The Academy Of Football Podcast

In this episode TAOF Podcast's Kev chats to Geo Mackie, the legendary co-founder of the hugely popular West Ham United fan YouTube channel  @HammersChat  , who talks about how, despite being born and raised in Aberdeen, he became a lifelong Hammers fan and his early experiences of travelling up and down the country supporting them alongside his dad. Geo also talks about the origins of the Hammers...

In this episode TAOF Podcast's Kev chats to world renowned 'hyper real' spray can artist Dave Nash aka 'Gnasher' who, amongst other things has created some of the most iconic football murals over the years, including ones for West Ham such as the famous 'Long Live The Boleyn' and Billy Bonds / Sir Trevor Brooking murals in Upton Park, as well as more recently the ones featuring Carlton Cole, Julia...

In this episode TAOF Podcast's Kev chats to West Ham United's former Academy coach and now Pathways & Development Manager Mark Phillips about his love for club, both as a die hard fan growing up in Camberwell and then eventually working for the club as a coach on the academy side of things for the last 20 years. Amongst many things, Mark details how he became involved with West Ham&#39...

In this episode TAOF's Kev chats with Russ Budden, founder of the YouTube channel West Ham Network and the 'button monkey' West Ham DJ for the last 25 years. Russ talks about how he became a West Ham United fan, how the West Ham Network You Tube channel came into being as well as all the furore and fall-out over his very recent controversial departure from the club as the former Boleyn...

In this episode TAOF's Kev chats with Nicky Hawkins, another of West Ham Fan TV's co-founders and the OG of post football match chat, the renowned 'Post Match Pint'. Nicky shares his story of the birth of WHFTV's You Tube channel well over 10 years ago in a cafe in Wickford, with his concept that it should just be a no frills one camera vibe of being sat in the pub with himself, Ryan, Graham and S...

In this episode TAOF Podcast's Kev chats to award winning comedian, actress and lifelong die-hard West Ham United fan Jo Jarvie. No stone is left unturned in this episode, with Jo openly talking about all aspects of her life - what it was like growing up in South London, dealing with a mother suffering from psychosis, her own mental health battles along with a hugely impactful addiction to both dr...

In this episode TAOF Podcast's Kev chats to Arsenal fan, comedian, London cab driver and lifelong friend Aaron Courtnell aka The Crazy Ginger Cabbie. Aaron speaks fondly about his time as a kid in Hainault alongside Kev and the football rivalry and banter that were a big part of growing up together. On the football side of things, he talks about all things Arsenal, Mikel Arteta's micro man...

In this episode Kev chats to Dave about all things anti-depressants, with Dave talking in-depth about his experiences over the years being on and off of them, openly talking about the positive and negative aspects, as well as going into the realms of self-medication, be it via recreational or pharmaceutical means. #mentalhealth #mensmentalhealth #westham #westhamunited

Kicking off a new segment for The AOF Podcast, we have 'The Check In', where Kev Slade chats to the man behind the podcast's cameras and mics, Dave 'Legoman' Kidd about anything and everything in life.... basically checking in with each other. The primary aim is to openly discuss how they are feeling about day to day life, the past and the future, with a strong focus on mental health and wellbeing...

In this episode of The Academy Of Football Podcast, Kev is joined by former footballer, professional boxer and now BKFC bare knuckle fighter George 'Hit Hard' Hillyard. George reveals all about his past, from when he was having trials at West Ham United at 13, eventually choosing boxing over football, turning professional and signing a 15 million pound deal with boxing promoter Barry Hearn...

Ex-West Ham United Academy graduate Rob Hall joins TAOF Podcast's Kev to talk about his time at the club, having joined at the age of 7 in 2001 and coming up through the ranks, finally to making his Premier League debut in February 2013 against Fulham. Rob spent his time as an academy player whilst under a wide scope of West Ham managers : Glenn Roeder, Alan Pardew, Alan Curbishley, Gianfranco...

In this episode TAOF's Kev has a chat with West Ham Fan TV's co-founder Ryan Archer, where he reveals the origins of WHFTV's You Tube channel, the story behind his unwarranted stadium ban by West Ham United, the subsequent police prosecution that was thrown out of court and the effect all that had on him, plus his cameo as a detective in the upcoming cinema release 'Rise Of The Foo...

Ex-TOWIE star Ricky Rayment chats to The Academy Of Football Podcast's Kev about his obessesion with all things West Ham United, the highs and lows of the 2006 FA Cup & 2023 UEFA Conference League cup finals, the buzz of coming up with the Taty Castellanos terrace chant, what it was like to suffer alopecia, losing four close family members within the space of a couple of years along with his b...

This time round TAOF's Kev chats to musician Joseph J. Jones about his latest single 'You'll Never Take The East End', which he says is less of an anthem and more of a love letter to West Ham United. Joseph also shares his story of being a West Ham fan and how much the club means to him, whether the club will survive relegation from the Premier League to the Sky Bet Championship at...

In this episode Kevin is joined by Tracy Tombides to talk about her West Ham Academy star son, Dylan. Tracy speaks from the heart about many subjects she holds so close to her, including Dylan’s courage and zest for life he showed during his battle with Testicular cancer, his love for the game, her journey towards spirituality, and her passion & new purpose; spreading awareness for testicular...

Part 2 of Darren Blewitt’s explosive story! Released by West Ham, struggling to come to terms with life after Mark Noble’s testimonial, Addiction, Suicide attempts, suicide notes, and his long road to recovery! #westham #westhamunited #mensmentalhealth #academyfootball #footballpodcast #soccerpodcast #football #soccer Please follow all of our socials for more content: YOUTUBE : @theaof_podcast INS...

Part one of an exclusive two part episode, TOAF Podcast's Kevin Slade chats in depth with ex-West Ham United Academy graduate Darren Blewitt about his childhood, signing for the club and living the dream as a life long West Ham fan, his mental health and drug/alcohol addiction battles, and much much more! #westham #westhamunited #mensmentalhealth #academyfootball #footballpodcast #soccerpodcas...