Football Travel by Outside Write: Recent Episodes
Outside Write
Outside Write is a blog dedicated to football travel, culture and history. In this podcast we discuss travel tips for watching football abroad, discuss football history, sociology and review books.
We kick off the next series of the Football Travel by Outside Write podcast with a visit to Clapton Community Football Club in East London, where the club was playing a like-minded side from the US, New York International. I caught up with Bernard Vere, a member of Clapton CFC and Nick Platt from New York International to discuss their clubs' ethos and find out what it means to be a 'community club'.
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Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
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Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Jonathan Wilson, whose latest book, The Power and the Glory: A New History of the World Cup is comprehensive overview of the 22 tournaments to date. We major on the first World Cup in Uruguay, the pivotal Italia '90, the 1980s, USA 1994, and why all 21st century World Cups look the same.
If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
Dan Williamson joins me for a fourth time to discuss his latest book, 'If I Hadn't Seen Such Riches', which chronicles Manchester United's 1991 Cup Winners' Cup run.
This is the last of the current series. I'll be back in the early summer for a one-off World Cup special episode with Jonathan Wilson.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram.
If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review.
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
My guests are Derek Watson, who's involved in the ultra scene at Motherwell FC, and Rory Bryce from the Football Heritage podcast. We're discussing the Scottish ultra scene in the wake of a recent three-part BBC documentary on the topic.
The podcast I mentioned in the episode on the history of the ultrà movement is here over on Football Heritage.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram.
If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review.
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Rob Potts, whose new book, 'A Football Odyssey: Passion, Politics & the Beautiful Game', looks at 80 great stadiums from around the world, their significance, plus groundhopping tips.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram.
If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review.
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is James Stephen, whose book 'Auld Foes' chronicles the history of the world's oldest top-flight derby, Heart of Midlothian versus Hibernian in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram.
If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review.
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Conor Kenny, whose new book, Sbornaya, looks back at the history of the USSR national side.
If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
I am joined by Gonzalo Tobar, who writes about Chilean football on Substack. We're discussing the politics and identity of football in Chile.
If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest today is Dermot Corrigan, who writes about Spanish football for The Athletic. We're discussing the football scene in Madrid, including both the big clubs, but also some of the more interesting stories from the 'barrios' (neighbourhoods) in Rayo Vallecano, Leganés and Getafe.
If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
I am joined by Mark Biram, co-author with Tim Vickery of a new book on the World Cup from the South American perspective called 'Mundiales'. We look back at how South America, in many ways, created the World Cup as we know it, and what South American success means to countries. We focus on Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia.
If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Miguel Pereira to discuss his new book, The Greatest, which covers the history of Real Madrid, majoring on some of the lesser-known or misunderstood elements of the club's history.
If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Belgrade-based sports journalist Nebojša Marković, and we're discussing groundhopping in Serbia. We also discuss the history of football in the country, including that great Red Star team of 1991.
If you enjoy Outside Write, do please leave a review.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky and Instagram
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
I am joined today by Simon Binns, whose new book is a biography of the famously left-wing and rebellious Paris club, Red Star.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Chris Lepkowski, whose new book, The Slum Sport, tells the story of the difficult post-Heysel, post-Bradford fire season, when English football was at its lowest ebb and hooliganism was rife. Chris argues that the 1985/86 season was, in many ways, a turning point that led ultimately to the creation of the Premier League in 1992.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is BBC journalist Alex Bysouth, whose new book, Football for the Soul, covers his search to rediscover 'the beauty in the beautiful game'. It's a journey that takes him to Bilbao, Naples, Paris, Cambridge, and elsewhere.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
I am joined by Brendan Madden, otherwise known as 'Fútbol es La Leche' on social media. His new book, Once Upon a Time in La Liga, is a brilliant collection of short stories of lesser known incidents and characters from Spanish football history.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Alan McDougall, whose latest book, Dreams and Songs to Sing, is a people's history of Liverpool FC. We discuss the club's role in the city and abroad, Liverpool's identity, and how the club's success has often been at odds with the city's fortunes.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
I am joined for a second time by Christopher Evans, author of Los Leones, the definitive biography in English of Athletic Club de Bilbao, to discuss the incredible story of several Basque refugee children who came to Britain to escape the Spanish Civil War and ended up becoming prominent footballers.
This is the post I referenced in the interview about the Clapton Community Football Club International Brigades away shirt.
The second part of the podcast is a talk I gave recently on the history of football against fascism for Brigata Ultra Clapton and the Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d'Italia (ANPI - the National Italian Partisans' Association)
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee's three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Rory Bryce from the Football Heritage website and podcast. We're looking at how clubs and nations are, or should, celebrate their football history.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee’s three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Dr Pavel Brunssen from the University of Heidelberg in Germany. His new book explores four European clubs with a Jewish connection: Ajax, Bayern München, FK Austria Wien and Tottenham Hotspur.
How did these identities come about, and why are they often problematic?
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee’s three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
Latin Americanist, Dr Pete Watson from the University of Leeds in England, joins me for a record fifth appearance to discuss the cultural significance of Diego Armando Maradona ahead of the fifth anniversary of his passing later this year.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee’s three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Eli Mengem from the YouTube channel, Copa90. We discuss his career highlights, such as the Copa Libertadores final that never was between Boca and River, and 'Once in a Lifetime' about Argentina's 2022 World Cup win. We also discuss his favourite groundhopping experiences and where he'd like to go but hasn't yet...
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee’s three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Shafik Meghji, author of Small Earthquakes, in which he explores British involvement and legacy in South America. The most prominent legacy is probably football, so we look at the pioneers in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and beyond.
Other podcasts we mention in this podcast include:
- Everton in England and Chile
- The Kentish Roots of Newell's Old Boys
- The Roots of Argentine Football
- Argentina v England at Mexico '86
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee’s three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Will Dalton, author of 'Oh, San Lorenzo', a new book all about San Lorenzo de Almagro, one of Argentina's traditional 'Big Five'.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee’s three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
Tim Vickery is the leading English-language expert on Brazilian football. Tim joins me to discuss the current state of football in Brazil. We discuss a broad range of topics on contemporary Brazilian football, including the gentrification of the sport, the legacy of the 2014 World Cup, and the state of the national side.
Visit Outside Write on Substack for more groundhopping and football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, and X
Check out Chris Lee’s three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
I welcome David Goldblatt onto the podcast to discuss his latest book, Injury Time: Football in a State of Emergency. We discuss the role of populism in football and also the changing economics of the game.
Visit Outside Write for more football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Substack and X
Check out Chris Lee’s three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is journalist Joey D'Urso, whose new book, More Than a Shirt, explores the politics around 22 football shirts from across the world.
Visit Outside Write for more football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Substack and X
Check out Chris Lee’s three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Jay Mwamba, author of Crash of the Buffalo, which explores the tragic story of the 1993 air crash that killed many of the promising Zambian national side. We look at the players involved, the incident itself, and how the nation recovered in the aftermath of the disaster.
