Your Boys Took A Hell Of A Beating

England only scraped into the 1990 World Cup by the skin of their teeth and the width of a Polish crossbar. In the final year of the English club’s European ban, Bobby Robson’s boys arrived in Italy and their Sardinian isolation in need of a boost. With a manager hounded, a squad pilloried, politicians hating the fans and a media at war, expectations were hardly through the roof. But it would be t...

Another delve into our fashion department, and this time it's Michael Hamlen who is offering up his choice of World Cup kits, for the Your Boys Took a Hell of a Beating Hall of Football Kit Fame. Steven Scragg sits for the arbitration panel. Thanks for reading YourBoysTookAHellOfABeating’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Thanks for reading YourBoysTookAHellOf...

Our look at some of the significant managers from World Cups past brings us to West Germany in 1974 and Helmut Schon. Born in the East, in charge of the West, no wonder he struggled under the pressure of the two sides clashing. Aidan is joined by Chris Evans, author of the excellent 'How to Win the World Cup' to chat all things Schon, and how he created the right environment for West Germany to su...

A second investigation into the greatest World Cup kits of all time sees Dave Bowler join Steven Scragg to discuss the great and the good. Join us as we explore the world of ceiling tiles, noughts and crosses, Lada offcuts, The Beatles and much more across an eclectic mix of kits and kit manufacturers. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...

Bobby Robson’s England headed to Mexico for the 1986 World Cup with high hopes and an injured captain. A defeat and a disastrous draw later both were in tatters. Just how did it come to this, and how did England recover to reach the quarter finals and a date with Diego. Aidan, Steven and Joe are back with the topically naned You Have to say that’s magnificent, to discuss it all, along with the occ...

They just don’t make them like they used to, do they? World Cup songs used to be a staple part of the tournament soundtrack, for good or ill. They may be a distant memory now, but in amongst the pap and the cheese were some absolute belters. Aidan, Steven and Stu countdown some old favourites from World Cups past in true pop pickers style. This time, more than any other time, will they get it righ...

Scotland face Brazil for the fifth time at World Cup with the upcoming clash this summer, making this fixture one of the most frequent in World Cup group stage history. From the stalemate of 1974 and Billy Bremner's chance to seal victory, through the delights of the 1982 clash of great goals for both teams, and the narrow defeats in 1990 and 1998, it is a fixture which has been closely fought mor...

The University of Your Boys Took a Hell of a Beating throws its door open to yet another new department at the ever growing campus of football learning, as fashion takes centre stage. TNT Sports commentator Adam Summerton takes us through his favourite World Cup kits, while he also goes into his love of Snap! (The German Eurodance band, rather than the erstwhile card game), and Neighbours. Steven...

The Your Boys Took a Hell of a Beating World Cup department continues in full swing, as it adds a jukebox element to the You Have to Say That's Magnificent classroom. First up, the ITV and Sky Sports commentator, Seb Hutchinson, drops a coin in, as he nominates France '98 as his World Cup scene setting yardstick. Toni Polster's hair is high on the agenda, while Aidan Williams and Steven Scragg wil...

Scotland make their long-awaited return to the World Cup this summer after a 28 year absence filled more with misery than near misses. Aidan and Steven are joined by the excellent Lewis Ness to discuss Scotland's lengthy spell in the international wilderness. We talk disappointing results, disappointing coaches, 4-6-0 formations, and the lows, as well as the occasional high points before the rise...

Three teenagers and four 20-year-olds in Sky Blue take on the Red machine. How’s that going to go? Unexpectedly, is the answer. Meanwhile at Elland Road, the home fans are displeased and start throwing things at Forest’s Peter Shilton. Fortunately, it’s at the near post, so he never gets near them. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...

The final part of our trio of podcasts about the upcoming World Cup hosts heads down to Mexico to talk El Tri and their World Cup history: a tale of repeated frustration amid the occasional high point. Dr. Pete Watson joins Aidan to delve into why Mexico so often flatter to deceive, and to celebrate some of the fabulous players to have played for Mexico at the World Cup. We talk Hugo Sanchez, Luis...

We head into the USA for the next edition of our ventures into the histories of the three 2026 World Cup hosts. Aidan is joined by Ivan McDouall to discuss their surprisingly rich World Cup history, with incredible exploits in the very first World Cup, the stunning victory over England in 1950 and the rise from the ashes of decades of despair to hosting in 1994 and becoming tournament regulars, mo...

