With a lack of football to watch at the moment, the average fan of the sport may seek its consumption via alternative methods. Although the average football fan is bombarded with digital content, podcasting has somewhat recently become a phenomenon. In fact, the podcasting market is quickly becoming saturated. Whether you are the fan looking for a recap of the weekend’s games (when they occur), or somebody with a taste for some light-hearted relief in the form of footballing stories, there is always something.
We are huge advocates of the podcast as a means of football consumption and only envisage the growth of the entity in the coming years. 3-At-The-Back has tried to categorise such podcasts and provide a guide for the best podcasts out there for football fans.
If you’re looking for something focused on the ever-changing events of football, you should look no further than ‘The Totally Football Show.’ The expert panel of witty and informative broadcasters and journalists provide the football fan with specialist analysis on all things football. We can categorise this as the summary of weekly football affairs in an ever-changing industry. It is accessible to all football fans, regardless of their level of interest and knowledge of the beautiful game. Furthermore, this podcast has recently split into two areas; football in England, and football across the continent. This incorporates a panel of European experts including Julien Laurens, Rafa Honigstein and many more.
Another ‘pod’ similar to ‘The Totally Football Show’ is the ‘Guardian Football Weekly.’ Although the analysis is perhaps not to the same level when delving into the intricacies of football, its comedic aspect is unmatched – owing to the likes of Max Rushden and Barry Glendenning.
In addition to this, BBC Radio 5 Live’s ‘Football Daily’ is something that is undoubtedly accessible for all. In fact, its main selling point is ‘the podcast for your morning commute.’
Unlike the ‘Totally Football Podcast’ and ‘the Guardian Football Weekly’, this podcast draws on the views on ex-professionals to express their views. As somebody who is keen to move with the times in terms of football analysis, perhaps this is not the best way to go.
As a matter of fact, the inclusion of specialists and keen researchers such as ‘Statman Dave’ is a more attractive prospect for many listeners. The recycling of ex-professionals (and their sometimes tiresome and deliberately controversial views) can be counterproductive. This contrasts with the more vibrant and hard-working breed of stats-based analysts in the footballing world, who ironically provide more of an expert view than many ex-professionals.
For the fans of teams outside the Premier League, one must look no further than the shrewdly named, ‘Not the Top 20 Podcast.’ Much like Statman Dave, George Elek and Ali Maxwell are a part of the new wave of footballing pundits, whose analysis of stats and metrics help to uncover the intricacies of the game for the average football fan. A highpoint of their podcast is the interaction with fans that is so commonly associated with their weekly review of the games. Through their popular Twitter page, they are given match reviews by fans of teams across the country. This helps them dissect the in-form and out-of-form teams in the three divisions outside of the Premier League.
For the nostalgic football fans who enjoy stories with added humour, there is truly no shortage. Although the position of ex-professionals continually in the forefront of football punditry is criticised, the stories of their playing days and unique perspectives provide something different for the listener. A notable mention of this includes the award-winning ‘That Peter Crouch Podcast’, which encapsulates everything good about football away from the pitch. Crouch’s hilarious style while discussing various aspects of a footballer’s life on and off the pitch is nothing short of inspired.
The main selling point of this podcast is how Crouch so easily fits into the normal sphere of footballing banter (which is personified by the podcast’s two co-hosts: Tom Fordyce and Chris Stark), even with his illustrious career. In fact, many of the podcasts resemble the average footballing conversations we hear in so many walks of life, for example, the fitting setting of a local pub.
Alongside this, although on a smaller scale, are the Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville podcasts, which provide fascinating insight. In the episode of the Jamie Carragher podcast ‘The Greatest Game’, there was a gripping standoff between himself and Michael Owen while discussing Owen’s infamous move to Manchester United. Carragher even reveals a compelling turn of events in which he contacted Rafael Benitez in a last-minute effort to block Owen’s path to Man United and sign him on a free to Liverpool.
“I got in touch with Rafa and said 'Owen is on a free and he is about to sign for Man United in two days. Whether you like him or not, do it to stump Man United'. This side of football is not one that is often told, highlighting the value and uniqueness of these types of podcasts.
Finally, The Athletic offer a whole wealth of podcasts delivered by their abundance of experts. For a lighter listen, Adam Hurrey’s ‘Football Cliches’ podcast humorously outlines many (somewhat counterintuitive) norms of football as a whole.
Greater tactical analysis is provided by the podcast ‘Zonal Marking’. Here, Michael Cox and the aforementioned Ali Maxwell share their expertise with different guests and discuss the ins and outs of various teams, managers, tactics and more in great detail. Interesting instalments of this include a recent episode regarding Sean Dyche’s style of play, and a debate on the potency of the away goals in European knockout ties.
