Mark Orton
@markaorton.bsky.social
Sports Historian, content provider and writer with PhD in sports history, short-listed for the 2024 Lord Aberdare Literary Prize for my book La Nuestra: Football and National Identity in Twentieth-Century Argentina
La Scaloneta 2.0 is well and truly up and running. I wrote about how Lionel Messi began laying the groundwork for the post-Messi era in my 📚 From Moore to Messi
October 4, 2026 at 6:09 AM
La Scaloneta 2.0 is well and truly up and running. I wrote about how Lionel Messi began laying the groundwork for the post-Messi era in my 📚 From Moore to Messi
Reposted by Mark Orton
New Article: Alumni: First of Many
Alumni Athletic Club were founded by Glaswegian Alexander Watson Hutton and became one of Argentina’s first dominant clubs.
That said, one of their trophies was won in an unorthodox manner. It only adds to their story.
Words: Marcelo Benini
Read below ⬇️
Alumni Athletic Club were founded by Glaswegian Alexander Watson Hutton and became one of Argentina’s first dominant clubs.
That said, one of their trophies was won in an unorthodox manner. It only adds to their story.
Words: Marcelo Benini
Read below ⬇️
September 27, 2026 at 5:30 PM
New Article: Alumni: First of Many
Alumni Athletic Club were founded by Glaswegian Alexander Watson Hutton and became one of Argentina’s first dominant clubs.
That said, one of their trophies was won in an unorthodox manner. It only adds to their story.
Words: Marcelo Benini
Read below ⬇️
Alumni Athletic Club were founded by Glaswegian Alexander Watson Hutton and became one of Argentina’s first dominant clubs.
That said, one of their trophies was won in an unorthodox manner. It only adds to their story.
Words: Marcelo Benini
Read below ⬇️
Lionel Messi will have his last tango in an Argentina shirt in a farewell match on 8 October in Buenos Aires against Benin. Read about all the highs and lows of his international career in my 📚 From Moore to Messi
September 16, 2026 at 5:01 AM
Lionel Messi will have his last tango in an Argentina shirt in a farewell match on 8 October in Buenos Aires against Benin. Read about all the highs and lows of his international career in my 📚 From Moore to Messi
9 years ago today I was watching Lanús en route to their maiden Copa Libertadores Final
September 13, 2026 at 12:57 PM
9 years ago today I was watching Lanús en route to their maiden Copa Libertadores Final
Fortunate to have seen Lionel Messi play for Argentina in the flesh over the years
September 1, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Fortunate to have seen Lionel Messi play for Argentina in the flesh over the years
Felicidades Las Leonas, Campeones del Mondo! 🏑🇦🇷
August 29, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Felicidades Las Leonas, Campeones del Mondo! 🏑🇦🇷
Reposted by Mark Orton
August 26, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Reposted by Mark Orton
As I board the ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki, I’m reminded yet again of three things about the EU:
1) You don’t sacrifice any of your national identity or culture by being part of the EU. Estonia remains Estonia. Finland remains Finland
2) Schengen is great.
3) Brexit was and is shit.
1) You don’t sacrifice any of your national identity or culture by being part of the EU. Estonia remains Estonia. Finland remains Finland
2) Schengen is great.
3) Brexit was and is shit.
August 26, 2026 at 6:37 AM
As I board the ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki, I’m reminded yet again of three things about the EU:
1) You don’t sacrifice any of your national identity or culture by being part of the EU. Estonia remains Estonia. Finland remains Finland
2) Schengen is great.
3) Brexit was and is shit.
1) You don’t sacrifice any of your national identity or culture by being part of the EU. Estonia remains Estonia. Finland remains Finland
2) Schengen is great.
3) Brexit was and is shit.
A belated Feliz Día de la Futbolista Argentina. Learn about its origins in my book From Moore to Messi
August 22, 2026 at 8:29 AM
A belated Feliz Día de la Futbolista Argentina. Learn about its origins in my book From Moore to Messi
A little reminder that Anglo-Argentine footballing relations weren't always so antagonistic
August 7, 2026 at 11:13 AM
A little reminder that Anglo-Argentine footballing relations weren't always so antagonistic
The women's players also have a Día de la Futbolera as I wrote in From Moore to Messi
August 6, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The women's players also have a Día de la Futbolera as I wrote in From Moore to Messi
Reposted by Mark Orton
So, Argentina has created a 'National Football Teams Day' (15 July) to celebrate its World Cup SF win over England.
