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Off the Ball Podcast

BBC Radio Scotland
Scottish Football
Scotland
World Cup
Scotland National Football Team
Comedy
Celtic Football Club
Aberdeen
BBC Radio Scotland
Celtic
Football
Celtic FC
Rangers Football Club
Junior Football
Women's Football
Rangers FC
VAR
Scottish Cup
Motherwell
Hearts
Dundee FC

Scottish football gets a kicking from BBC Radio Scotland’s Off the Ball, presented by Stuart Cosgrove and Tam Cowan.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes50Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for Off the Ball Podcast

Latest Episodes

The most petty and ill informed podcast in the world! All the best bits from the weeknd's Off the Ball shows in one place. As we build up to the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina we asked - World Cup 26 - what worked, what didn't; Iconic ph... more

The most petty and ill informed podcast in the world! World Cup semi-finals; What's in a name; League Cup; Trialists and Terracing Teaser. Film maker Ged Fitzsimmons and River City's Darren Brownlie and football analyst JJ Bull join Stuart Cosgrove a... more

The most petty and ill informed podcast in the world! Scotland: Where Are We Now? Your Big Break; What Does Mexico Mean To You? Cat XI and Terracing Teaser. Stuart Cosgrove and Tam Cowan are joined by Adam 'Old Firm Facts' Miller, Jake Sturgess and B... more

And just like that... it's all over! The most petty and ill informed podcast in the world reflects on Scotland's time at the World Cup. Scotland - the post-mortem; On-air ding dongs; Clarke's gone - who next? Could a dream team of Big Ange, John McGl... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Chris Bennett
Hammer thrower, Commonwealth Games participant
British Athletics / Athletics Scotland
Episode: World Cup 2026 - what worked, what didn't; Iconic photographs; Spotted in the strangest place; Commonwealth Games
Zander Murray
Scottish hammer thrower and Commonwealth Games athlete
Athletics Scotland / British Athletics
Episode: World Cup 2026 - what worked, what didn't; Iconic photographs; Spotted in the strangest place; Commonwealth Games
John Gordon Sinclair
Actor and public figure, Scotland supporter
Independent
Episode: World Cup 2026 - what worked, what didn't; Iconic photographs; Spotted in the strangest place; Commonwealth Games
Ged Fitzsimmons
Celtic fan, filmmaker, documentary subject
Celtic-related projects
Episode: World Cup semi-finals; What's in a name; League Cup; Trialists and Terracing Teaser
Darren Brownlie
Actor, performer, football fan
Theatre/TV
Episode: World Cup semi-finals; What's in a name; League Cup; Trialists and Terracing Teaser
Jake Sturgess
Young footballer who earned a big break to Juventus' Middle East academy network
Juventus (Youth Academy)
Episode: Scotland: Where Are We Now? Your Big Break; What Does Mexico Mean To You? Cat XI and Terracing Teaser
Tim Vickery
Brazil-based journalist and Latin American football expert
BBC/Viá (Brazilian Shirt Name Podcast)
Episode: Scotland: Where Are We Now? Your Big Break; What Does Mexico Mean To You? Cat XI and Terracing Teaser
Andy Halliday
Footballer and pundit, in-studio guest
None mentioned
Episode: Scotland: Where Are We Now? Your Big Break; What Does Mexico Mean To You? Cat XI and Terracing Teaser
Sanjeev Kohli
Actor/writer and broadcaster, co-host of the show
BBC/Off the Ball
Episode: World Cup Special Part2: Scotland Morocco Reaction; What Have Loved/Hated about World Cup So Far?

Hosts

Stuart Cosgrove
Host of Off the Ball podcast, BBC Scotland connections; long-established broadcaster and writer.
Tam Cowan
Co-host of Off the Ball; known for long-running presence and banter with hosts, strong Scottish media presence.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 878 ratings
  • The best show on the radio

    Excellent programme and has been for so many years

    I listen to it every week on the podcast as I work in USA thank god for technology!