Visit Outside Write for more football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Substack and X
Check out Chris Lee’s three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
I am joined by Seán McCabe, climate justice officer at Bohemian FC, and club historian Gerry Farrell to discuss the history and culture of Dublin's oldest surviving football club. We look at the club's long history of progressive social activism, discuss its fan-ownership model, and - of course - talk about the marketing power of its shirts.
Visit Outside Write for more football history.
Follow Outside Write on social media, on Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Substack and X
Check out Chris Lee’s three books:
· Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World
· The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism
· Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football
My guest is Rodrigo Barneschi from São Paulo, Brazil. His book, Outsiders: A Football Fanatic's South American Odyssey, has been translated into English and explores the experience of an away fan in South America.
Rodrigo and I discuss fan culture across the continent, from the 'torcidas' of Brazil to the 'barra brava' of Argentina and Uruguay.
My guest is Will Huddleston, a PhD student of Latin American studies at the University of Cambridge. Will studied the relationship between national identity and football in Uruguay while in Montevideo. It's a fascinating conversation...
My guest is Argentinian football writer Luciano Wernicke, whose latest book 'The Dark Side of the Copa Libertadores' explores the murkier side of South American club football's premier tournament.
My guest is Ronny Blaschke, whose latest book 'Football and Racism' explores the relationship between football and colonialism. We look at football's role in the European colonial past, including the British, French, and German empires. What is their legacy today?
My guest is Matt Coughlan, author of Groundhopper: Tales from Football's Equivalent of Trainspotting. Matt's new book explores the experience of visiting 100 football grounds, focusing on non-league and less mainstream clubs, sparked by his disillusionment with Arsenal and the Premier League.
My guest is Matt Oldroyd from the Nottingham Forest fan group, Forza Garibaldi. Matt's new book, Trailblazers, explores the history of one of the world's oldest and most historically significant football clubs, two-times European champions Nottingham Forest. We look at what the club - and the city of Nottingham - has contributed to the game in England and worldwide.
My guest is Richard Hough, author of Verona Campione, a new book about Hellas Verona's surprise 1985 Scudetto win. We also discuss the ultrà scene in Verona, and the city's other clubs, Chievo and Virtus.
After my chat with Richard, I've tagged on a talk I gave recently on football against fascism in Italy before and during World War II, recorded at Manchester's Festa della Liberazione.
I welcome Miguel Lourenço Pereira back onto the podcast to discuss his new book, Pasión: A Journey to the Soul of Spanish Football. Following the success of his first book in English, Bring Me That Horizon, a deep-dive into football in his native Portugal, Miguel pops next door to explore the diverse and deeply rooted cultural identities that make up Spanish football. In Pasión, Miguel demonstrates how football reflects the country's complex social and regional differences.
In this podcast, I speak to four people involved in the telling of the story of Argentinian club Newell's Old Boys. Founded in 1903, the Rosario-based club was inspired to play by the influence of Isaac Newell, born in Kent, England, who moved to Argentina and set up a school where football and physical education complemented academic studies.
In this podcast, we hear from (in order):
- Adrian Pope, who has been campaigning for a statue of Isaac Newell in his hometown of Strood for more than 20 years
- Amanda J. Thomas, who's writing a biography of Isaac Newell
- Jon Rye, who curated an exhibition about Newell in 2022
- Margarita Newell, great-great-granddaughter of Isaac Newell and great-granddaughter of Claudio Newell, the club's founder
I am joined by Dr Pete Watson from the University of Leeds, and Karen Ariza Carranza, journalist, founder of Tribuna Krizol - a platform to promote social change in sports and the participation of Colombian women in sports - and she's also an International Olympic Committee young leader.
We're looking at the role of women's football within Colombia as an agent for change. In this episode, we cover:
- The Rise of Women's Football in Colombia: We look at the historical context of women's football in Colombia, and its growing significance both nationally and internationally.
- The Development of Women's Football in Colombia: We explore how women's football in Colombia has developed later than the men's game, with the first professional league only established in 2017.
- The Global Stage: We highlight the importance of international tournaments, particularly Colombia’s 2015 Women's World Cup victory over France, in boosting visibility and media attention for the sport.
- 'Critical Visibility Moments': We analyse the role of 'critical visibility moments', where women's football gains media traction, often when the men's team underperforms or is absent from major competitions.
- Club Structures in Colombia: We examine how club football remains structurally weak, with a lack of investment, limited teams, and dependence on men's clubs for survival.
- The Role of Linda Caicedo: We discuss the growing impact of key figures like Linda Caicedo, an Afro-Colombian player who overcame cancer to become a global star, now playing for Real Madrid.
- Growing Media Attention: We acknowledge that while women's football in Colombia has gained more mainstream media coverage, it still faces systemic challenges, including gender inequality, inadequate funding, and inconsistent broadcasting.
- How Does Colombian Women's Football Compare with its Latin American Peers?: We compare Colombia’s success in women’s football to Argentina’s struggles, positioning Colombia as the second-strongest team in South America behind Brazil.
- Activism is Making a Difference: We emphasise the role of grassroots activism, independent media, and journalists advocating for greater representation and support for the women’s game.
- What Does the Future Hold?: We conclude by considering the future of Colombian women's football, noting its potential to rival Brazil, provided the necessary structural and financial support is secured from the federation and clubs.
On St Patrick's Day - 17 March 2025 - I gave a talk about my new book, 'Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football' at Dulwich Hamlet FC, co-hosted by the Football and War Network with the support of Stanchion Books. Have a listen!
My new book, Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football, is out NOW! It's part-groundhop, part-history discovery of football on the island of Ireland as an outsider.
My thanks to author and journalist James Hendicott for standing in as host in this episode to interview me (!)
My guest is Joseph O'Sullivan, better known as 'Football Travel Man' on Instagram. You can also find him on YouTube and writing about football for Forbes.
Joseph discusses his experiences following the South American club tournaments for Copa90, plus his other experiences groundhopping in lower league Buenos Aires football clubs, such as Nueva Chicago or Defensa y Justicia.
My guest is Will Wardrop, otherwise known as 'Will in Brazil' over on Instagram. He's based in the capita, Brasilia, and we're discussing groundhopping in Brazil outside of the two main cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. We discuss matches in Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Goiânia, and Bahia in the north of the country. Will gives us his groundhopping tips for foreign visitors to Brazil, plus a few anecdotes from his time out there.
I am joined for a third time by Dr Pete Watson from the University of Leeds to discuss the ultimate grudge match in World Cup history, certainly from one side, at least. We're discussing Argentina versus England at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 22 June 1986.
It was the first time the two countries had met since the acrimonious Malvinas/Falklands Conflict four years earlier. Argentina famously won it with two of the most famous goals in history from Diego Maradona in the space of five minutes early in the second half. England almost pegged it back after John Barnes' brilliant impact off the bench, but it finished 2-1 to the South Americans.
There is so much to unpack in this match, from international diplomacy to conversations about colonialism.
I welcome Christopher Hylland, author of 'Tears at the Bombonera', back onto the podcast to discuss his new book, 'Dame Bola: A Journey Through the Language of Argentinian Football'. We look at the origins of some of the key words in the Argentine game and explore the wider culture of the matchday ritual.
