Italian nineties
Marco skipped into my Milan hotel lobby sporting dark glasses, jeans and stubble. He gave me a hug. It had been five years since television director Marco had covered my visit to Crotone for Quelli che … il Calcio. We … Continued
Fort knocks
For once, this wasn’t a football trip. But it is hard to avoid the influence of Hajduk when visiting Split. Hajduk graffiti is everywhere, not just in Croatia’s second city but all around the surrounding region of Dalmatia, its beautiful … Continued
Journey through Europe
55 Football Nations is one big board game. It’s a logistical challenge to experience top division football across Europe in one season. It’s a balance of organisation and spontaneity. It’s about finding stories for the planned book. And having fun. … Continued
Match day magic
What is the attraction of watching a random game? Not your own team nor at a stadium you are ever likely to return to. 55 Football Nations is all about such randomness within the tight structure of my mission. I … Continued
Black teas and seas
A friend of someone I met on an internet message board. It sounded dodgy. This was Ergin, a very random contact in Trabzon for my game in Turkey. We messaged each other before I arrived. His English was minimal. My … Continued