My Side: in celebration of Newcastle's swashbuckling 1995/96 vintage
Welcome to a new series - My Side - discussing writers' and fans' greatest teams over the years. First up is Newcastle's 1995/96 vintage, examining their thrilling if ultimately doomed exploits in the Premier League and what events led to this most iconic season. Who were the key protagonists? From Les Ferdinand's metronomic goalscoring to Kevin Keegan's "love it" speech, and arguably the great...
1hr 16m Apr 17, 2019
1hr 16m
Remembering Thomas 'Mad Dog' Gravesen with author Chris Sweeney
Thomas Gravesen was loved by the supporters of the teams he served, and underappreciated by the wider breadth of football. In the late-1990s he was part of a resurgent Hamburg midfield, before switching to the Premier League with Everton and eventually gaining a shock move to Real Madrid. Part of the Denmark side that made the finals of Euros 2000 and 2004, he also went to the 2002 World Cup. E...
1hr 6m Apr 14, 2019
1hr 6m
Saturday, 3pm: author Daniel Gray talks 50 delights of modern football
Author Daniel Gray returns to discuss another of his evocative books. After a nostalgic ramble through football in bygone days with Black Boots & Football Pinks, we bring things up to date as Saturday, 3pm allows us to delve into the delights of the modern game. From the arrival of the new season’s fixture lists to local players making good and visiting grounds for the first time, to final-day ...
1hr 2m Apr 11, 2019
1hr 2m
Euro 2020 or the UEFA Nations League? A debate about international football on the continent
With the Euro 2020 qualifiers about to begin - six months later than traditionally the case due to the advent of the polarising Nation League - what's better for the continental game's fans, players and clubs? Should we advocate change or stick to the traditional, successful tournament-style qualifiers and finals?
1hr 3m Mar 17, 2019
1hr 3m
The murky world of African academies who exclusively sell talent to Europe
To round off series two of Political Football, we move away from the connection between football and politics in specific countries in favour of a wider focus of the subject, examining at the growth of football academies in Africa. Are they beneficial for talented young African footballers, helping them to progress their careers and find fame and fortune in the richer football countries of the ...
1hr 3m Mar 11, 2019
1hr 3m
Justin Walley: the man whose coaching odyssey is unlike any other in football
Justin Walley has enjoyed a footballing odyssey like few others. As well as attending six World Cups, six European Championships, two Copa Americas, and having lived in eight different countries and visited 125, he has founded a football club in Latvia and developed a successful women's team there. He's since joined CONIFA and managed an international team, before taking Matabeleland to the CON...
1hr 8m Mar 04, 2019
1hr 8m
Welcome to the world of Peruvian football, from the scintillating to the scandalous
For many fans, Peru are the hipster team of various World Cups. The iconic white shirts with the broad red sash are instantly recognisable and conjure up memories of great players from the past. Beneath that superficial veneer, though, there's a world of intrigue as politics and football mix to produce an intoxicating cocktail on a par with many other South American countries. Join expert Peter...
1hr 11m Mar 01, 2019
1hr 11m
Jeff Goulding talks Stanley Park Story, the benchmark for modern football faction
Crossing football fact with fictional is an art form in itself, which few authors can pull off. A genre popularised by Nick Hornby's iconic Fever Pitch and continued adeptly by Mr Shankly's Photograph, The Damned United and Red or Dead, join our regular hosts as they talk to Jeff Goulding, writer of the brilliant Stanley Park Story, the modern benchmark and successor to the football "faction" g...
1hr 3m Feb 25, 2019
1hr 3m
Football in Egypt: the nation that defines the relationship between politics, society and football
We talk to Uri Levy, the founder of BabaGol, about Egyptian football, a country that defines the intricate relationship between politics, society and the beautiful game, from club level to reverence for the national team's favourite sons. How did the Arab Spring change football in the country and what does the future hold in Egypt?
