Early Doors Football Podcast

Former Leicester City winger Steve Guppy joins us for a chat about the art of taking on defenders and his current role as a 1v1 coach at Nashville SC in the MLS.

We also speak to Adam Miles, founder of Refugee Soccer - an organisation which, as the name suggests, is using football to help refugees.

Experienced coach and former player Nicola Waxler joins us as a guest again and has an exciting announcement - and in the last of the current series of Football Fans From Around The World, Mark talks to a Crystal Palace fan in Norway and a Manchester United fan in Nigeria.

Our featured club this week is Queensboro FC in New York, which is part owned by Spanish football legend David Villa.

We welcome back former Gillingham, Wolves, West Ham and Norwich winger Matt Jarvis, who recalls the song the Wolves fans used to sing about him and talks about his former clubs, being a gay icon and the one thing that annoys him most about football.

We're also joined by Liverpool Echo football writer Chris Beesley, Peterborough United's Women's Reserves manager Dan Bratcher, and West Ham fans in Peru and the USA.

Martin Allen - who played for QPR, West Ham and Portsmouth and managed Brentford, Leicester City, Barnet, MK Dons, Gillingham, Notts County, Cheltenham Town and Chesterfield - returns for a second appearance.

He talks about the way the game has changed, coaching, the challenges that Ralf Rangnick is facing at Manchester United, Newcastle United's chances of winning the Premier League title in the next few seasons - and why he thinks England can win the World Cup this year. He also reveals that he has had two recent approaches about becoming a manager again - and tells us why he has decided against a return to management.

We also speak to Columbus Crew scout and coach Eddie Hertsenberg, football film maker John Gubba and a Brighton fan in Baltimore in the USA.

Happy New Year from the Early Doors Football Podcast team! We hope you all had a brilliant Christmas. We ended 2021 with record numbers for Episode 20 - featuring Bristol Rovers owner Wael Al-Qadi and West Ham FA Cup winner Geoff Pike - and we are starting 2022 with a bang, with some very special guests for you.

We start with Dr Sophie Cook - the manager of LGBTQ+ team Rainbow Rovers, who was the first person to come out as transgender in football - and Whitehawk FC vice chair and LGBTQ+ advocate Kevin Miller. We discuss Sophie's journey from being club photographer Steve Cook at AFC Bournemouth, the support she received from Eddie Howe and others, and Whitehawk FC 's commitment to making football accessible for everyone.

Our next guest is Helen Nkwocha, a highly experienced and respected international coach, who talks about her journey from player to coaching in countries including the USA and Faroe Islands.

We are also joined by Marlow FC chairman Terry Staines, who discusses the club's amazing history - including its status as the only team to apply for entry into the FA Cup every season since the competition started - and how Marlow and other clubs at their level rely on volunteers to survive.

As part of our 2022 kick-off, we return to Norway for our 'Football Fans From Around The World' feature and speak to Liverpool fan Frank Sollie - who remains confident that the Reds can maintain a title challenge this season.

Enjoy - and here's to a great 2022 year of football ahead!

Ever wondered what owning a football club is like? We talk to Bristol Rovers owner Wael Al-Qadi about why he decided to buy the club, what being a club owner entails and his relationship with Rovers manager Joey Barton.

We are also joined by ex-West Ham midfielder and experienced coach Geoff Pike, who recalls lining up in a game against Pele and playing in the same side as England World Cup winners Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst.

Megan Stone talks about her role as part of the Plymouth Argyle media team and 'Football fans from around the world' returns with a Leeds United fan in Norway.

Another shorter episode for you in the run up to Christmas and it's a cracker this week! Former Crystal Palace manager Alan Smith talks about his time with the Eagles, Wimbledon, Wycombe and Dulwich Hamlet. He also reveals what Gareth Southgate, Ian Wright and Steve Coppell were like to work with - and recalls the time he told the current England manager to give up football and become a travel agent.

