Rob Mathison

Freelance writer. Writing instructor @UBCExtended. Slowly writing #VWFC '79 & #HMFC '86 football books. Posts mostly about writing & book-related things.

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

Last call for the Summer 2026 sessions of the online #content writing, #webwriting, #copywriting & #contentstrategy courses I teach through UBC Extended Learning. More info & sign up for individual courses or complete micro-credentials at the links here: https://t.co/IktXl5RLXV

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@MiguelDelaney Also no contest as the world's greatest ever full stop. Like Maradona, Pele would also dominate the current game, especially not having to worry about leg breaking tackles. No Schiallchi or Josimar though?! Or maybe they're one-WC wonders? Good to see Roger Milla on the list.

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

Interesting from the MLS head honcho, considering the MLS is (uniquely in world football) a franchise system that allows teams to be relocated. Plus the MLS rejects things like the pyramid format & fan ownership that are part of the fabric of the football everywhere #savethecaps

[Franco Panizo @FrancoPanizo]

“It’s the Beautiful Game for a reason. Don’t Americanize it. Do it the way the rest of the world does it, and try to be part of what is great about the Beautiful Game.”

MLS commissioner Don Garber with some interesting remarks on the Pat McAfee Show.

#MLS

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@NutmegMagazine @itsauniversall Narey-inho vs Brazil

[NutmegMagazine @NutmegMagazine]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 GIVEAWAY 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

To mark Scotland going to the 🌎 Cup, @itsauniversall + @nutmegmagazine are giving away:

→ 2x UL Scotland tees of your choice
→ A full year's subscription to Nutmeg magazine

To enter:
- Follow both accounts
- RT this post
- Reply with your favourite Scotland goal

Closes Sun 30th May, 8pm

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@johnwalker_1986 This is great. With this, the sticker album (for the kids of course!), the official programme, and my giant wall chart (also for the kids of course) I should be prepped.

[Football Heritage @footyheritage]

New Article: Topophilia

Football clubs aren't just sports institutions. They are also the embodiments of our towns, cities and places.

They carry the identity of our hometowns and strengthen our attachment to place. These places are ours, and our football clubs represent what it means to come from that place.

This is part of the wider obsession known as topophilia.

Words: @BrianOMartin

Availale to read on our website ⬇️

https://t.co/7WDJT1vrPl

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

Four of my all-time favourite #sportsbooks are on sports I don't watch (apart from baseball these days) & knew nothing about before reading: Seabiscuit, Moneyball, Friday Night Lights & McIlvanney on Boxing. Big fan of @donaldgmcrae's writing so adding this to the bookshelf.

[The Charles Tyrwhitt Sports Book Awards @sportsbookaward]

@ctshirts @gallagherbren58 @YLolfa @TheSportSocial @MaisieAdam @LoveReadinguk @VassosA @BloomsburySport @Literacy_Trust @Waterstones @ey_abs @NosyCrow @petergrimsdale @simonschusterUK @TheBorisBecker @HarperCollins @evelynpartners @lilycanter @Emmajourno @CanburyPress @Susie_Wolff @HodderBooks @ifxpayments @jonawils @AbacusBooks @RathbonesGroup @RWhitehead61 @StephenCurry30 @panmacmillan @thegazza_ @reach_sport The WINNER of the @Pinsent_Masons Sports Writing Award is...

The Last Bell, @donaldgmcrae (@simonschusterUK)

#CTSBA26 #ReadingForSport

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

I've been listening to the @the_bluebells1 latest on repeat and to soften the blow of the last week of football decided to pull the trigger on the vinyl release—maroon version obviously.

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@alex_shephard Looks great. Pre-ordered the digital issue and will look out for the print one. Good to see Scott McTominay in such illustrious company in that list of essays!

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@Mexico86HQ Great idea for a book. Great World Cup too. Can you do '82?

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@HeartsStandard_ It just gets worse, but not unexpected. It almost makes me yearn for the days when this man reffed games

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@AroundTheFunnel 😳When the reffing had to be at the highest level after the split (with no time for "things to even out") - not just out of respect for the two teams involved, but due to the global spotlight - the reffing was actually possibly the worst it's ever been in Scottish fitba history

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

As Jens BA said "What are we even doing here?"

[The Steelmen Dispatch @SteelmenNews]

The SFA’s KMI panel have deemed the penalty awarded for Sam Nicholson’s “handball” to be incorrect.

Had that match ended in a draw, Hearts would have won the league.

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: the worst VAR decision in history.

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@TheSkyStrikers It must be a full time job!

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

Miles McCalgan's Flickr repository (https://t.co/m7BKTLY8IM) of old programmes and magazines—a https://t.co/av1Hg7GSuv & https://t.co/hMSFvuVAdd for Shoot! and others— is an amazing resource for anyone drilling down into past seasons. Only just found out there's a search tool.

[Miles McClagan @TheSkyStrikers]

So over the years, obviously assembled a big library of programme scans

And now thanks to @DLRbrts, we've made a finder/search engine for the programmes to help people sort them out

Share wide, click on and enjoy the link below, should make it easier!

https://t.co/B74ayN2CNE

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

Farewell Jens Berthel Askou. His Motherwell team were fantastic this season, and he left us with one of the most existential quotes about Scottish football: "What are we even doing here?"

Up there with "Tell him he's Pele" & "If it's entertainment you want, go to the cinema.”

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@fitbatweets He left us with probably the greatest, most insightful quote in Scottish football history: "What are we even doing here?" Up there with "Tell him he's Pele."

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@GreenBhoy1967 @DominikDiamond @kellylgiven Have you ever been to Gorgie? All football clubs have working class roots. Anyhow, as said too big a topic for this medium. I've read books on the OF that explain the history & still think they need to rein in the non-football stuff. Neither club ever comes out of it looking good

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@GreenBhoy1967 @DominikDiamond @kellylgiven I suppose the point is what does all this have to do with football in 2026 and Saturday? Anyhow, too big a topic for a Twitter chat. Only one club in Scotland had a discriminatory signing policy so I've always favoured Celtic in the "if you had to choose one" pub debates.

[Rob Mathison @robmwrites]

@GreenBhoy1967 @DominikDiamond @kellylgiven Article's fine. I just don't get the Old Firm. To everyone outwith Glasgow, they are part of the Glasgow-focused football establishment, no matter non-football related injustices. In modern times, fan-owned Hearts is arguably less "the establishment" than billionaire-owned Celtic