Top Six Football Podcasts
By Ollie Irish
Football Weekly
The Guardian’s footie podcast offers the ideal mix of professional opinion (professionally recorded too, in a proper studio, with big headphones) and risky pub banter. It also boasts the best host of any footie podcast, in the small, hairless form of James Richardson. Jimbo taught me that it’s not sad to sit on your own in a café, as long as you’re sipping an espresso and reading several newspapers at once. All FW listeners have their favourite pundits. For me, as long as Barry Glendenning – a man who sounds uncannily like the Irish guy in Graham Linehan’s sitcom The IT Crowd – is in there, I’m content. LINK
The Spurs Show
If James Richardson is the slickest host out there, then The Spurs Show’s Phil Cornwell is by far the most entertaining. His Harry Redknapp impression, which usually starts each show, is as bonkers as you’d expect from the man who co-created – and starred in – the wonderful (and shockingly underrated) Stella Street:
Marvellous (and it appears that Russell Brand based his entire persona on John Sessions’ version of Keith Richards). Anyway, as a fan of the mighty Tottenham, The Spurs Show is essential listening. Co-host Mike Leigh, who really does know his stuff, keeps Cornwell grounded. Worth listening to even if you don’t support the Lilywhites. LINK
Twofootedtackle
Having appeared on this podcast a couple of times now, I am naturally biased in favour of it; Gary and Chris’s taste in guests is impeccable. What shines through in each episode is a pure, old-school passion for football, which, in this Sky Sports era of hype and hate, is all too rare. You may hear several bad puns along the way, but the TFT pod is largely a cynicism-free zone (except when I’m on), and I love it for that. It’s especially good on non-Prem football, too – the lower leagues exist here. LINK
The Game
The Times’ footie podcast is way less charming and dangerous than The Guardian’s but it’s still very good at the basics. The ace up The Game’s sleeve, now that Phill Jupitus has gone, is Gabriele Marcotti, who is a proper, serious football journalist – there are a few out there. Marcotti really does know his stuff, and whilst I don’t always agree with him, or think he’s best served as a host, his brand of contrary annoyance – especially when anyone dares stereotype Italians – works for me. LINK
The Football Ramble
Ramble is the key word here. Listening to this is like being in a pub, chatting with your witty, football-loving mates – and not the sort of football-loving mates who like Kasabian and Tim Lovejoy. Don’t be mates with those people. LINK
It’s Up For Grabs Now
I really wanted to dislike Alan Davies’ new Arsenal podcast, which launched in November 2009. But Davies is good company indeed, bringing oodles of self-effacing wit – which you will recognise if you watch BBC comedy quiz QI – to the table. He’s also a genuine, diehard Arsenal fan, which helps. Comic Ian Stone – another massive Gooner – is a regular guest and his banter with Davies is frequently brilliant. LINK
Piers Morgan On Twitter, The 'Highlights' – The FCF
Goodbye And Good Luck: European Football Weekends – The Last Post
January Transfer Window Horseshit Infographic – Bootiful Game
Umbro's New Universitario De Deportes Home Shirt Is Beautiful – TBG
Sexual Adventures Of Demarcus La Shonda – Fitba Thatba
A Year In Non-League Football Photos – Pitch Invasion
Who The Big Four (And Liverpool) Should Sign In January – The FCF
Top 5 Footballing Candidates For Prime Minister – OTP
Why Belgium Will Win The 2018 World Cup – SOTB
Top 10 Goalie Goals – The Coin Toss
Of course, on the off chance that folk might be interested in football outside of the Premiership, there’s always the podcast of BBC London’s Non-League Show which, despite it’s host, is fairly generous with it’s coverage.
Nik – The Football Ramble covers loads more than just the Premier League. We talk about Spain, Italy, South America, Asia and Africa pretty regularly.
Off the Ball on newstalk have a great show in Ireland…with podcasts.
Not Just a Matter of Life and Death – the liverpool podcast
funny, dark and wonderfully shambolic
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the Times podcast panelists/experts(?)normally sound like the clueless scouse halfwits on 606. Tony Evans/Alyson Rudd especially.
the 5live world footy phone-in is worth a listen.
@ Fletch – Gotta agree about Rudd. Insanely annoying. Don’t mind Evans, despite his Professional Scouser Schtick.
Gotta love Barry G he’s the dude.
5live world footy phone-in is great, save for the occasional repetition of subjects & callers.
can’t make my mind up about tony evans. he has been saying for ages now that man u are in trouble, and looks like he’s being proven right. he’s rarely on after lpool lose tho, so recently he’s been absent a lot.
the ramble is ace, but clearly the guardian’s football weekly is the best out there.
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Not entirley suprising that your LNONDONcentric, but how can you leave out ManCity’s bluetuesday POD? The biggest hit (literally) on the BBC’s iPlayer when it comes to footy pods. Also agree with Stu, world football phone in pisses on the game podcast.
Can’t believe you left out the Arsecast
Here in North America, there is nothing remotely close to World Football Daily. http://www.worldfootballdaily.com/
And its a DAILY podcast.
It covers continental football very well (a must since mainstream coverage is non-existent) and while we are force fed EPL there as well, at least they have excellent coverage of other leagues and continents (seriously, there are other leagues!)
I used to listen to the whiners vags at ESPN soccernet and I could take Adrianno Russo but the others were unbearable after 10mins.
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Chappers Premier League Podcast should be included
Graham Poll’s insights into the game are extremely illuminating, Kevin Day puts the obsession with the EPL into perspective and Roy from Championship Manager answers some very interesting Statto questions. All done in an entertaining way. Top marks.
Men in Blazers is the coolest and funniest podcast going…on the Grantland Network