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Gig Diary: We Visit Some of Nottingham’s Most Loved Music Venues
Sun 04 Feb 2024In Nottingham, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to live music venues. From the Motorpoint Arena with its capacity of 10,000 to smaller rooms like The Bodega and The Chameleon, we really do have it all. Our Kira O’Boyle set off on a journey, attending as many gigs as possible over a two-week period to decide once and for all which one is her ultimate favourite. Here are her gig diaries…
Celebrating Nottingham’s History of DIY Football Fanzines thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Fri 13 Oct 2023Two of Nottingham’s best loved football fanzines Brian and The Pie will be given a new lease of life thanks to a regeneration project by LeftLion, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund…
Left Stag: September 2023
Wed 20 Sept 2023Our man Josh Pickering is back with a run-down of the last month of action at for Mansfield Town and some news of his own offspring donning the amber shirt...
Football Isn’t Just a Game: How Teaching English to Foreign Players at Nottingham Forest Formed Life-Changing Connections
Thu 20 Jul 2023Emily Boaler was just seven years old when her mum was offered a job teaching English to foreign players at Nottingham Forest. So began a love of languages, football and life-changing connections...
Christopher Towers Talks Poetry Book Hinterlands, the Collection Musing on Non-League Football
Wed 04 Jan 2023Whether Kane’s calamity, Messi’s magic or the many questions around Qatar, it’s been even harder than usual to avoid football this winter. However, for some—including many around Nottinghamshire—following their regional non-league team means much more than the glitz, glamour and greed that the World Cup has come to represent. I met up with Nottingham poet Christopher Towers to chat about his latest poetry collection Hinterlands, which is dedicated to the more local side of the global game.
5 Events to Check Out in Nottingham This Week: Football Manager Therapy, Pussy Riot and More
Mon 07 Nov 2022Adam Kay, Alan Carr and an important exhibition are also coming to the city this week...
University of Nottingham Graduate Ayo Oyelola Chats American Football, Chasing Crazy Dreams and Joining the Jacksonville Jaguars
Mon 15 Aug 2022Nottingham and the NFL have hardly gone hand-in-hand over the years - but with the University of Nottingham graduate Ayo Oyelola recently joining the Jacksonville Jaguars, they do now. We catch up with the defensive back ahead of the 2022/23 season…
Inside Art of Football’s Mission to Make the Beautiful Game a Source of Community, Identity and Celebration
Fri 22 Jul 2022Just a couple of avenues up from the LeftLion offices sits Art of Football, a Sneinton-based arts and fashion brand that centres around - you guessed it - football. They’ve seen their bucket hats on Ian Wright’s head, they’ve collaborated with Umbro, and they’re still only just getting started. We chat to Director Luke Cuthbert about immortalising people’s memories, the importance of community, and their plans for the future…
Meet the Nottingham Lions, the LGBT+ Football Club Aiming to Make the Sport a Safe Space for All
Thu 21 Jul 2022Founded over sixteen years ago, the Nottingham Lions have been trailblazers in our city’s sporting scene ever since - with the LGBT+ friendly football club bringing together people of all abilities and walks of life to enjoy the beautiful game. We sit down with Robbie Jacques, the club’s Social Media and Commercial Officer, to hear all about their story so far, and explore how the world of football can become a more inclusive, tolerant place…
We Took a Trip to the Nottingham Caesars to Learn More about American Football, the History of The Club and Making International News
Fri 06 May 2022It’s fair to say that the rise of American Football in the UK has been meteoric. From the NFL regularly playing games at Wembley Stadium, to viewing figures and Google searches rising year after year, the sport now has an estimated 27,000 active players in the country. And Nottingham is no exception. Established in 1984, the Nottingham Caesars are one of the oldest American Football clubs in the UK, playing in the BAFA National League NFC South. We caught up with Caesars’ defensive linesman and Gameday Co-Manager Jamie Gatley to talk about the past, present and future of the club, and how a group of hungry mice recently helped the club gain international press…
Nadia on... the Magic of Football
Mon 04 Apr 2022Regular columnist and Labour MP for Nottingham East Nadia Whittome shares her thoughts on the magic of football and Nottingham Forest's impressive FA Cup run...
Diary of a Framework Street Outreach Worker
Tue 05 Jan 2021Framework’s Street Outreach Team directly engage with and help rough sleepers, assessing their individual needs and either providing help or referring them to other relevant services. Former Police Community Support Officer, Zoe Wade has been in the homelessness sector for thirteen years and, having worked as a member of the Street Outreach Team for the past two months, takes us through what an average day entails, and what inspired her to choose this career...
LeftLion Football Podcast Episode 10: End of the Season
Tue 04 Aug 2020In the final episode of the season, Gareth calls Colin fresh from his Wembley heartbreak, as County miss out on promotion back into the football league. Things aren't much rosier across the Trent either, as they discuss Forest's recent capitulation in missing out on the playoffs in spectacular style. So what about the future for both clubs? Transfers in, transfers out and the wider issues around football ownership are all explored.
LeftLion Football Podcast Episode 9: Paul Severn
Wed 22 Jul 2020Gareth, Colin and Jim welcome Paul Severn to try to make sense of Forest's meltdown as they lose a grip on their playoff place. The team look forward to Notts County's upcoming playoff match as well as get excited by new signings at Mansfield. As well as continuing to reflect on lockdown mental health issues, there's also discussion on the situation at Wigan and the murky world of FFP.
The Thompson Brothers on the Return of Football, Pubs and Holidays
Thu 02 Jul 2020Nottingham's most opinionated grocers on...
LeftLion Football Podcast Episode 8: Football is Back
Fri 26 Jun 2020Gareth, Colin and Jim discuss the return to Championship action for Forest, play-off promise for Notts County and a new face in the boardroom at Mansfield. They also explore the role of coaching during lockdown and reflect on the ways the Black Lives Matter movement has been received in Nottingham.
Football Without the Margins: Return of Nottingham Forest
Fri 26 Jun 2020Even before the return of Nottingham Forest to active duty against Sheffield Wednesday this weekend, I’d had a realisation...
A Professional Footballer in Notts
Thu 25 Jun 2020From high-profile mystery illnesses to scoring on his first team debut... Can you figure out who our Professional Footballer in Notts is?
LeftLion Football Podcast Episode 7: Lockdown with Jim McCrae
Fri 05 Jun 2020Colin and Gareth are joined by Jim McRae to discuss the effect of lockdown on County, Mansfield and Forest, whilst also looking at the role football plays in our lives and the mental health challenges we all face in lockdown.
LeftLion Football Podcast Episode 6: Tom Head (@wiggumcharm)
Fri 07 Feb 2020Colin and Gareth welcome guest Tom Head (@wiggumcharm) with an optimistic take on Forest's fortunes, a revolving-door goalkeeper situation at Notts and Jim brings good news for the catering department at Mansfield
LeftLion Football Podcast Episode 5: Jim McRae on the Managerial Change at Mansfield
Fri 03 Jan 2020Colin and Gareth are joined on the line by Jim McRae to discuss the managerial change at Mansfield. Largely positive festive results at both Forest and Notts PLUS why ‘The Snowman’ is to blame...
Leftlion Football Podcast Episode 4: Kevin George of LGBT Trickies
Sat 30 Nov 2019Hosts Colin Sisson and Gareth Watts bring Episode Four of the LeftLion Football Podcast, featuring an interview with Kevin George of LGBT Trickies