1hr 5m Feb 20, 2019
1hr 5m
Managerial rivalries in the 1990s: Keegan, Dalglish, Ferguson, Wenger and more
Bringing our managerial rivalries series to a close, we move to the 1990s, a decade that began with the Dalglish-Graham head-to-head seemingly set to dominate to the century’s end. Swiftly, however, with Dalglish abdicating his throne at Anfield and Graham falling at Highbury, Alex Ferguson came to the fore, where he was challenged for supremacy by the likes of Wilkinson, Dalglish again, Keegan...
1hr 18m Feb 18, 2019
1hr 18m
The socio-political influence that makes up the threads of Northern Irish club football
We return to Northern Ireland in the company of Ben Roberts to explore the various clubs based there and examine how history, location and fan base have formed the backdrop to their identity. Allegiances to either unionist or nationalist causes, Protestant or Catholic faith, and family heritage all play a part in the interweaving threads of political influence that join together to make up the ...
1hr 5m Feb 07, 2019
1hr 5m
A history of the League Cup: a tournament that once had the power to change the course of history
The League Cup, with its countless changes of sponsorship and trophy, is a tournament has been a part of the English football calendar for almost 60 years, within which time it has been loved and scorned in equal measure, from the early years when many clubs opted not to take part, through its 1970s and 80s heyday, to an era where the top clubs give it a near-scant regard. However, the League C...
1hr 19m Feb 05, 2019
1hr 19m
Author Lionel Birnie talks Graham Taylor: the revolutionary, the saviour and the vilified
A polarising figure who became an icon at some of the clubs he passed through, the game sadly lost Graham Taylor over two years ago. A revolutionary at Lincoln and Watford and a saviour at Aston Villa, Taylor was vilified during his time as England manager, before the peaks and troughs of a spell at Wolves and return visits to Vicarage Road and Villa Park. Beyond coaching, Taylor won a new army...
1hr 21m Feb 03, 2019
1hr 21m
Spanish football in the Franco years
Following the Spanish Civil War, Francisco Franco’s nationalist forces took control of the country and introduced a reactionary government, centred on traditional values, the church and a centrally dominated, unified state. His dictatorship lasted until his death in 1975, and in that time all of Spanish life came under the purview of his Movimiento Nacional. Football was no different. In this p...
1hr 19m Jan 28, 2019
1hr 19m
Kevin George, footballer, author and expert, delves into the psychology of football
Kevin George is a former professional footballer who played for West Ham, Charlton and Lincoln. After finishing his playing career, he took courses in counselling and developed an interest in the human mind and behaviour. Kevin joins us to discuss his book Soccology, which examines the behaviour, psychology and emotional intelligence through the words of former and current professional football...
1hr 7m Jan 23, 2019
1hr 7m
How will the divisive new political landscape in Brazil affect football?
As well as being the home of Jogo Bonito, Brazil has a history of political discord that so often in the past has impacted on football. The recent election of Jair Bolsonaro suggests a fundamental change in the political outlook and social attitudes of the nation, and it seems inevitable that this will impact on the game. Indeed, a number of famous Brazilian footballers voiced their support for...
1hr 10m Jan 20, 2019
1hr 10m
Adam Summerton gives an insight into the unique world of a commentator
What is life like for a commentator? How do they prepare for one of the most important and iconic roles in sports coverage? Adam Summerton, from BT Sport, UEFA and talkSPORT, gives us the lowdown on his day-to-day, the nuances between radio and television coverage, and the anecdotes of a career ranging from the Champions League to the Conference North.
1hr 14m Jan 13, 2019
1hr 14m
How Liverpool's dominance was expertly challenged by various managerial masterminds in the 1980s
The 1980s were a decade dominated by Liverpool, where they were led in the dugout by Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish, all of whom kept the Anfield empire rolling toward regular league titles. Yet they were constantly challenged by the rise of an unexpected rival, be from Ron Saunders' Aston Villa and Howard Kendall's Everton to George Graham's Arsenal and Brian Clough's at Nottingham ...
