Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

Michelle Agyemang… WOW. Just wow. England may have suffered a disappointing 3-2 defeat in Belgium last night, but she was the real winner. Rach can hear the alarm bells ringing already - but don’t panic, she’s very much on hand to bring the calm that’s needed. Plus, it’s safe to say Sazzy Wiegs has a selection headache to condend with ahead of Euro 2025. So we thought we’d help her out a touch. We’ve picked our starting XI for that tough opener against France. Who’s in? And who’s out? Come and find out! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lionesses put in a five star performance against Belgium on Friday… this obviously means they’re going to win the Euros now, right?! Rach reveals the player that impressed her the most while Clo tries to work out - once and for all - who’s starting in goal at the Euros. We also turn our attention to Ireland - who put four past Greece - and then to Wales, who Clo reckons are like the Crystal Palace of the WSL. Plus, are Scotland out of their depth in League A? And how can Northern Ireland be more consistent? Oh, and then we address the biggest news of all… the 2035 World Cup looks like it’s coming to the UK!! But wait a second, Manchester United’s new stadium could be part of the tournament? Er, what? Manchester United? Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For over a decade, Adrian Jacob has helped shape Chelsea into one of the most successful and dominant teams in the game. Today, he sits down with Rach to take us inside that journey - from what it was like working with Emma Hayes to some of the club’s biggest moments. He also gives his take on accusations that Chelsea have ‘spent’ their way to success and explains why it’s up to other clubs to catch up. But Adrian’s next project is just as ambitious: World Sevens Football - the new, women’s seven-a-side tournament launching next month. He breaks down what his role as Head of Football actually involves, explains why this competition could be a game changer, and addresses concerns about its potential impact on player loading, calendar congestion and whether it could widen financial gaps in the game. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s April Fool’s Day! Which means Clo obviously had to play a (not so) little joke on Rach… Once Rach has finally recovered, we dive into Aston Villa’s massive comeback against Liverpool. Does this win mean Villa are safe from relegation? And is a fifth-place finish for Liverpool this season still achievable? Elsewhere, West Ham nicking a point against Chelsea - at Kingsmeadow - wasn’t on our bingo cards, but we are HERE for it! Clo and Rach give West Ham’s Shekiera Martinez her very well-earned flowers. Plus, we size up the Lionesses’ game against Belgium this Friday! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well, episode three of the Man City and Chelsea quadrilogy did not disappoint! Chloe praises Kerolin and Khiara Keating’s performances and Rach tells us why Chelsea deserved to win this time round. Then, we look ahead to the fourth and final showdown this Thursday in the Champions League! Elsewhere, Leicester pulled off a potentially season-saving performance against Brighton and Rach explains just how bad the pitch was for the Real Madrid vs Arsenal game last week — she definitely needed her cagoule for that one... Plus, we weigh in on the new World Sevens Football taking place in less than two months. Will it just make the rich clubs even richer? Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weekend, Nottingham Forest and Stoke City go head-to-head in a huge National League Cup final clash! So who better to give us the down-low on it than a true England and Arsenal Legend, Anita Asante? Anita reflects on her Arsenal days — where she in fact won this trophy twice — explains why greater visibility for National League teams is so important and shares her thoughts on the controversial proposals to freeze relegation from the WSL. Plus, she reveals the biggest lesson she learned playing under Emma Hayes and discusses her experience stepping into coaching! Come and join us! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chelsea finally ended their League Cup final curse. This time around, the only cursed thing was the pitch at Pride Park. Chloe and Rachel look back on a huge day for Chelsea and Sonia Bompastor. But will Man City be better prepared for their next meeting? And the one after that, and the one after that… Plus, Liverpool upset Manchester United as Olivia Smith lights up Anfield in a performance Rach thinks was reminiscent of peak LJ. And while the title race might be sewn up, the battle for relegation is well and truly alive. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liverpool pulled off the closest thing to a cupset this weekend! Rach is here to tell us why Arsenal’s performance felt like a throwback to their early-season struggles under Jonas Eidevall… Meanwhile, over at Man United, things are looking far worse off the pitch than on it. Chloe and Rach discuss Geyse’s situation and how it speaks to the club’s wider issues. And then… a bombshell drops! We react to the news — in real-time — that Man City have parted ways with Gareth Taylor right before their League Cup final against Chelsea this weekend. Talk about timing, ey?! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Rach in the studio today is one of the most influential figures in British sport—Baroness Sue Campbell! The driving force behind the transformation of women’s football in England, Sue’s influence on the game has been instrumental, and her career is nothing short of extraordinary. Sue reminisces about Euro 2022—and the role she played in England’s journey to success—reveals the three key priorities she set upon joining the FA, where she later became the director of women’s football, and shares the powerful words from her father that kept her going during her toughest moments. Plus, Sue discusses the handover of the WSL and Championship to the WPLL, and we get a glimpse into her brand-new book, The Game Changer, which is out today! Come and join us. