Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

After the release of Deloitte’s first ever money league table for women’s football, we call up CEO of Lewes FC Maggie Murphy to talk through the findings and understand the broader commercial landscape of the game. How do we grow the game, but also keep up with it? Maggie sheds light on what it’s like to run a Championship women’s team in the new post-Euros boom, the growing financial rift between...

Lads, it’s not Barbados. Chloe and Rachel react to a bizarre weekend as a ‘playable’ pitch turns world-class footballers into figure skaters.  Elsewhere, Manchester United stay ice cold, we ask whether Spurs have found their game-changer (AGAIN) after a huge signing, and Chloe explains why continuity is proving to be king at Aston Villa.  We’re back on Thursday with a special episode wit...

Chloe, Rachel and Crystal Palace’s Leigh Nicol react to the return of the WSL! Leicester come back with a bang, but it took Chelsea 89 minutes to realise it was happening to be honest… In the second half of the show, Leigh talks us through her ongoing experience of endometriosis, which Leah Williamson recently revealed almost prevented her from playing at the Euros. For Leigh, it’s not only jeopar...

We’re back! Chloe and Rachel are joined by Ceylon Andi Hickman to kick off 2023 with a bang and with some huuuuge transfers. We discuss the end of an era for two Lionesses. And as Vivianne Miedema begins the year on the physio’s table, we return to the issue of ACL injuries and what can be done. Plus, the WSL’s two old enemies meet this weekend and we offer our stories and players to watch for 202...

To wrap up 2022, today we’re keeping it real. Chloe and Rachel look back on an enthralling weekend in the WSL and ask whether we have a four-way title race in store in 2023. A host of our contributors this year also drop by as we share some of our favourite moments of this year (apparently something happened at Wembley) and draw up our list of New Year’s resolutions. **We’ll be back on January 10t...

A few days after Chelsea score eight, Chloe and Rachel are joined by former Chelsea, England and Team GB legend Claire Rafferty - funny that! They discuss the WSL’s big teams all racking up big wins and, as midtable sides like West Ham and Tottenham struggle for consistency, we wonder if some structural changes in English football would produce more exciting matches across the season. Got a questi...

Join Chloe and Rachel for a slightly different episode this week as we look into the alarming rate of ACL injuries across women’s football and what can be done to help those players affected. We speak to Dr Emma Ross, a female athlete health specialist, to understand why women are up to six times more likely to suffer an ACL injury than their male counterparts. We’re then joined by Aston Villa mid...

The WSL put on a cracking set of fixtures this week, as Man United stole three points from under Arsenal’s noses at the Emirates - Chloe Morgan vindicated! She’s joined by Rachel and freelance journalist Tim Stillman to look over that game, welcome Emma Hayes back to the Chelsea dugout in front of their record-breaking crowd and look ahead to the Champions League’s return! Got a question for us? T...

Chloe and Rachel are joined by Dulwich Hamlet centre-back Ceylon Andi Hickman after Sarina Wiegman n’ co extended their unbeaten streak to 25 games! Just the 123 goals scored in that run, no big deal. We look over the Lionesses’ win against Japan before focusing on issues of diversity and inclusion within women’s football after Beth Mead’s recent comments. Ceylon talks about a lack of access to op...

We did say, Man United: if you come for the kings, you best not miss. Unfortunately they did, while Chelsea emphatically did not - the Blues' 3-1 win at the weekend reminded us of the difference between title contenders and hopefuls. Chloe and Rachel are joined by Rachel's wife & GirlsontheBall co-founder Sophie Downey to look over that, a chaotic nine-goal thriller at West Ham and the women's...

Chloe, Rachel and Jessy Parker Humphreys head to the studio to discuss the WSL’s first managerial casualty, as Hope Powell leaves Brighton after their poor start. We wonder where it’s all gone wrong and what Brighton can expect next. We also check in with another cracking Arsenal week - even if Jonas Eidevall has found something to moan about - and we look ahead to this weekend’s seismic clash bet...

Rachel and Chloe are joined by journalist Jessy Parker-Humphreys to celebrate England's inevitable rise to Champions League glory after Arsenal's crushing win over Lyon. YES WE SAID IT. Okay, maybe a touch premature. After great weeks for Arsenal and Chelsea, we turn our attention to the NWSL playoffs. We're joined by Jeff Kassouf, founder of The Equalizer and ESPN contributor, to discuss a wild p...