1hr 28m Jan 10, 2019
1hr 28m
Football in the 1970s and 80s, the Thatcher government, and a clash of classes
In the first episode of series two of Political Football, we examine the UK in the 1970s and 80s, the tensions between football, its supporters and the establishment, and the Thatcher government. It was a time of disorder in society and football as economic and social cohesion came under pressure. What caused this and what were the effects on the game? Policing, hooliganism, tragedy and class a...
1hr Jan 06, 2019
1hr
How savage social and political upheaval shaped football management in the 1970s
The savage 1970s was a decade in which social and political upheaval was equally matched in the football world. As a generation of iconic managers stood down midway through the 1970s while at the peak of their powers, the floor was left to Bob Paisley and Brian Clough to duel out the second half of the decade in England.
1hr 13m Jan 03, 2019
1hr 13m
Managerial rivalries in the 1960s: the decade that redefined the role of a manager
The 1960s was the decade in which the role of the football manager changed dramatically. With more autonomy from directors, the giants of English management grew quickly, becoming icons still celebrated to this day. Potts, Nicholson, Ramsey, Catterick, Shankly, Busby, Mercer, Revie and Greenwood all battled it out for the honours, in what was the most competitive decade of them all.
1hr 11m Dec 20, 2018
1hr 11m
Is a European Super League inevitable in the modern game?
For 20 years, the concept of a European Super League has periodically risen. The idea that the elite of the European club game congregate to play each other on a weekly basis is one that makes the money men drool. UEFA are trying to protect the elite teams ever more, with 24 of this season's 32 Champions League group stage competitors gaining automatic entry to the tournament. So is a European ...
59m Dec 14, 2018
59m
How managerial rivalries in the 1950s heralded a new dawn for modern football
The more football changes the more it stays the same. The managerial rivalries and differences in approach taken to the contemporary game, from the mind-expanding football of Pep Guardiola to the pragmatism of Jose Mourinho, and every other shade in-between, nothing is new. Football's greatest modern-day ideas are simply recycled versions of something which went before. Managerial Rivals delves...
54m Dec 10, 2018
54m
Exploring the women's game with author Chris Slegg and expert Rich Laverty
Chris Slegg, BBC journalist and author of the excellent 2018/19 Women's Football Yearbook, joins expert Rich Laverty and hosts Stu and Steven as they explore the women's game, from its roots and early struggles to success today and rapid growth ahead.
1hr 7m Dec 06, 2018
1hr 7m
Author Daniel Gray talks 50 lost wonders of football
In a sport losing touch with its lengthy and unique history, author Daniel Gray is shedding light on 50 lost wonders of the game, from goalkeeping trousers to pixelated scoreboards, in his new book Black Boots and Football Pinks. Join Gary, Steven, Stu and Daniel for this intimate look at a literary masterpiece and the things we miss.
59m Dec 02, 2018
59m
Bob Paisley: the unassuming Liverpool legend who rewrote English football history, with Ian Herbert
The Lob speaks to Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday sportswriter Ian Herbert about his book Quiet Genius, which shines a light on the most unassuming but successful characters the game of football has ever known, Liverpool legend Bob Paisley.
1hr 16m Nov 21, 2018
1hr 16m
Remembering the European Cup: the triumphs, talents and the tragedies
For many, the European Cup remains the greatest tournament in football history, its iconic knockout format featuring just the champions of each nation. From the great teams of the early years through to the dominance of single clubs and nations, as well as the tragedies that shook the world, this is the story of a competition like no other.
1hr 31m Nov 15, 2018
1hr 31m
Political Football: the compelling world of FIFA
With one hand, FIFA have helped make the game truly global, giving the fans a sport like no other in the process. But with the other, they've often taken away its soul, leaving behind a sport riddled with corruption and deceit. To conclude the Political Football series, FIFA comes under the microscope.
