Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

Having both missed out on automatic qualification for the World Cup, England and Ireland each face the play-offs in the autumn! England may have beaten Ukraine, but got the game plan very wrong against the Spanish, who appeared to be wearing boots that magnetised the ball to their feet. In other seismic news, it looks like two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas is London City-bound! Chloe and...

Brighton put up a good fight but were ultimately blown away by Manchester City in the FA Cup Final. What’s more, Andrée Jeglertz’ team has been given a massive boost by Bunny Shaw announcing she’ll be staying! Could this be the start of a sky blue dynasty? While City fans celebrate, Arsenal fans have been left somewhere between shocked and fuming by Katie McCabe’s transfer to rivals Chelsea. It is...

Chloe and Rachel headed to The Valley to witness history: the first EVER WSL play-off to decide whether Leicester City would preserve their WSL status, or if it would be Charlton Athletic's time to shine in the top flight. As well as a pumping atmosphere, we speak to fans on both sides about their seasons, and hear from Chief Marketing Officer of WSL Football Ruth Hooper about this format and the...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Chloe and Rachel are back once again to round up the WSL season in the form of an awards show. Best player, best signing, “WTF” moment of the season – it’s all happening right here on Upfront. Will the takes be hot, lukewarm or ice cold? There’s only one way to find out… Follow us on X , Instagram , TikTok and YouTube ! Email us show@upfrontpod.com . For a...

At last, Man City got the job done! And they didn't even have to be on the pitch to seal their first WSL title in a decade. Chloe and Rachel look back on Manchester City's remarkable campaign and how they got the job done where so many other challengers have failed. But while they're triumphing on the pitch, we have some advice off of it: SIGN BUNNY SHAW UNTIL SHE'S 90!! Plus, we look at both FA C...

The Champions League title defence is over. It was one step too VAR for Arsenal. Sorry, blame Rach for that one. Chloe and Rachel react to Lyon's masterclass and moving perhaps one step closer to seeing Michele Kang without sunglasses. Meanwhile, Manchester City kept the title in their hands with last-gasp drama – was this the weekend that we saw the mentality of true champions? And we finally kno...

It's all happening at the moment. Chloe and Rachel strap in for a bumper pod, starting with Arsenal's massive first-leg win over Lyon – in part thanks to some chaotic defending and in part thanks to Olivia Smith's tenacity (even after a million fouls). Elsewhere, Brighton spoil Man City's title charge which somehow means the title race could go down to the final day. In the meantime, it looks like...

It may have been a “claggy” pitch in Iceland, and it may not have been a classic England performance, but a win is a win! And in the Lionesses’ 500th game, no less. Make no mistake, though, the Dóttirs are a force to be reckoned with. Chloe and Rachel also speak to journalist and German football expert Kit Holden about Union Berlin’s groundbreaking appointment of Marie-Louise Eta as the head coach...

Sazzy Wiegs’ England continue to make Wembley their fortress, battling their way to a 1-0 win over their old foe Spain. Lauren Hemp scored in the blink of an eye (Chloe’s calling it a “semi bicycle kick half-turn volley”) and Hannah Hampton was heroic at the death. Elsewhere, Katie McCabe can’t stop scoring for Ireland! After narrow defeats to France and the Netherlands, they managed to hold on to...

Fresh from their two-legged triumph at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League, Arsenal kept up their poor FA Cup form with a 2-0 defeat against Brighton. Chloe and Rachel praise Brighton and ask just why Arsenal can’t get the consistency to fight on multiple fronts. Elsewhere, it’s high time we take a closer look at the title race in WSL2 because it is HOT! We take you through all the permutation...

On a historic night for Chelsea, Rach heads down to Stamford Bridge to do something historic herself: get a Chelsea and an Arsenal fan to talk to each other! Join us as Rach sits down with members of both Chelsea Women Supporters Group and Arsenal Women Supporters Club. We also chat with AWSC's chair, Farah Chowdhury, and bring you the electric atmosphere at the Bridge from pitchside. Finally, Rac...

Man City might have two hands and a foot on the WSL trophy, but there is STILL a Chelsea pinky toe on there too. Lots of foot chat in this one, sorry everyone. Chloe and Rachel discuss the goals, the salty interviews, and that Kim Little tifo. Plus, Chloe gets disturbed by Rachel's leggings/jeggings and Rachel gets even more disturbed by Chloe comparing herself with Camilla. Stay tuned... Follow u...

