Footy On The Med: Recent Episodes
Footy On The Med
Footy on the Med is a roving podcast exploring football clubs and culture on the Mediterranean coastline. Co-hosts Alex Wade and John O'Hare give a fan's eye view of the beautiful game, taking to the stands at clubs like Marseille, Napoli, Genoa, Monaco and AEK Athens armed with just their mics, a love of football and a lot of banter. Look out for the quirky facts and bons mots that make up football under the sun.
The podcast in search of the sea lives! But, over the course of three QPR games, is a maritime connection uncovered? It seems unlikely as Alex journeys to Deepdale in Preston, Loftus Road in Shepherd's Bush and finally Champion Hill in East Dulwich. Alas, poor FOTM, for Dulwich Hamlet is nowhere near the Med, Preston North End is even further away and QPR's only discernible nautical allusion is the blue of their hoops. No matter. Ricardo and Deano were fine company in the north, Ricardo was again on form in Shepherd's Bush and West Ham Dan was as lively as ever down in Dulwich. The stand-out performer, though, was Alan 'Monday, Tuesday' Haringey. A belting rendition in the midst of a 5-1 London Senior Cup win for the Rs.
It's East v West for another London-based FOTM as Alex's beloved QPR take on West Ham United in the FA Cup third round. What could possibly go wrong? If the Hoops were to win, happy days. If they lost, they'd remain top of the league of worst-performing clubs in the FA Cup. On the day the Rs did well against the largely noiseless Hammers, but Premier League quality edged it. In all the excitement, Alex made no less than three predictions for the score. He was wrong each time but it seems Devizes Hoop James may just have passed the prospective father-in-law test. West Ham United 2 QPR 1 was recorded at the London Stadium on 11 January 2026.
Who said Footy on the Med had to have a Mediterranean connection? (Er, FOTM's loyal listeners, who didn't mind the occasional QPR game from Alex but have lately been messaging in their droves to say 'We want our Med experience back'.) It's a fair point and one which FOTM HQ is assessing with a view to authorising an improved package for London French, to inspire him to pick up the slack created by the slackers, John and Alex. Meanwhile, it's a short and sweet blast from Alex with QPR 2 Birmingham City 1. Cracking game; zero Med links.
Sunday in Sanremo.
FotM is back for the Liguarian Serie D clash between rivals Sanremese and Imperia.
Milan - Sanremo is the famous one day bike race but here you can join London French as he pedals his way over the border to take in the Derby.
Inspired by torrential rain in Shepherd's Bush, Alex found himself compelled to create a short and sweet blast of Footy on the Med while watching QPR take on Hull City. OK, he was also feeling guilty about London French, left to fly the FOTM flag alone for too long this season. Enjoy the sounds of Alex, Ricardo and the Devizes Hoops, happy with their Loftus Road lot (despite the rain) on Saturday 22 November thanks to the scoreline of QPR 3 Hull City 2.
Forza Toro Alé!!!
Our first visit to Torino as the Granata take on the Azzuri of Napoli in a Serie A clash.
Join London French on an adventure in Piemonte which includes lots of food and wine, catching up with old friends and a great match to cap a great weekend. Andiamo !
Season 5 (how has it lasted this long?) of Footy on the Med kicks off with the Ligue 1 clash between Nice and Nantes. Join London French as he battles public transport issues and limited cold beer options as he makes his way the Allianz Riviera. Oh, and Alex flies in for a post-match de-brief and catch up in Menton. Allez! Nice 1 Nantes 0 was recorded at the Allianz Riviera on Sat 13 September 2025.
Rumours of the demise of Footy on the Med – cruelly perpetrated by rival podcast On the Med, Son – prove to have been exaggerated. Alex, at least, emerged from a prolonged, work-induced siesta to head to Canet-en-Roussillon for a mid-July clash that he really couldn’t miss. Yes, it was Alex’s beloved QPR in a pre-season friendly v Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse. Some 400 to 500 fellow Rs’ fans made the trek, including Derek, James and Jo of the Devizes Hoops. They cooked in the sun, lost count of number of changes made by new Rs’ manager Julien Stephan, loved Jimmy Dunne’s commitment and noted that, with two on-field fights, this wasn’t always the friendliest of encounters. Toulouse 1 QPR 2 was recorded at the Stade Saint-Michel on Friday 18 July, 2025.
For all you FOTM addicts out there here is an unforgettable (forgettable) edition that we forgot to publish before the end of the season as London French went to see AS Monaco vs Strasbourg as they bid for Champions League places.
Whilst the season is now done and dusted we will be back soon for the 2025/2026 edition.
Bon vacances à tous and stay cool 🌞
It’s a squash and a squeeze as John, Alex and London French snuggle up on the terraces of Menton’s cosy stade and watch the home side play with all the fervour of the Smeds and the Smoos. Alas, Menton could have done with a Gruffalo, or a wise old man, or at least the The Ugly Five, for a lively Mandelieu were just that little bit too Everywhere Bear, finding Room on the Broom running the channels and deservedly emerging as 4-2 winners. Listen out for a goalkeeper who’s a fly-half, a decent contest and multiple eulogies to Fox’s Socks Julia Donaldson. Menton 2 Mandelieu 4 was recorded on Sunday 12 January 2025 with guest appearances by Eleri and Lyla. Stick Man declined to contribute.
Ligue 1 Done?
In this episode of Footy on the Med, we head to the Stade Louis-II for one of the biggest fixtures in Ligue 1 as third place AS Monaco host unbeaten Paris Saint-Germain. Set against the unique backdrop of Monaco’s compact yet iconic stadium, join London French and Massimo for trains, pizza and the last slice of league action in France in 2024.
With Alex again marooned deep in the English countryside, and Footy on the Med’s Menton HQ under attack from all sides, a dread rumour spread around the podcast ecosphere.
Would Footy on the Med live to kick a ball again? Fear not! The sea came calling and Alex took himself tothe city of Bristol, scene of 727.5 voyages to the Mediterranean in April 1511 alone.
QPR, whose blue and white hooped shirts never fail to induce thoughts of the Med, came a-visiting Ashton Gate, home of The Robins, aka Bristol City.
Alex was there to chronicle some of the action with the Devizes Hoops, not to mention West Ham Dan and two box-based associates, Scott and Max.
Cue an absolute wonder goal from Paul Smyth for The Rs.
Bristol City 1 QPR 1 was recorded at Ashton Gate on 14 December 2024.
A beautiful November afternoon and we are off to Italy for the first time and to one of our old favourite stomping grounds, the Stade Communale in Sanremo for the Série D clash between Sanremese and Lavagnese in a Ligurian derby. Join London French as he travels east from Menton and is joined by fellow Menton resident Mattia for an afternoon in the Mediterranean sunshine. Sanremese 2, Lavagnese 1 was recorded at the Stadio Comunale, Sanremo, November 10th 2024.
For pictures and videos, please visit Footy On The Med
Footy on the Med is back! At last! Admittedly the Mediterranean connection is slim, but if a person were to leave Sunderland by boat and travel south and then east, it is possible they would arrive in the Med. And QPR’s keeper, Paul Nardi, was once on Monaco’s books. Tenuous but no matter, the important thing is that John and Alex are back in action. Well, Alex and Chris are in action, because John wasn’t there. Without further carve-outs, caveats, excuses or ado, enjoy Footy on the Med in its guise as Footy in the Bush for QPR 0 v Sunderland 0 (recorded at Loftus Road on Saturday 2 November 2024).
