Subscriptions, art prints and books - it's Christmas time at The Blizzard
The perfect gifts for the thinking football fan 🎄🎅⚽️
Find out more: theblizzard.co.uk/the-blizzard...
I had the immense pleasure to spend an afternoon and evening with these two incredible men.
Their forthright, considered and moving interviews helped make the opening chapter of 𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂 an absolute honour to write
t.co/QvnwtWOMmf
The pair put Racing ahead v Elche but at half-time they were met by armed police in the dressing room.
Repercussions were swift: they were fined, socially vilified and faced credible death threats.
Aitor sent his family back to Bilbao, Sergio slept with a gun by his bed.
Troubled by the morning's events as they prepared for their game the following day, two Racing Santander players – Aitor Aguirre and Sergio Manzanera - decided to make a humble gesture of protest. They would take the field at El Sardinero wearing black armbands.
As Franco ailed and Spain nervously awaited change, the regime grew ever more repressive, ramping up tariffs for crimes deemed 'against the state'.
Despite international protests and even pleas from the Vatican for clemency, the executions went ahead.
On this morning 50 years ago, five men were led from their cells and executed by firing squad — the last use of the death penalty in Spain.
That chilling Saturday morning forms the backdrop to chapter one of 𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂.
Big interview in Marca with Jorge Valdano, reflecting on 50 years in Spain — including the sliding-doors moment when he narrowly avoided the hotel fire that ended teammate José Ramón Badiola’s career.
Told in Chapter 3 of 𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂.
www.waterstones.com/book/once-up...
Gracias amigo!
The book is out today! ⤵️
This book from @futboleslaleche.bsky.social is out today, certainly going to be worth a read
Available in all good shops — and even some bad ones.
It’s lived in my head for so long but now it’s out there. My biggest hope is that people read it and enjoy it. So to anyone who takes the time and effort to do so, I hope you like it. Let me know what you think!
Never thought there would come a day when I released a book — even at many points while writing it!
So, an absolutely huge thank you to all of the people who so generously shared their stories. Too many to mention in a tweet — I hope I’ve done them justice.
Out today — 𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂 is a collection of deeply human stories that shine a light on forgotten figures, powerful moments and bizarre episodes from Spanish football.
A few hours left to avail of this fine offer from Waterstones ⏱️
While it remains July, Waterstones are offering a 25% discount on pre-orders of 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐚.
Enter the code 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥𝟮𝟱 at checkout to benefit. #WPreorder
waterstones.com/book/once-upon…
These are the stories Spanish football forgot — political, personal, bizarre and deeply human.
𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂 is out September 8th and available to pre-order now 📘
www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Upon-Ti...
Plus:
- The boardroom heroes who defied ETA and Galicia's drug cartels
- Cruyff’s surreal stint at Levante
- The Blackpool lad who became Spain’s voice of football
- The Cádiz carnival icon who gave the city's football club it's anthem
Among other stories, you'll find:
- The team-mates persecuted by Franco for a humble protest.
- The fastest winger in the land who became a Nazi spy
- A boy abandoned at an orphanage who became a rebellious star
- Two talents caught in a deadly hotel fire
A massive thank you to all the people who shared their stories and memories with me.
Also thanks to some very nice people that have said some very nice things about it.
Five words I thought I'd never say... I have written a book.
𝑶𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑼𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑳𝒂 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒂 is a collection of some of the lesser-known stories from Spanish football.
It's been a privilege and amazing experience to put it together.
www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Upon-Ti...
Publication day for my new book! It tells the inside story of THFC's last truly great triumph - achieved against a backdrop of financial meltdown, boardroom strife and protests in the stands - as told by the players, club staff, broadcasters and fans who lived through it.
Saturday post for profile of Swiss born Hans Kamper, who wanted to start an import/export business in Spain's African colonies, but instead became Joan Gamper and founded FC Barcelona
www.nytimes.com/athletic/594...
“My grandfather’s plan was to go to Fernando Po, but the problem was he enjoyed being in Barcelona a lot. He was annoyed when he arrived here, as nobody played the game. So he founded FC Barcelona.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/594...
I went to Stockport County to watch and interview Louie Barry, who became the first ever English player signed to Barcelona’s La Masia.
I don't think I've ever met a young player more determined to control his own destiny.
inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Last night was only the dress rehearsal for next weekend’s Copa Libertadores final but it’s never too early for our old mate Deyverson to get the shithousery going
Emotional night in Valencia as Levante play for the first time since the disastrous floods.
The team took the field in mud-stained shirts bearing the message: ‘In tribute to all those who were there when we needed you’.
Replug for piece visiting Valencia areas most affected by flooding, and speaking to those in football who have been hit hardest and those who have been helping most
www.nytimes.com/athletic/589...
Deplorable that Javier Aguirre was hit by a can after Mexico’s defeat in Honduras.
Remarkably, he just carries on shaking people’s hands as if nothing’s happened while they point out he’s bleeding.
Ayoze, eloquent on football’s reaction to the floods www.theguardian.com/football/202...
