Episodes

  • Championship Catch-up: Boro buoyant, Sheff Utd struggling & Deadline Day deals

    Championship Catch-up: Boro buoyant, Sheff Utd struggling & Deadline Day deals
    Sep 4 2025
    Simeon Gholam is joined by Andy Hinchcliffe and Jobi McAnuff to look back on the first part of a thrilling 2025/26 Championship season.

    The panel take a look at good starts for Middlesbrough, West Brom, Stoke, Leicester and Coventry, difficult beginnings for the two Sheffield clubs and Ipswich, a mixed bag at Southampton, Norwich keeping hold of Josh Sargent and plenty more.

    Essential EFL is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/essential-efl

    You can also listen to Essential EFL on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Essential EFL".

    For more EFL news, head to skysports.com/football

    For advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk
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    55 mins
  • Sky Sports Championship Predictions: Gameweek FOUR

    Sky Sports Championship Predictions: Gameweek FOUR
    Aug 28 2025
    Sky Sports duo Simeon Gholam and David Prutton take a look ahead at Gameweek FOUR of the Sky Bet Championship season.

    Running order… Leicester vs Birmingham, Middlesbrough vs Sheff Utd, QPR vs Charlton, Stoke vs West Brom, Rest of the Saturday 3pms

    Essential EFL is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/essential-efl

    You can also listen to Essential EFL on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Essential EFL".

    For more EFL news, head to skysports.com/football

    For advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk
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    17 mins
  • Sky Sports Championship Predictions: Gameweek THREE

    Sky Sports Championship Predictions: Gameweek THREE
    Aug 21 2025
    Sky Sports duo Simeon Gholam and David Prutton take a look ahead at Gameweek Three of the Sky Bet Championship season.

    Running order… Derby vs Bristol City, Charlton vs Leicester, Hull vs Blackburn, Swansea vs Watford, Rest of the Saturday 3pms

    Essential EFL is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/essential-efl

    You can also listen to Essential EFL on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Essential EFL".

    For more EFL news, head to skysports.com/football

    For advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk
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    20 mins
  • 'Five in Five' EFL Stories: Five interviews, five players, five minutes!

    'Five in Five' EFL Stories: Five interviews, five players, five minutes!
    Aug 19 2025
    Simeon Gholam is joined by five different EFL players for five minutes each.

    He speaks to Wigan Athletic's Paul Mullin, Stockport County's Malik Mothersille, Bolton Wanderers' John McAtee, Grimsby Town's Jaze Kabia and Walsall's Aden Flint.

    Essential EFL is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/essential-efl

    You can also listen to Essential EFL on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Essential EFL".

    For more EFL news, head to skysports.com/football

    For advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk
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    31 mins
  • Championship Predictions: Gameweek TWO

    Championship Predictions: Gameweek TWO
    Aug 14 2025
    Simeon Gholam and David Prutton take a look ahead at Gameweek Two of the Championship season.

    Running order… Wrexham vs West Brom, Derby vs Coventry, Portsmouth vs Norwich, Ipswich vs Southampton, rest of the weekend games.

    Essential EFL is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/essential-efl

    You can also listen to Essential EFL on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Essential EFL".

    For more EFL news, head to skysports.com/football

    For advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk
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    20 mins
  • The Championship returns! Will Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton bounce back? Can Birmingham and Wrexham challenge?

    The Championship returns! Will Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton bounce back? Can Birmingham and Wrexham challenge?
    Aug 7 2025
    Simeon Gholam is joined by Andy Hinchcliffe and Luke Chambers on the Essential EFL podcast to look ahead to the new Championship season.

    The guests look at the prospective fate of the three relegated clubs in Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton, if Sheffield United can recover from Wembley heartache and how the three promoted clubs of Birmingham City, Wrexham and Charlton may get on.

    The panel then turns its attention to the current plight of Sheffield Wednesday and whether there are any dark horses in the league that could surprise the second tier.

    It all starts on Friday August 8 when Birmingham City host Ipswich live on Sky Sports. Every game over the opening weekend is also available to watch, either via Sky Sports+ or on the Sky Sports app.

    Essential EFL is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/essential-efl

    You can also listen to Essential EFL on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Essential EFL".

    For more EFL news, head to skysports.com/football

    For advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk
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    57 mins
  • The EFL is back! Which teams will be challenging for promotion from League One & League Two?

    The EFL is back! Which teams will be challenging for promotion from League One & League Two?
    Jul 31 2025
    Simeon Gholam returns for a new season of the Essential EFL podcast from Sky Sports. He's joined by Aaron McLean and David Stowell on this first episode of the new campaign to take a look ahead to the League One and League Two seasons.

    It all starts on Friday 1st August when Luton take on AFC Wimbledon live on Sky Sports. Every game over the opening weekend is also available to watch, either via Sky Sports+ or on the Sky Sports app.

    Essential EFL is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/essential-efl

    You can also listen to Essential EFL on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Essential EFL".

    For more EFL news, head to skysports.com/football

    For advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk
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    38 mins
  • Play-off final fallout! Wembley weekender review

    Play-off final fallout! Wembley weekender review
    May 29 2025
    The Championship Catch-up meets the League One & Two Review as Simeon Gholam and the panel look back at all three play-off finals at Wembley.

    Andy Hinchcliffe and Gary Weaver are first up to deep dive into Sunderland's victory over Sheffield United in the Championship, while also looking at what's next for both clubs.

    Then it is onto the other tiers, with Aaron McLean and David Stowell joining the party to assess Charlton's win over Leyton Orient, and AFC Wimbledon's triumph over Walsall.

    Essential EFL is a Sky Sports podcast. Listen to every episode here: skysports.com/essential-efl

    You can also listen to Essential EFL on your smart speaker by saying "ask Global Player to play Essential EFL".

    For more EFL news, head to skysports.com/football

    For advertising opportunities email: skysportspodcasts@sky.uk
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    59 mins