Chloe and Rachel are joined by DAZN’s Alex Ibaceta to look over the latest from the WSL and around the continent. Man City’s 4-0 win has garnered little sympathy for boss Gareth Taylor, while West Ham’s win over Aston Villa was overshadowed by some nasty afters! Elsewhere, we welcome the start of another Beth Mead Revenge Tour after missing out on the Ballon d’Or and we look ahead to the Champions...

For the first time in five and a half years, England beat the USA on Friday night! But was it the game-changing victory it’s being made out to be? Chloe and Rachel are joined by Jessy Parker Humphreys to discuss an enthralling game that leaves more questions than it does answers. Plus, Wales, Scotland and Ireland decide their World Cup fate tonight. And while England and USA came together on Frida...

Chloe and Rachel are joined by a legend of the game on today's episode as we welcome former Chelsea, England and Team GB full-back, Claire Rafferty!  We discuss Conti Cup upsets galore and preview England's clash with the USA this weekend. We also look into the hugely damning report around sexual harassment and bullying in US women's soccer, with gross misconduct found across all levels of th...

At last weekend's record-breaking North London derby, Rachel hosted an episode of Upfront alongside Arsenal FC and INMOTION in front of a live audience. Join her as she sat down with Lucy Monkman - aka Monki - and Arsenal-mad content creator Bella Andrewartha to assess the state of women's football. We reminisce about an incredible summer and dig into ways we can capitalise on the unprecedented mo...

After a few blockbuster WSL derbies this weekend, Chloe and Rachel pick through the highlights alongside Football Beyond Borders and Dulwich Hamlet’s own, Ceylon Andi Hickman! We then look into the unprecedented - and alarming - situation over in Spain, where fifteen national team players have removed themselves from contention around the coach and team culture. Also, Ceylon gives us some more inf...

Chloe and Rachel are joined by women’s football journalist Jessy Parker Humphreys to look back on the WSL’s opening weekend - and what a bloody weekend it was! Liverpool proved how stubborn a test they’ll prove for the big dogs after beating Chelsea, while Arsenal and Man United impressed. Elsewhere, Man City’s loss to The Rachel Daly Experience bring more questions about the future of Gareth Tayl...

There was no WSL this weekend, but Chloe, Rachel and former Spurs and Watford defender Renee Hector are here to get stuck into a whole host of stories! They chew over what Keira Walsh’s transfer means for Man City's season, while Rachel tells us about the vibes in Ireland as they stand on the brink of the World Cup.  Renee also opens up about suffering racist abuse from a fellow player in 201...

The WSL is almost upon us! Chloe and Rachel are joined by Spurs legend Jenna Schillaci to provide your definitive lowdown on every club’s summer business and how things are going to shake out this season. Can anyone break Chelsea’s monopoly? Why will this season see the WSL’s tightest ever relegation battle? And who are the hidden gems you should be looking out for this weekend? We plant our flagp...

We’re back! Flo Lloyd-Hughes, Rachel O’Sullivan and Chloe Morgan reunite for a special Crystal Palace homecoming for Chloe in their very first home game at the Hayes Lane Stadium since her retirement. They discuss life for a player post-retirement and the buzz around one of the most exciting clubs in the Championship after the Euros. We also hear from Palace players Felicity Gibbons, Annabel Blanc...

An important message about the future of Football Ramble Presents and our brand new Upfront feed! **Liked our Euros content? Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other listeners to find us in the new season. Thanks!** Upfront is your definitive women's football podcast, covering the...

IT HAPPENED PEOPLE! After an almighty tussle with Germany, England – at last – lifted their first major tournament in 56 years.  Flo, Chloe and Rachel pick themselves up from the floor and congregate on Wembley Way to hail England’s history-makers. From Ella Toone’s dink, to Jill Scott’s iconic sledging, the girls relive one of the greatest nights in the history of English football. There’s a...

History beckons for England. Flo, Chloe and Rachel pick through what will be a huge occasion on Sunday night, but what will most of all be a mouthwatering battle between the two best teams of the tournament. From the key battles, to both teams’ routes to the final, to some scarring past meetings – we cover everything you need to know ahead of England vs Germany. Join us! Got a question for us? Twe...

Flo, Rachel and Chloe have just about composed themselves after two cracking semi-finals, where Germany edged out France and England smashed Sweden in Sheffield. We're here to get stuck into it all: Alessia Russo's backheel, that Alexandra Popp masterclass and the end of France's blistering tournament.  Join us on Saturday for our preview of the final! Got a question ahead of the game? Tweet...