The VERSUS Podcast

David Beckham's eagerly anticipated documentary has finally dropped. From that red card to his high fashion era, Beckham has always been the centre of attention. The VERSUS team breaks down the significance of this documentary and why football docs are increasingly present in the modern game. We also have our first ever 'Ask The Admin’, in which we discuss the Premier League's growing competitiven...

Some of the most influential ballers and artists of this generation have come from South of the River. The VERSUS team took over size? Brixton for an inspirational conversation about the impact of 'Concrete Catalonia' with our very own Mayowa Quadri chopping it up alongside Arsenal and England young baller Bradley Ibrahim, author Aniefiok 'Neef' Ekpoudom, and Brixton royalty Cristale. This podcast...

AC Milan and Off-White just dropped their off-pitch collection for a second consecutive season, elevating the world of football and fashion yet again. The VERSUS team breaks down the significance of their partnership and how it can inspire other clubs. We also look at the week’s other biggest talking points off-pitch, including Leah Williamson’s landmark speech at the UN and what the WSL will look...

EA Sports FC 24 has finally launched on PlayStation 5, marking one of the biggest moments in the football culture calendar. The VERSUS team breaks down the significance of the rebrand and the introduction of women’s players into Ultimate Team. We also look at some of the biggest talking points off-pitch including the mental health of major Premier League players, the importance of Saka, Son and Ez...

Football’s journey to become a safe and inclusive space for all fans is far from over. Last month the game saw the biggest-ever Women’s World Cup take place in Australia and New Zealand, a tournament that saw dozens of ‘out’ players take centre stage and showcase not only their elite skills but the power of championing queer identities. The women’s game has traditionally been far more inclusive of...

There has never been any room for racism in football – but the climate in Spain’s top flight has become progressively worse. The VERSUS team discusses Viní Jr's latest racial abuse ordeal and how change can be achieved. We also break down the most important topics in football culture including adidas and Prada's innovative new boot collaboration, and why Newcastle United’s UCL qualification is a g...

Whilst the end of the season is approaching, preparation for the next campaign has already started with the world’s biggest teams dropping their new kits for 23/24. The VERSUS team explores the trends in jersey culture that have got the streets talking, and how football shirts keep on evolving. We also break down the most important topics in football culture including Mental Health Awareness Week...

The Premier League has officially unveiled its Hall of Fame class for 2023 – but what should be one of the most significant cultural moments in the football calendar feels like a missed opportunity. The VERSUS team looks at why the PL should turn to the NBA for some inspiration in how to honour legends the right way. We also break down the most important stories in football culture from the last w...

Leah Williamson is the latest global star in the women’s game to be sidelined by an ACL injury. The VERSUS team looks at what her absence from the Women’s World Cup means for England and the wider culture, and why this is an epidemic that can’t be ignored any longer. We also break down the most important stories in football culture from the last week, including Daniel Levy’s argument for the WSL t...

After the Premier League finally voted to ban gambling brands as front-of-shirt sponsors, the VERSUS team looks at why this decision really matters and what comes next in football’s fight against exploitation. We also look at football’s most important culture stories of the last week including Dave’s new link-up with EA SPORTS FC, why Dide presents an important conversation about football’s relati...

After Eberechi Eze became the latest young baller to collaborate on his own signature boot with New Balance, the VERSUS team connects to take a look at what NB are doing right and what other sports brands can learn from their athlete strategy. We also look back at some of the most important social and cultural stories of the week including Ian Wright’s latest community venture, how the media needs...

Calum Jacobs is a writer, editor, designer, community-connector (and undercover chef) from South London who draws on sociology, history, culture and football to explore Black British life. The founder of CARICOM Magazine – an independent publication and online platform which explores the intersection between football and the Black experience – Calum has recently seen the critically acclaimed paper...

Eddie Hearn is one of the biggest innovators in modern sport. From building his athletes into powerhouse names in culture, pioneering women’s boxing with Katie Taylor, and leaving behind traditional broadcasters to strike global deals with streaming giants – there’s a lot of layers to his story that football can learn from. Having served as vice-chairman of Leyton Orient during his father’s spell...