    Keep it going lads

    Why have the BbC stopped because sounds to the rest of the world !!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Xfferdfytr
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • Sax

    even calling it topical now is a stretch and barely any football chat .

    Cowan In particular is well past his sell by date.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Katdaz7
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Rubbish

    Not really

    The best sports show around

    Looking forward to the reunification of the Dynamic Duo in the New Year

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TomasT321
    Ireland2 years ago
  • Waste of licence money

    Parochial , unfunny , biased and that’s the good bits

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    max dosage 5
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Love it

    The Patter is honking but never miss an episode , don’t know why they cut the length of it though ??

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    barry leitch
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show's banter and deep ties to Scottish football culture.
Audience enjoys guests who provide insider football stories and cultural commentary.
Some listeners feel the humor can be polarizing or biased toward certain clubs.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#75
Philippines/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#145
Ireland/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#169
New Zealand/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

World Cup semi-finals; What's in a name; League Cup; Trialists and Terracing Teaser
Q: What makes a great character for a documentary according to Darren Brownlie?
A great character is someone you can connect with, who has flaws and relatability, and who you'd actually want to have a drink with, as that combination makes them compelling on screen.
World Cup 2026 - what worked, what didn't; Iconic photographs; Spotted in the strangest place; Commonwealth Games
Q: What was your favorite game of the World Cup and why?
All panellists cited a mix of dramatic moments and tactical nuances, with Belgium vs Senegal and the Spain-Argentina dynamics standing out for drama, while some preferred matches with unexpected turns or strong defensive displays.
Scotland: Where Are We Now? Your Big Break; What Does Mexico Mean To You? Cat XI and Terracing Teaser
Q: What does Tim Vickery think about England's chances in Mexico at altitude?
He believes altitude is a real factor that requires adaptation, caution with deep-lying defense, and smart, energy-efficient play rather than chasing the game from the off.
Scotland Curacao; Gilmour Out - Fletcher In; Penalty Shootouts; Fictional Houses and Cash XI
Q: Chick, which interview with the late great Jock Stein was the most memorable for you and why?
Chick explains that interviewing Jock Stein was an extraordinary opportunity, recounting the vivid memory of Stein's presence and the impact of those conversations on his career.
Celtic pip Hearts to the League in dramatic final day decider
Q: What was it like when Lorne Shanklin opened the scoring?
Stuart and Craig described it as mental and absolutely crazy, highlighting the electric atmosphere and the shock of the moment.

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 Off the Ball Podcast

What is Off the Ball Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-running Scottish football chat show blends banter, nostalgia, and informed analysis. It features a rotating roster of guests including ex-players, broadcasters, comedians, actors, and culture figures, all anchored by two hosts known for their quick wit and banter. Episodes often touch on historic football eras, the Scottish game's culture and rivalries, behind-the-scenes broadcasting tales, and broader Scottish arts and entertainment moments, making the show both deeply football-focused and richly cultural. Noteworthy is its ability to mix serious football discussion with humor and light-hearted pop culture tangents, appealing to fans who enjoy both analysis and entertaining storytelling.

Where can I find podcast stats for Off the Ball Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Off the Ball Podcast. 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 Off the Ball Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Off the Ball Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for Off the Ball Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does Off the Ball Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Off the Ball Podcast 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 Off the Ball Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Off the Ball Podcast:

1. Scottish Football Podcast
2. Superscoreboard
3. Open Goal - Football Show
4. The Terrace Scottish Football Podcast
5. The Go Radio Football Show Podcast

How many episodes of Off the Ball Podcast are there?

Off the Ball Podcast launched 17 years ago and published 50 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 Off the Ball Podcast?

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 Off the Ball Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Off the Ball Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Off the Ball Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Off the Ball Podcast?

Recent guests on Off the Ball Podcast include:

1. Chris Bennett
2. Zander Murray
3. John Gordon Sinclair
4. Ged Fitzsimmons
5. Darren Brownlie
6. Jake Sturgess
7. Tim Vickery
8. Andy Halliday

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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