America the Beautiful Game

We talk to performance guru Darren Burgess. Currently leading Juventus having spent time with Arsenal, Liverpool and the AFL, we talk to Darren about advances in elite performance management, what different sports can learn from each other and excitement at the World Cup. He gives insights from his time at Arsenal, the joy of working in sport and how the role of head of performance really function...

We talk refs today. I sit down with Erich Simmons, head of refereeing at PRO2, and we discuss refereeing, how the game has changed in America and recruiting and training new refs. We discuss referee abuse and social media, sending off Tony Meola ahead of bobblehead night and changes to the laws. It’s a bit different but a chance to humanise the men and women in the middle.

In a rare crossover episode, we combine American the Beautiful Game and United States of Dramerica and talk about football while drinking whisky. The guest is Danny Stone, head coach of Orange County Soccer Club. He drinks a Glenlivet 15 and we talk about the impact of the World Cup in America, his coaching strengths and weaknesses and his love for the game here in the States. We talk about his fa...

We talk to the hugely impressive Peter Moore about his transition from CEO of the mighty Liverpool to founding Santa Barbara Sky in the USL Championship. He talks about the growth of opportunities in America, building a club from scratch and the importance of community whatever the size of the team. Peter explains why he and his wife wanted to undertake this opportunity, what Santa Barbara has to...

We talk to Andrew Fox, Orange County Soccer Club defender and legendary trivia figure. We talk about his unconventional journey to the USL, playing non-league in England, college scholarship in Texas, back to the English Football League before back to America. We also talk about his red card for Grimsby Town against Crystal Palace - the first player in the UK to be sent off following a VAR review....

We talk to soccer ticketing consultant Jim McCarthy. We talk about why top football teams aren’t better at ticketing, the Messi and Caitlin Clark impacts in American sport and how Championship teams in England have their models wrong. We discuss stadium seating areas, why ticketing is important and how he has turned bagel knowledge to Goldstar tickets to football.

We talk to former flying winger Gareth Ainsworth about his playing and managerial career. He tells us about his literal baptism of fire at Wimbledon, what he learned there about culture and how he models himself on Diego Simeone. Gareth talks about his desire to manage in the US, the away dressing room at Accrington Stanley and why Ryan Reynolds made such a brave choice at Wrexham. We cover promot...

We talk to entrepreneur Simon Leslie who took the plunge and bought himself a non-league team. He talks about transforming the business into a media company, bringing in celebrities and overcoming fan resistance. Simon explains why he’s in it for the long haul, changing the badge and firing the manager and trying to bring some aspects of American sport to the National League South. He tells us abo...

I talk to Sacramento Republic boss Ashley Horsley. We talk about the excitement of running a soccer team, what a non-sports job can teach you about sports and what an Open Cup run do for a team. We talk about women in sport, the public nature of the job and trying to conduct a business conversation during a match. Data in sport, cheering the front office team up after a loss and growing the team i...

Today is Open Cup day and we speak to Cody Copper, former US Youth and MLS keeper now plying his trade for Orange County Soccer Club. He talks about the magic of the cup, returning to an MLS stadium and why the USL is such a growing league. He tells us about his time in England with Ipswich and Southampton, having bags of urine thrown at him in Guatemala and why America crowds are meaner to goalke...

We talk to ex-player and now leading commentator and analyst Devon Kerr. Together we reminisce about Orange County's 2021 USL Championship victory, the growth of the US game and how much the young American player's experience abroad has changed. We talk about cherishing victories, emotionless commentary and deep research. Devon tells us about his time playing in Germany, training with gr...

We talk to the hilarious and fascinating Mark Donaldson, long-time ESPN commentator. We talk to editing radio with a knife, the first team ever to beat the New York Cosmos and writing four sports books. He tells us about his love for Hearts, the importance of Succession to the club’s growth, covering American sports as a Scotsman and who will be the next USMNT coach. Fun, fascinating and nostalgic...

We talk to LA Times soccer writer Kevin Baxter. We talk the battle for LA supremacy, the rise and fall of LA Galaxy and his love of Manchester City - and his car. He tells us about his reluctant move away from baseball reporting, how his wife shamed into improving his soccer coverage and the use of statistics in covering sports. We talk World Cups, women’s football and America’s chances in 2026. A...

