Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

We've got a slightly different episode of Upfront to round off the year as Flo, Rachel and Chloe sit down for a conversation about sexuality, openness and acceptance within women's football. The game has always been a safe space of inclusivity and acceptance for those on the pitch, in the stands and in the press box. We chat about our experiences within that sphere and what can be done to further...

On today's Ramble Meets... we're joined by a household name and one of modern's football's polymaths: it's Galatasaray and Netherlands forward, Ryan Babel! Ryan sits down with Andy to recap a diverse career that's taken him to Turkey, England, Spain and Germany. They discuss the undue expectations placed on young players, working with Rafa Benítez at Liverpool and, with the release of his new rap...

Look away, La Liga establishment: the Andalusians are coming. Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge wave through the distant - but very welcome - title charges from two of Seville's finest. Elsewhere, we try to figure out where it's all gone wrong at Borussia Mönchengladbach after their expensive coaching swoop and recap a Champions League draw so bad they did it twice. Got a question for us? Find us on...

Flo, Chloe and Rachel are back with the penultimate episode of the year as we check in with some incredible underdog performances from across the weekend. Reading rained on Chelsea's parade, with Deanne Rose grabbing an absolute worldy, while Birmingham City can take pride in their performance against Man City as their off-field issues continue. We also round up the FA Cup third round, with the Ma...

Today, we welcome one of Andy’s childhood heroes. A fully-fledged member of the Crazy Gang, he is now campaigning to revolutionise football governance: it’s former Wimbledon, Liverpool and Spurs centre back, John Scales! John lets Andy in behind the scenes at Wimbledon and explains how manager Bobby Gould mastered one of the most difficult and unique dressing rooms in football. They also discuss t...

Dotun and Andy are joined by Nicky Bandini to run the rule over the Champions League group stages for some of Europe’s fallen - or stumbling - giants. Atlético Madrid get the job done, but we examine the deeper identity crisis on Diego Simeone’s hands. We also discuss a tale of two finalists in 2015 - Juventus and Barcelona - and Nicky explains the Old Lady’s woes up front. Plus, there’s crisis in...

Flo, Rachel and Chloe look back over a dominant Chelsea win in Sunday's historic FA Cup final, with Jonas Eidevall's Arsenal miles off the pace - even after plenty of hype on our last episode! We discuss how Chelsea got the win and what Arsenal need to improve to challenge the big guns. We also look at where the broader women's game still needs to improve, one hundred years after the FA's ban that...

Join Andy in a rain-soaked Barcelona for today's episode of At The Match, as he takes in a crucial Champions League tie at the legendary Camp Nou. Despite the reduced attendance and the team's recent struggles, Andy finds an electric and expectant atmosphere as the fans welcome Xavi for his first European game in the hot seat. Andy also spoke to Goal's Rik Sharma, a Barcelona resident, about these...

Dotun and Andy are joined by Lars for today's continental capers, as we realise that even Europe's best-run clubs have to endure moments of tension from time to time. Away from off the pitch shenanigans at the German champions, we wonder how Bayern will fare against Dortmund's free-scoring attack and free-pouring defence. We also recap a shameful day for Portuguese football and tip our hat to Atal...

Sarina Wiegman seems very aware of the need to manage the workload of her England side, only then to play the same team every qualifier. Why?! Flo, Rachel and Chloe try to answer that and recap a mixed international window for the Home Nations and Ireland. We also bid farewell to a Brazilian legend and look ahead to what should be an outrageously good FA Cup final this weekend! Artwork photo - Gir...

After Juventus’ schooling at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney wonder what on earth is going wrong for Max Allegri’s men. There’s no mercy for two other Champions League stalwarts either, as Borussia Dortmund crash out and Atlético Madrid teeter on the precipice. We find out why both clubs are facing similar problems.  And after fresh crowd trouble forced Lyon vs...

Flo, Rachel and Chloe kick off proceedings with a look at Birmingham City, who have just appointed their third manager in five months amidst a myriad of off-field issues. We also wonder what Man United need to do to reach the next level (keeping Ella Toone aside) and despair at the careless scheduling of this year's Ballon d'Or ceremony. Artwork photo - GirlsontheBall © ***Please take the time to...

