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Hospital Ball

York Hospital Radio
York City Football Club
York City FC
York City
Newcastle United
FA Cup
Football
Hull City Association Football Club
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Carlisle United F.C.
Bootham Crescent
Millwall Football Club
England
Hartlepool United
Ayr United
Stevenage
Dulwich Hamlet

Hospital Ball is a York City FC nostalgia podcast from York Hospital Radio featuring exclusive interviews with former players, managers and figures connected to the club.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes104Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SoccerSportsFootball

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Artwork for Hospital Ball

Latest Episodes

In our now-annual sit-down with Matt Uggla, we reflect on a remarkable season that ended in a title triumph for York City F.C..

Matt shares his emotions from the dramatic moments at Rochdale, what the title win truly means to him, and why he believe... more

York Hospital Radio meets John Helm, a true commentary legend whose career spans over six decades. From standing on the terraces to calling ten World Cups, John reflects on an extraordinary journey through the game.

We cover his early commentaries c... more

Kingsley James lifts the lid on York City’s promotion season, his partnership with John Askey, and the tensions that eventually led to their departure.

Here is an exclusive early release of Series 15 of York Hospital Ball featuring former York City ... more

Hospital Ball welcomes York City striker Dipo Akinyemi for the 100th episode of the podcast.

In this in-depth interview, Dipo reflects on his professional journey — from his early career at Stevenage, through a series of character-building loan spel... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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

John Helm
Football commentator with a career spanning six decades
Episode: YHR Meets…John Helm (football commentator) - YHRadio Meets
Dipo Akinyemi
Professional footballer known for his spell at Ayr United and York City
York City / Ayr United
Episode: Dipo Akinyemi: From Deliveroo to Delivering Goals (Episode 100)
Gary Swann
Former York City midfielder and playoff hero
York City FC (player during peak years), later various clubs
Episode: Gary “The Ghost” Swann: York City’s Ultimate Cult Hero & Playoff Legend (S14 Ep5)
Paul Stephenson
Former professional footballer, York City legend
Former clubs including Newcastle United youth, York City, Millwall, Brentford, Hartlepool
Episode: Paul Stephenson: the highs and lows of a life in football (S14 Ep4)
Paul Bowser
Author of Bootham Crescent, A Second Home trilogy
Author
Episode: Bonus Pod: Paul Bowser talks Bootham Crescent books
Jon Challinor
Former York City player known for key role in 2012 campaign
York City FC
Episode: York City Cult Hero Jon Challinor on Near Misses, Wembley Redemption, and England Seniors Success (S14 Ep3)
Gordon Staniforth
Former York City player, England Schoolboys international, and coach/administrator
York City, Plymouth Argyle, Carlisle United
Episode: Gordon Staniforth: From England Schoolboy to FA Cup Semi-Final | York City Podcast (S14 Ep2)
Ian Blackstone
Former York City player, ambassador and storyteller
York City FC
Episode: From Starbeck to Wembley: The York City Journey of Ian Blackstone (S14 Ep1)
Matt Uggla
York City's owner
York City FC
Episode: Matt Uggla 2025

Host

Dan
Host of Hospital Ball with long-standing involvement in York City FC-related programming

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 118 ratings
  • Great podcast

    As a York fan I love listening to all the old player interviews and getting insight into their time at the club and through their career

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Davogoalo
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Great interviews and insights

    Discovered this podcast about two weeks ago and absolutely love them all.

    Great mix of former and current player along with fans and celebrities that give a great insight into the history and behind the scenes at York City FC.

    Love Dan’s enthusiastic and knowledgable interviewing style and rapport with guests.

    100% recommended a listen

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lee mole
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Best YCFC podcast out there

    Sorry Same Old City, but this is king of the wide world of YCFC podcasts.

    Dan’s interview style is relaxed yet enthusiastic which gets open, honest, insightful and entertaining interviews from guests. Interviews help me relive the nostalgia of the (rare) good times, and shed light on things I did not know about the bad times.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TO YCFC
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Heroes of yesteryear

    Sample the highs and lows of what being a YCFC supporter means by tuning into Dan’s excellent interviews with former players, staff and supporters.

    Following a lower league team like York is so much more than football, it’s about shared experiences with friends, and Dan brings those memories we built on the terraces watching our heroes back to life in a series of evocative episodes.