A change of format this week as we chat to Early Doors Football Podcast co-host Dylan Kerr about his new role as head coach of Swallows FC in the South African Premier Division. Our special guest is former Watford and Brentford keeper Richard Lee, who talks about how the role of a goalkeeper has changed over the years, his own goalkeeping podcast with guests including Peter and Kasper Schmeichel, his thoughts on who is the Premier League's best goalkeeper, and who he thinks will be England's number one at the World Cup in Qatar.

Our featured club this week is FC Porto. Our guests are former Manchester City and Scotland defender Willie Donachie, experienced international manager Steve Darby and Adam Behnke, the Chief Business Officer of new club Queensboro FC in New York, who are part-owned by former Barcelona and Spain striker David Villa - and Mark talks to a Reading fan in Ireland.

Tom talks to Charlie Edinburgh, founder of the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation in his father's memory, about Justin's career as a player with Spurs and as a manager - including his success in taking Leyton Orient back into the Football League. Charlie also talks about the work the JE3 Foundation is doing to raise awareness of cardiac arrest and how defibrillators are saving lives. Dylan chats with Leicester City legend Steve Walsh, who talks about his reputation as a player, the cup finals he played in, red cards, bans and fines - and the story behind fellow Leicester legend Keith Weller and his white tights. We preview the Women's FA Cup final between Chelsea and Arsenal, and Mark talks to Southampton fans in Oslo and Chicago.

Joe Corrigan talks to Tom, Dylan and Mark about his career as a Manchester City and England goalkeeper, Paul Ashworth discusses his journey as an international football manager, and Rob Hawden talks about his role as an Esports manager at Newcastle United, Leicester City and Rotherham United.  Former Arsenal and Millwall player Nicola Waxler discusses her 18 year career as a coach and her most recent role as a player welfare officer - and Mark chats to Arsenal and Liverpool fans in New York.Our featured club this week is Rhu Amateur in Scotland, who are celebrating their 125th anniversary.

Pat Nevin is back to talk about music, DJing and his book 'The Accidental Footballer' and former defenders David Artell - the current Crewe Alexandra manager - and Scott McNiven discuss the link between football and dementia.

Our other guests are Jordan Gardner, co-owner of FC Helsingor in Denmark and Dundalk in Ireland and an investor in Swansea City, and women's football coach Joe O'Sullivan - and Mark chats to two Brighton fans in the USA.

On an extended edition of the Early Doors Football Podcast this week, our guests are Arsenal legend Alan Smith, Bath City manager Jerry Gill, comedian and former Plymouth player Paul Boardman, and Eastleigh Ladies assistant manager Brad Walsh.

We start a focus on football clubs from around the world this week with a look at Marlow FC, who are 151 years old this month - and Mark talks to fans of Watford, Wolves and Leeds in Brazil, USA and Thailand.

Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton OBE and his wife Steph talk about Peter's 45-year gambling addiction and their book 'Saved'.

Former Nepal, India, Malawi, Sudan and Rwanda manager Stephen Constantine and Fulham FC Women's head coach Steve Jaye are also on the show - and Mark chats with fans of Newcastle United, Southampton and West Ham who live in Dubai, Gosport and New Zealand.

Dylan Kerr introduces Episode 11 - and we've included his outtakes - and Tom Watt recalls playing for the Eastenders charity team in front of more than 10,000 fans. Dumbarton manager Stevie Farrell discusses the state of Scottish football, and Mark Roach talks to Chinese football coach Yang Liu.

It's AVM Awareness Month and Cherelle Khassal talks to former Crystal Palace team-mate Ashleigh Goddard about her recovery after AVM surgery - and Mark chats to Leicester City fans in New Zealand and Australia about their amazing Premier League title-winning season.

Tony Dorigo talks about Gary Speed and some of the other great players he played with during his time with Aston Villa, Chelsea and Leeds United, being part of the Leeds title-winning team, and why he chose to play for England instead of Australia.

Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll talks to Mark about competing with the likes of Wrexham in the National League, and former referee Keith Hackett discusses Wimbledon, Nottingham Forest, Vinnie Jones and sharing a cab with Brazil World Cup winner Carlos Alberto.