Jamaican football is making history on the world stage. Whilst their new kit with adidas – designed in collaboration with Wales Bonner – represents a groundbreaking cultural moment, we shouldn’t forget how the women’s national team is making history on the pitch. After becoming the first Caribbean nation to qualify for a Women’s World Cup in 2019, the Reggae Girlz are going back-to-back with an ap...

The Black diaspora’s influence on football cannot be understated. Whilst on pitch achievements in the men’s game are clear for all to see, inclusivity across the football landscape isn't as apparent. Following on from Nike’s latest FM Broadcast, VERSUS has teamed up with the Swoosh on a special ‘The Future of Football’ podcast episode to discuss Black inclusivity in football, and how we can all pl...

Eddie Nketiah chats with writer and fellow South Londoner, Aniefiok ‘Neef’ Ekpoudom, fresh from fronting a new partnership between VERSUS and C.P. Company. While now finding success in different fields, both men first found their love of football playing for Hillyfielders FC as young boys in Lewisham. Together, they discuss how grassroots football shaped their development as people, not just playe...

The World Cup is a unique celebration of global culture. While this year's tournament is the subject of controversy, we brought back some joy to the forefront of football by looking back at the colour and vibrancy of jersey culture and rating the greatest football x fashion collabs of all-time. The night was hosted by hometown heroes Mason Collective – the underground kings of Manchester's music s...

From Wrighty's gold tooth and unapologetic sense of self to Thierry Henry's ice cold ability, Black joy has existed within the Premier League throughout the years. To celebrate some of the most iconic Black players in Premier League history, VERSUS took over the size? store in Bristol's vibrant city centre to celebrate players past and present alongside the impact they've made on and off-pitch. Th...

On the back of a historic summer for the women’s game, the new WSL season is looking to be the biggest and most significant domestic season of all-time. We have some of the world’s best clubs going toe-to-toe for the title in Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United; talents like Ella Toone, Fran Kirby and Leah Williamson have become cultural icons; and more games are set to be played at major stadi...

We need to make football a safe and inclusive space for everyone. On the back of Jake Daniels becoming the first pro player in England to come out as gay for over 30 years, a landmark Women’s Euros tournament that showed us what LGBTQIA+ inclusivity can look like on the pitch and on the terraces, and Rainbow Laces campaigns becoming a permanent fixture in the calendar – it feels like football is m...

Skepta has just become the first ever music artist to collaborate with Nike on a signature football boot, breaking down another barrier between culture and the beautiful game. From Mason Greenwood coming up clutch with it on the pitch, to Dave featuring heavily in its marketing, the Nike Phantom Sk is one of the most powerful examples yet of cultural convergence in football and could be the start...

Fresh from securing the most important dub of his career as the ePremier League champion, Manchester City’s eSports pro Shellz meets the VERSUS team to breakdown his story from sixth-form student to one of the best FIFA players on the planet. After picking up $60,000 in his first ever tournament, Shellz has since cemented himself as one of the world’s most successful and popular eSports FIFA pros....

The VERSUS team break down the future of boot deals and take a closer look at football’s “brand wars”, following a string of big money moves from the game’s biggest players. New Balance just levelled up and signed the Premier League’s biggest starboy in Bukayo Saka, PUMA shocked the world last year when they broke the bank to bring Neymar to the Big Cat, Nike are shaping up for a new era with Kyli...

In episode three, Corey and Mayowa speak with Maggie Murphy – General Manager of Lewes FC – to find out more about the amazing work the football club is doing to champion equality at every level of its organisation. The club is famous for being the world’s only semi-pro or professional side to pay its men’s and women’s teams the same wage, but that is only one of the ways Lewes FC is showing the b...

In episode two, Corey and Mayowa are joined by Jordan Henderson, one of the most influential leaders in the game, to speak about the new responsibility football players are embracing to make the world a better place. 2020 was the year where pro ballers stood up, made their voice heard, and took action to improve the lives of the people they represent. From Marcus Rashford’s food poverty campaign t...