Chloe’s spent most of this weekend preparing for her 35-minute stand up set at Rachel’s upcoming anniversary celebrations - join us for a preview of some opening few lines that definitely won’t make it to the microphone on the day. We also manage to recap a load of WSL action as an improving Aston Villa piled more misery on Leicester and The Bunny Shaw Show unveiled its latest magic trick: scoring...

There is only one way to celebrate St Patrick’s Day here at Upfront, and that’s getting Chloe Morgan to try and say a load of things in Irish with very mixed results. Chloe and Rachel tackle the League Cup final, which saw Sonia Bompastor pick up her fourth trophy! But why were Man United so flat? We discuss what’s behind their lack of belief. Plus, Liverpool get a huge win at the bottom to push L...

One of our favourite players in the WSL – a true baller and fashion icon – joins Chloe and Rachel in the studio today. It's Spurs star and Lioness, Jess Naz! We catch up with Jess on her recovery since injuring her ACL in December – the second of her career – and how she's drawing on that past experience to come back even stronger. We also get Jess's perspective on Spurs' record-breaking season, w...

As domestic football finally returns to our screens this weekend, Chloe and Rachel are not ready to leave international pastures just yet. They discuss the Lionesses' professional win against Iceland and how Lucy Bronze proved her value for this England team (like she ever needed to). Goal's lead women's football writer Ameé Ruszkai joins us to give the lowdown on all things Asian Cup, after the g...

We're on the road to the 2027 Brazil World Cup! And after 45 minutes of knocking the ball about, England hit the road in style. Chloe and Rachel look back on the Lionesses' 6-1 win over Ukraine, which featured some interesting personnel and some vintage Georgia Stanway. Plus, a stark reminder of why World Cup qualification is so hard this year, WAFCON gets officially postponed less than two weeks...

Today, we're joined by a star of the Wales national team and one of Clo's former teammates... it's Josie Green! Josie is 21 weeks into her pregnancy and reveals all about the realities of being a professional footballer while pregnant. She also opens up about a period of transition for the Wales National Team as they begin World Cup qualification – and what the squad listen to before EVERY game. Y...

Chloe and Rachel whizz through a bumper FA Cup weekend, where we saw a glimpse of the Chelsea we’re used to after their impressive win against Man United. A cracking Sam Kerr goal wasn’t a bad way to commemorate her 150th appearance, either! In other FA Cup business, we react to the news that next season’s controversial format changes have been delayed. Plus, we’re joined by Oxford United goalkeep...

Yes, Villa fans, we know you lost 7-3 at Villa Park... But PLEASE don’t start panicking about Natalia Arroyo. Everything’s fine, it was just a mad game... Elsewhere, we review a near-perfect week for Man United - even if Jim Ratcliffe seems intent on spoiling it. Plus, after the controversy around Eni Aluko this week, we chat about representation and inclusion within punditry across the women’s ga...

You think you've seen it all before, perched on top of the wobbly commentary gantry at the Chigwell Construction Stadium... and then West Ham deliver those last 10 minutes against Brighton. Chloe and Rachel saw all the drama in the flesh and reflect on it all. What a relegation battle we've got on our hands! But first off, there's the small matter of Arsenal beating the league leaders Manchester C...

Few people know the transfer market better than Claire Rafferty. In her role at TransferRoom, she's spoken to clubs all over Europe and beyond about what they want, who they want and (crucially) how much they want to pay or earn. Claire joins Chloe and Rachel to reveal what's really going on in the transfer market: from commercially-driven signings, to the ever-growing number of Scandinavian playe...

Chelsea have been well and truly dumped from their perch. Chloe and Rachel react to a remarkable game at the Etihad where Man City ran riot and Sonia Bompastor and her players were left stunned. We discuss the reaction among Chelsea circles and what's really behind their rapid demise from unbeaten WSL juggernauts. Elsewhere, Arsenal battle past Corinthians and their incredibly vibey fans – while R...

Today, we're joined by a true Chelsea and Wales legend. Rach sits down with Sophie Ingle to find out more about life at Bristol City since leaving west London last summer. They discuss Sophie's new perspective since returning from injury, how much she relishes the new challenge of WSL2, and her quiet style of leadership in dressing rooms throughout her career. Come join us! Follow us on X, Instagr...

More title race twists and turns in the WSL! Manchester City extended their lead at the top - despite a great performance from London City - while Rachel was dancing along to a brass band’s rendition of the Spice Girls and Chloe bumping into a two-time Ballon d’Or winner over a coffee. Just your usual afternoon at Bromley! Elsewhere, Arsenal impressed in their controlling win over Chelsea, Liverpo...