Cherelle looks ahead to the upcoming women's games for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and Mark chats to an Aston Villa fan in Canada and a Burnley fan in Norway.

Dylan introduces episode 10 by revealing this week's highlight of the week.

Ex QPR, West Ham and Manchester City winger Trevor Sinclair talks to Dylan and Tom about starting out at Blackpool and playing for England against Argentina at the 2002 World Cup.

Mark chats with Oxford United manager Karl Robinson and his wife, the former Brookside actress Ann Marie Robinson (Davies), about work-life balance.

In part 2 of a series with Keith Hackett, the former referee looks back at the 21-man brawl between Manchester United and Arsenal in 1990.

Cherelle discusses upcoming games in the Women's Champions League and League Cup and speaks to Burton Albion Women's Under 17 coach and St Kitts & Nevis heritage scout Sam Bennett.

Mark starts the show by revealing his 'Highlight of the week' - and our 'Football fan from around the world' for this episode is a Leeds United fan in Auckland, New Zealand.

Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough talks about the side's recent results, their upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Switzerland and Bulgaria, and managing the team. Ex Wolves, West Ham and Norwich winger Matt Jarvis discusses playing for England, recovering from injury and signing for Woking.

Former referee Keith Hackett starts a new series of chats by talking about his best memories, and Mark talks to a Birmingham City fan in Tenerife.

Emile Heskey talks about England's 5-1 win against Germany, Liverpool's title chances and Final Whistle Sports, his new venture with friend and business partner Nadim Badran. 

Mark chats to Brandon Jantz, the owner of California-based professional football club Temecula FC, and a Manchester United fan in Sweden.

As always you can contact the team on earlydoors@4thenow.co.uk

Manchester United legend Gordon Hill talks about Cristiano Ronaldo, Eric Cantona, George Best, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Sir Alex Ferguson. Tom and Dylan chat with former Leeds defender and England Under 19s manager Noel Blake. Leicester City keeper Sophie Harris discusses life in the WSL, and Mark chats to a Brentford fan in Dublin.

Former Crystal Palace winger John Salako tells Tom Watt and Dylan Kerr why he thinks Patrick Vieira is cut out for management. Ex Brentford, Brighton and Reading striker Nicky Forster and football writer Harry Harris are also guests. There's a WSL round-up, and Mark chats with a Manchester City fan in Vancouver, Canada.

We had a good chat with the current Crewe Alexandra manager - the chat included 2 stories about monkeys! - and Cherelle interviewed a female coach who has coached at the top level in men's and women's football in Sweden and talks about experiencing racism in women's football but not men's football. Plus 2 Spurs fans (in Malaysia and Australia) talk about Spurs being top of the league.

Shaka Hislop debates VAR with Tom Watt and Dylan Kerr, and recalls his England call up. Ex Premier League referee Mark Halsey explains how he contributed to Manchester City's success and discusses his recovery from cancer. Dennis Greene looks back at his time with Wycombe Wanderers and Dagenham & Redbridge, and Cherelle Khassal talks to Jennifer Currie. Mark Roach chats with Arsenal and Liverpool fans in Singapore.

Former QPR, West Ham and Portsmouth midfielder Martin Allen, who managed Brentford, Leicester City and Barnet,  talks to Tom Watt and Dylan Kerr about the pressures of management and reveals which management role he'd like next. Harrison Dunk talks about his 10 years with Cambridge United and Oli Norman discusses what being an apprentice at Bradford City was like. Cherelle Khassal talks women's football, and Mark Roach chats with a Norwich City fan in Sweden. 

Episode 1: Pat Nevin, Tom Watt, Dylan Kerr, Cherelle Khassal & Lynsey Hooper.

Mark Roach, Tom Watt and Dylan Kerr talk to ex Chelsea and Everton winger Pat Nevin, and Cherelle Khassal and Sky Sports WSL reporter Lynsey Hooper focus on women's football. Mark also chats with Chelsea fan Chris Dutton in Sydney, Australia and Everton fan Ed Bottomley in Michigan, USA.