1hr 3m Oct 30, 2018
1hr 3m
In celebration of the Cup Winners' Cup, a tournament like no other
For 39 years, the Cup Winners' Cup was the black sheep of European club tournaments. An often random generator of sides qualifying for it via their domestic cups, no winner ever retained it the following year, while it eluded giants such as Real Madrid, Liverpool and Internazionale completely. Its attained a cult status, is still missed by many fans today, and provided some of the European game...
1hr 3m Oct 22, 2018
1hr 3m
Drewe Broughton opens up about elite performance coaching in football
In a special edition of The Lob, we talk to former footballer Drewe Broughton about his highs and lows in the game and how he forged a new path as a performance coach. In a fascinating window on the internal workings of the elite game, Drewe also talks about his forthcoming book Ego: The Silent Killer.
1hr 9m Oct 18, 2018
1hr 9m
Political Football: the culture and politics that shaped Scottish football and what Brexit means
Football in Scotland is the product of a particular history, and the ideologies formed from that past shape some of the major clubs that play there. Religious divides and associations with other countries, combined with a prevailing national pride, weave together to produce the tartan fabric of Scottish football and the identities of a number of clubs. With Brexit imminent, and a potential retu...
53m Oct 08, 2018
53m
Political Football: how the game gave hope during the worst of Northern Ireland's Troubles
In the post-war years, Northern Ireland was crosscut with strident political, religious and ideological divisions. In such an atmosphere the very existence of Belfast Celtic, the city’s only Catholic professional football club, was threatened and ultimately extinguished. Its success, trials and demise serve as a reminder of times when the sectarian divide flared into violence. This is the story...
55m Oct 02, 2018
55m
In celebration of the UEFA Cup, from underdog wins to eras of dominance
The UEFA Cup has been going since 1971 and this week's podcast is dedicated to the first three decades of the competition, when a number of incredible finals were played over two legs. There's a look at Ipswich Town and IFK Göteborg's famous wins, Real Madrid's back-to-back triumphs, the Italian dominance of the 1990s, and much more.
1hr 16m Sep 24, 2018
1hr 16m
Political Football: The power, passion and dark underbelly of Turkish football at all levels
Football in Turkey is often turbulent but always passionate. Join us as expert James Kelly explores how politics, geography and a thirst for power fuels the cauldron that is the Süper Lig. From the players and managers to those in power in and out of the game, this is the story of state-run clubs, corruption, ultras and the undoubted talent of a nation that has often used the sport as a means o...
56m Sep 19, 2018
56m
Sócrates: the talent, the icon and the activist, with author Andrew Downie
He was a footballer with a drink problem and various inner demons. And yet he was a genius; one of the greats. He was also a doctor and political activist - an icon for the working-classes of Brazil. There'll surely never be another Sócrates. Author of Doctor Sócrates, Andrew Downie, joined us to discuss the Corinthians legend and the book he authored on the man.
54m Sep 16, 2018
54m
Political Football: How football overcame brutal military juntas in Argentina and Chile
At a time when brutal military regimes were stifling society and the economy, football underwent vast changes in Argentina and Chile. From the decline of La Nuestra in Argentina to their World Cup glory of 1978 against the backdrop of torture just metres away, to the rise of Chilean football and how a select few stood up to the junta in acts of eternal defiance, this is the story of a murky rel...
56m Sep 11, 2018
56m
The Champions League and Europa League preview show
Ahead of what promises to be another epic season of European football, our experts sat down to discuss who's looking strong,, the underdogs, the weak links and the match-ups that make both the Champions League and the often underrated Europa League such brilliant competitions.
1hr 8m Sep 06, 2018
1hr 8m
Political Football: the magnificent, murky world of Soviet, Ukrainian and Russian football
We examine the footballing history of the USSR. Not just those iconic red shirts with CCCP emblazoned across the front in bold white letters, but also how the Soviet authorities used football as a political tool; their successes, failures, bans and boycotts. How did Ukrainian football prosper behind the Iron Curtain, and what changed when the wall came down? In the end, was the 2018 World Cup m...