Footy on the Med is back! With a bang! Two games for the price of one! Yes, we’re a bit late but we make noapologies for being late; it’s one of the things we do best (along with roving around to games on the Med and beyond, providing our unique insight into theBeautiful Game).
For Monaco v St Etienne at the Stade Louis II on 17 August 2024, witnessed by Alex, his daughter Maud and their friends Jean-Philippe Thomas and family, noise was the order of the day. A lot of noise.
For John and London ‘Rory Egan-Thomas’ French at Menton v Cannes La Bocca on 22 September2024, things took a gentler turn.
Enjoy both games and listen out for more in the coming years.
It's the final league game of the season for Cannes FC. It's also the Cannes Film Festival. Alex has to be at the latter for work. He'd like to be at the former for fun. How does he solve this quandary? By being at the first half and giving the reins to London French for the second. En route the pair meet Carlos, a young player with Cannes, and enjoy a decent match in balmy weather. Well, London French enjoyed all of it (and did a fine job). As is Alex's way, he enjoyed one half of it. Cannes 2 Thonon Evian 1 was recorded at the Stade Pierre Courbetin on Saturday 18 May 2024.
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This week John meets up with Young Trafford in their hometown of Menton, to watch Rapid Omnisport de Menton take on Entente Sportive Cannet Rocheville 2, or ESCR 2 for short. Menton run away with the game and score six while only conceding one. Rapid Menton V ESCR was recorded at Stade Lucien Rhein on Sunday, May 12th 2024.
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John ventures up the inside channel of the A8, past the back four, and visits one of his favourite towns, Valbonne, all on his lonesome. US Valbonne hosted Club des Jeunes d'Antibes Juan Les Pins, (which must be the longest name of a team featured on Footy On The Med). The game ended Valbonne 0 Antibes 1 thanks to an early goal from Bensouici Hamza. US Valbonne Vs CDJ Antibes was recorded at Stade Leon Chabert on Sunday, May 5th 2024.
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Footy on the Med journeys to North America and, forone night, morphs into Footy on the Pacific as Alex checks out Los Angeles Football Club in a home clashagainst The Portland Timbers. The entertainment value of this game was incredible thanks to the passion of theLAFC fans, the 3252, the awesome BMO stadium, and the local knowledge of Alex’s co-hosts for the night, Jeremy and Mike. Stand by for an exuberant evening and an extraordinary demonstration of just how small theworld is. Los Angles Football Club 3 v Portland Timbers 2 was recorded in Los Angeles at the BMO Stadium on Saturday 27 April 2024.
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Footy on the Med had a great day out in Monaco recently, with Alex happening upon FMC Elite and the woman behind its emergence as one of the best training academies in Europe. Step forward, Helen Dunne, articulate, passionate and dedicated to bringing on young football talent. Helen spoke to Alex about the academy she set up with husband Richard – yes, he of Everton, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Alex’s beloved QPR (not to mention Ireland, for whom Monsieur Dunne bagged a tidy 80 caps). Who knew of the Dunne’s passion for the south of France? Not Footy on the Med. We do now – enjoy and if you have a talented youngster, look no further than a course with FMC Elite.
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Alex, once again marooned in England, found himself in dire need of a Mediterranean football fix. But where, and how? Thanks to Dave ‘The Gull’, the answer was obvious: Bath City v Torquay United. Yes, a clash of The Romans v the club from the English Riviera, Torquay United. The palm trees fluttered, the sun shone, the ball left the ground and the Yellow Army kept up a racket despite the result going against them. To top it all SuperAl accurately predicted the weather. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. Bath City 1 Torquay United 0 was recorded at Twerton Park, Bath on Saturday 13 April 2024.
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John and Alex sit on their favourite bench to give the definitive Footy On The Med Five-Minute Guide to AS Monaco. Turns out the bench has magical properties, andturns this into more of a 10-minute guide than a FOTM Five. The duo also revisit one of the first FOTM games, the thrilling Monaco Vs Marseille match from September 2021 and you are invited to listen again. For a bit of a BrucieBonus, the Genoa Vs Fiorentina from the following week sneaks in too! Recorded at Port de Menton Garavan April 10 2024.
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Stan Bowles, arguably the greatest player ever to wear the blue and white hoops of Queens Park Rangers, died just over a month ago on 24 February 2024. It’s no secret that QPR, and Bowles, have a special place in the FOTM universe – hence not just Alex’s A Season on the Med but one of our special, not-really-on-the-Med editions in the form of QPR v West Brom. Alex was there for a match that as poignant as it was action-packed, but this week’s episode sees him in more reflective mode. Listen for musings on the Meaning of Stan, and whether 58 is ‘old’, as John puts the questions amid the tranquil 80 (or is it 400?) boats in the Port du Garavan, Menton.
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Revisit the sparkling Serie D clash between Sanremese and Asti from March 2022. Condensed down into just ten minutes, it becomes obvious that the game was all about the ref's bravery in sticking to his rather bizarre decisions. Recorded at the Stadio Communale, Sanremo.
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What’s Hannibal got to do with it? Who is Uzbekistan Bowles? And how did the Red Brigade end up being marooned? John and Alex took themselves to the Annibale Riva Stadium in the coastal Ligurian town of Albenga, and got more than they bargained for when they watched a Serie D clash between Albenga and Sanremese. There were rowdy ultras, flares, a dog, some choice language, a fidelity to jazz and the revelation, thanks to the tale of Alex’s failure to sell sports rights in Central Asia, that John speaks Russian. Albenga 0 Sanremese 0 was recorded at the Annibale Riva Stadium on 17 March 2024.
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Join us as we jump back in time to revisit the Mastermind Quiz John sprung on Alex during half-time of the Nice v PSG match. The game was a dull affair, but Alex was as sharp as ever. Enjoy! Recorded at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday on Saturday 5 March 2022.
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The great Stan Bowles passed away on 24 February 2024, making QPR v West Brom a must for Alex. This was the first home game for the Rs since the death of the club’s talismanic, legendary number 10, and Loftus Road was duly packed to the rafters. QPR went into the game on the back of a run of good form but, relegation-threatened as they are, in need of a win, while victory would help the Baggies in their promotion challenge. It was all to play for in W12 as Alex and guests (including pod guest Ricardo, Film London Josh, C-Block Simon and Jack from The Upshot) watched a belter. QPR 2 West Brom 2 – a special edition of FOTM in tribute to Stan the Man – was recorded at Loftus Road on 7 March 2024.
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John was a snake in the Grasse this week as he slithered along in the rain to watch RC Grasse take on Toulouse FC2, or TFC2 as John rebranded them. Would TFC2 Manager J.C. Debu see his Debu'tants upset the league topping RC Grasse? Would the RC Grasse fans "tomber dans les pommes"? Well, no and yes. This match, which ends in a 0-0 draw, surprised the locals who must have been certain that a win was on the cards. RC Grasse Vs Toulouse II was recorded at Stades de la Paoute on February 24th 2024.
