The Podcast Corner: Back of the net for soccer podcasts
How have soccer podcasts fared with their raison d’etre on ice — and with no return in sight — due to coronavirus? Some have adapted better than others, but here are few still providing decent listening:
Second Captains
Operating a similar subscription/two free episodes service to the Anfield Wrap, the Second Captains have roped in the idiosyncratic comedian David O’Doherty for an ‘Isolating’ series, in which he finds himself in Achill Island looking after his elderly parents. If you like DOD’s wit, you’ll love this. In episode 4, he’s sheltering in the car, under the shadow of Slieve Mor (Big Mountain — not the most imaginative name, he guffaws), from the wind and rain, talking about bog-surfing, gardening, and possums in Australia. It’s a free-wheeling, laugh out loud way to spend 15 minutes.
Stream an overview of the podcast's first five years above, and listen to the Isolating series here.
Match of the Day Podcast
With the Premier League on lockdown, the BBC’s weekly highlights show has joined the world of podcasts. Recorded in Gary Lineker’s kitchen, it’s running down various top 10s — from captains to goalkeepers to goalscorers — for 11 weeks. It’s also being converted to TV for its regular Saturday night slot. On the first episode, listing best captains of the Premier League, Alan Shearer asks why isn’t Tim Sherwood present — he delivered the title for the smallest club, declares the former Blackburn striker. And that’s where the fun starts.
“Smallest club with the biggest budget,” chimes in Lineker — it’s so refreshing when someone usually reserved on TV is let loose and able to opine on anything and everything on a podcast. He continues: “It’s only cos you were there [that Blackburn won the league in 94/95] — you know he tried to buy me before you? Shearer laughs it off. But then: “Really?” Lineker: “Yeah, I’m sorry but you were second choice, Alan.”
Listen to available episodes via BBC Sounds here.
That Peter Crouch Podcast
The retired England striker and bantercast pals sound a little perplexed doing the show via computers and without a pint in front of them. But it’s still good for a few laughs. On ‘That Isolation Episode’, Crouchy thinks people will come out the other side of the pandemic better off for learning a skill while cooped up — he’s practising his golf swing in the back garden, for example. After revealing he’s been getting massages, wife Abbey Clancy jokes: “He’s got a sore back from all the golf.”
Listen to every episode here, via Acast.