“You have to say that’s magnificent” is heading to the World Cup as we delve into the World Cup histories of the three host nations for the upcoming party across the pond. First up, Canada, whose World Cup history may be limited but is no less interesting for it. Aidan and Steven are your guides to the Canadian adventures in World Cup land for stories of much frustration and the occasional moments...

A bitterly cold Upton Park sees Graham Taylor raiding Elton’s wardrobe and combining sunglasses and sleeping bag as we head for the glories of the Second Division once again. A linesman takes a projectile to the back of the head and crumples to the turf before continuing. Police protection arrives for him before the referee shows solidarity with his colleague by refusing to mention it in his match...

This time, more than any other time, this time, we’re talking all things England 1982, as the Three Lions make their return to the World Cup after a twelve year absence. As Ron Greenwood and his gang of Admiral-clad heroes headed off to Spain to conquer the world, they did so with the Falklands war rumbling along, with a backdrop of hooliganism and with a generation of hugely successful players at...

An unchanged Liverpool side for the 13th game in a row – there’s an idea Arne – host fourth placed Southampton at Anfield. Phil Boyer chooses the occasion to score his 20th goal of the campaign, but his first away goal in 13 months – and they said Terry Paine was a homer. If you had Alan Ball getting booked for dissent on your bingo card – and let’s face it, we all must have – you’ve won. Meanwhil...

In a new series dedicated to the game in South America, we look at the way football from the continent has encountered and interacted with the European game. We start by looking at the pioneering tours to Argentina and Uruguay by Southampton, Nottingham Forest et al in the early 20th century as they looked to spread the association football gospel. Stuart Horsfield attempts to keep order alongside...

In textbook fashion, Manchester United have brought Spurs back to Old Trafford for a replay and so will fancy themselves to finish the job there, even if Gary Bailey is full of Night Nurse. At the other end, in a glorious throwback to a better time, Glenn Hoddle goes in goal for Tottenham. It’s not a better time for Milija Aleksic, admittedly, given that he gets Joe Jordaned and has to go off on a...

We’re journeying way back into World Cup history to discuss the only manager to have won the twice, at least for now: the Italian Vittorio Pozzo. The World Cups he led Italy to in 1934 and 1938 were not without their controversies, however, and neither was Pozzo himself. Aidan Williams is joined by Matthew Gibbs and Chris Evans, the author of the excellent ‘How To Win The World Cup’, to delve a li...

With assistance from the covers from Lord’s to keep the frost off, this game gets underway at White Hart Lane despite the elements, though sadly Dickie Bird is not our match referee – it is Pat Partridge thought, to maintain the avian theme. A youthful Terry Gibson, the boy who never grew up, buzzes around the pitch, irritating his elders and getting a clip round the ear from Jimmy Nicholl for his...

Back to Wembley on a sun-kissed May afternoon in 1971, two teams in vivid kits that ping off the screen ready to contest a cup final for the colour TV age. With Arsenal crowned league champions on the Monday before the game, they are on the brink of the 20th century’s second double as they look to match the feats of Tottenham Hotspur ten years earlier. Against them, a brand new Liverpool, reassemb...

Grab yourself a Carlsberg as our World Cup adventures continue with a trip back to 1986 to get all misty eyed about Laudrup, Elkjaer and the Danish gang. Aidan Williams and Steven Scragg are joined by Rob Smyth, one of the authors of the superb ‘Danish Dynamite’ book, to talk about the team, the manager, the players, the book. Join us for the joys of watching Michael Laudrup weave his way through...

The 1980s are ushered in by the FA Cup, and we start our third round odyssey amid an electric atmosphere at Elland Road. That soon turns to dust as Forest’s Frank Gray returns home, scores in the opening minutes, and celebrates like a dervish. Meanwhile, brother Edde has given up the winger’s role and become Leeds’ new John Giles, though pleasingly, he still runs like a coat hanger, elbows akimbo....

At the late March international break, the very first Your Boys Took a Hell of a Beating field trip was all set to swoop in on Harrogate Town Vs Notts County, but Aidan Williams, Dr Pete Watson, Stu Horsfield, and Steven Scragg wound up at York City Vs Woking instead, via Sky Sports tinkering with kick off times and Dr Pete being committed to an online Saturday morning lecture to one solitary, yet...