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Sampdoria v Brecisa – no (couldn’t get tickets). FC Frejus Etoile v FC Aubagne – no (huge traffic jam on the autoroute, had to abandon the drive). Genoa Women v Hellas Verona Women – no (ran out of time to drive to Arenzano from Menton). FC Antibes v Cagnes Le-Cros – yes! Alex was undefeated by what seemed like the impossibility of seeing any football. He made it to Antibes, nearly froze to death and, to his amazement, ran into something of the Hoops. FC Antibes 3, Cagnes Le-Cros 1 was recorded at the Stade Fort Carré on 18 February 2024.
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HAC Attack! Yes, and there's no escaping a big fat true fact: John was tout seul for this trip to the Stade Louis II. Well, alone save for the Monaco faithful, his friend Hamid and some Haribo-devouring kids. Without Alex, the Big Fella's French came on leaps and bounds. C'est le futur? No one knows, not even FOTM. Monaco V Le Havre was recorded at Stade Louis II on Sunday 4th February 2024.
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It’s The Grecians v The Gas! An obvious game for Footy on the Med. Why? Because The Grecians (that’s Exeter City to non-locals) play in Exeter, which is on the River Exe, which flows down into The English Channel – and from there it’s a hop, skip and a watery jump to the Med. The Gas (aka, Bristol Rovers, aka, The Pirates) can claim a similar maritime proximity to the Med. So Alex took himself to the other St James Park to see Exeter City 0 Bristol Rovers 1 on Saturday 3 February 2024. With him was a special guest: Rob Cox, boxer and father of Sonny (named after Liston), playing up front for The Grecians. Enjoy.
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It’s a trip to Marseille for FOTM and a fixture to make the mouth water: OM v Monaco. It didn’t disappoint. From the tumultuous noise of the Stade de Velodrome to eccentric, and dramatic, refereeing decisions, not to mention a smasher of a Marseille goal and some slick Monaco attacking, this game was action-packed from start to finish. So much so that John, Alex and Young Trafford forgot both their SCORE and FOULS acronyms. No matter because, apart from thoroughly enjoying their outing to Marseille, they came up with the title of Alex’s next book: A Season on the Bed in the Shed. Marseille 2 Monaco 2 was recorded at the Stade de Velodrome on Saturday 27 January 2024.
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It’s a Happy New Year from him, and a Happy New year to him, as John and Alex catch up after Footy on the Med’s festive hiatus. Alex is again marooned in a frozen land (England), but John is still roaming the Mediterranean or, at least, Menton. John updates Alex on key French football happenings. Alex tells John about Joey Barton’s crusade to rid the world of female football pundits. And then a strange thing happens. It is a poem. About Mr Barton. And it’s here, on FOTM 54.
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There are a lot of firsts in this episode of Footy on the Med. Let’s focus on the main one: it’s a trip to the Fairmont Hotel in Monaco, to talk to the Monaco Institute of Directors about all things… FOTM. Stand by for unusual football footwear, the most benign ultras ever, a debate on whether the present is in fact the past or future (and therefore doesn’t exist), outstanding play by Liz, Vanessa and Eric, the charming, handsome Frenchman – and Alex being mistaken for an OAP. Serves him right for designating John le pitre de l’équipe. FOTM at the Fairmont was recorded at the Fairmont Hotel, Monaco, on Tuesday 12 March 2023.
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At last! Footy on the Med made it to Italy. Not to John and Alex’s home from home, the wonderful Stadio Luigi Ferraris, but to one of their other favourite grounds, the Stadio Communale in Sanremo. It may have taken half the 2023-24 season to get an Italian sortie under their belts but this was great little outing, thanks especially to a fine pre-match lunch at the nearby Tiki Taka restaurant and a combative, sometimes niggly, game of football. There was no Malaguti but Young Trafford was in situ too; John and Alex had to spare his young eyes from some of the challenges. Sanremese 0 Chieri 0 was recorded at the Stadio Communale on Sunday 10 December 2023.
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FOTM Rewind. It's not unusual for John and Alex to watch a game of football. It's not unusual for them to watch a game in a bar. But it's very unusual for Tom Jones to join Footy on the Med. Enjoy again the bizarre time when the greatest Welshman of all, and best singer of all time, turned up at La Vittoria in Menton for England 3, Wales 0 in late November, 2022.
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With Stan By Me in town, the omens had to be good. Could John and Alex get to the cursed Allianz Riviera stadium and actually see OGC Nice play, without a hitch? The fearless duo went forth, the wise Stan at their side and, for good measure, the youthful vigour of Young Trafford also present. And lo! They made it! They got to Nice v Toulouse before the game, had what passed for a hot dog and finally witnessed the beautiful Mefi the Eagle. With second-placed Ligue 1 outfit Nice having only scored 13 goals all season, the odds of a goal-fest were long. But no matter. This was a decent game, with some killer facts to savour and great performances by Dante and Thuram. Nice 1 Toulouse 0 was recorded at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday 26 November 2023.
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Flashback to April 2023 to when John and Alex conspired to surprise Hammer Donna in Pisa Tuscany with tickets to that afternoon's Pisa Vs Bari match. Donna was caught completely off-guard by John's theatrics, ably aided and abetted by Donna's long-time partner-in-crime and fellow Hammers fan, Clarent & Sue.
Pisa, Sunday 23 April 2023.
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It’s a special edition of Footy of the Med as QPR diehard Alex takes himself – and fellow sufferers – to Loftus Road for QPR’s clash with Bristol City. Both teams have new managers but the home side’s form is by far the worse. Can new Hoops boss Marti Cifuentes work a Loftus Road miracle, in the form of the club’s first home win for what feels like a decade? Spoiler alert: no. But sometime pod contributor Ricardo speaks Catalan, forges a friendship with Cifuentes and takes John’s Footwear Colour Observation slot to a new high, while Lifelong Fan Sam and Socials Esme add their thoughts on the Shepherd’s Bush experience. Perhaps, though, it’s best summed up by London Gent Ian. QPR 0, Bristol City 0 was recorded at whatever QPR’s ground is now called on Saturday 11 November 2023.
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Rewind two-years-and-one-day ago. Alex drives to Nice airport to pick up John. He waits. And he waits. John's plane is late, and then suffers from a lack of stairs. There's nothing for it: once again, Alex must push on without his pod partner.
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It’s Footy on the Med with a difference for this episode – and not just because John O’Hare was sunning himself in Italy and unable to be present. Sans The Entertainer, Alex ‘Alex Wade’ Wade and Young Trafford decided to broaden their knowledge of Mediterranean football by witnessing Nice Femmes v Lens Femmes. This was a D2 clash in French Women’s Professional Football, played not at the Allianz Riviera stadium (good job, it’s cursed) but nearby among OGC Nice’s conglomeration of pitches and buildings. A vociferous crowd of some 400 watched the home side lose to Lens, in a match full of slick passing, great technique and, in the final 15 minutes, a bit of aggression too. It was a fine Sunday afternoon out in warm October sun, with five goals to savour. Nice Femmes 2, Lens 3 was recorded at the Stade De La Plaine on Sunday 22 October 2023.
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The late, great Billy Aitken was a fine footballer who could count Juventus and AS Cannes as among the teams he managed. And it was during à Cannes match that the thoughts of Billy prompted John and Alex to muse on human mortality. How long is too long?
