The Throstle Club

Paddy Mulligan is the guest of Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing on the May 2026 edition of The Throstle Club. The Throstle Club is a programme produced by  Black Country Radio  Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters...

Our studio guests are well known Albion fans: Dave Knott and Ian Ward. The Throstle Club is a programme produced by  Black Country Radio  Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters of the club.

Our studio guests are well known former Albion players Ally Roberston and Joe Mayo. The Throstle Club is a programme produced by  Black Country Radio  Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters of the club.

Our studio guests are well known former Albion player Andy Johnson and Gurdial Singh of the Albion Foundation. February 2026. The Throstle Club is a programme produced by  Black Country Radio  Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscenc...

The January 2026 episode features former Walsall and West Bromwich Albion (1956-1973) player Stan Jones and Geoff Snape of the WBA Former Players' Association.  The Throstle Club is a programme produced by  Black Country Radio  Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring intervi...

The December 2025 episode with Norman Bartlam, Bob Downing and Billy Spakemon. The Throstle Club is a programme produced by  Black Country Radio  Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters of the club.

The Albion Shilling Fund. How local newspapers organized a fund to safeguard the future of West Bromwich Albion in 1905.

Herville Hector, a former well-known referee in the West Midlands, is our guest on this edition of the programme. November 2025. The Throstle Club is a programme produced by  Black Country Radio  Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminisc...

Our studio guest is well known BBC Radio WM commentator/ reporter Steve Hermon who talks to Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. October 2025.

Happy 125th Anniversary to The Hawthorns! Albion's official historian Dave Bowler talks about the history of The Hawthorns and Steve Carr chats about Albion's previous homes. The Throstle Club is a programme produced by  Black Country Radio  Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion...

Nick Owen, of BBC Midlands Today, looks back to his days of covering West Bromwich Albion for BBC Radio Birmingham, and talks about the exciting football he has commentated on over the years - and occasionally also mentions Luton Town!  The Throstle Club is a programme produced by  Black Country Radio  Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back...

Our guests are Dawn and Larraine Astle. Dawn talks about her MBE and the Jeff Astle Foundation, July 2025

Today’s guests are Alan Gill and Jill Barker The Throstle Club is a programme produced by  Black Country Radio  Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters of the club.

New Albion coach Ryan Mason has a name which is an occupation, so can we come up with a team of players based on job titles?   Miller and Carter will do for starters (even though its not a restaurant chain!)

Bob Downing and guest Alan Gill discuss the appointment of Ryan Mason as Head Coach at West Bromwich Albion

Today's guest is Chris Everiss

The Throstle Club programme 25 Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing look back on events and happenings from West Bromwich Albion’s history from the month of April and reminisce about the Sports Argus.  This programme was first broadcast on Black Country Radio Xtra in April 2025. 

An all star Albion line-up selected on Grand National related puns- including  Jockey Wallace, Andy National Hunt and Pony Brown, all managed by Pepe Melling Road.

Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing look back on events and happenings from West Bromwich Albion’s history from the month of March. Our studio guest is long serving Albion fan Dave Howson. This programme was first broadcast on Black Country Radio Xtra in March 2025.

Our studio guest is former referee Paul Rejer, from Tipton, who talks about his career. Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing look back on events and happenings from the month of January in Albion's history.  January 2025.

A pun-tastic WBA team based on beer related names. Will John Swift-Half, Barrel Burgess and Ale-stair Robertson get into our pub related line-up?

The Throstle Club is a programme produced by Black Country Radio Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly broadcast which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters of the club.  Today's  guests are Paul Roberts of the WBA Tipton Supporters' Club and Pete Hill and his mate...

Our studio guest is long serving Albion fan and former club director Mike O'Leary. Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing look back on events and happenings from West Bromwich Albion’s history from the month of November. This programme was first broadcast on Black Country Radio Xtra in November 2024.

Our studio guest is long serving Albion fan Vaughan Williams who watched his first Albion game in 1956. Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing look back on events and happenings from West Bromwich Albion's history from the month of October. This programme was first broadcast on Black Country Radio Xtra in October 2024.

Our guest today is Mark 'Bamber' Gascoigne, a life long Albion fan and former kitman at West Bromwich Albion. The programme is recorded at and first broadcast on   Black Country Radio  Xtra and is presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminisc...