These Football Times

A decade of 70s football: the 1970s FA Cup final replay

18 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On to Old Trafford - yes, really - for the 1970 FA Cup final replay and Chelsea and Leeds are about to produce another game for the ages, one of the m...

The Power and The Glory: A New History of the World Cup

02 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Wilson joins Steven Scragg in the centre circle to discuss his monumental new history of the World Cup, in all its glory and in all its gory ...

Reel Football: The Two Escobars

24 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the turn of the ESPN documentary The Two Escobars to feature in our Reel Football series. It explores how the very different lives of Colombia ...

Reel Football: Diego Maradona

17 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our Reel Football series alights upon Asif Kapadia’s 2019 documentary about Diego Maradona, revolving around his time in Naples and the 1986 World C...

Reel Football: The Goal! Trilogy

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Less Citizen Kane, more 'Citizen Harry Kane', Matthew Gibbs and Rob Fletcher alight upon the cinematic treasure that is the Goal! trilogy. Whether tre...

Reel Football: The Damned United

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donning the mantle of Mark Kermode, Matthew Gibbs sets sail on a new series delving into the world of football on film. In this first episode, he’s ...

When Italian football ruled Europe

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We return to the Centre Circle with our guest Dominic Hougham to talk about his new book Veni Vidi Vici: When Italian Football Ruled Europe. If you ar...

A decade of 70s football: the 1970 FA Cup final

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our 70s series returns and not with a mere bonus track but a supplementary book of learning that brings you everything you needed to know about each o...

Aston Villa x The League Cup: 1993-1996

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Rob Fletcher is joined by Ivan McDouall who talks about his excellent new book Only The Real Thing, which charts Aston Villa’s glory days in the Lea...

A celebration of all things Aston Villa

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The latest club magazine from These Football Times explores Aston Villa, from the days when they were central to forming the Football League through t...

Us x Them: Liverpool and Aston Villa

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing our series where members of the team look at the relationships between their teams, Steven Scragg and Ivan McDouall discuss Liverpool again...

Goodbye to Goodison

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Everton prepare to leave their home of 133 years, Goodison Park, later this month, so we felt that we had to pay tribute to this venerable institution...

Us x Them: Liverpool and West Brom

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Kicking off a new series where members of the team look at the relationships between their teams, Steven Scragg and Dave Bowler discuss Liverpool agai...

A decade of 60s football: the mission statement

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Coming soon to a podcast outlet near you. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, These Football Times brings you a new series, cov...

Gary Lineker: a portrait of a football icon

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Author Chris Evans is in the Centre Circle to talk with Aidan Willians and Chris Lepkowski about his new biography of Gary Lineker. From Filbert Stree...

Shades of Green: a journey into Irish football

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We talk with Chris Lee about his new book Shades Of Green, a journey of discovery around Ireland to learn about one of the world’s oldest football c...

Is austerity the solution at Manchester United?

23 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s cost cutting aplenty at Manchester United as Jim Ratcliffe ushers in a period of austerity, especially if you are a former player, a staff m...

A decade of 90s football: the best English strikers

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The 1990s was a golden period for English strikers. Rob Fletcher and his guest, Michael Hamlen, trawl the decade to reminisce on Alan Shearer, Gary Li...

Carabao Cup Final Review 2025

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Newcastle carried off the League Cup at Wembley, ending a trophy drought that exceeded the lifespan of TFT’s twin presenters, Aidan Williams and Ste...

Carabao Cup Final Preview 2025

16 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As two giants of English football, Liverpool and Newcastle , prepare to meet at Wembley  in the final of the League Cup, so two giants of TFT, Steven...

Icons: Zinedine Zidane

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

Icons: Michael Laudrup

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

What goes up must come down

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What goes up must come down? More than 350 years since Isaac Newton penned his laws of gravity, it appears to apply to the teams newly promoted to the...

Icons: Michel Platini

01 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

Icons: Andrea Pirlo

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

Icons: Kevin Keegan

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

Icons: Eric Cantona

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

Icons: George Best

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

Icons: Kenny Dalglish

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

One Love: Chelsea

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Turning the tables for the final episode in the series, it’s Gary Thacker’s turn to talk about the team he supports, Chelsea. Why, best and worst ...

Icons: Ferenc Puskás

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

One Love: West Brom

12 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Thacker quizzes another member of the team about who they support. Why, best and worst moments, favourite players and those they’d like to forg...

Icons: Gerd Müller

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

The Mount Rushmore Debates: FA Cup

05 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Football Association’s Challenge Cup, with over 150 years of great names, huge stories and mighty giantkillers to choose from, means this episod...

Icons: Ronaldo

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

A deep dive into all things Newcastle

01 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The latest club magazine from These Football Times delves into all things Newcastle United from the golden days of Hughie Gallacher in the 1920s, onto...

Icons: Johan Cruyff

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Following the Icons magazine, lovingly detailing 60 of the game’s greatest names, we decided to delve a little deeper into some of them in this podc...

A decade of 90s football: 1998/99

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s trebles all round as we come to the final episode in our 1990s odyssey. There’s the usual mix of weird transfers, weirder kits, and in depth ...

One Love: Everton

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Thacker quizzes another member of the  team about the team they support. Why, best and worst moments, favourite players and those they’d like ...

The story of Channel 4's Football Italia

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a quick break before our final seasonal episode of the 90s, we are joined by TV producer and author Jonathan Grade to discuss one of the biggest cu...

A journey to the soul of Portuguese football

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Bring Me That Horizon: A Journey To The Soul of Portuguese Football is the subject of this Centre Circle pod as author Miguel Pereira discusses his e...

Are we entering the second era of 21st century football?

08 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Young managers, five subs, sky high ticket prices, no concessions, eight grands worth of fireworks and the end of the Saturday 3pm live TV blackout. A...

A decade of 90s football: 1997/98

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Arsene Wenger’s revolution at Highbury means everyone starts loving Arsenal. Except Alex Ferguson that is, who sees his Manchester United side beate...

A decade of 90s football: 1996/97

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Another title for Manchester United; Newcastle  splash the cash on Alan Shearer; Middlesbrough reach two cup finals, don’t reach Blackburn, can’t...

One Love: Birmingham City

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Thacker quizzes another member of the team about who they support. Why, best and worst moments, favourite players and those they’d like to forg...

Five Years: Manchester United

24 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Taking a leaf from David Bowie’s book, we are looking into the next five years, but for Manchester United alone. What would represent success for th...

A decade of 90s football: 1995/96

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you reckon that you can’t win anything with kids? Would you love it if the entertainers came through and took a first Premier League title back t...

Is football becoming too data-driven?

17 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There seems to be a stat for everything those days, but are they truly helpful or is it just a case of lies, damned lies and statistics? And is the fa...

A decade of 90s football: 1994/95

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A season of chaos, controversy and that kung-fu kick. Eric Cantona takes matters into his own hands at Selhurst Park, leaving newly-signed Andy Cole w...

One Love: Liverpool

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Thacker quizzes another member of the team about the team they support. Why, best and worst moments, favourite players and those they’d like to...

Mental health in football: is there anything we can do?

10 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is there too much pressure in football for anything to be done about health and welfare? From the demands placed on managers to the strain put on kids...

A decade of 90s football: 1993/94

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a double for Manchester United after Aston Villa deny them the treble, Jeremy Goss writes himself into Norfolk folklore, Newcastle  enterta...

What makes a manager successful in the modern game?

03 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Trying to keep the fans, the board and the sporting director is a minefield for modern managers, so have we seen the last of the managerial titans suc...

A decade of 90s football: 1992/93

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Crank up the Simple Minds soundtrack, dust off the fireworks, make way for the cheerleaders and dodgy versions of Baker Street. The Premier League has...

One Love: Manchester United

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Thacker quizzes another member of the team about the club they support. Why, best and worst moments, favourite players and those they’d like to...

Is social media changing the way fans view the game?

27 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is social media changing the way fans view the game and their club? With the never-ending torrent of material passing into and out of our clubs, how a...

A decade of 90s football: 1991/92

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the end of history as the Football League as we knew it entered its final season before some of its biggest cubs would gallop off over the hori...

Is English football all starting to look the same?

20 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Has Pep Guardiola’s incredible success imposed a tactical orthodoxy on the English game that sees too many teams trying to play the same way? Do we ...

A decade of 90s football: 1990/91

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

1990/91: where we went from Gazzamania after the World Cup to manic Gazza in the FA Cup final; where Arsenal’s near invincibles sent Liverpool to un...

One Love: Middlesbrough

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gary Thacker continues to talk to the team about who they support. Why, best and worst moments, favourite players and those they’d like to forget pl...

The future of international football

13 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is the expansion and commercialisation of club football harming the spirit of the international game? Rob Fletcher, Aidan Williams and Gary Thacker lo...

A decade of 90s football: 1989/90

11 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A final hurrah for Liverpool, a surprising challenge from Villa Park that earns Graham Taylor the England job, Rangers march on under Graeme Souness w...

Admiral: 50 years of replica kits

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's been 50 years since Admiral took the football world by storm with the first of their range of kits that have become icons, from Leeds  to West H...

Do footballers play too many games?

06 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A number of the game’s top players have said they are being worked into the ground and have threatened strike action if something isn’t done about...

From the 80s to the 90s

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the Doctor Who episode of our ongoing trawl through the footballing decades as, following his masterful hosting of the 70s and 80s series, Stev...

One Love: Newcastle United

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a new series, Gary Thacker quizzes the  team on the team they support. Why, best and worst moments, favourite players, those they’d like to forg...

Whose club is it anyway?

29 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Does it matter who owns our football clubs? That’s a question that goes to the heart of what English football is for in the 21st century and for who...

Is league position more important than trophies?

22 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Has league position - and the large cheque that comes with it - become more important than winning a trophy? Should a club get the open top bus out fo...

The final years of Sir Alf Ramsay's England reign

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

End Of An Era makes a welcome return as Steven Scragg and Dave Bowler mull over the final years of Alf Ramsey’s tenure with England, as his side wen...

The Game: new Champions League, FFP, PSR and more

15 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A new series exploring issues in the game today. The Champions League is nearly upon us and it has taken on a slightly bewildering new format. The tea...

Alan Kennedy and Newcastle's FA Cup run of 1973/74

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Over the course of a glittering career, Alan Kennedy won pretty much everything that there was to win during his time with Liverpool, but the closest ...

Jim Cumbes and Aston Villa’s 1975 League Cup glory

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Coming up to the 50th anniversary of Aston Villa’s 1975 League Cup win, the precursor to promotion from Division Two that season, Dave Bowler talks ...

The future of club ownership in Argentina

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

President Javier Milei’s drive to deregulate football ownership in Argentina could mean a massive change in club ownership. What could this result i...

Double Diamond: 100 Years of Umbro

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For fans of football kits, we are taking you to podcast heaven as TFT’s very own Alex Ireland talks us through his new book, Double Diamond: 100 Yea...

Following Southgate ...

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The football season is nearly upon us and that means we’ll fairly shortly be putting the league on hold for an international break. With that in min...

Chaos, Controversy and that kung-fu kick

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rob Fletcher is back with his second book on 90s football, and a blockbuster it is too. 1994/95 is under the spotlight in Chaos, Controversy and That ...

The South America Files: Uruguay 5s

21 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The one where Gary Thacker breaks the podcast. Ahead of a new These Football Times magazine devoted to the might of Uruguayan football, the South Amer...

Néstor Lorenzo and the renaissance of Colombia

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As Colombia prepare for their first Copa América final since 2001, Gary Thacker, Steven Scragg and Pete Watson trace the reasons for their renaissanc...

Los Leones: the unique story of Athletic Club

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Author Christopher James Evans finds himself in the Centre Circle to discuss his excellent book on the history of Athletic Club. We would call it the ...