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What has the Rugby World Cup got to do with Footy on the Med? Quite a lot, as it happens. From founder of rugby William Webb Ellis’s resting place being Menton, France – the Mediterranean home of FOTM – to some of the crucial games in the current contest being placed in Marseilles’ magnificent Stade de Velodrome, connections between the oval ball and the musings of Alex, The Entertainer and Young Trafford are legion. Well, not quite but England v Fiji in Menton’s new Irish pub was too much for John and Young Trafford to resist. A voice from afar chipped in too, like a Wilkinson/Farrell drop goal with seconds to spare…
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You turn up to watch a football match, and who sits next to you but none other than former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson? This was Alex’s fate at the Allianz Riviera, home of Nice and (apparently, though as yet unseen by FOTM) Mefi the eagle. Our fearless part-journalist, part-lawyer dealt with the interloper well, but where was John? Have a listen to find out.
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Five Go to Cagnes-sur-Mer… Well, they had to, given prohibitive pricing (Monaco v Marseille) and an unforeseen sell-out (Nice v Stade Brestois 29) for contender fixtures. But the five – Alex, John, Young Trafford and special guests Newcastle Dale and Stan By Me – were treated to a decent game when home side Cagnes-Le Cros took on Fos sur Mer in the 4th round of the Coupe de France. Given Dale and Stan’s transatlantic base, an American theme wove its way into the game, with a discussion about the MLS and the appearance not just of the enigmatic Alameda Joe but also Shaggy from Scooby-Do. A slick goal by Fos sur Mer sealed the game, but not before John had found a way to impersonate an eagle. Cagnes-Le Cros v Fos sur Mer was recorded at the fragrant Pierre Sauvaigo Stadium on Sunday, 1 October 2023.
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In a new and occasional series called FOTM Funnies, Footy on the Med’s newly appointed quality control expert, Newcastle Dale ‘Brown on the Town’ Ale, selects the funniest moments from the past two seasons of surreal endeavour. First up, it’s the time Alex admitted to failing to get a job as a carrot picker, only, at a Cannes game, to run into the very man who’d turned him down all those years ago.
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Season 3 of Footy on the Med is barely underway, and already a sense of atavistic, primeval competitiveness threatens to tear asunder the gentle bonhomie shared by John, Alex and Young Trafford.
For lo, the tireless trio decided to text their knowledge of all things FOTM via a quiz at – where else? – the ML Lounge in Garavan, Menton.
Did it all begin with beers? Of course. Did it all end in beers? Not for John, whose early departure was not connected to the result of the quiz.
But did Alex incorporate his usual essential QPR reference? And why, come the end, was Young Trafford so happy?
Listen out for the answers to this and more, with thanks to Mehdi andthe crew at the ML.
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It's a FOTM newbie! And a FOTM extra! Roll up for On The Med, Sun! (Featuring: Marseille)
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It’s a trip toGrenoble, but why? Grenoble is not known for being on the Med. Even someone who had a very tall ladder, and a telescope, would not be able to see the Med from the top of the tallest building in the Alpine city. But inGrenoble Foot 38, they have a football club in Ligue 2 – and that means they play two teams from the Med,AjaccioandBastia. The fates conspired, and Alex and Young Trafford were in situ for a cracking game between GF38 and Les Bleus. Cracking, save for the lack of any goals. Both sides played wonderful, fast, flowing and attacking football, but contrived to miss when it would have been easier to score. How they could have done with a decent carotte (as Alex has lately become known). Grenoble Foot 38 0, Bastia 0 was recorded at the Stade des Alpes on Saturday 2 September.
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What’s logic got to do with it? In their quest for certainty John and Alex now know one thing: all roads begin and end at the Stade Louis II. The allure of Monaco’s biggest stadium once again proved irresistible, and the same can be said of AS Monaco in their second Ligue 1 fixture of the 2023-2024 campaign. The home side romped to an easy 3-0 win against Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace, thanks especially to Japanese midfielder Takumi Minamino. The 28-year-old, who made 30 appearances for Liverpool, was on fire, scoring two, with captain Wissam Ben Yedder netting Monaco’s third. Monaco top Ligue 1, and on this form should qualify for Europe. Perhaps the English translation on Strasbourg’s website is a bit harsh, though: It was a difficult evening for the Strasbourg team, who logically lost 3-0 to Monaco on Sunday.Logic? In football? Monaco 3, Strasbourg 0 was recorded at the Stade Louis II on Sunday 20 August, 2023.
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Footy on the Med begins and ends at Monaco and the Stade Louis II. Yes, this is where John and Alex recorded their first podcast, this is where season 2 began, and this is where season 2 wended to an end. Not without some drama, as Monaco’s ultras didn’t take kindly to their team’s defeat to Toulouse. The reverse meant Monaco failed to qualify for any kind of European competition, speaking fury from their devotees and a sterling performance from Foot Five’s Yousseff, on duty at the home end as a steward and not standing for any nonsense. Chair covers were ripped off and thrown, a man invaded the pitch and got himself arrested and the ultras made more than a racket. How to cover all this? FOTM-style, of course. Monaco 1 Toulouse 2 was recorded on Saturday 3 June at the Stade Louis II.
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If there's one thing about John and Alex it's that they refuse to let the grass grow under their feet. This isn't because they think the grass is greener. It's because of their commitment to grass roots football, especially in Grasse, home of perfume and Racing Club Pays de Grasse. What a game last Saturday, when Lyon-La Duchère came to town. Both sides showed why they're pushing for promotion from the Championnat National 2. They were strong, super-fit and crisp, with the two goalscorers for Grasse - Dame Guèye and Aymen Souda - standing out. Listen out for musings on Descartes, a man who couldn't see well, a snake in the grass and a new plan for Footy on the Med T-shirts. Grasse 2, Lyon-La Duchère 1 was recorded at the Stade de la Paoute on Saturday, 13 May 2023.
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Pisa, city of the bending tower. The Arena Garibaldi, home of Pisa Sporting Club. Serie B, cauldron of startling stadia. And a pair of special guests that John and Alex will never forget. All this made for riotous trip to Tuscany to see Pisa take on promotion hopefuls Bari in what proved to be a thrilling match, complete with camouflaged yet deafening ultras, a brilliant idea by the Rifleman, musings on the meaning of inclination and one of Iain Dowie's best moments. Pisa 1 Bari 2 was recorded at the Arena Garibaldi on Sunday 23 April 2023.
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Footy on the Med talks to Marc Bircham on the eve of Genoa's trip to Como 1907. Bircham, a legend at QPR and former Canadian international, helped steer the team he coaches to a 2-2 draw against the leviathans from the Med - despite their going 2-0 down to Serie B's strong contenders for promotion. FOTM is branching out into chats with former or current football players and managers, so if there's anyone you'd like us to interview please email team@footyonthemed.com. Meanwhile, listen out for Marc and Alex waxing lyrical over QPR, agreeing they don't like Chelsea and Alex asking for a top tip for his former Penzance team, the Dynamo Choughs.
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It's Footy on the Med's shortest, leanest, slickest, quickest podcast - a tribute to minimalism and a hymn to humility. Yes, it's England (and Ireland) v France, John and Alex style. With the help of Young Trafford and Gary 'Irish' Not-Neville, the brave lads prevailed in an historic encounter in Garavan, Menton. Could it be that events conspired to mean Footy on the Med couldn't get to a real game? Yes. Will John and Alex resume normal service soon? Yes. But - and just to be clear - did they win against France? Yes. Oh yes. Bien sur, et oui, mes copains. Recorded at the little pitch next to the big pitch in Garavan, Menton on 29 March 2023.