My guests are Sam Kelly and Daniel Edwards from the Hand of Pod podcast, which focusses on Argentine football. I met up with Sam and Daniel while I was down in Buenos Aires and asked them about their experiences as foreigners getting to know the Argentine game and what foreign visitors - especially those who don't speak any/much Spanish - need to know.
In this podcast, I speak to Fernando Romero Nuñez, a sports journalist with the Buenos Aires Herald, about the evolution of Argentinian national identity and where football fits into that. We look at the emergence of the sense of an 'Argentine identity' in the 19th century, the growth of football and local-founded clubs.
We also discuss the 'sibling rivalry' with Uruguay and how that differs from Argentina's clashes with Brazil. We look back at 'La Nuestra' ('Our Thing'), and the clashing styles of Cesar Menotti and Carlos Bilardo, both World Cup winning coaches.
Also, what does the 2022 World Cup win say about Argentina today?
I was in Buenos Aires recently and visited a number of places that I had already written about in my first book, Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World. In this episode, I was priveleged to have access to the British Cemetery in Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires English High School, where football was pioneered, and spoke to a historian at Quilmes Atlético Club, the oldest club in Argentina that is still playing.
I'm joined by Niamh O'Mahoney from Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and JulieAnn Thomas from Fulham Lillies. We look at fan cultures within women's football and the challenges in attracting fans. We also look at women fans within the men's game. What can be done to attract more women to the men's game and more men to women's football?
I welcome Alex Ireland back onto the podcast to discuss his new book on Manchester sports manufacturer, Umbro, which celebrated its centenary in 2024.
My guest is Dave Proudlove, whose new book 'Work and Play' looks at the relationship between the workplace and English football. How pivotal were factories in the foundation and maintenance of clubs within communities and how did that relationship get lost over time?
My guest is Michael Hamlin, who runs the 80s90sFootball Twitter/X account, focussing on football nostalgia. Michael and I discuss the fall and rise of Brighton & Hove Albion. We both stood on the terraces of the old Goldstone Ground and Michael followed the club in its nomadic period and recalls the hard-fought move to the Amex. Brighton is now an established Premier League club and even experienced European football for the first time in 2023/24.
I welcome Belgrade-based Kirsten Schlewitz back onto the podcast for a third time to discuss the politics of identity in the Balkan region before and after the break-up of Yugoslavia.
If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review or rating on your preferred podcast platform. You can support the pod further by buying me a coffee. All support is hugely appreciated to keep the podcast coming.
My guest is Luka Lagvilava, whose @GeorgianFooty feed on Twitter/X has become an extremely popular resource on football in Georgia, especially when the former Soviet state made its European Championship debut in 2024.
I chat to Luka about the history of football in Georgia, the country's clubs, its greatest players, the international scene, the politics, and get his groundhopping tips for visitors.
It's a fascinating insight into the Georgian football scene.
My guest is Derek Air, whose book 'Land of the Giants' explores Subbuteo culture. We're talking ahead of the Subbuteo World Cup 2024, hosted in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, where the game was invented.
Everton is one of the grand old names of English football. Founder members of both the Football League (1888) and the Premier League (1992), Everton have the second-longest run in the top-flight of English football after Arsenal, with seven decades without a relegation - although they have come close.
I discuss Everton's history with author Rob Sawyer and the club's legacy in South America with Jimmy Milner from The Ruleteros Society, focussing on the friendship between Everton in England and their namesake in Chile, Everton de Viña del Mar.
I'm joined by Claus Bermann, whose company Rome Derby organises match tickets and tours for groundhoppers visiting the Italian capital to watch AS Roma and SS Lazio matches, or meetings between the two - the 'Derby della Capitale' (the Derby of the Capital).
I am joined by Christopher Evans, author of 'Los Leones', a book on the history of Athletic Club de Bilbao. We're looking at the Basque Derby - Athletic Club v Real Sociedad. It's an iconic derby wrapped up in fierce Basque identity.
My guest is Ceylon Andi Hickman, director of the charity Football Beyond Borders (FBB). We're discussing how football is making a positive change to young people's lives, especially in their education. The charity has worked with footballers, including Marcus Rashford and Chris Smalling, and is proven to help children do well at school. Ceylon is also a centre-half for Dulwich Hamlet Women, so we also discuss the progressive culture around the South London club. They have been promoted since the time of recording, so congratulations to them.
My guest is Marius Helgå as we discuss groundhopping in Norway. It's Western Europe's longest country at 1,750km with clubs stretching from the south right up to the Arctic Circle. We discuss some big names like Vålerenga, Lyn, Odds, Viking, and Bergen, plus some smaller clubs and the national side. We also look at Norwegian fan culture and its influences, cheifly drawn from England and Germany.
My guest is Aidan Williams, whose new book 'Euro 1984: The Greatest Tournament You Never Saw'.
Back when the Euros was a proper elite eight-team tournament, France provided a sublime and dramatic tournament spearheaded by Michel Platini, who bagged nine goals in just five games as France won its first major tournament.
My guest is Ben Jackson, whose book The Africa Cup of Nations: The History of an Underappreciated Tournament came out in time for the 2024 edition of AFCON. We look back at the tournament's roots, its key moments and players, plus where does it go from here?
My guest is Roberto Pennino, whose book 'Immortal Torino' covers the story of 'Il Grande Torino' - the Great Torino FC side that dominated Italian football in the 1940s. Tragically, the team and coaching staff all died as their plane descended into Turin on the way home from a friendly match in Lisbon against Benfica, crashing into the Basilica di Superga.
My guest is Phil Harrison, whose debut book explores football in Europe's last communist state, Albania. It's a fascinated story of football in a secretive and isolated country.
My guest is Ruben Clark (RM Clark), whose new book Winner Stays On covers his travels around England following clubs through every round of the FA Cup, trailing the winner of matches into the next round all the way up to the final. It's a fascinating insight into the English regions and the football pyramid.
My guest is Miguel Lourenço Pereira, who's written a number of football books, but his latest is his first in English, Bring Me That Horizon. It's all about getting to know Portugal through its football. We discuss Portugal's footballing roots and history under the long Salazar dictatorship and the role of football in its demise. We discuss the great players, like Eusébio and other stars from the African colonies, the great 'Golden Generation' Portuguese side of the 1990s and early 2000s, the Big Three, groundhopping, and more...
My guest is Peter Cinnamond from the Kicking Match podcast, which covers the Irish League/NIFL. We discuss groundhopping in Northern Ireland, covering famous clubs like Linfield and Glentoran, as well as some of the many great grounds that groundhoppers can discover in Belfast and beyond. We also look at some of the political history of the Irish League, which led to the loss of Belfast Celtic and Derry City.
After a successful 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, what does the future hold for women's football? My guest is journalist and author Carrie Dunn, who discusses some of the topics she raises in her latest book 'Woman Up: Pitches, Pay and Periods. The Progress and Potential of Women's Football'
My guest is Stephen C. Brandt, whose latest book explores the history of one of Brazil's most famous clubs, Flamengo. We discuss the history of the carioca club from its roots at a rowing team's footballing branch up to Copa Libertadores champions.