There's a different flavour to today's episode of Ramble Meets as Andy gets to know not just a single subject, but one of La Liga's most beloved clubs. Celta Vigo has had a rich if turbulent history, from impressive spells in La Liga and the Europa League to almost falling out of professional football altogether. Andy is joined by Celta players Nolito and Joseph Aidoo, who tell us just how special...

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge round up some of the biggest casualties from World Cup Qualifying on today's episode. It seems that Fernando Santos' Portugal have been trying the same thing repeatedly but expecting different results. We also ask if Roberto Mancini can solve the impossible Italian Job of finding a goalscoring centre-forward and wonder what's happened to Eden Hazard after some sober...

Flo, Rachel and Chloe look back over a packed weekend schedule, with Spurs finally proving stern opposition for their North London rivals and Chelsea piling more pressure on Man City boss Gareth Taylor. Despite these cracking matches, we also wonder whether more could have been done to promote the latest Women's Football Weekend and explore how future editions can continue to improve. Artwork phot...

Today on the Book Club, we're joined by a Liverpool legend and true football obsessive.  For the past 8 years, Jamie Carragher has been the face and voice of football punditry in the UK. His celebrated book sees him and a range of guests reevaluate some of football’s greatest matches - from Istanbul '05, to Munich '99. He lifts the lid on it all with Kate and Jim. You can purchase Jamie’s boo...

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen remember there's another megastar stuffed down the back of PSG's sofa, so take a look at whether Sergio Ramos can get himself in the first team now he's back in training. Elsewhere, Serie A looks set to be the spiciest league in Europe as Milan and Napoli canter ahead, while Covid-enforced changes to Germany's squad have given their impressive crop of youngsters a ch...

Welcome back to Upfront, a weekly women's football show covering all corners of the women's game!  Flo Lloyd-Hughes, Chloe Morgan and Rachel O'Sullivan discuss Brighton's impressive start to the season under England legend Hope Powell and the problems arising from Arsenal's all-male advisory board. Chloe also pauses her post-match celebrations long enough to recap a great win for Crystal Pala...

We’re back with our second At The Match of the season, the series that takes you to the heart of football across the globe. Andy stops in at a raucous Estádio de Dragão for the first of two huge Champions League clashes and chats with Tiago Marques, presenter on Porto Canal, about an emotional return to football in Porto post-lockdown. He then catches up with Tom Kundert, an old friend and founder...

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge first head to the warmer climes of Andalusia, asking why Sevilla haven't replicated their impressive La Liga form in the Champions League, despite some straightforward opponents. Elsewhere, we check in with Ajax after another win took them to the knockout rounds and celebrate Freiburg's unbeaten run - right before Bayern hand them a pasting on Saturday, no doubt.&nb...

Welcome to Upfront, a brand new women's football podcast available every Tuesday on Football Ramble Presents! Each week we'll bring you the biggest stories from the WSL and beyond, and take you to the cultural heartbeat of the women's game. Today, we look back over the weekend's FA Cup semi-finals which saw a Beth Mead-inspired Arsenal sweep aside Brighton and Chelsea prove too much for a stutteri...

Dotun, Lars Sivertsen and Nicky Bandini are here to conduct the postmortem on Ronald Koeman's doomed tenure at Barcelona. We wonder whether the blame should be laid solely at his feet after weeks of dour pessimism and how Xavi might fare should he take the job. We also try to save some of Roma's squad from the bus José Mourinho has thrown them under and cast an admiring glance at the Jorge Sampaol...

Today's guest on Book Club has lifted the World Cup, won numerous domestic trophies across a fifteen-year career and scored a remarkable collection of goals. It's AC Milan and France striker, Olivier Giroud! We chat to the former Arsenal and Chelsea marksman about his time in England, becoming a crucial part of the world's best international team and enjoying some of the finer things in life. You...

Whisper it, but are Atlético Madrid better suited to attack rather than defend? Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen wrestle with their puzzling form on today's episode of On The Continent! We then check in with the European runners and riders at the halfway point of the Champions League group stages, as Bayern destroy everyone and PSG stumble on. We also wonder where it's all going wrong for Claude Pue...

We're back with a brand new episode of At The Match, the series that takes you to the heart of football across the globe. Kate joins Andy for today's episode, as they wander up a more sedate Wembley Way to see England take on Hungary in a World Cup Qualifier. They reminisce about the Euros and examine this team's relationship with the nation, as Kate explains where her fevered support of the natio...