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There's no stopping John and Alex. Hot on the heels of moving among Europe's journalistic elite at OGC Nice, they find themselves at the St John's English Library in Menton. Yes, Alex persuaded John to read a book but no, literary sleuthing wasn't the sole purpose of their visit. The duo were being asked questions about life, Footy on the Med and Alex's A Season on the Med by podcast friend and flawless interviewer Stan Bunger. It was a fun session and sheds a light on the behind-the-scenes dynamics of football's slickest podcast. Recorded at St John's English Library in Menton on Friday, 10 March 2023.
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John and Alex hit the big time: thanks to the good folk at NIce OGC, they were in the press gantry for Nice v Auxerre. Better yet, Nice also accommodated John and Alex's good friend Cycling Man Stan, aka San Francisco Bay Area Hall of Fame Radio Broadcaster Stan Bunger (yes, that's his full name). Better still, the trio got to Nice in good time for a meal at one of their favourite restaurants, Les Copains. A taxi ride courtesy of the loquacious Oliver saw them arrive at the Allianz Riviera stadium before kick off. But lo! The stadium was nigh-on impenetrable. Successive stewards directed the FOTM team anywhere but to the right door for media access. Undeterred, John, Alex and Stan kept at it, and soon enough, although 12 minutes after kick off, they were welcomed into the bosom of international journalism. Stand by for a lolloping canter through a 1-1 draw, Alex yearningly calling for John at half-time and the appearance of California football aficionado and legend, Alameda Joe. Recorded at the Allianz Riviera Stadium on 3 March 2023.
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Who is London French? What is London French? Where are London French? Listen out for the answers as John, Alex and Young Trafford settle down at the ML Lounge for a chat about all things Med footy, only to be joined by the man now living in Alex's old house (clue: he used to play for London French and is called Rory). Inspired by Young Trafford's round-up of recent continental football happenings, and despite no mention of football on the deck under Dave Sexton, John launches into a quiz. Who of Alex, YT and Rory is the winner? Our (new) man in Menton, of course. Recorded at the ML Lounge on Weds 15 February 2023.
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It's safe to say that Pierre de Courbetin couldn't have predicted his appearance in a podcast featuring John's early life as a tree surgeon and Alex's failed to attempt to score a carrot picking job in Australia. It's also fair to say that no one would have predicted that AS Cannes v Rousset Ste Victoire at the Stade de Pierre Courbetin would include a discussion of these things. Not even Young Trafford, who tried valiantly, and in vain, to impose order on John and Alex. Cue carrots, trees, John's thoughts being outside his head and some killer Cannes facts. AS Cannes 2 Rousset 1 was recorded at the Stade de Pierre Courbetin, Cannes on Saturday 4 February 2023.
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There was a city called Sanremo/whose hats were given the heave-ho/They all fell down/There on the ground/At the feet of Roy Keano. Yes, Edward Lear, the famed English nonsense poet, might have said this about Italy's city of flowers - he lived and died there - but not Alex and John. No, armed with press passes they took Footy on the Med to a new level for Sanremese v Stresa - or, perhaps, a new low given this was the podcast's first ever 0-0 draw. Don't listen out for any goals but do enjoy the usual banter from Mediterranean football's tireless duo.
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Stadio Luigi Ferraris. What an arena for football. One of the best, any day of the week. But on Sunday 8 January 2023, Luigi Ferraris rocked - perhaps as never before. It was Sampdoria v Napoli. The hosts, not so good this season. Napoli, topping Serie A. A routine giant v minnow clash? No way. Not today. This was Gianluca Vialli's day. The Samp legend, taken too young a few days before the game, was honoured by those who loved him. The Sampdoria wall of noise will live on forever. Final score: Sampdoria 0, Napoli 2. Result: irrelevant. Ultimate emotion: Vialli. Football. Humanity. Life.
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It's not unusual for John and Alex to watch a game of football. It's not unusual for them to watch a game in a bar. It happens every day. (Well, almost.) It's not unusual for John and Alex to talk to Young Trafford. And it's not unusual for everyone to fall in love. (What? Ed.) Yes, it happens all the time. But it's very unusual for Tom Jones to join *Footy on the Med. Listen out for the greatest Welshman of all, and best singer of all time, when he turned up at* La Vittoria in Menton for England 3, Wales 0**.
John and Alex met at the ML Lounge for England 0 v United States 0. This fantastic bar is proving significant in Footy on the Med lore. It was where Alex first tempted John with the idea of roaming around Mediterranean football clubs for a podcast, it was where the pair were interviewed by Paul and Lewis from My Football Heroes, and it was where Alex once wrote three sentences of A Season on the Med (before opting to enjoy the wine instead). Last but not least, it was the scene of Mr Woo revelations (by Alex) and the intriguing tale of 'the name's Lloyd, Derek Lloyd' (more from John anon). This meeting was no less memorable, but more for the après match drinks courtesy of the lads from Foot Five. Cue colossal hangovers (santé, Eric, Olivier and Marco), the discovery of Pele Maguire and a brave but doomed attempt to reintroduce structural harmony to the quirkiest football podcast of them all.
And so the World Cup begins, neither with a bang nor a whimper but - on Footy on the Med, anyway - with a leprechaun. Yes, before John and Alex can settle down to enjoy England v Iran in Bar Rino in the heart of Menton they are met by an unaccountable blast of Irishness. And why not?
It's the eve of the FIFA World Cup, and what's not to like? A feast of football awaits, accompanied only by the host country's dismal human rights record and hostility to the LGBTQ+ community. The man in charge of John and Alex (that's President Macron) says sport should not be politicised. Plenty of others disagree, and say a political world cup is nothing new. Meanwhile, to set out its stall, Qatar has apologised for forcing a Danish reporter off air. 'We thought he was gay and did not have the correct work permit,' said Qatar. 'We now realise the error of our ways'. What do John and Alex think of all this? Find out as the pair gear up to cover the World Cup, Footy-on-the-Med style, but first they had to pass a test set by the tireless Young Trafford. Yes - it's quiz time!