My guest is Matt Riley, who spent several years in Thailand exploring its football. He has chronicled the Thai game in his new book, 'Thai Football Tales: A Beautiful Madness'. His stories are quite something, give it a spin...
My guest for his third appearance is Daniel Williamson as he discusses his new book on Ronaldo Nazário - the original Ronaldo for people of a certain age... We look at his career from his teen breakthrough in Brazil through to his moves to PSV, Barça, Inter, Madrid, Milan and, of course, his international career.
My guest is Alex Ireland to discuss his book 'Pretty Poly: The History of the Football Shirt'. We cover everything from the origins of football shirts, to the emergence of numbering, sponsors' logos, new technologies and the retro appeal of football shirts.
My guest is Harry Robinson, author of 'The Men Who Made Manchester United: The Untold Story'. We're looking at the foundation of the club in a railway yard in Newton Heath through to the handover to Matt Busby in 1945. The club came very close to collapse on several occasions. It's a fascinating listen, even if you don't support Manchester United.
Londres es la casa del fútbol; aquí se formaron los leyes originales en 1863 y la ciudad contiene algunos de los nombres más famosas y historicos en el deporte. En este episodio, introduzco los clubes de Londres, sus historias en breve, sus culturas y zonas, hinchas y más.
My guest is Conor Curran, author of Soccer and Society in Dublin: A History of Association Football in Ireland’s Capital. We discuss a wide range of topics, from why Dublin lagged way behind Belfast in soccer development, conflict with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the challenges faced by the women's game, and more...
I am joined by Kevin Pogorzelski, who travelled the world to experience some of the world's top derbies for his new book 'Divided Cities'. From Genoa to Glasgow, Buenos Aires to Budapest, Kevin talks about his experiences...
En mi segundo episidio en castellano, exploramos la relación histórica entre el fútbol y la política.
My guest is Dr Michael Connolly from the University of Stirling in Scotland. His book, Walfrid: A Life of Faith, Community and Football, is a biography of the Celtic FC founder, Brother Walfrid.
Bienvenidos a mi primer podcast en español. Vamos a ver como empezó el fútbol, desde los campos de las escuelas de Inglaterra hasta el consenso de reglas del Football Association en 1863. También, hablo sobre como el juego se convirtió a ser el juego del clase obrador y como se transporta a cada rincón del mundo...
My guest is Chris Etchingham, whose first book looks at football's role in the breakup of Yugoslavia. We discuss the role of ethnicity before and after the breakup of the nation, including its impact in the Balkan diaspora, particularly in Australia.
My guest is Dr Mark Orton, whose new book 'El Más Grande' (The Greatest) charts the rich history of Argentinean club, River Plate
On 30 May, I delivered a talk at Dulwich Hamlet FC in South London in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton's Football and War Network and Stanchion Books. My topic was the long history of football's relationship with politics. When does it first get political? Who was the first to successfully exploit the sport for propaganda? What role has football played in bringing down dictatorships? Have a listen...
I am joined by Bess Dawson and Alan McDougall, who are two of a group of contributors on a new book that explores the role of football in German society.
England v Hungary in November 1953 was billed as the 'Match of the Century' - why is this match so significant in both England and Hungary? Matt Clough has written a book about the match and joins me to discuss.
I am joined by Alex Pratchett, one half of No Score Draws, famous for their fantastic characatures of footballer, coaches, and others. What makes a great 'drawable' footballer and what has the feedback been?
Graeme Brown joins me to discuss the 150th anniversary of the world's first official international Association football match - Scotland v England, 30 November 1872, at the West of Scotland Cricket Club. What was the role of Queen's Park in setting the template for how we watch football today?
I welcome back Dr Pete Watson to discuss his new book on the role that football has played in Colombian society.
Martin da Cruz joins me to discuss his new book on how football got started in Uruguay. How did such a tiny country like Uruguay come to dominate world football in the 1920s?
I am joined by Rhys Richards, whose debut book explores the stories behind the controversial 1978 World Cup in Argentina.
I welcome back Kirsten Schlewitz to discuss her upcoming book on the history of SSC Napoli. The book is titled 'More than Maradona', but yes, we spend quite a bit of time on him...but we also look at the entire history of the club, including groundhopping tips on how to catch a game in Naples.
My new book 'The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism' is out on 10 Oct. In this launch episode, I am interviewed by journalist James Hendicott about the book. We discuss the legacy of Mussolini, football against the dictatorships of Franco and Salazar, resistance fighters in World War II, modern progressive movements and much more...
My guest is Kit Holden whose new book covers the complex history and recent rise of 1. FC Union Berlin. This fascinating club from Berlin's southeastern suburbs has something of a cult following and is now enjoying regular European football. How? Find out here...
My guest is Chris Foley, author of a new book on the impact British and Irish coaches have made on Asian football. From Cambodia to Pohnpei, there are some incredible stories...
I am joined by James Kelly, author of a new book charting the history of Belgian football. We look over some of the country's 'golden generations' that nearly managed to take home silverware, while also exploring the domestic scene.
I welcome Aidan Williams back onto the show to discuss his new book on the greatest sides never to have won the World Cup. We've covered Brazil '82 and the Dutch sides of the '70s before, so we major on Hungary '54, Italy '90 and some lesser-discussed sides.
This extended version of the football travel podcast is a collaboration with the Borussia Dortmund London Fan Club Podcast and we’re discussing the critical topic of sustainability in football.
From clubs to fans to football authorities, what can we all do to make the sport more environmentally friendly? The debate features:
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Benjamin McFadyean, host of the Borussia Dortmund London Fan Club Podcast and a football academic at the University of East Anglia
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Moritz Eckhert from Guterfussball.club
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Katie Cross from Pledgeball
I welcome Daniel Williamson back onto the podcast to discuss his second book on the Intercontinental Cup, which pitted the club champions of Europe and South America against each other from the 1960s until the early 2000s. This tournament was never far from controversy...
My guest is Michael Cox, author of The Mixer and Zonal Marking, and journalist with The Athletic. We're discussing the recent history of football tactics and also modern football journalism.
My guest is Dominic Bliss, whose biography of the legendary Hungarian coach Ernö Egri Erbstein led not only to the refounding of an historic Budapest football club, but also a new tournament in his name.
The second edition will be held in South-West London over the weekend of 23-24 July and features Corinthian-Casuals, Budapesti Atletikai Klub, the world's oldest club Sheffield FC, and Fall River Marksmen of the USA.
It's going to be fascinating...
My guest is Steven Scragg - for a record fourth appearance - discussing his new book on the Mexico '86 World Cup
Author Andrew Downie tells us all about Brazilian football, from its origins to the present day. We particularly discuss Mexico 1970 and Socrates, which have been the topics of Downies' books.
What happened to English football at home during the First World War? Dr Alex Jackson from the National Football Museum in Manchester is my guest. He has a new book out on this topic - class, gender, politics - they all feature...
My guest is James from the Menorca Football blog. He fills us in on football in Menorca and we look at the other Balearic Island clubs, like Real Mallorca and Ibiza.
My guest is Jeff Webb, whose new book explores Scotland's lost football clubs. We look back at some colourful names from Scotland's early football and find out what happened to them. We also discover where we can still see remnants of these clubs.