We talk to the effervescent Adam Richman, former host of Man vs Food and a true football lover. He tells us why he chose Spurs, why he bought shares in Grimsby and why he is the shirt sponsor of charity football side Broadley FC. We go deep into fandom, growth of the game in America and why he gets trolled for ten year old tweets about West Ham. Adam assesses America’s World Cup chances, talks abo...

We talk to legendary AFC Wimbledon Commercial Director Ivor Heller. He talks about the franchising of the club, his involvement from day one and why he fell in love with Wimbledon. He describes the chance sponsorship deal with Football Manager, the extraordinary relationship with American influencer John Green and the broad appeal of the club well beyond the usual League 1/2 reach. Ivor tells us a...

We talk to ex-player, entrepreneur and now Teqball CEO Ajay Nwosu. He explains what Teqball is, why David Beckham loves it and how the best women can beat international male players. He tells us how many MLS, Premier League and even NHL clubs use it and the work he is doing to get the sport into the 2028 Olympics. Ajay tells us about his short playing career, his move to the US and rates his own T...

We talk to British veteran broadcaster Adrian Healey. He talks about his time calling games for the New England Revolution, ESPN and now Austin FC. We talk about the birth of MLS, PKs vs penalties and the importance and joy of supporting League 2 clubs. We also cover home vs neutral commentary, monitors vs live games and celebrity ownership. Adrian talks about the US’ World Cup chances, the growth...

We talk to former pro footballer, technical director at Stoke City and now the USL’s Sporting Director. We talk about the potential of the league’s young players, the record breaking transfer of teenage sensation Kobi Henry to France and a possible move of the USL to the European calendar. Mark talks about winning a college national championship, the potential of the US winning the next World Cup...

I talk to actor, writer, producer and transatlantic football fan Jim Piddock. Jim tells us about attending the first ever Galaxy game (with an actor on the bench), the first LAFC game and how much American soccer has moved on since those early days. He talks about the impact of the Premier League, how clubs like Palace are now universally recognized and how Ted Lasso is strengthening the brand of...

Statistics, data and innovation in sport. We talk to Sanjit Atwal, the co-founder of award-winning agency Halfspace. We discuss data-led marketing in sport, how far behind the industry is compared to e-commerce and how he is trying to change that. Sanjit defines a 'sports fan', the importance of authentic sponsorships and the growth opportunities for both brands and rights holders. We di...

We talk to Orange County Soccer Club defender Rob Kiernan. The former Rangers, Watford and Wigan player talks about making the transition to the US, his memories of playing at Ibrox and helping the next generation of young US players. Rob talks about the quality of the youth system in the UK, what he learned as a youth at Watford and doing the extra "1%s" that make a difference. He remem...

We talk to former Burnley, West Brom, Ipswich and Southampton midfielder Richard Chaplow. Now interim head coach at Orange County SC of the USL, the former England U-21 international talks about taking the reins in California, transitioning from team captain to coaching and why he moved to the US. He talks about the fine system in British dressing rooms, Gazza playing tricks on the manager at Burn...

We talk to Paul Hardyman, on secondment with Orange County SC from Rangers.  He compares youth development in the US and in the UK, talks about the key lessons for young players and why he's taken on the challenge of working in the USL. Paul's talks about being told he wouldn't make it by his career advisor at school and then going on and playing for England U-23s and even appearing...

We talk to Richard Hyde, the British Consul General based in Texas. A keen Liverpool fan, he talks about England's defeat to Italy, the racism that followed the game but then the outpouring of support that followed. We talk about poorly-behaved England fans, how much better things are nowadays and the risks of social media giving a voice to those who don't deserve it. He talks about his...

We talk to former Danish World Cup player Thomas Enevoldsen about his team-mate Christian Eriksen, what it was like to watch him collapse and see his countrymen play so soon afterwards. He tells about Champions League football, playing in a World Cup and playing without fans. Thomas talks about US football, why he loves Orange County and his regrets at not coming to America earlier in his career.