Footy on the Med's second season takes John and Alex into uncharted territory. Well, a few miles (not 20) east to the Italian town of Ventimiglia. There Ventimiglia Calcio take on Campese, a team about whom little is known - by John and Alex, anyway. Thankfully Young Trafford is in tow with a key fact about the visitors: they are from the Genoa area, not, as John thought, an island in the Med due west from Florence. On another sweltering afternoon, this turns out to be an entertaining 2-1 win in the Campionato di Promozione Liguria 22-23, girone A. Luca Gambacorta got Ventimiglia's first with a header, Alessio Bardi brought Campese level with an almost identical goal, and then Andrea Ala scored the winner for the home side. John grew more and more annoyed with Campese's No. 10 - and the battle of Voiceover Guys raged on. Recorded in Ventimiglia on Sunday 3 October, 2022. More Info on FootyOnTheMed.com
Sanremo, the City of Flowers. Home of Sanremese Calcio, on the Riviera dei Fiori. It's hot. Scorchio. In the name of podcast freedom John, Alex and Young Trafford eschew shade and fry themselves alive in the south stand of the Stadio Comunale, as the home side take on Castanese in Serie D, Girona A clash. Have a listen for trademark meandering FOTM chat, the debut of The Rifleman, a worldie by Sanremese and John, the Entertainer, morphing into the David Blaine of the train and helping to conjure an entertaining 1-1 draw. Oh, and a rap by Voiceover Guy. Recorded at the Stadio Comunale on Wednesday 27 September. More info at FootyOnTheMed.com
It's two trips to the Stade Louis II on the bounce as John and Alex roll up for Monaco v Ferencváros in the Europa League. With them again is Young Trafford, youthful vim and energy clamouring for a decent game of football. Will this clash with Hungary's most successful club side deliver the goods? With Henry Wingo not on the wing and an impressive band of noisy fans, the away side took the sting out of Monaco from early in the match - and came away with a famous 1-0 victory. Sadly the game wasn't up to much but with Alex as quiz master John and Young Trafford went head-to-head in a Fact Off. Would age triumph over youth? Have a listen for a battle that was as good as anything on the pitch. Monaco 0, Ferencváros 1 (Young Trafford 3, John 8) was recorded at the Stade Louis II on Thursday, 15 September 2022 More info at FootyOnTheMed.com
Footy on the Med is back for Season 2 with a strange old opener at the Stade Louis II. Monaco took on Troyes, wth neither side having much to show for their efforts so far. Monaco were a lacklustre 12th in Ligue 1, Troyes, from north-east France, three places below them. But with a 1-1 draw away to Paris Saint-Germain in their previous game, would the Monégasques hit form? Or would Troyes push on from their rousing 3-1 win at home to Angers? It was a difficult game to call but John and Alex's guest, Plumber Paul (aka, Young Trafford) was spot on. Young Trafford predicted a Troyes win, and the away side ran out comfortable 4-2 winners, a Monaco sending off helping them along the way. The Troyes support numbered less than 12 in the away end, Monaco's mini-Ultras made a racket, John became obsessed with curtains and there were no hot dogs. Some Monaco fans asked the police to eject a family from Troyes, for the crime of smiling. The police did as asked. The football had the air of a training match and Voiceover Guy said he'd be back. Monaco 2, Troyes 4 - one of FOTM's more surreal games - was recorded at the Stade Louis II on 31 August 2022.
Footy on the Med is back for Season 1. Well, almost. Before John and Alex set off on another round of Mediterranean meanderings they were interviewed by Stan Bunger, a legendary US West Coast broadcast journalist. Turns out that Stan, morning co-anchor at KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM in San Francisco from 2000 until his retirement in 2021, is a big fan of FOTM. Whether he really flew all the way from California to talk to the hapless intrepid FOTM duo is not certain. It is true that Stan has a place in Menton. In fact, his pad is in the same building as Alex's. Perhaps, then, Stan was really just on holiday in France. Either way, John and Alex enjoyed recounting Season 1's highlights to Stan the (very fluent) Man - and they'll be back at the mics for Monaco v Troyes on Wednesday, 31 August. Interview with Stan Bunger recorded at R-Bike Menton. Grazie mille Luciano and, of course, Stan.
Footy on the Med's final game of the 2021-2022 season was on the Med, but not as John and Alex have come to know it. Alex's obsession with QPR and Stan Bowles saw him travel solo to Greece for AEK Athens v Olympiacos, by way of a reprise of the Rs' great UEFA Cup run of 1977. "I'm sorry, what UEFA Cup run? Anyway I can't make it, I have to watch some paint dry," said John, but he missed a treat. Playing their last game in the Olympic Stadium before next season's return to their spiritual home (the new Nikos Gomas stadium), AEK confounded a poor season and their furious fans with a decent display against Olympiacos, this year's Greek Super League champions. Thanks to the wonderful Paola Menachem, it wasn't all Greek to Alex. Recorded at the (rather tired) Olympic Stadium in Athens, with varying sound quality, Tuesday May 17th 2022. It ended AEK Athens 2, Olympiacos 3. More info at FootyOnTheMed.com
It's taken all season but, at last, John finds his vocation on a trip to Cagnes-sur-Mer. There, on a sunny Mediterranean day while watching AS Cagnes-Le-Cros take on FC Carnoux, all becomes clear. John 'Entertainer' O'Hare has always existed, but now exists formally. Informally, too. To be fair, despite Carnoux winning 4-2, this wasn't the most exhilarating game Footy on the Med has seen. John's entertainment skills were much needed, as Alex burbled on about QPR, Stan Bowles and how Heineken can refresh the anecdotes other beers cannot reach. A book, too, and how his forthcoming A Season on the Med will feature... an Entertainer. Who raps. Cagnes-Le-Cros 2, FC Carnoux 4 was recorded at the Stade Pierre Sauvaigo on Sunday 15 May 2022. More info at FootyOnTheMed.com
Spezia is not a leviathan of Serie A. Atalanta may be the Queen of the Provinces but is not a club known as a Serie A heavyweight. And isn't the Cinque Terre all about ambling amiably from village to village, not calcio? True on all counts but in Spezia v Atalanta John and Alex caught a cracking game in surely one of Europe's most scenic grounds. It ended Spezia 1, Atalanta 3 - but the passion of the home fans was undimmed. Recorded at the Stadio Alberto Picco stadium on Sunday, May 8th 2022. More info at FootyOnTheMed.com
With the Special One and Roma in town, how could John and Alex resist a trip to the City of Beautiful Confusion? Answer: they couldn't. The fearless duo were once again Genoa-bound, for a game that relegation-threatened Sampdoria needed to win. They needed their playmaker, 35-year-old Antonio Candreva, to conjure some magic. They needed their players to find the fire with which they'd vanquished Genoa in the Derby della Lanterna. They needed cohesiveness, resolve, guile. Alas, cometh the hour, cometh Jose Mourinho. His Roma team aren't the best he's ever managed but they comfortably out-classed Sampdoria. As ever in Genoa, the noise was deafening from start to finish. Cue an energy-packed outing for Footy on the Med, including the revelation that every QPR player from the mid-70s could do Cruyff turns on the half-volley (while no one else in England could), and a masterful performance in Three Facts Mastermind by a disturbingly well-prepared John O'Hare. Recorded at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday 3 April 2022. More info at FootyOnTheMed.com
It's a sparkling affair when John and Alex hop on the train at Menton-Garavan and find themselves in Sanremo for a Serie D clash between high-flying Sanramese and relegation-threatened Asti. The home side had the ball fizzing about, the referee's decisions coruscated in the Mediterranean sun, and the visitors kicked lumps out of everyone. Bizarrely, though, it was Sanramese who were a man down at half-time thanks to a red card; amid all the excitement, Alex decided Asti were a goal up. They were, but later, to John and Alex's distress: the ball was in the back of the net after a howler by their favourite keeper, Sanramese's no. 12. Thankfully for him, and for the excitable home fans, it ended 1-1 after what was possibly the only decision given to Sanramese, a penalty. A cracking afternoon's entertainment. Recorded at the Stadio Communale on Wednesday 30 March 2022. More info at FootyOnTheMed.com