I'm joined by Jon Spurling, author of 'Get It On', a new book about football in the 1970s. We look at a pivotal and controversial decade in English football.
My guest is Gaizka Atxa, one of the founders of the Mr Pentland Club, a London-based fan club of Athletic Club de Bilbao. We discuss the long history of one of the most unique clubs in the world.
I'm joined by Brenda Elsey, co-author of Futbolera: A History of Women in Sports in Latin America to discuss the challenges that women's football has faced in that part of the world since it was first introduced.
My guest is Wayne Girard, who writes about Italian football, specifically AS Roma. We're discussing the Roman derby - Lazio v Roma.
My guest is writer and podcaster Paul Whittle, whose new book looks at the last decades of the Football League before the shake-up that led to the formation of the Premier League in 1992.
My guest is journalist Kat Lucas, whose new book explores the chequered history of Tottenham Hotpur.
Gary Jordan is my guest. He's written a book about AFC Wimbledon and the return of the club to Plough Lane, SW19, the same road as the original Wimbledon FC.
Jonathan O'Brien's book covers the Euros from the tournament's inception in 1960 to the delayed 2020 championship. We look at how the tournament has evolved, controversy, politics, and its highlights.
The world's oldest Association rules football tournament, the FA Cup, turns 150 in season 2021-22. My guest is Phil Annets, whose new book 'FA Cup 150' lists key events from the tournament's history.
I discuss the past, present and future of Europe's most-attended football club, Borussia Dortmund, with Benjamin McFadyean, who also runs the London supporters' group for BVB.
My guest is Stu Carrington, whose book 'Blowing the Whistle' covers the psychology of football refereeing. We discuss the data behind the influence of the crowd, of managers' mind games, and VAR...
My guest is football writer Nige Tassell, whose latest book 'The Hard Yards' looks at a unique season in the Championship. It's England's second tier and the fifth most-attended league in the world.
My guest is Steven Scragg, whose new book builds on his previous two about European football's leading club competitions of recent decades. This time, we're discussing the European Cup. Its origins, its evolution, its key figures and stories.
My guest is Richard McBrearty from the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park. We're discussing his research into early Glasgow football, the key role of Queen's Park FC in the growth of the game, and how Irish community clubs emerged
The Away Leg is a new book containing 11 stories from top football journalists collated by Steve Menary and James Montague. We discuss Iran v USA at France '98, Iceland at Euro 2016, the time Arsenal's women's team became champions of Europe, and much more...
I welcome Tim Hartley back onto the podcast to discuss his new book, 'The World At Your Feet', in which he searches for the soul of football. In the second half, we get Tim's tips for groundhopping in his native Wales.
My guest is Matt Spiro, whose book looks at French football in the 20 years between the country's two World Cup triumphs in 1998 and 2018. It was quite some ride in that time!
Anthony Russell runs the Instagram account @DDRProgrammes, where he shows off his fascinating collection of match day programmes from former East Germany
Peter Miles has been to thousands of grounds worldwide and has a new book out dedicated entirely to the photography of floodlights. Peter discusses the world's most photographic football stadiums here - plus how to catch that perfect #floodlightfriday...
I am joined by Danny Lewis, author of new book on West Ham's last match at its beloved Upton Park/Boleyn Ground stadium. We discuss the club's move to the London Stadium.
Paul Hatt from the website FootballBookReviews.com joins me to discuss the best football writing. How influential was Fever Pitch in making football writing more respectable? Which are the 'must-haves' for your shelf? We look at history, auto/biography and political football books.
My guest is James Dixon, whose new book 'The Fix' looks at the formation of the Champions League. This is timely, given the recent collapse of the proposed European Super League at the time of recording.
George Tsitsonis has written a book about Greece's epic 2004 Euro win. How did it come about and is the team given the respect it deserves?
My guest is Gary Thacker, author of a book about the long and often tumultuous history of Dutch football.
David Hartrick is the author of a new book on Bobby Robson's time as England manager (1982-90). It's a tumultuous decade for English football that ends with something of a silver lining.
I've got a book out! It's a country-by-country guide to how football started in each major footballing country from the very first kick up to the first FIFA World Cup in 1930. Here's an overview...
I'm joined by Liam Bambridge who, like me, was a keen groundhopper in Spain in the 1990s and still returns there today. We do a compare and contrast, majoring on Real Zaragoza, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, as well as some clubs that were great in the 1990s but have sunk down the leagues.
I am joined by Sivan John, who blogs and podcasts about Malaysian football. We discuss the major clubs, ultra culture and the popularity of Malaysian-owned clubs.
We get a whistle-stop groundhopping guide to Swiss football from Craig King, who writes about the Swiss game. We look at the top clubs, some smaller club groundhopping experiences, the national side and the role of Roy Hodgson in the Swiss revival, plus a bit of history, too.
Andrew Lawn is the author of a new book on the history and evolution of football songs and chants. He joins me on the podcast to discuss his findings and what football songs tell us about wider society and culture.
I am joined by Adam Brandon, who lives in Santiago de Chile and has more than a decade's experience examining Chile's football scene. We discuss the groundhopping scene, football under Pinochet, and the recent national team success.
Antony Sutton blogs about Indonesian football. You may know him as @JakartaCasual on Twitter and Instagram. We discuss the country's incredible fan culture
Mark Waldon is the author of a new book on the football club and fan culture of London. We discuss the great traditional grounds, like Fulham's Craven Cottage, right up to the three brand new grounds at Spurs, Brentford and AFC Wimbledon. We look at the big rivalries, too - Arsenal v Spurs, West Ham v Millwall, and Chelsea v Spurs
My guest is Chris Hylland, who has a book out called 'Tears at the Bombonera', which covers his groundhopping adventures in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Brazil.
My guest is Ralph Hannah, who runs a podcast called Guaraní Vision, which covers football in the South American country of Paraguay. He tells us about the footballing culture and groundhopping experience in the country.
We explore the groundhopping route less-traveled with author Tim Hartley. He's been to North Korea, West Africa, Lebanon and a host of other places and share his experience with us.
My guests are Rob MacDonald and Adam Bushby from Halcyon Publishing, who have a really interesting book out on football's nearly teams. Those who should maybe have won something then fell agonisingly short - think Netherlands in 1974 or Newcastle United in 1996...
I'm joined by Dr Pete Watson, an expert on Latin American politics and football, to discuss the role of football in the politics of South American dictatorships between 1950s-1980s.
UK listeners of a certain age will remember the Football Italia show on Channel 4 in the 1990s and early 2000s. Jonathan Grade started out as a runner on the show from its inception and gradually rose through the ranks. He has now written a book about his decade with the show.
My guest is Kevin Simpson, author of 'Soccer Under the Swastika', which examines the experience of football in Nazi-occupied areas during World War II.
My guest is Llew Walker, who's written a new biography of Andrew Watson, the world's first black international footballer. Watson played for Queen's Park, captained Scotland, and also turned out for Corinthian FC.
Karan Tejwani is the author of a new book chronicling the progress of RB Leipzig. We also look at the Red Bull company's other football franchises around the world.
