Made by Muslims, captured by Christians, haunted by Historians, the village of Fuencarrasco was of strategic importance for a single moment in the 11th century, before being left to storks and vultures when the war between Catholics and Moors moved … Continue reading The secular saint of Fuencarrasco
Football. The biggest game in the world. It’s Not Easy explores how the beautiful game really affects individual lives. In 1995 George Weah, AC Milan and Liberia, was World Footballer of the Year. Liberian ‘child soldiers’ Millennium Stars FC also … Continue reading It’s Not Easy – a film I made
It was a kids’ TV programme competition about what was great about swimming and I suppose they wanted to get across some aspects of being safe in the water. I took my notebook up to my bedroom and laboured over … Continue reading Markings
Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot dead while celebrating Mass in a hospital chapel in El Salvador in 1980. With the 40th anniversary of his martyrdom coming in March 2020, Romero is recognised as a saint. To many poor people in El … Continue reading Oscar Romero, man, movie, martyr and meekness
The clock in the tower at St Mary’s, Blackhill, is 136 years old and in 2015 needed £5000 to be fixed. I met the man who has maintained the clock in secret for the last 25 years. Continue reading Twenty years in the tower!
I wrote this in the aftermath of the tragic death of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes and am re-posting it today five years on. Continue reading Bat Away The Tears
A writing style guide originally written for the soccer website El Arte De Futbol Continue reading Style guide
Football was the answer for a group of boys in the midst of civil war Liberia. Continue reading Excerpt from forthcoming book – Its Not Easy
The contrast between the place she grew up in and Ruth Copeland’s musical career could not be greater. But the incredible story that took a young woman from a college band and a temp job in Consett Iron Company’s Despatch department to playing with some of the greatest musicians, producers and songwriters at the height of their powers in the home of Motown is an incredible tale of talent, struggle, pain and a few moments of brilliance. Continue reading Child of the North – from 2015
At the time when Sepp Blatter was on his way out from the position of Secretary General at FIFA, I suggested that these six people had got what it takes to replace him. Continue reading Got What it Takes – from 2015
Gerard Naughton 