Rephonic
Artwork for The Buff
Bolton Wanderers
League One
Football
Steven Schumacher
Bolton Wanderers FC
Wigan Athletic
Destinology
Transfer Window
Barnsley
Cardiff City
Lincoln City
Stockport County
Premier League
Bradford City
Blackpool
Port Vale
Huddersfield Town
FA Cup
EFL League One
Ian Evatt

Welcome to the The Buff, a Bolton Wanderers podcast from The Bolton News. On Thursday join chief football writer Marc Iles for a light-hearted look at the latest headlines, rumours, reaction, and some big-name guests. Before every game we bring you The First Word with the best of the pre-match press conference and a look at the key stats behind the game, and then after the final whistle we bring... more

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Artwork for The Buff

Latest Episodes

Welcome back to The Last Word...And the play-offs are in the bag.

Sure, it should probably have been three points and not just the one at Bradford, but the performance at Valley Parade was encouraging nevertheless.

We hear from Steven Schumacher ... more

Welcome to The First Word - Now in podcast and video form!

Join Marc Iles for a browse through the pre-match press conference as Wanderers head to play-off rivals Bradford City looking to cement their place in the top four.

We hear from Steven Sc... more

Welcome back to The Buff Podcast... And something has changed.

The Buff is now available as a video podcast AND an audio podcast. So you can see the faces Marc and Henry pull as they read out the Wanderers headlines.

Our brand new YouTube channel... more

Welcome back to The Last Word...And yet another late, late show!

Ibrahim Cissoko's 101st minute goal might have arrived too late for the Wanderers end-of-season awards ceremony shortlist, but it made for yet more drama at the Toughsheet as Steven S... 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

Steven Chicken
Journalist from We Are The Terriers
We Are The Terriers
Episode: The First Word - Bolton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town
Amario Cozier-Duberry
A Bolton Wanderers player returning from injury
Bolton Wanderers FC
Episode: The Last Word - Bolton Wanderers 5-1 Stevenage
Ruben Rodrigues
Midfielder
Bolton Wanderers FC
Episode: The First Word - Cardiff City v Bolton Wanderers
Tom Cleverley
Former Manchester United midfielder, Plymouth press conference participant
England / Bolton Wanderers (player)
Episode: The Last Word - Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Bolton Wanderers
Dan Barnes
Journalist asking questions at training ground
Episode: The First Word - Plymouth Argyle v Bolton Wanderers
Fergal Harkin
Club official guest at the Q&A
Bolton Wanderers
Episode: BWFCST 10th anniversary: Steven Schumacher and Fergal Harkin Q&A
Chris Forino
Defender for Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers FC
Episode: The First Word - Port Vale v Bolton Wanderers
Max Conway
Bolton Wanderers player
Bolton Wanderers FC
Episode: The Last Word - Rotherham United 2-2 Bolton Wanderers
Ruben Rodríguez
Player, Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers
Episode: The Last Word - Bolton Wanderers 3-2 Wycombe Wanderers

Hosts

Marc Iles
Host of The Buff Podcast; Bolton News chief football writer (and variations of this role in several listings)
Henry Hewitt
Co-host; Bolton Wanderers fan providing transfer and fan-perspective insights

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 271 ratings
  • Great Bolton Podcast

    As a Bolton ex pat who can’t get to games ,I really appreciate all the work put into this Podcast. Highly recommended thanks Marc and Henry .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Higgitto
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • The Buff

    Excellent pod cast for Wanderers fans.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Simon Haslam
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • A Dose Of Bolton

    Great to hear those accents from afar. Best way to keep in touch with the Wanderers happenings. If I only understood the in-jokes on some of the songs. Used to be a newspaper!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MoorShade
    United States5 months ago
  • Great for keeping you in the loop

    Perfect for Bolton fans everywhere to keep yourself up to date. The added last word segments are great too for scratching that itch after the games - great to get second opinion from them. Keep up the good work Marc, Henry and the occasional Russ!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michael Herschel
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Mixu Paatelianen

    Was listening along to a recent episode with my partner and Henry made a subtle reference to Mixu’s alternative career so naturally. For that reason alone, it’s worthy of a 5⭐️ review

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MervPandev
    United Kingdom7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The podcast is viewed as a go-to for dedicated Wanderers supporters, offering consistency and engaging guest input.
Fans appreciate the banter and feel part of a community, often mentioning the hosts' personalities.
Some listeners note the humor can veer into cheeky or lighthearted territory, but remains endearing to fans.
Listeners praise the podcast for being informative and entertaining, with balanced analysis and strong local flavor.
The show is described as a reliable source for latest Wanderers news and post-match reactions, with occasional humor and fan-centric segments.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#150
United Kingdom/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#229
Australia/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#175
Ireland/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#238
New Zealand/Sports/Soccer

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Last Word - Bolton Wanderers 5-1 Stevenage
Q: What stood out most about the performance tonight?
The general level of positivity, energy, and willingness to take risks in wide areas, plus Amario Cozier-Duberry's return and impact.
The Last Word - Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Bolton Wanderers
Q: Tom Cleverley, incredibly disappointing result this afternoon. What were your thoughts?
He acknowledged the difficulty of breaking down a ten-man Bolton side, emphasised the need to be cleaner with the ball after the red card, and highlighted Bolton's organised defensive shape and the quality of their counter-attacks in the second half.
The Last Word - Reading 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Q: Is there still the belief and confidence?
I don't think there's an alternative; I think there is only one option—to believe in that.
The Last Word - Reading 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Q: How do you see it now from here on in?
Just focus on ourselves. Try and be as consistent as we can be. We're almost at eight unbeaten now.
The Last Word - Reading 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Q: Steven, you've picked up a point at Reading, but you must be frustrated that it wasn't three.
A little bit, yeah, because I think the performance deserved three points, so the lads played really well.

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 The Buff

What is The Buff about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers a light-hearted, football-focused look at Bolton Wanderers with a mix of match analysis, pre- and post-game reactions, and listener-driven banter. Episodes frequently blend tactical discussion, player form, and behind-the-scenes club chatter with humorous anecdotes and fan emails, all delivered in a casual, club-flavored tone. A notable strength is the consistent pairing of two hosts with a rotating guest slate that includes managers, players, journalists, and local club figures, creating timely insights around promotion races, fixtures, and transfer news. The format supports sponsor moments and local business tie-ins, while the light, opinionated banter keeps it accessible for long-time supporters and newcomers alike; the s... more

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How many episodes of The Buff are there?

The Buff launched 6 years ago and published 106 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 The Buff?

Recent guests on The Buff include:

1. Steven Chicken
2. Amario Cozier-Duberry
3. Ruben Rodrigues
4. Tom Cleverley
5. Dan Barnes
6. Fergal Harkin
7. Chris Forino
8. Max Conway

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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