Stephen Hurrell blogs about the tabletop football game, Subbuteo. We discuss the past, present and future of the game. How did this family business with figures painted by housewives at home grow into a global business?
I am joined by Michael Wagg, who's written a book tracing the fortunes of the 14 clubs that made up the final East German DDR Oberliga in the early 1990s.
I'm joined by Belinda Scarlett from the National Football Museum in Manchester. The museum is gearing up for a big exhibition on the women's game next year. In this podcast, we major on the Dick, Kerr Ladies, who were drawing 50,000+ crowds in the early 1920s before the FA banned women's football from FA-affiliated grounds.
My guest is Natxo Parra, co-author of 'St. Pauli: Another Football is Possible'.
We look back at how Hamburg's FC St. Pauli became known as a 'cult club'. When did the fan activism start and how does this ethos survive in a commercial era?
We're joined by Bob Holmes, author of 'Shanks, Yanks and Jürgen' to discuss the life of Bill Shankly, one of the greatest managers of all time.
Bob chart his life from a small mining town in Ayrshire to the creator of the modern Liverpool FC.
We're joined by Dr. Kevin Moore, the former CEO of the National Football Museum. His book 'What You Think You Know About Football is Wrong' seeks to debunk some popularly-held myths, and we talk through some of them here. We also discuss his former role at the National Football Museum and some of its more popular artifacts.
Journalist and author Jon Driscoll joins us on the podcast to discuss his new book on fifty footballers that changed the game. We discuss some familiar names, and some not-so-familiar names from the 1870s to the modern day.
Our guest is Michael Cole, an Early Stage Researcher on the FATIGUE Project, based at the University of Tartu, Estonia and a Doctoral Fellow at the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right.
His research interests include the relationship between football and far-right politics in Central and Eastern Europe, and the use of football as a political tool by right-wing populist leaders.
We speak to Croatian journalist Juraj Vrdoljak about the historical significance of Hajduk Split. Did you know the club was a big part of anti-Nazi resistance in World War II and helped introduce ultrà culture into Europe?
Just what is CONIFA and what are its aims? We talk to James Hendicott, whose new book chronicles the organisation's journey.
We welcome Rich Hall, founder of Italian football site The Gentleman Ultra, back onto the site to discuss the past, present and future of the team he supports, Internazionale di Milano (Inter Milan).
We look back at Trinidad & Tobago's incredible journey to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany with Gene De Gourville, who's written a book on the subject.
We're joined by Devon Rowcliffe, whose new book 'Who Ate All the Squid' looks at South Korea's football story.
We're joined again by Matt McGinn whose new book looks at the emergence of Icelandic football in recent years.
Our guest is Connor Parry, who visited the Hamburg Derby - Hamburger SV versus FC Sankt Pauli - in early 2020. It's a fiery encounter in the 2.Bundesliga, the second tier of German football. We look at the matchday experience and discuss the histories of both clubs.
We're joined by Jamie Ralph who runs an English-language fan feed and blog focussed on Newell's Old Boys from Rosario, Argentina. We discuss the club's intense rivalry with cross-city rivals, Rosario Central.
Bill Hern and David Gleave are the authors of a new book 'Football's Black Pioneers' exploring the first black players to represent all the 92 football clubs in the English football league.
Bill and David have some fascinating stories to recount after speaking to a number of former players and pioneers' family.
We have a double-header as two of the contributors to a new book on Spanish and Portuguese football - 'Iberia Chronicles' - join us on the podcast.
Nathan Motz discusses Portugal's golden generation and Kristofer McCormack tells us the history of the Copa del Rey
We welcome Steven Scragg back onto the podcast to discuss his new book on the UEFA Cup (now Europa League). How did this Inter-City Fairs Cup morph into a much-loved, two-legged final tournament that saw Ipswich Town, Dundee United and IFK Gothenburg get to finals?
Our guest is Stuart Horsfield, whose new book 'Brazil 82: A Glorious Failure' focuses on the great Brazil side that many believe should have won the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
We welcome Alan McDougall back onto the podcast to discuss his new book, which looks at the socio-political history of football. He examines the role of migration, race, gender, and much more.
Jordan Florit is the author of a new book 'Red Wine and Arepas' about the rise and rise of football in Venezuela. He has some fascinating stories to tell from this troubled country with a strong, new footballing ethos in both the men's and women's game.
Our guest is Craig McCracken, who runs the football history and nostalgia site, Beyond the Last Man. Craig gives us a fascinating insight into the fractious history of Romanian football.
We talk to Tobias Jones about his research into Italian ultras. It's an incredibly insightful interview about group psychology, belonging, the potential for criminality and even ultras doing good work in the community, too.
Our guest is Chris Pidgeon, who has groundhopped across Spain.
We look at Spain's complex football league structure and discuss some of the best football travel experiences outside of La Liga.
We talk to historian Peter Alegi about Africa's football journey. It's a story of colonialism, national awakening, emigration, controversy, politics and much more. We look also explore the future of the women's game.
We're joined by Robert O'Connor, whose new book is a chronicle of football's role in former Soviet Republics and other countries of the Eastern Bloc.
Our guest is Vadim Furmanov, originally from Kyiv in Ukraine. He writes regularly for Futbolgrad and other sites on Ukrainian football.
Here, he tells us about the current state of the game and how the conflict with Russia has impacted domestic clubs.
We chat to Josh Chapman, AKA The Kitsman on Twitter, about the art of the football shirt and his tips for collecting them. Learn about our favourite shirts from around the world.
We're joined by Dan Williamson, who has a book out in Sept 2020 on the history of Boca Juniors.
We discuss the club's origins, the evolution of its rivalry with River Plate, and some of its greatest players.
The world's oldest international rivalry outside of the UK and Ireland is 7,000 miles (11,000 km) away down in the River Plate - Argentina v Uruguay.
We invited Argentinian football historian, Esteban Bekerman, onto the podcast to discuss the rivalry between Argentina and Uruguay, and its legacy in promoting football across South America.
Our guest is Buenos Aires-based journalist, Santiago Bauzá.
Santi gives us the local's guide to the best groundhopping experiences, rivalries and fan cultures in the Argentine capital.
Starting with the Boca-River 'Superclásico', we also look at the best matchday experiences at Independiente, Racing Club, San Lorenzo, Huracán, Estudiantes de la Plata, and more...
We talk to Zach Bigalke, who's researched the 'Oriundi' - players of Italian descent born outside Italy who have played for the Italian national side, the Azzurri.
Who are they? Why do they matter? What do Italian-born players and fans think about them? We discuss all this and more in this fascinating interview.
We've got a double-header for you today - two shorter interviews combined.
1) We look at Parma's golden decade (1992-2002) with Parma-based football writer, Conor Clancy.
2) We uncover the tragic story of Brazilian side Chapecoense with Steven Bell, who's written a book about it.
Did you watch 'The English Game' on Netflix? In the series, a team called 'Blackburn' upset the English upper classes by winning the FA Cup. The story is based on real events, albeit with a lot of creative licence.
Hear the real story of Blackburn Olympic, the 1883 FA Cup winners that wrested the FA Cup away from the south and the upper class clubs. Yet, Olympic had folded within six years. Why?
