this by @danielrachel.bsky.social. Then, Hooky on the Hacienda.

Paul Lambert: ‘Zinedine Zidane just looked at me and said “bloody hell”’ Broke and out of contract at Motherwell, the Scot took a risk in seeking a trial at Dortmund only to become an European Cup winner within 12 months, as he tells Michael Butler

"Tell the boss I'm ill." Amazing story of how Paul Lambert went from being broke & gambling on an unknown agent to winning the European Cup. Imagining that moment he first got on the Dortmund bus. Great interview.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Kay Cossington interview: Why she's leaving the FA and joining new multi-club organisation founded by Bay FC investor Sixth Street The FA's women's technical director talks exclusively to The Cutback about her new role and why it's the right time to leave The Football Association

Really good read. Kay Cossington is one of the lesser known names who played a key role in driving women's football forward in England. Interesting to see how these multi-club ownership groups evolve, considering the mixed success in men's models.
open.substack.com/pub/thecutba...

Basic humanity is missing in social media free-for-alls that beset football | David Hytner Depressing abuse suffered by Kai Havertz, his wife, and Tamworth’s Chris Wreh is representative of wider problem Kai Havertz was braced for the criticism from the pundits, starting with those on TV and extending to the army of them in the pubs and front…

Basic humanity is missing in social media free-for-alls that beset football | David Hytner

Loving my Christmas treat to myself. Took Zürich book shop a while to get this by @nigetassell.bsky.social.

Chapter 1: Primal Scream's tambourine player had to wear foam over his wrist under leather gloves (otherwise they would bleed) as his mate had made it out of steel in his garage. Genius!

NFL, Netflix Sets Streaming Record As NBA Up 84% on Christmas The Netflix NFL doubleheader featured the two biggest streaming audiences in league history. Meanwhile, the NBA had a huge day of its own.

NFL & NBA report record/best in 5 years TV viewing figures for Christmas Day.

Sure other sports will be watching. Personally, despite the film repeats & demise of the TOTP Xmas Special / Kickstart, I'm OK with one day off ⚽️.
frontofficesports.com/nfl-netflix-...

I live 20 mins from Egg & volunteered at the Championships. I arrived for a shift as news of Muriel's death broke. The medal ceremonies that day were incredibly poignant. This is a really important article. Hopefully the ultimate tribute will be more tech used in future for all category races.