Aidan Williams

In delving into the world of football literature, and the second offering from Tyneside writer and author, Aidan Williams, we hear about his path to publication, and his love for that of the history of the beautiful game. A path traversed from Merseyside (parents), through the East Midlands (he and his sister), Aidan was to be brought up a Geordie, in Ponteland, and, apart from spending some time, travelling and working abroad, Aidan has spent the past dozen or so years back on his native Tyneside. Now, Aidan is married with children, and with that has taken the opportunity to follow a path into that of book research, writing, and publication, even making strides already with what will become his third offering. In fact, between that of his first two releases, ‘Worst in the World: International Football at the Bottom of the FIFA Rankings,’ and the very recent, ‘The Nearly Men: The Eternal Allure of the Greatest Teams that Failed to Win the World Cup,’ (we think he likes that of a long, book title) Aidan has also spent the past seven years writing for the esteemed, ‘these Football Times,’ where he has become [art of the leadership team. “I’d done some writing before, dabbling, but mainly as a hobby,” explained Aidan. “But then, it’s progressed for that quite quickly, including onto books. “With ‘These Football Times,’ I began by submitting articles onspec, graduated through the ranks, and now I’m part of their leadership team – that in itself opens up other opportunities. “The final decisions though, they lie with Omar, the editor, and he’s normally, pretty spot on.” Away from the mire of newspapers, magazines, your mainstream journalism, a plethora of writer, and certainly within the world of sports, look to pick and choose what they write about; generally, it’s a passion, a love of the beautiful game itself. And, as long as you, even loosely, stick to the topic in hand, it’s an, anything goes kind of world out there – just be factually correct, and truthful with it. “Something which I really enjoyed doing, a few years ago, was centred around Finland and their qualification for the European Championships,” stated Aidan, looking back on perhaps his favourite piece of work, to date. “I’d noticed, several months beforehand, what was happening in their qualification campaign (it was their first time qualifying for a major, international tournament), so I managed to speak with quite a few Finnish supporters, talking about their experiences. “It was very enjoyable, and, not surprising really, was received

quite well, especially in Finland.” Now, although there’s been, understandably, a passing interest in football writing for manya-year, Aidan’s own love, now everything in his life is complete (wife, children, stability, settled on Tyneside), is beginning to blossom. ‘The Nearly Men,’ which released via Pitch Publishing just this past month, is, to the author, perhaps the completion of a circle, between his first tow releases. He added; “I like to think that my first was about your bad teams (countries) doing well, whilst this one is, perhaps, the polar opposite. “Essentially, it’s an extension of twelve, long-read articles I’ve done, and has probably taken me about two years overall, even though you can become overwhelmed by things going on around you. “I had a rough idea, for quite some time, and it was a topic in which I found interesting, both teams, and themes, which fascinated my mind – but everybody is entitled to their own opinions as well;. “International tournaments though, they’re the ones which grab the attention, affords more enjoyment, and I guess that’s why I chose this one. “I enjoy researching and writing about countries and I’m fortunate to still have vague recollections of early tournaments within my own lifetime.” Granted, that hobby has grown, but don’t they always, Aidan though, is not stopping there, far from it in-fact. As is often the case with authors, more for those with such a vast subject area at their disposal, thoughts will, quite quickly, turn onto whatever the next project may be. And that is perhaps why, whatever is next for Aidan, is already within its early stages. “Yes, it’s signed and sealed with Pitch Publishing, and scheduled for release in the spring of 2024,” said a delighted Aidan. “Again, it’s an international offering, and I do have vague recollections of it. “The 1984 European Championships (think France against Spain, Michel Platini etc); there’s just so many stories to it, including the home nations missing out on qualification, as well as those that I missed out on myself.” Keep up-to-date with all of Aidan’s happenings via his Twitter @yad_williams https://twitter. com/yad_williams or check out the book itself @NearlyMenCup https://twitter.com/NearlyMenCup; and for your football fix, visit ‘These Football Times’ via @ thesefootytimes https://twitter. com/thesefootytimes ‘The Nearly Men’ is available now via https://www.amazon.co.uk/ Nearly-Men-Eternal-Allure-Greatest/dp/1801500932

We are all in love with Rona, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier x American Bulldog who is aged 6 weeks in these photos sent in by Laura Jones. Laura contacted us when she was making this rainbow collar and lead made with our rainbow hardware and glitter cotton. When she mentioned she was making it for a puppy she was getting we just had to see for ourselves.

To make your own rainbow collar and lead for any size dog you will find the glitter cotton here https://www.bstfabrics.co.uk/100--Cotton-Fabric-Rainbow-1-Glitter-Effect-Horizontal-1 https://www.bstfabrics.co.uk/100--Cotton-Fabric-Rainbow-2-Glitter-Effect-Vertical-1