If you want to understand why England lives rent-free inside Argentina's head, then listen to my podcast with @drpetewatson.bsky.social (2024)
open.spotify.com/episode/0a1m...
If you want to understand why England lives rent-free inside Argentina's head, then listen to my podcast with @drpetewatson.bsky.social (2024)
open.spotify.com/episode/0a1m...
August 6, 2026 at 12:50 PM
So, Argentina has created a 'National Football Teams Day' (15 July) to celebrate its World Cup SF win over England.
If you want to understand why England lives rent-free inside Argentina's head, then listen to my podcast with @drpetewatson.bsky.social (2024)
open.spotify.com/episode/0a1m...
If you want to understand why England lives rent-free inside Argentina's head, then listen to my podcast with @drpetewatson.bsky.social (2024)
open.spotify.com/episode/0a1m...
Plenty of Argentine talent on show at Newport County tonight, World Cup winner Paulo Dybala and former Under 20 internationals Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé
August 4, 2026 at 10:02 PM
Plenty of Argentine talent on show at Newport County tonight, World Cup winner Paulo Dybala and former Under 20 internationals Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé
Great review of From Moore to Messi
August 1, 2026 at 5:10 AM
Great review of From Moore to Messi
Reposted by Mark Orton
Will there be a fourth star on the Argentina jersey after tonight? Read about how they won the first three in my 📚 From Moore to Messi
July 19, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Great to chat with @aljazeera.com about Argentina's appearance in the World Cup Final tonight
July 19, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Great to chat with @aljazeera.com about Argentina's appearance in the World Cup Final tonight
Will there be a fourth star on the Argentina jersey after tonight? Read about how they won the first three in my 📚 From Moore to Messi
July 19, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Will there be a fourth star on the Argentina jersey after tonight? Read about how they won the first three in my 📚 From Moore to Messi
Want to know the full significance of the England v Argentina fixture? These are the only books you will need!
July 15, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Want to know the full significance of the England v Argentina fixture? These are the only books you will need!
Reposted by Mark Orton
Looking forward to the World Cup semi-finals this week? We recommend 'From Moore to Messi: A History of the Argentine National Football Team 1902-2026' by @icshc.bsky.social @dmu.ac.uk PhD graduate, Dr Mark Orton! @markaorton.bsky.social www.waterstones.com/book/from-mo... #sportshistory #WorldCup
July 14, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Looking forward to the World Cup semi-finals this week? We recommend 'From Moore to Messi: A History of the Argentine National Football Team 1902-2026' by @icshc.bsky.social @dmu.ac.uk PhD graduate, Dr Mark Orton! @markaorton.bsky.social www.waterstones.com/book/from-mo... #sportshistory #WorldCup
England v Argentina has provided some epic World Cup encounters: 1962,1966, 1986,1998 and 2002. Relive them all by getting your copy of my book before Wednesday's semi-final
July 12, 2026 at 8:00 AM
England v Argentina has provided some epic World Cup encounters: 1962,1966, 1986,1998 and 2002. Relive them all by getting your copy of my book before Wednesday's semi-final
Happy Independence Day Argentina 🇦🇷
July 9, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Happy Independence Day Argentina 🇦🇷
Part of a wider project that I am working on and presented at the International Football History Conference at Craven Cottage last month
New Article: Sons of Bosnia
This week we saw Bosnia bow out of the World Cup.
It’s worth remembering that 30years ago, a genocide was taking place which intended to wipe out the Bosnian population.
Words: @markaorton.bsky.social
Read here ⬇️
www.footballheritage.co.uk/sons-of-bosnia
This week we saw Bosnia bow out of the World Cup.
It’s worth remembering that 30years ago, a genocide was taking place which intended to wipe out the Bosnian population.
Words: @markaorton.bsky.social
Read here ⬇️
www.footballheritage.co.uk/sons-of-bosnia
July 4, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Part of a wider project that I am working on and presented at the International Football History Conference at Craven Cottage last month
Reposted by Mark Orton
Congratulations to Cabo Verde on reaching the knockout stage of the World Cup. There they will face Argentina, a country that has long standing links with the islands through football as I wrote in my book
June 27, 2026 at 8:19 AM
Congratulations to Cabo Verde on reaching the knockout stage of the World Cup. There they will face Argentina, a country that has long standing links with the islands through football as I wrote in my book