The South America Files: Argentina 5s

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pending a new in-depth South America Files series coming your way shortly, the team have produced this pilot project: pick the greatest five-a-side te...

Euro 2024 predictions

15 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The European Championship is finally upon us and a month of magical moments and shattered dreams lie ahead. Will Gareth Southgate lead England to tour...

Euros Revision: France 3-2 Portugal, 1984

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Aidan Williams takes Gary Thacker on a rollercoaster ride through what he considers to be the greatest match in European Championship history, France’...

Euros Revision: David Trezeguet and the Golden Goal

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Many methods of deciding drawn cup ties have been tried done the years, from drawing lots and tossing coins to penalty shootouts and the golden goal, ...

Euros Revision: Michels, Netherlands and 1988

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The European Championship final of 1988 will always be remembered for that goal by Marco van Basten, but beyond that, it was the day when Rinus Michel...

Everton: the grand old club

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a grand old team to write about and These Football Times is proving the point with a special magazine dedicated to Everton. Aidan Williams, Chr...

Euros Revision: Stuart Pearce, 1996

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It might not have been a Panenka, but when Stuart Pearce blasted his penalty into the Spanish net during the quarter-final shootout at Euro 96, he pro...

Euros Revision: Hal Robson-Kanu outdoes Cruyff, 2016

09 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Johan and his famous Cruyff turn at the 1974 World Cup was all very well, but did it end up with the ball in the back of the net? It did not. Some 42 ...

Euros Revision: England 4-2 Croatia, Euro 2004

08 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joining Gary Thacker today is Dr David Turner who takes us back 20 years to a day when England looked to be emerging as genuine contenders for the Eur...

Euros Revision: Panenka, 1976

06 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Fresh from being chiselled into the European Championships’ Mount Rushmore, Antonín Panenka takes centre stage as Aidan Williams brings us chapter ...

Euros Revision: Šuker vs Schmeichel, Euro 96

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A goal of beauty is a joy forever as the old saying almost goes. Proving the old adage true in 1996 was Davor Šuker who produced one of the tournamen...

Euros Revision: Greece 2004

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a tournament dominated by the usual heavyweight suspects of European football, nobody saw Greece’s title winning tournament of 2004 coming. Matth...

Euros Revision: England 1-3 West Germany, 1972

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of this summer’s European Championship, Gary Thacker invites members of the team to talk about some of their most indelible memories of the co...

FA Cup giant-killers: Southampton v Manchester United, 1976

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The 1970s provided fertile fare for the lower division teams in the FA Cup, from the early round exploits of Hereford and Colchester to latter stage g...

A review of the 2023/24 Championship season

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With the dust settling on the Championship season ahead of the playoffs, John Dunn, Matthew Gibbs and Dave Bowler gather together for a post-mortem on...

Behind the curtain of the beautiful game

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’re joined in the Centre Circle today by Callum McFadden, author of Behind The Curtain Of The Beautiful Game.  Callum’s first book features a ...

Seasons in the Sun: West Brom 1930/31

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s football’s greatest achievement that you’ve probably never heard of. In 1930/31, West Bromwich Albion won promotion from the Second Divisio...

A Tale of Two Decades: the 1970s and 80s

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Our epic trawls through the 1970s and 80s are finally at an end, so in one final effort to keep the franchise going, Steven Scragg and Dave Bowler mee...

A decade of 80s football: sins and omissions

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the decade that will never die, the 1980s team reunite one last time (probably) for a bit of whataboutery? Some listeners have pointed out a few of...

FA Cup giant-killers: QPR vs West Brom, 1982

21 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Second Division played First at Highbury in 1982, and it was the lower tier side who came out on top, Terry Venables piloting a way to the FA Cup fina...

Euro 84: the greatest tournament you never saw

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us as we talk to TFT’s very own Aidan Williams about his new book, Euro 1984: The Greatest Tournament You Never Saw. As the title suggests, her...