52m Sep 03, 2018
52m
Michael Calvin talks State of Play, an exploration of football beneath its skin
Award-winning author Michael Calvin joins the panel to discuss subjects from his outstanding new book State of Play, which explores football beneath its skin, from morality and mental health to its social impact and future.
1hr 15m Aug 27, 2018
1hr 15m
Previewing the Serie A and LaLiga season and a tribute to Jim Hart
With Cristiano Ronaldo now leading the Juventus charge but their rivals also strengthening, how will Serie A - slowly returning to glories of old - play out this season? And can a Ronaldo-less Real Madrid dismantle the Barcelona powerhouse in Spain? What about Atlético Madrid? Join us for this and a touching tribute to our former colleague, Jim Hart, who passed away last week.
1hr 36m Aug 20, 2018
1hr 36m
The Premier League 2018/19 season preview
The Premier League season is upon us, and a raft of questions and queries surround each team. Whose made the best signings? Who has gone backwards? Can anybody topple Manchester City and who'll be languishing in the relegation zone? Join us for this and more as our experts tackle the campaign ahead.
1hr 4m Aug 06, 2018
1hr 4m
The philosophies that changed football forever
Football is an ever-evolving sport, often shaped by the minds of a few. The dreamers. The thinkers. What we have today is the result of systems that have transcended borders and time to give us the greatest sport in the world. This is an exploration of those philosophies.
57m Jul 24, 2018
57m
The post-World Cup show
It's a fickle business, that of predicting football; even more so when it's the World Cup in question. So how did panellists from The Lob fare during Russia 2018? We reconvene to review the finals and hear from Andrew Flint, on the ground in Moscow, as well as the regulars.
1hr 3m Jul 19, 2018
1hr 3m
Previewing the 2018 FIFA World Cup
It's that time again: the 2018 FIFA World Cup is upon us, so join hosts Jim Hart and Steven Scragg along with guests Stuart Horsfield and Gary Thacker as we wrap up a series that's covered every finals in history.
1hr 27m Jun 14, 2018
1hr 27m
The World Cup Series: 2010 and 2014
As Spain shook off their demons playing a brand of football as good as anything in World Cup history in 2010, Germany emulated them with a devastating blend of power and skill in 2014. These are the key stories and figures from two memorable modern finals.
1hr 31m Jun 06, 2018
1hr 31m
Cheers, Tears and Jeers: A History of England and the World Cup
We review senior writer Gary Thacker's brilliant new book, Cheers, Tears and Jeers: A History of England and the World Cup, chronicling the story of the Three Lions and the planet’s biggest football tournament from the early days of the game right up to the present day.
1hr 5m May 28, 2018
1hr 5m
Previewing the CONCACAF nations at the 2018 World Cup
Outside of the region, little is known about Costa Rica and Panama ahead of their odysseys on the global stage. Along with powerhouse Mexico, we preview what the 2018 World Cup has in store for the North American sides.
47m May 21, 2018
47m
The World Cup Series: 2002 and 2006
The first World Cup held outside of Europe and the Americas, 2002 in Japan and South Korea was a momentous event, full of surprise, intrigue and controversy. Four years later, Italy would lift the World Cup title amid the crippling effects of Calciopoli, uniting the nation for one of the modern eras finest tournaments.
2hr 3m May 14, 2018
2hr 3m
The World Cup Series: 1994 and 1998
Join host Jim Hart and World Cup experts Steven Scragg and Dan Williamson as they look back at the iconic USA 94, inclusive of Brazil's stunning win and Roberto Baggio's flawed moments of legend, and how France overcome a nation divided to claim the ultimate prize for the very first time.
1hr 55m May 09, 2018
1hr 55m
The Coaches' Forum talks to Oliver Sifkovits
Oliver Sifkovits is a high-performance coach who has worked with athletes from different sports, levels and age groups since 2009 in multiple countries. Host Jon Townsend caught up with the author and coach to discuss the optimisation of performance and how to make marginal gains in this multi-faceted and engaging podcast for all coaches and trainers.
1hr 28m Apr 26, 2018
1hr 28m