It’s John’s birthday, and how better to celebrate it than by nipping along the Riviera coast from Menton to watch Monaco V Paris St Germain? Most observers had PSG down for a routine win, and no wonder, given a 15-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 going into this game. But John and Alex have not been roaming the Med, watching football, for nothing. Uncannily, they predicated a rousing, sensational 3-0 win for the home side, with Ben Yedder bagging two goals in a textbook display of lone striker brilliance. Monaco may not win a trophy this season but this was a victory to cherish. Recorded at the Stade Louis II on March 20th 2022. More info on FootyOnTheMed.com
It's a journey to the belly of the beast for John and Alex, as they join Les Nicois in the Populaire Sud for Nice v Paris St Germain. It's loud. It's raucous. It's intense. It's everything that a beast's belly should be. It's also a game of two halves, the first of which was engaging and brimful of tidy touches by Lionel Messi, while the second was so dull that the intrepid duo left before the final whistle. They missed Andy Delort's late winner to make it Nice 1, PSG 0 but comforted themselves by getting from Nice to Menton in under an hour, when their previous late night return from the Allianz Riviera had been a three hour marathon. Look out for an impromptu quiz, some industrial language and a brilliant prediction by John. Recorded at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday on Saturday 5 March 2022. More info at FootyOnTheMed.com
The jinxed Allianz Riviera loomed large for Nice v Versailles in the semi-final of the Coupe de France - but would Alex and John make it? If they did, would they be in time for kick-off? Would they finally meet Mefi the Eagle? The intrepid duo achieved two of their three goals for a pulsating game which the home side won 2-0, thanks to goals by the outstanding Amine Gouri and Kasper Dolberg. Versailles, from French football's fourth tier, acquitted themselves admirably but perhaps most impressive was the crowd. Les Nicois were in full swing, roaring on Le Gym to bag a place in the final against Nantes. What a season so far for Nice, and what a ground the Allianz Riviera is, if you're there for more than just the second half. Still no Mefi, though. Recorded at the Allianz Riviera on Tuesday 1 March 2022. More at FootyOnTheMed.com
Marseille v Brest... Genoa v Sampdoria... Monaco v Marseille... Barcelona v Real Madrid... Great atmospheres, all, but Footy on the Med's trip to the RCDE Stadium yielded the best yet. What a game. What a sound. What passion and energy. John and Alex couldn't believe their luck in being present for Espanyol's home game v arch-rivals Barcelona. The minnows put on a fantastic performance and all but nicked a 2-1 win. The match was absorbing from start to finish, so much so that the Three Facts were forgotten - although guest Producer Fred and John did find time to explain to Alex that dogs and bears are not related. Class came through in stoppage time as Adama Traore capped a superb game with an inch-perfect cross to the head of Frenkie de Jong. Epsanyol's keeper, the impressive Diego Lopez, could only get the proverbial despairing hand to it. The game ended 2-2, and everyone was gutted. Recorded at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday 13 February 2022. More at FootyOnTheMed.com
Spare a thought for Villefranche SJB. John and Alex did, after witnessing The Team with the Amazing No. 10 (27-year-old Elyes Ayeche) collapse in an away game to local rivals, AS Cannes. Ayeche wasn't playing and he was sorely missed, though the final score - 5-0 - was perhaps a little flattering to the hosts. This was a curious outing for FootyontheMed: for once, John and Alex were early, but the game inexplicably started late; the Stade Pierre de Courbetin was impressive, if you considered its two touchline stands, but less so, given the total lack of any provision for fans behind either goal; a man dispensed honey-coated peanuts to the faithful and the hopefully late, great Billy Aitken made an appearance. Look out for some words from Montpellier star, English-born striker Stephy Mavididi, musings on zig-zags and a cautionary tale of a slight excess of speed. Recorded at the Stade Pierre de Courbetin, Cannes, on Saturday 5 February 2022. More at FootyOnTheMed.com
John and Alex go posh: yes, it's a trip to the old money football mecca of Cap Ferrat for the clash between Villefranche Saint-Jean Beaulieu and Rousset Ste Victoire. The visitors return to Provence with a 1-0 win thanks to a goal by Sofiane Sidi Ali, but in Elyes Ayeche, Villefranche's no. 10, Footy on the Med encounters a prodigious, but baffling, talent. With an exquisite touch, strength and pace, why is the 27-year-old Ayeche playing in the lower reaches of French football? John and Alex fail to find the answer but have a blast at one of world football's most upmarket locales, complete with mini-ultras, Ferraris, Friedrich Nietzsche, Mr Woo and a tale of a miraculous Weimaraner. Oh, and some time travel to QPR v Swansea. Recorded on 29 January 2022 at Stade JSSJB, 2 Bd du Général de Gaulle, Cap Ferrat.
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With their highly developed, unparalleled detective skills, it was only a matter of time before John and Alex unearthed the gem on their doorstep. Yes, that’s right: at last they realised that Menton, their hometown, has a football club. Rapid Omnisports de Menton, to be precise. The fearless duo made the short walk from their homes for Menton’s home game v Cagnes-les-Cros. Families and friends came too, and what with this being a game in the lower reaches of the French football pyramid, the ambience was light on flares, strong on… children running around, the Mediterranean shimmering a short distance away, the sun shining and all-round bonhomie. Except on the pitch, that is. The tackles were industrial verging on criminal, a player was sent off and there was a fight. Have a listen for a benign and gentle outing which ended 1-1, with nothing going wrong at all. Except one thing…
Recorded at the Lucien Rhein Stadium on Sunday 23 January 2022.For more information visit FootyOnTheMed.com
It's the first game of the new year and, deprived of live football for four weeks, John and Alex are excited. Better yet, this game - Nice v Nantes at the Allianz Riviera stadium - is just down the road from their Menton base. Last time they were there, they were only half there (they missed the first half). This time, aided by Paddy 'Dr Patrick' Kennedy and Luciano the Chef (who's also an Architect), they arrive early enough to enjoy a meal at Les Copains in Nice. Surely, with hours to spare, nothing can go wrong this time? Arriving too late for Mefi the Eagle? Equipment failure? Confusing Patrick Kluivert with his son, Justin? Er, well... Nice 2, Nantes 1 was recorded at the Allianz Riviera stadium on Friday 14 January 2022. More Information at FootyOnTheMed.com
Footy on the Med goes home. Well, to its home from home - the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. This is John and Alex's third trip to Genoa and this time it's for the Derby della Lanterna, as Il Grifone take on arch-rivals Sampdoria. There's a lot at stake, with Genoa anchored in Serie A's drop-zone and Sampdoria looking for a win to take them to mid-table security. This is a game about tradition and local pride: Genoa, Italy's oldest professional football club, versus the new kid on the block, Sampdoria. A match to claim the bragging rights to Genoa's lighthouse of lighthouses, the fifth tallest in the world; a match whose significance is encapsulated by what happened when Samp were relegated from Serie A in 2011. More than 30,000 Genoa fans staged a mock funeral procession through the city, carrying a coffin draped in blue. The Navigator - complete with an inside-out Samp hat - joins John and Alex for a convincing 1-3 win to Samp. It was a game of intensity, flares and some perilous chanting on dangerous parts of one of Europe's great, old-school rectangular stadia. Recorded at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Friday 10 December 2021. Find out more on www.footyonthemed.com
