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Football Ruined My Life

Football Ruined My Life

By: Jon Holmes Patrick Barclay Colin Shindler Paul Kobrak
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About this listen

 Football Ruined My Life is the new podcast about old football. Colin Shindler, author of the best selling Manchester United Ruined My Life, joins with the distinguished football journalist Patrick Barclay and the Super Agent Jon Holmes (think Gary Lineker, Peter Shilton, Tony Woodcock etc.) to talk about football as it used to be in the days before the invention of the Premier League. The podcast views those days fondly - though not uncritically - in comparison to today's game, which it views critically though not unfondly. We welcome everyone who wants to remember Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Charlton, Brian Clough and Bill Shankly and the days when you went to a Football League ground to watch your football and didn't wait for it to arrive on television. Nostalgic? Yes. Well informed? Certainly. But above all, it glories in the football of our youth when the game seemed charmingly innocent, full of skillful, good hearted, kindly men like Norman Hunter, Ron Harris and Peter Storey. Join us every week for a romp through the 1960s, 70s and 80s that will warm you like a cup of scalding hot Bovril. Produced by Paul Kobrak. Contact the team at footballruinedmylife@gmail.comJon Holmes, Patrick Barclay, Colin Shindler, Paul Kobrak Football (American) Football (Soccer)
Episodes
  • 89. 1968

    89. 1968
    May 21 2025
    This is the penultimate podcast in which Patrick Barclay appeared. In it the original Football Ruined My Life panel of Paddy, Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler analyse the year 1968, as the latest in their periodic examinations of one particularly memorable year. In football terms 1968 was the year that Manchester United followed Celtic to become the first English club to win the European Cup but even that landmark occasion was only one of many. It was also the year of the Tet Offensive, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, the riots in Chicago, the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and the alliance between students and workers which brought France to a state of total paralysis. Two black American athletes held up a black gloved fist in support of Black Power during the medal ceremony at the Mexico Olympics and the anti-Vietnam war protest movement came to Grosvenor Square in London. West Bromwich Albion fans need not worry because we do not ignore their victory over Everton in the FA Cup Final or Manchester City’s triumph as they were crowned League Champions. A memorable year indeed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • 88. The One With Omid Djalili (reposted episode)

    88. The One With Omid Djalili (reposted episode)
    May 19 2025
    This is the first of the last three episodes recorded with Patrick Barclay. We are re-releasing the podcast he made with the original Football Ruined My Life team of Patrick Barclay, Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler because it was previously published the day we heard of Paddy’s tragic death and we removed it out of respect as soon as we heard the news. Stand-up comic Omid Djalili was born in Chelsea and has been a passionate and regular spectator at Stamford Bridge from an early age. Forced out of London by the impact of the pandemic, he re-appeared in Suffolk and became increasingly interested in the fortunes of what is now his nearest football club, Ipswich Town. In a predictably amusing podcast episode, Omid explains his new found interest in Ipswich Town but adds a variety of stories of growing up a Chelsea fan at the time of not only increasing violence amongst supporters and but also when to be of Middle Eastern origin was not a pathway to automatic acceptance, either by football crowds or by a British society growing increasingly intolerant of immigrants. As ever, Omid deals successfully with all problems through humour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • The Return of Football Ruined My Life

    The Return of Football Ruined My Life
    May 16 2025
    Back in February, when we learnt about the tragic and shocking death of our friend and colleague, Patrick Barclay, we suspended the podcast and took time to consider if and how it can continue. Replacing Paddy is impossible; the breadth of his knowledge and his infectious (and mischievous) sense of humour made him unique. But here we announce our return with roster of stars who will make irregular appearances to join the regulars Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler. Also, we reveal a special week-long series of releases of the last episodes Paddy recorded with Colin and Jon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    5 mins

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