Oliver Scott has researched their story...
Our guest is Medellin-based football writer, Simon Edwards.
Join us as Simon gives us his tips for groundhopping in Colombia and explains its complex league system. Get all the dos and don'ts of football in Colombia.
We welcome James Montague back onto the podcast to discuss his time among some of the world's most extreme ultras, which he chronicles in his new book.
Our guest is Mark Godfrey, founder of the Football Pink, whose new podcast series, Vincerà, chronicles the stories from Italia '90 to mark the 30th anniversary of this iconic World Cup finals.
Our guest is Denys Nachornyy, who lives in the wonderful historic city of Krakow, Poland.
We look at the long-running rivalry between the city's main two clubs, Cracovia and Wisła Krakow, as well as some of the smaller clubs around the city that are work a visit.
Filipe d'Avillez has written a book on his travels following every round of the Portuguese Cup up to the iconic cup final day at the historic Estadio do Jamor in Lisbon.
We catch up with him to hear some incredible stories of his travels exploring Portuguese football culture.
We welcome Gary Thacker onto the podcast to discuss England's record in World Cups.
Why did the FA ignore pre-WWII editions? Would England have won them?
1966 etc.
What went wrong in the 1970s?
Italia '90
21st century tournaments
We welcome Paul Brown back onto the podcast to talk us through the experience of football prisoners of war during World War I.
How did they arrange games? What did they do next? How did their experience shape the rest of their careers? Tune in to find out!
This is our 100th episode! Our guest is Philip O'Rourke who runs a blog called Forgotten Clubs.
We look back at some of the football clubs lost to history - and some of those resurrected - and look at why there's something of a trend to reform folded clubs.
We talk to football writer Aidan Williams on the impact and legacy of the Benito Mussolini dictatorship (1922-43) on Italian football.
We look at how the sport was used to unite the country, and drove the creation of clubs that still compete for titles today. We also look at how the sport was used for propaganda.
Our guest is Thessaloniki local, Thomas Farines, who gives us the lowdown on groundhopping around Greece. We discuss the big Athens clubs, their regional rivals and even a few from the islands.
We talk to Greg Lansdowne, author of 'Stuck on You: The Rise and Fall...and Rise of Panini'.
We talk about the history of the company, its highs and lows, why collectables appeal and the power of nostalgia in football.
We're joined by Vintage Football City Tours, a group of enthusiasts who run tours around Lisbon's historic grounds. We discuss Benfica and Sporting, but major on the smaller clubs. Just what is going on at Belenenses? Who are Casa Pia and Operario?
Find out in this podcast!
Nick Green is a teacher based in Kobe, Japan. He's completed the Japanese equivalent of the '92 club' in England - bagging all Japan's 72 league grounds.
He describes his travels with us and imparts his incredible groundhopping stories.
Our guest is Richard Mills, whose book 'The Politics of Football in Yugoslavia' charts the often explosive history of football in the Balkans.
How did this small corner of the world produce so much talent?
Did the Maksimir Riot really kick off the Civil War or is it just symbolic to football people?
...and more...
Our guest is archivist Petra Tabarelli, who researches and blogs about the history and evolution of football rules. Join us as we discuss everything from how the origin FA laws of the game were established right up to everyone's favourite subject...VAR.
We talk to Mark Wilson, who re-established the Wanderers Football Club, the first ever FA Cup winners.
We catch up with football writer Onur Bilgic to discuss football in the former Eastern Bloc, those countries under Soviet influence from 1945-91.
Why were Eastern European teams more successful in the European Cup-Winners' Cup than the European Cup (now Champions League)? Why did former Eastern Bloc national teams excel after the Iron Curtain came down?
Apologies for the sound quality, stick with it - the content is fascinating.
We're joined by Anthony Barbagallo who writes about Sicilian Football.
We discuss Palermo's comeback, Catania Calcio, what's going right at Trapani, plus a whole host of excellent groundhopping experiences in Sicily.
Our guest is Michael Barrett, whose graphic novel explores the story of Preston North End's unbeaten run to the league and cup double in 1888-89 season. Only Arsenal in 2003-4 went unbeaten in a league season since then.
Our guest is Vienna-based Richard Turkowitsch, who takes us through the clubs of Austria. We discuss the Vienna derby, the rise of Red Bull Salzburg and a whole lot more besides.
We catch up with Dan Barker, whose online magazine 'A Whole New Ballgame' looks back at the pivotal decade when everything changed - the 1990s.
We reflect on how TV and culture, plus a changing geopolitical world shook football and morphed it into what it is today.
We look at the good and the bad things that means for the game today.
Our guest is Alan McDougall, author of The People's Game, a fascinating read on football in the former East Germany - GDR - which existed from 1949 until the reunification of Germany in 1990.
We get the lowdown on groundhopping in Hungary with Budapest-based journalist, Gergely Marosi. We look at the famous clubs from the capital - MTK, Ferencváros, Honved, Vasas and Újpest - plus look at some of the regional clubs who have been upsetting the balance of power in recent years.
Our guest is Matt Walker, author of Europe United, a chronicle of his travels to matches in each of the 55 UEFA member countries. We hear his weirdest experiences, best stadiums and most extreme situations.
This is groundhopping cranked up to 11...
We talk to Paul Musco, who runs groundhopping tours for football fans visiting Berlin.
It's one of our favourite cities, so have a listen as we enthuse about Hertha BSC, 1 FC Union, BFC Dynamo and a host of smaller clubs.
Matthew Caldwell runs the brilliant Instagram feed, 1_Shilling, which celebrates the wonder of football matchday programme design.
He joins us to discuss the history of the matchday programme, some of the most iconic designs, and the uncertain future of the programme.
We're joined by Cas Mudde from the University of Georgia to discuss political activity in football, particularly looking at the rise of both right-wing factions and, on the flipside, the antifa movement.
We also discuss groundhopping as Cas has been to more than 400 grounds on every continent (except Antarctica).
We discuss the clubs from Rome southwards on the Italian peninsula with Rome-based football writer, Claus Bermann.
We get the lowdown on the US Major League Soccer scene with Stephen Brandt from the Yellow Card Podcast.
We discuss Beckham's influence, NASL, groundhopping, the franchise model and more...
We chat to Belgrade-based Kirsten Schlewitz from the Unusual Efforts blog/podcast about Red Star v Partizan, the Belgrade Derby.
We speak to Dejan Hajdukovic about football in his native Croatia and its close relationship with politics.
For fans of Italian football from the 1990s, a new bar has opened in South London that is heaven for nostalgics. It's called Golazio after the opening credits of Gazzetta Football Italia on Channel 4 in the UK, and guests at the opening night included former England and Milan striker Mark Hateley, and former England and Torino defender, Tony Dorigo.
We're back after a World Cup break and are exploring football in the co-host nation of Euro 2012, Ukraine!
We go along to a very different kind of football tournament as we visit the CONIFA World Football Cup in London and speak to one of its media partners, Away Day Neutrals, to learn more about the tournament.
We check in with Belgian groundhopper, Stéphane Lievens, to get his advice on where and how to watch football in Belgium.