It's a first in the recent history of Footy on the Med: John and Alex arrive at a game before kick-off. This small but significant success was due not to a new-found badge of organisational excellence but a simple fact: The Navigator was back in town. Thanks to The Navigator's eponymous skills, there was even time for pizza at Un Jardin de Ville before slick-passing, high-flying Marseille took on mid-table but in form Brest at the magnificent Stade Velodrome. The game is FOTM's highlight so far, with a pumping, high-octane atmosphere throughout, brilliant football by both sides and even some commentary in French from Estate Agent Eric. It ended 2-1 to Brest - the Brittany's side's sixth win in a row - making for a memorable day out in the city of Jean-Claude Izzo. Recorded at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday 4 December 2021. Find out more on FootyOnTheMed.com
Can you watch three European games in three successive days? If one of them is Monaco v Real Sociedad, will you be given the secret to making perfecto spaghetti carbonara? Why is Monaco's motto - 'Rise. Risk. Repeat' - in English, not French? John and Alex head to the Stade Louis II for a Group B Europa League clash between high-flying Monaco and second-placed Real Sociedad, not expecting to encounter any of these questions. They also failed to factor in the home side's security policy, which meant that most of their recording gear was impounded in a nice, well-maintained cabin, just outside the ground next to the Ferrari dealership. There it languished for the entirety of the game but Footy on the Med is nothing if not resourceful: the determined pair still managed to record their thoughts, observations and, in Alex's case, delight at the news, thanks to an English contingent sitting behind them, that Adel Taarabt played a blinder at Camp Nou. (That's Camp Now - hat-tip to Producer Fred.) Monaco ran out 2-1 winners, confounding John's prediction of a 2-1 Real Sociedad win and provoking him into musings on the meaning of the number 0. If it exists, that is. Recorded at the Stade Louis II on Thursday, 25 November 2021. Find out more on FootyOnTheMed.com
Footy on the Med goes (slightly) inland: John and Alex find themselves 35 miles from the Mediterranean Sea to watch a Ligue 2 clash between Nimes and Quevilly-Rouen. The seeds for their geographical misfire were sown in the Nice v Montpellier game of one half, when Alex, put on the spot by John, declared: "Yes, Nimes is on the Med." Alas, despite their scaling the immaculate Roman amphitheatre in the centre of Nimes, armed with a discreet but fully operational telescope, the Med could not be seen. Water, water, not everywhere, But the wine is nice to drink, said Alex. Well, now we're in Nimes-not-on-the-Med we may as well go to the game, said John. At a largely empty Stade des Costieres, the pair find there's a boycott by the home fans but some decent football in a Nimes 2-1 win. They realise that Eric Cantona is ubiquitous, discuss Flaubert's contention that there is no truth, only perception, and resolve to check with The Navigator before they go anywhere again. If they can find him. Recorded at the Stade des Costieres on Saturday, 21 November 2021. More Information on FootyOnTheMed.com
Selfishly, John continues his family holiday and can't make it to the small matter of El Clasico. Fearlessly, Alex takes the plunge and forces himself to venture alone to Camp Nou. Selflessly, Producer Fred, Alex's mate from Saturday footy back in London - now living in Barcelona - provides enlightenment: "It's pronounced the 'now' camp, not the 'nu' camp," he declares. "Well, come along then!" says Alex. And lo, Alex and Fred provide a discursive take on one of the biggest games of all, Barcelona v Real Madrid. The home side are missing Messi and lose 1-2, but before the game is over there's a silver lining for all things Barca: a film called Doctor Nou. Recorded at Camp Nou - that's Now - on Sunday 24 October 2021.
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It's Nice v Montpellier, 5pm on a Sunday afternoon. A game just down the road from Menton. "Not too far to travel," says Alex. "Speak for yourself," says John, "I'll have just taken my folks back home. I land at Nice airport at 4.10pm." Ever the optimist, Alex drives to Nice airport to pick up John. He waits. And he waits. John's plane is late, and then suffers from a lack of stairs. There's nothing for it: once again, Alex must push on without his pod partner. He sets forth, but an excursion leaves his voice hoarse, his equilibrium less than equal and France's peages overflowing with donations. John, meanwhile, has a snooze, meditates, learns a new language, makes lifelong friends and says 'Allez!' to a taxi driver. The pair are reunited at half-time at the Allianz Riviera stadium, home of Mefi the eagle, scene of volcanic English destruction in Euro 2016. John and Alex realise that football is a game of one half, admire Nice's MC and witness the away side nick a 1-0 win without the talismanic Teji Savannier, thanks to a nicely taken strike in the 80th minute by Florent Mollet. Recorded at the Allianz Riviera stadium on Sunday, 7 November 2021. Find out more at www.footyonthemed.com/
Is the word 'ciao' emblematic of an inherent ambiguity in Italian culture? Is Genoa really the city of 'beautiful confusion'? Is 'que sera' the only viable answer to what the song Que Sera means? And if Monaco lose at home to Marseille, and yet the away fans outnumber those at home by 500-1, is it actually a home fixture? Who's at home, and who's away, and what is home, if it's away? In this mash-up of three games, John and Alex confront searing questions of human existence and come up with no answers at all. They do, though, find a lot of fun and some fine football at Monaco v Marseille, Genoa v Fiorentina and Sanremo v Imperia. Or was it Imperia v Sanremo?
when they were learning how to use the gear.
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It's a trip to the far south of France for Alex, but sans John, whose family are in town. How will he fare without his pod partner at the Stade de la Mosson, the home of Montpellier HSC, as La Paillade take on high-flying Lens? Very well, it turns out, thanks to a superb game of football featuring a titanic battle between to two players, Téji Savanier for the home side and Seko Fofana for the visitors, not to mention the hospitality of "charming, handsome" Frenchman Eric. To the delight of both Alex and Eric, they witness an innovation in the form of pitchside sofas, and thanks to Eric, Alex gets his hands on that rare thing in the Med - a matchday programme. It ends Montpellier 1, Lens 0 and features a Bon Motson spoken in actual French. Recorded at the Stade de la Mosson on Sunday, 17 October 2021. More at FootyOnTheMed.com
Two expats abroad, nipping along the Italian Riviera from Menton to the pretty town of Sanremo on a baking hot Wednesday afternoon - what could go wrong? Nothing, really, except for the fearsome feelings of some of the Sanremo faithful at the end of a Serie D clash at home to Casale. The home side had hung on tenaciously for most of the second half despite being down to ten men, with their absurdly youthful goalkeeper playing a blinder. They even contrived to go a goal up courtesy of their enigmatic No. 11, who got a yellow card for his shirt-removing exploits. But then Casale rallied thanks to their No. 8, former Blackpool and Middlesbrough man Malaury Martin. The Frenchman's two goals made it 2-1 to Casale - and prompted some serious Sanremo anger ("let's get out of here", said John). Recorded at the Stadio Comunale on Wednesday, 6 October 2021. Find out more on FootyOnTheMed.com
John and Alex leave their base - the French town of Menton - and hop on a train to Genoa, Italy. There they meet Alex the Navigator and, with him and a couple of his mates, enjoy a beer or two before a wonderful game of Serie A football - Sampdoria 3, Udinese 3. Fast, open and skilful, the game produces an early contender for Goal of the Season (anywhere) by veteran Samp player Antonio Candreva. "Absolutely incredible!" screams Alex. Meanwhile, John muses on the miracles (and imponderables) of digital signage and legends such as Zico, Roy Hodgson, Graeme Souness and Danny Dichio make an appearance. Recorded at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday, 3 October 2021. Find out more on FootyOnTheMed.com