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brighton did a little bit of a dirty on Chelsea at the weekend as they held the league leaders to a draw. So with Chelsea's lead now at five points, is the title race back on?! Clo reckons there’s a cool draft coming through that slightly ajar door… Meanwhile, the WSL managerial merry-go-round has been in full swing after Liverpool parted ways with Matt Beard. Then just 24 hours later, Crystal Palace followed suit by sacking Laura Kaminski! Clo’s obviously here with some sage advice: “Don’t go into management, kids!” Plus, we weigh in on the leaked WPLL proposals to scrap relegation in the WSL and discuss why it’s caused just a bit of a stir… Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chloe’s travelled down to East Dulwich to catch up with none other than Mary Phillip! Mary walks us through her hugely successful England days, from the “surreal” moment she got called-up, to being roommates with another England icon, Rachel Yankey. Mary also discusses her trophy-laden club career, reveals what it truly meant to be the first Black woman to captain the Lionesses - something she only discovered 15 years later - and opens up about how she juggled her love of football with motherhood. Now making history with Peckham Town in the men’s game, Mary discusses the lack of diversity amongst female coaches, shares the challenges she’s faced in her coaching career and explains what it meant to become the first female manager to win silverware in the men’s game. Plus, Chloe (obviously) does her best to convince Mary to return to women’s football… Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chloe’s back from Miami and joins Rach in the studio - sadly with no piña colada in hand - to break down England’s underwhelming, but not disastrous, 1-1 draw against Portugal in their Nations League opener. Elsewhere, Carla Ward got her first - albeit scrappy - win with Ireland so Rach is of course buzzing about that, and then we look to Scotland who didn’t quite kickstart their new era in the same fashion. Plus, just last week, Luis Rubiales was convicted of sexual assault for kissing Jenni Hermoso after the 2023 World Cup final without her consent. We unpack why that case and all the publicity around Hermoso points to much wider societal issues. Didn't catch last week's episode with Ireland and Man United defender Aoife Mannion? Listen here. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

International football is back tomorrow! Which means we’ve roped in Republic of Ireland defender Aoife Mannion to tell us all about her Ireland journey after debuting for the Girls in Green two years ago this month. Aoife opens up about overcoming setbacks throughout her career - after suffering two ACL injuries - and reveals what it’s like to play with an underdog mentality in the Ireland squad. Elsewhere, Aoife shares how deflating it was to fall short of Euro 2025 and lose Eileen Gleeson and Colin Healy soon after. Plus, she explains what new challenges are ahead with the exciting arrival of Carla Ward. Come join us! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chloe’s still living it up in Miami, but fear not: today, Rachel is joined by certified commentary royalty as she gets stuck into the latest news with BBC Sport’s Robyn Cowen! We chat about a disappointing North London Derby, where Spurs showed they’ve gone backwards since last season and Arsenal turned on the style in front of 56,784 Chloe Kelly stans. Elsewhere, Chelsea snatched yet another victory from the jaws of looming defeat and we look ahead to some crucial Nations League fixtures for Sarina Wiegman and the Lionesses. Plus, Rachel quizzes Robyn about the art of commentary and her own journey, from stumbling into local radio to delivering one of the most iconic lines in English sporting history, when England emerged victorious at Euro 2022. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’d like to start by thanking Mary Fowler for saving us all - but especially one very cold Rach - from extra-time against Arsenal last week. Her and Clo react to Man City getting through to the League Cup final to face, you guessed it… Chelsea! Elsewhere, the FA Cup delivered some serious squeaky bum time moments this weekend and we also give our thoughts on whether ‘B Teams’ in the lower tiers are actually a good idea. Plus, Sazzy Weegs has announced her England squad for the Nations League games later this month, and of course people are talking about Chloe Kelly being ‘dropped’. We're here to throw water on that fire and revel in Keets getting her call-up! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a rather chaotic week for Manchester City… First with Chloe Kelly’s turbulent exit and then with that seven-goal thriller against Arsenal! Chloe and Rachel are here to react to it all! Plus, Everton opened the floodgates against one of the meanest defences in the league, Chelsea have signed none other than Keira Walsh and Rach explains which teams have had a great window and who could’ve done more. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would it really be a London derby if there wasn’t some last minute drama?! We give our takes on the penalty decision that gave Chelsea yet another three points and react to Katie McCabe seeing red. Elsewhere, Viv Miedema’s back doing GOAT things and we have Sonny B’s bare ankles in our thoughts and prayers. Plus - much to Chloe’s excitement - Naomi Girma has made the move to Chelsea for a record $1.1m transfer fee. So how did they announce her, you ask? By parading her in front of the Arsenal bench in the pouring rain, of course. Welcome to London, Naomi. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The WSL is back from the winter break! And that Manchester derby was certainly worth the wait. Clo and Rach are once again full of praise for Ella Toone after her hat-trick and we wonder whether it’s crunch time for Gareth Taylor. Elsewhere, Liverpool put in a sharp display against Brighton to take all three points - but Matt Beard’s on a revenge mission against the PGMOL. And THIS time, he has videos... Plus, we caught up with Irish journalist Kathleen McNamee to discuss friend of the pod Carla Ward’s new job as the Republic of Ireland Head Coach! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chloe and Rachel are back together in the studio! And there’s nothing like a whole bunch of postponements to get us kicked off for 2025, is there?! Besides that though, there were some very exciting returns in the FA Cup – we give our takes on Toone, Miedema and LJ’s returns, plus how the FA Cup can be made more competitive after another upset-less weekend. We also react to Jonas Eidevall’s tell-all interview (and do a surprisingly good Jonas impersonation) and there’s the latest transfer news from WSL land! Didn’t catch last week’s episode with Maggie Murphy? Listen here. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. ***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 potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back with our first episode of 2025! Chloe sits down with Maggie Murphy to unpack some of the big headlines set to shape women’s football in 2025: from Barclays’ renewed sponsorship deal to the record five-year TV broadcasting deal. Elsewhere, Maggie explains why Brighton’s proposed women’s stadium would be a game-changer, discusses whether the Championship should actually be rebranded as the ‘WSL2’ and looks at what impact Euro 2025 could have on the growth of the game. Plus, should we be worried about WSL attendances? Join us! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. ***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 potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.