    You can almost smell the cigar smoke and bovril wafting across your nostrils on the Shippo once again!

    Brillia... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    snowyorkie
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • An insightful trip down memory lane….

    This podcast evokes so many emotions: happy childhood memories, nostalgia to better times, joy that your on pitch heroes are such great blokes, the hope that one day York City can sample similar success. All the ex players come across so well, no doubt as they are great people but in no small part to Dan’s interview style. He allows them to speak, making it more conversational with occasional questions and interjections. Often the guests pre-empt Dan’s questions because of the way the conversati... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Terry Dolan
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise relaxed but insightful interviewing and strong York City focus
Shows deep nostalgia alongside behind-the-scenes anecdotes from players and staff
Episodes are engaging, with a warm, hometown vibe that resonates with community supporters
Regular listeners describe it as essential for York City fans and broader football history enthusiasts

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#88
United Kingdom/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#227
United Kingdom/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Matt Uggla 2025
Q: What was the rationale behind the recruitment strategy after the Oldham playoff loss?
The plan was to address observed weaknesses with targeted signings (height, athleticism, leadership) and to bring in players who could grow into the division above, while maintaining a balance between experience and homegrown talent.
Gary “The Ghost” Swann: York City’s Ultimate Cult Hero & Playoff Legend (S14 Ep5)
Q: You mentioned the open-top parade after promotion—what did that moment mean to you personally and for York City fans?
The parade was an incredible celebration of the city, the club, and the fans who supported us all season. Seeing the townspeople line the streets and share in the triumph made the whole experience feel like a shared victory beyond the pitch.
Gary “The Ghost” Swann: York City’s Ultimate Cult Hero & Playoff Legend (S14 Ep5)
Q: What was it like to play under John Ward at York and to have such a structured setup compared with other managers you played under?
Ward emphasized a clear structure and positional discipline, walking through setups and rehearsing 11 versus 11 to ensure everyone knew their role, which helped us perform consistently even in tougher fixtures.
Gary “The Ghost” Swann: York City’s Ultimate Cult Hero & Playoff Legend (S14 Ep5)
Q: So Gary, it's an absolute pleasure to welcome you to the podcast. You played in my very first game that I went to, which we won 4-0 against Wrexham in 1992, and I supported my hometown club from that moment on. Tell us a little about growing up in York and how you got into football.
I started in local schools and youth teams around York, trained with Hull City during holidays as a teenager, and eventually broke into senior football. Returning to York City in 1992 felt like a full-circle moment, combining early memories with a chance to help my hometown club grow.
Gordon Staniforth: From England Schoolboy to FA Cup Semi-Final | York City Podcast (S14 Ep2)
Q: You mentioned the transfer fee discussions and pressure as a young player when moving clubs; how did you view the fee as a 22-year-old?
No, I think it's just a figure. It felt like a lot of money at the time, but my focus was always on playing and contributing to the team rather than the value attached to me.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Hospital Ball

What is Hospital Ball about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on York City FC history and the club's wider football ecosystem, featuring long-form conversations with former players, managers, and club affiliates. Episodes often explore personal career journeys, pivotal matches, locker-room dynamics, and behind-the-scenes stories from lower-league to promotion campaigns, with a strong nostalgic thread for York City fans and a broader interest in football culture. Notable strengths include candid reminiscences, deep club lore, and a thoughtful host dynamic that makes veteran players and staff feel comfortable sharing vivid anecdotes and lessons from their careers.

Where can I find podcast stats for Hospital Ball?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Hospital Ball. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Hospital Ball and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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What are the audience demographics for Hospital Ball?

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How many subscribers and views does Hospital Ball have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Hospital Ball has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Hospital Ball?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hospital Ball:

1. The Crux of it
2. Same Old City
3. National League Lowdown
4. I Had Trials Once...
5. Undr The Cosh

How many episodes of Hospital Ball are there?

Hospital Ball launched 6 years ago and published 104 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Hospital Ball?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Hospital Ball?

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What guests have appeared on Hospital Ball?

Recent guests on Hospital Ball include:

1. John Helm
2. Dipo Akinyemi
3. Gary Swann
4. Paul Stephenson
5. Paul Bowser
6. Jon Challinor
7. Gordon Staniforth
8. Ian Blackstone

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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