Matt Abbott 🍉

Off to see @bunnymen.com in Leeds for my old man's 65th! I fell in love with these through Donnie Darko, way back in 6th Form. Can't wait 🎶

There are definitely mitigating factors. Not clocking the screen, City's teamtalk through fake injury in the reverse fixture, a general tendency to boo everything opposing (including the PL anthem!)

It's likely more a general siege mentality for many. But undoubtedly fuelled by sinister elements.

Yeah, there's undoubtedly a wider societal problem that simply manifests itself at Elland Road. On the other hand, this is also a fanbase that boos the Premier League anthem. But it's still shameful, and there's no doubt that plenty were openly and happily booing Ramadan.

That herd mentality is lethal. Any sense of individual accountability totally vanishes. I also think, particularly in the South Stand, the most offensive or distasteful option is the most popular. 'Dirty Leeds' + cheap coke & Dark Fruits. Hence the bizarre Jimmy Savile stuff...

We're capable of producing the best atmosphere in the UK. Our tiny South Stand is often louder than most stadiums. But this element of the fanbase makes me sick.

Last season's Solomon debacle marked my lowest point as a Leeds fan, in terms of feeling totally ostracised from my own lifelong tribe.

FWIW, many #lufc are fans deeply ashamed by the last night's booing. I totally get "We are Leeds, we are vile" as a deeply entrenched anti-establishment mindset, and I do believe Pep using the drinks break for a team talk fuelled the majority of boos, but it's still shameful. Not a good look at all.

Yep, there may be mitigating factors, but the booing hardly ceased when the message appeared on the screen. It's shameful, and I hope both the club and platforms like @thesquareball.net have the guts to properly address it.

I do believe this is the case to some extent, particularly with how this impacted the reverse fixture in November (with Donnarumma's fake injury). However, it's impossible to deny that there's also a significant amount of (at best) anti-woke sentiment and (at worst) rampant Islamophobia. Shameful.

Check out our latest Substack post for listen back links for our Jan & Feb episodes, plus content related to our round-ups and recommendations!

roaring20sradio.substack.com/p/episodes-5...

Discoveries and development from 2025 Career developments, cultural exchange, and general thoughts at the close of the year

🆕️ My latest post on Substack is a mix of career development, cultural exchange, and general thoughts at the close of 2025.

It's free for everybody to read, so please share it if you like it!

mattabbottpoet.substack.com/p/discoverie...

The Mayor’s Script Diversity Programme for Screen Yorkshire Matt Abbott was one of the cohort for The Mayor’s Script Diversity Programme via Screen Yorkshire.

Last night saw the celebration event for the second instalment of the Mayor’s Script Diversity Programme through Screen Yorkshire. I was buzzing to be a part of the cohort, which included 10 writers who are all established outside of screenwriting.

Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on 6 Dec Matt Abbott is performing as part of Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on Saturday 6 December 2025.

Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on 6 Dec

Matt Abbott is performing as part of Soul Shed at WX Wakefield on Saturday 6 December 2025.

At the crossroads of a poem’s first draft stage Earlier this week, I dug myself a hole that every poet will have found themselves in at least a handful of times.

This week's essay is a candid insight into how you might approach the crossroads of a poem's first draft stage. Because, more often than not, first drafts aren't under-polished — they're under𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥.

💷 £5 per month for weekly long-form posts.

👟 And once you've started, how do you maintain confidence and momentum beyond the honeymoon period?

These questions and more are addressed in the essay. The paid subscription costs £5 per month, and this includes access to the full archive of 90+ posts!

Poetry collection essay #3: Making it a tangible reality How to graduate from the daydream phase to giving something a tangible presence in your life that demands attention

This week's essay continues my series on the process of publishing a poetry collection, right through from conception to post-publication.

💭 How do you graduate from the daydream phase to giving your collection a tangible presence in your life?
🛑 What should you avoid at this stage?

Clarke Carlisle ⭑ From A-Z since '92 Clarke Carlisle came to Leeds, a club looking for esteem and a fresh start, as someone looking for esteem and a fresh start. The best qualified coach, and the brainiest footballer, and all the wrong m...

This is a potent and fascinating post from @leedsista.com. I knew it would be, given DC's abundant talent for writing about such complex themes and characters as Clarke Carlisle. But still, it's due a virtual round of applause 👏🏻

CW: mentions of suicide

www.leedsista.com/clarke-carli...

𝙉𝙀𝙓𝙏 𝙀𝙋𝙄𝙎𝙊𝘿𝙀 🔜

We're back on Soho Radio this Monday from 2-4pm, when we'll be joined live in the studio by Iona Lee!

Tune in at sohoradio.com or via DAB. Two hours of art, culture, books, poetry, and activism.

Co-presented by @salenagodden.bsky.social, @amahrose.bsky.social & @mattabbottpoet.com

Aye, it's grim. Incredibly worrying. Meanwhile, in Ireland, they pay freelance artists a salary!!

Lads I've been scouring D:Ream's discography and I can't find a single track called 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦.

Is Arts Council England About To Be Put Out To Pasture Rumblings around Whitehall suggest that Arts Council England (ACE) may be about to lose one of its most fundamental powers....

I didn't think it was possible to despise Margaret Hodge any more than I already did, but there you go.

Poetry takeaways from Lily Allen’s new album Because if you’re not listening to it on repeat this week, why not?

I've been listening to it all week, and so have you. As poets, what are the main takeaways from @thelilyallen.bsky.social's new album?

How to keep writing amongst the noise Life often feels too noisy to be able to write. Here's how to combat that

This week's essay ✍️🏻

Can't wait to be on co-hosting duties for this one! Tickets are on sale now for £8/6 ✌🏻

An essay on adapting as a freelance poet As freelancers, we must adapt creatively, practically, and personally

This week's essay looks at various ways we need to adapt as freelance poets.

𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙉 𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆 🎧 𝙋𝙡𝙪𝙨, 𝙖 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙎𝙪𝙗𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠!

Episode 55 is now available to listen back in full on the Soho Radio Mixcloud site! You can find the link in our brand-new Substack newsletter, which also includes links from our round-ups...

open.substack.com/pub/roaring2...

With Love, Grief and Fury Paperback Launch Join award-winning novelist, poet and broadcaster Salena Godden to celebrate her latest collection, now in paperback.

📚❤️ This Thursday 16th October: 6pm - 7pm. Poetry Pharmacy, Oxford Street. Readings and book signings, FREE entry. See you down there! Thank you lovelies @canongate.co.uk Xx

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/with-love-...

Poetry collection essay #2, plus a shift in approach A 2nd deep-dive into the process of publishing a poetry collection, alongside a new approach for The Day Job

The 2nd in my monthly essay series on publishing a poetry collection, plus a shift in approach for The Day Job.

Writing exercise responding to a Seamus Heaney poem A three-part exercise to generate some fresh drafts, or to develop pre-existing ideas

Seamus Heaney had a poem published for the first time on Saturday. I've devised a three-part exercise in response ✍️🏻

Communicating across secondary school year groups A few tips on the differences between engaging groups of school pupils from ages 11 through to 16

Everybody knows how different 11 year olds are from 16 year olds, but this post looks at the incremental changes through the year groups.

'Deep sea diving' as a poetry approach The best ones often tend to be right near the bed of the ocean

This approach entered my poetry writing process out of necessity in 2017 and has remained ever since.