We talk to Simon Hart, author of 'World in Motion', a new book looking at the inside story of Italia '90. What made this World Cup so iconic? Have a listen and find out...
We talk to Montevideo-based football writer, Marcus Haydon, about watching football in one of the oldest footballing countries - Uruguay.
Safe standing - also known as 'rail seating' - has been proven to be a safe way to enable football fans to stand at matches and is at use in Celtic, Dortmund and elsewhere.
The UK government has not allowed trials in England and Wales, but a groundswell is growing to demand change. We discuss the topic with football writer Matthew Crist.
We look at the history of one of the biggest rivalries in international football - England v Germany - with football historian Dr. Christoph Wagner.
We discuss one of the most populated areas in Europe for football clubs - Germany's industrial heartland, the Rhineland, with groundhopper Matt Rayn.
We talk Dortmund, Gladbach, Bayer Leverkusen, Köln and a whole bunch of others.
In this episode, we discuss the clubs on Northern Spain with the Oviedo-based football journalist, Alexandra Jonson. She’s writing a book on Real Oviedo, and also tells us about the best match day experiences in a much-overlooked part of Spain.
Join us as we travel around Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, checking in on famous clubs like Athletic Bilbao, Deportivo La Coruña, Real Sociedad and some of the smaller clubs.
We talk to Rich Hall, founder of Italian football-focussed site Gentleman Ultra, to get his tips on the clubs to visit in Northern Italy. We visit the usual suspects – Turin clubs Juventus and Torino; AC and Inter in Milan; Hellas and Chievo in Verona – plus some of the less-visited clubs that offer a great experience, like Atalanta, Como and Novara.
The League of Ireland has made a real effort to promote itself in recent years, and it seems to be working with crowds on the up. There’s also a wealth of talent waiting to be discovered, and you can watch a great game without breaking the bank.
We asked Dublin-based football writer Ste McGovern, content editor at The Final Third Podcast, for his tips for would-be groundhoppers looking to explore Irish club grounds.
We speak to Alan McLean from the Patrick O'Connell Memorial Fund to learn about the incredible playing and managerial career of Patrick O'Connell, whose legacy as the man who saved FC Barcelona - and other incredible achievements - was almost forgotten.
The Spanish capital is a must for any international groundhopper. In this podcast we talk to Roddy Cons from the Madrid-based vlog The Team on Tour about how to visit Real Madrid’s Estadio Bernabeu and Atlético Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano, as well as a cluster of smaller clubs from the city.
We catch up with football journalist James Montague to discuss his travels around the Middle Eastern football scene, which he chronicled in his book "When Friday Comes: Football, War and Revolution in the Middle East.
It's a cracking episode!
We talk exclusively to football writer Paul Brown, author of Savage Enthusiasm, which chronicles the history of football fandom. How does the modern fan differ from the spectators of 150 years ago at the birth of association football? How has fandom reflected societal changes? Have a listen, it's fascinating.
We discuss who was the true "father of Italian football" with the writers and producers of a new film and book about a Nottingham textile worker who founded what would become one of the world's greatest clubs.
Plus we discover how the A-League is growing in Australia, where to go, and the emerging ultra cultures of soccer Down Under.
We talk to Anthony Clavane, author of Does Your Rabbi Know You’re Here? to discuss the role of Jews in English football, particularly their association with Tottenham Hotspur.
Plus football writer Peter Thornton, filmmaker and board member of the Lancashire Football Association, chronicles the origins and history of the famous Merseyside Derby, Everton versus Liverpool.
We catch up with Charlotte Mackay, great-granddaughter of William Alexander Mackay, founder of Spain’s first football club, Real Club Recreativo de Huelva.
We also talk to Italian sports writer Chloe Beresford for her tips on watching Serie A football.
Enjoy!
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In this episode we sit down with AFC Bournemouth's Commercial Director, Rob Mitchell, to discuss the club's future plans, and we talk to Benjamin Roberts, author of a new book on the often turbulent history of football in Northern Ireland.
We attend Gazzetta Football Italia Live in London with the guys from The Gentleman Ultra to discuss the state of Italian football and reflect on Channel 4's legendary Italian football coverage, plus we discuss Dutch football with the Amsterdam-based writer, James Rowe.
With the Russia 2018 World Cup on the horizon, we talk to Siberia-based writer Andrew Flint about the Russian domestic scene, and we cover one of England's perennial "sleeping giants", Leeds United, with football journalist Jon Mackenzie.
We talk to Danny Brogan, co-founder of ChineseSuperLeagueFootball.com, to find out what's happening in China, and we catch up with Mark Doidge from the University of Brighton, who studies fan movements across Europe.
We get the lowdown on the Polish domestic and international scene from RightBankWarsaw.com's Chris Lash, plus great tips for groundhoppers.
In addition, Seville-based football writer Colin Millar talks us through the Sevilla/Betis rivalry, plus some other clubs in southern Spain worth visiting.
For more football travel guides visit OutsideWrite.co.uk.
We discuss the fluctuating fortunes of West London club Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and also hear all about Madrid's third club, Rayo Vallecano, from a local analyst.
We talk to sports historian Andy Mitchell about the roots of football in Scotland, and get an introduction to the French game from Agence France Presse's Tom Williams.
We talk to FC St Pauli's Martin Drust about the club's history, future plans and how it got its 'cult' status.
We also speak to Portuguese football writer Tiago Estêvão to get an introduction to domestic football at the home of the 2016 European Champions.
We look at the community work done by the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' Trust and catch up on the exciting developments at the South London non-league club.
We also talk to Jonny Pennington of the Abroad Red blog about what it's like to follow Manchester United away.
Enjoy. More great football travel, culture and history over on OutsideWrite.co.uk
We discuss the growing popularity of German football with the editor of Berlin-based blog From Boothferry to Germany, and check in with guest blogger Matt McGinn in Buenos Aires.
We speak to the world's first football club, Sheffield FC, about its formation and its future. We also meet FCSuomi.com to learn more about the scene in Finland.
In this episode we talk to football blogger Luca Hodges-Ramon about how the Ultrà fan culture emerged in Italy and how it was exported abroad.
We also talk to Luke Verbeek from Homefans.net to see how the community aims to enhance the football travel experience for fans.
In this episode, we talk:
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The role of social media in football with social media consultant Chris Nee
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How the game took off in Britain with Terry Morris, author of Vain Games of No Value, which chronicles how football became established
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The rise and rise of SD Eibar, La Liga's smallest club, with football writer Euan McTear
Enjoy!
Welcome to the inaugural Outside Write monthly podcast, 'Football Travel'. In this episode, we meet:
Ben Frost, organiser, REDaction:REDaction is an Arsenal fan group whose mission is to generate a scintillating atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium.
Claus Bermann, founder, VisitFootball.dk:VisitFootball.dk is a football travel website which enables Danes to watch football abroad. We talk about the electric Copenhagen Derby and discuss Danes' favourite clubs.
Football writer Gary Andrews:Gary and I discuss the health of non-league football in the UK ahead of 2016-17 season.
For more information on football travel and culture, visit Outside Write.