Rephonic
Artwork for Football Ruined My Life
Football
Premier League
Leicester City
Manchester United
Football History
Football Management
English Football
FA Cup
Brian Clough
VAR
English Football League
Chelsea
Manchester City
Liverpool FC
Bosman Ruling
Leeds United
Liverpool
Transfer Market
Financial Fair Play
Paddy Barclay

When Football Ruined My Life started back at the beginning of 2023 it was the new podcast about old football. In it, distinguished football journalist Patrick Barclay joined with Colin Shindler, author of the best selling Manchester United Ruined My Life, and the Super Agent Jon Holmes (think Gary Lineker, Peter Shilton, Tony Woodcock etc.) to talk about football as it used to be in the days befo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes151Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FootballSoccerSports

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Artwork for Football Ruined My Life

Latest Episodes

There is an initial resistance by the panel to the question: can you build a team around one player? The instinctive response is one of scorn and derision – I mean how do you build a team around Peter Shilton? But then the World Cup arrived and al... more

This week Jon Holmes, Colin Shindler and Jim White are talking about one particular player – and one manager and one club director and one club chairman and one trade union official and one television executive and one presenter and one analyst and ... more

There are times when the panel like to turn the spotlight on those men who do incalculable good work behind the scenes of a football club but remain largely anonymous. Such a hero is Steve Walsh who for many years has performed the job of Head of Rec... more

In this episode Colin Shindler, Jon Holmes and Andy Hamilton set out to annoy everyone with a discussion of which players from the pre-1992 era – the year when the world of English football changed with the arrival of Sky Sports and the Premier Leagu... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Steve Walsh
Leicester City chief scout and football talent identifier
Leicester City (former chief scout)
Episode: 148. The One with Steve Walsh
Duncan Hamilton
Distinguished author and journalist who has written extensively on football and cricket
Author/Journalist
Episode: 143. The One With Duncan Hamilton - 1966 And All That
Steve Coppell
Former Manchester United and England player; guest on the episode
Former footballer, Manager
Episode: 142. Team of the 1980s (with Steve Coppell)
Tony Woodcock
Former footballer renowned for Nottingham Forest, Köln and Arsenal
Former footballer
Episode: 138. The One With Tony Woodcock
Dominic Sandbrook
Distinguished historian and author; Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter
Independent historian; author
Episode: 135. The One With Dominic Sambrook
Jim White
Sports journalist and columnist for the Daily Telegraph
Jim White (Daily Telegraph)
Episode: 132. Have Newspaper Football Journalists Lost Their Influence?
Michael Crick
Television journalist and author
Newsnight, Channel 4 News
Episode: The One With Michael Crick – Football And Nationalism
Jon Spurling
Author of 'Get It On', a book about football in the 1970s.
Episode: 108. The One From The 70s… with Jon Spurling
Daniel Gray
Author of "Hatters, Railwaymen and Knitters"
Episode: 106. The One With Daniel Gray

Hosts

Colin Shindler
Host of Football Ruined My Life; author and commentator on football history; connected to multiple episodes across the series.
Jon Holmes
Co-host and prominent voice on the show; noted for historical insight and banter.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 122 ratings
  • ‘La Pelota no se Mancha’

    In response to the episode on the pathetic spectacle that was the World Cup draw. The phrase in the title means, ‘The ball doesn’t stain’. All of the money grubbing, exploitive, socially destructive, garbage that orbits football doesn’t alter the essence of the game. The game itself is, still, beautiful. It’s the sport that affords its players, many, many of whom come from relatively impoverished backgrounds, the ability to express themselves. That is what we love.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The number four
    United States8 months ago
  • Sometimes good but too much Z-ism

    Can’t be supporting apartheid and genocide in 2025, boys. Get rid of that and you’ll have a good pod

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Vid3odrone
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • The Best

    The boys talk sense Colin the romantic Jon the reality a great combination The best podcast on football

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Arthur King USA
    United States2 years ago
  • An erudite, nostalgic listen.

    Gentlemen,

    As a football fan in my 30s, I suppose the current landscape of TV, podcast, and radio coverage is largely tailored to my generation and younger audiences. Yet, on the whole, I find much of it lacking. There’s a real dearth of experienced, articulate analysis, with broadcasters seemingly prioritising youthful appeal over quality insight. Ironically, I think many younger fans would actually prefer a higher standard of discussion.

    This week, I stumbled upon your podcast, and I have to... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jamie JRM
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Fabulous

    All of the best pods are simply tremendous conversations and Football Ruined My Life is amongst the best of these. Totally delightful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JONK1875
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Sound design and discussions are engaging, though some listeners feel nostalgic bias.
A must-listen for fans of football lore and culture.
Nostalgic and insightful, with strong storytelling and depth.
A refreshing deep-dive into football history that still feels timely.
High-quality guests and informed banter keep discussions lively.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#136
Australia/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#55
Ireland/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#109
Switzerland/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#124
Hong Kong/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#126
Japan/Sports/Football

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

148. The One with Steve Walsh
Q: How has scouting evolved from Walsh's early days to the Leicester era, and what role did technology begin to play?
Walsh explains that early scouting relied on a broad network of local scouts and hands-on ground work, but over time technology and video analysis began to supplement and eventually surpass some of the old practices, though he emphasizes the value of maintaining a ground network alongside data.
138. The One With Tony Woodcock
Q: Can you actually coach a goal scorer to score goals?
Woodcock suggests that while you can coach a striker to hold the ball up, link play, and read situations, scoring instinct and the ability to anticipate where the ball will be are still crucial, though modern teams can influence service and system.
126. The North-South Divide
Q: Is it possible with the right investment to take any club anywhere in the country?
It depends on the quality of the ownership and the investment possibilities, with many clubs struggling to attract the right investors.
126. The North-South Divide
Q: Is the game benefiting from the North-South divide?
The increasing concentration of wealth in the southern half of the country is adversely affecting football, particularly for clubs in the North.
123. Are Modern Refs Too Fussy?
Q: What are your thoughts on modern refereeing techniques?
Modern referees seem to have become more of a focal point during matches, often disrupting the flow of the game with constant whistles for fouls and VAR interruptions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Football Ruined My Life

What is Football Ruined My Life about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This series centers on football's history and culture, pairing long-time hosts with notable guests to explore past eras, clubs, and personalities. Conversations blend vivid reminiscence with informed analysis, touching on legendary players, managers, and key moments from mid-20th-century football through the pre-Premier League days, then reflecting on how the game evolved. A distinctive aspect is the recurring emphasis on nostalgia tempered by critical memory, plus a rotating panel of respected journalists, historians, entertainers, and former players that adds breadth and warmth to each episode. For potential listeners, the show offers richly told anecdotes, thoughtful context, and lively debates about the game's social and cultural impact... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Football Ruined My Life?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Football Ruined My Life:

1. It Was What It Was : The Football History Podcast
2. The Football Boardroom
3. The Brazilian Shirt Name Podcast
4. The Rest Is Football
5. The Managers

How many episodes of Football Ruined My Life are there?

Football Ruined My Life launched 4 years ago and published 151 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Football Ruined My Life?

Recent guests on Football Ruined My Life include:

1. Steve Walsh
2. Duncan Hamilton
3. Steve Coppell
4. Tony Woodcock
5. Dominic Sandbrook
6. Jim White
7. Michael Crick
8. Jon Spurling

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