Ultimately, podcasts in football are a welcome addition to the congested area of football media. The above podcasts will provide any listener possessing a degree of football interest with hours of entertainment, information and analysis. Podcasts are something inherently new, and due to their convenience and accessibility they are not going away - especially given the current footballing climate.
We are huge advocates of the podcast as a means of football consumption and only envisage the growth of the entity in the coming years. 3-At-The-Back has tried to categorise such podcasts and provide a guide for the best podcasts out there for football fans.
If you’re looking for something focused on the ever-changing events of football, you should look no further than ‘The Totally Football Show.’ The expert panel of witty and informative broadcasters and journalists provide the football fan with specialist analysis on all things football. We can categorise this as the summary of weekly football affairs in an ever-changing industry. It is accessible to all football fans, regardless of their level of interest and knowledge of the beautiful game. Furthermore, this podcast has recently split into two areas; football in England, and football across the continent. This incorporates a panel of European experts including Julien Laurens, Rafa Honigstein and many more.
Another ‘pod’ similar to ‘The Totally Football Show’ is the ‘Guardian Football Weekly.’ Although the analysis is perhaps not to the same level when delving into the intricacies of football, its comedic aspect is unmatched – owing to the likes of Max Rushden and Barry Glendenning.
In addition to this, BBC Radio 5 Live’s ‘Football Daily’ is something that is undoubtedly accessible for all. In fact, its main selling point is ‘the podcast for your morning commute.’
Unlike the ‘Totally Football Podcast’ and ‘the Guardian Football Weekly’, this podcast draws on the views on ex-professionals to express their views. As somebody who is keen to move with the times in terms of football analysis, perhaps this is not the best way to go.
As a matter of fact, the inclusion of specialists and keen researchers such as ‘Statman Dave’ is a more attractive prospect for many listeners. The recycling of ex-professionals (and their sometimes tiresome and deliberately controversial views) can be counterproductive. This contrasts with the more vibrant and hard-working breed of stats-based analysts in the footballing world, who ironically provide more of an expert view than many ex-professionals.
For the fans of teams outside the Premier League, one must look no further than the shrewdly named, ‘Not the Top 20 Podcast.’ Much like Statman Dave, George Elek and Ali Maxwell are a part of the new wave of footballing pundits, whose analysis of stats and metrics help to uncover the intricacies of the game for the average football fan. A highpoint of their podcast is the interaction with fans that is so commonly associated with their weekly review of the games. Through their popular Twitter page, they are given match reviews by fans of teams across the country. This helps them dissect the in-form and out-of-form teams in the three divisions outside of the Premier League.
For the nostalgic football fans who enjoy stories with added humour, there is truly no shortage. Although the position of ex-professionals continually in the forefront of football punditry is criticised, the stories of their playing days and unique perspectives provide something different for the listener. A notable mention of this includes the award-winning ‘That Peter Crouch Podcast’, which encapsulates everything good about football away from the pitch. Crouch’s hilarious style while discussing various aspects of a footballer’s life on and off the pitch is nothing short of inspired.
The main selling point of this podcast is how Crouch so easily fits into the normal sphere of footballing banter (which is personified by the podcast’s two co-hosts: Tom Fordyce and Chris Stark), even with his illustrious career. In fact, many of the podcasts resemble the average footballing conversations we hear in so many walks of life, for example, the fitting setting of a local pub.
Alongside this, although on a smaller scale, are the Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville podcasts, which provide fascinating insight. In the episode of the Jamie Carragher podcast ‘The Greatest Game’, there was a gripping standoff between himself and Michael Owen while discussing Owen’s infamous move to Manchester United. Carragher even reveals a compelling turn of events in which he contacted Rafael Benitez in a last-minute effort to block Owen’s path to Man United and sign him on a free to Liverpool.
“I got in touch with Rafa and said 'Owen is on a free and he is about to sign for Man United in two days. Whether you like him or not, do it to stump Man United'. This side of football is not one that is often told, highlighting the value and uniqueness of these types of podcasts.
Finally, The Athletic offer a whole wealth of podcasts delivered by their abundance of experts. For a lighter listen, Adam Hurrey’s ‘Football Cliches’ podcast humorously outlines many (somewhat counterintuitive) norms of football as a whole.
Greater tactical analysis is provided by the podcast ‘Zonal Marking’. Here, Michael Cox and the aforementioned Ali Maxwell share their expertise with different guests and discuss the ins and outs of various teams, managers, tactics and more in great detail. Interesting instalments of this include a recent episode regarding Sean Dyche’s style of play, and a debate on the potency of the away goals in European knockout ties.
Ultimately, podcasts in football are a welcome addition to the congested area of football media. The above podcasts will provide any listener possessing a degree of football interest with hours of entertainment, information and analysis. Podcasts are something inherently new, and due to their convenience and accessibility they are not going away - especially given the current footballing climate.
Written by: Will Murray
Edited by: 3-At-The-Back
Edited by: 3-At-The-Back