Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

Today, we’re joined by an absolute legend of the English game. Steph Houghton remains one of the best defenders of all time and played over 120 times for England, captaining the Lionesses at two World Cups and a Euros. She has just finished the UEFA A Licence course - the highest qualification a coach can receive - which qualifies her to coach in the WSL! Will we be seeing her in the dugout soon? Rachel sat down with Steph to ask her about the future, her coaching philosophy and who her dream backroom staff would be! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025 **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 just about got the glitter off from Mighty Hoopla to chat all things international football! England put on a clinic against Portugal ahead of Sarina Wiegman unveiling her Euros squad on Thursday. Where does hat-trick hero Aggie Beever-Jones sit in the attacking pecking order? And if Lauren James is fit and back in the squad, who’s going to miss out? Plus, Wales and Scotland suffer Nations League relegation, in part due to a dodgy refereeing decision and a sloppy performance respectively. There’s hope for both Ireland and Northern Ireland tonight though, and the co-hosts for the 2031 World Cup have revealed themselves! It is weird that FIFA and the other co-hosts have said nothing yet, but there we are… 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.

Today, we're joined by one of England's exciting next generation and a rising star in the WSL: it's Brighton's Maisie Symonds! Rach caught up with Maisie from her seaside home (and, really, it couldn't be any closer to the sea) to look back on Brighton's season, which saw Dario Vidošić make an instant impact and some brilliant home form before a tougher second half of the campaign. She also reveals what it was like to be named in the Lionesses' squad for the first time back in March and get THAT phone call from Sarina Wiegman. Plus, Maisie explains why she wants to play World Sevens Football one day and we find out what post-season for a football-obsessed professional player really looks like... 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.

In case you hadn't heard, Arsenal wrote themselves into the history books on Saturday by beating Barcelona to win the Champions League. And now's your chance to relive it! Rachel and Chloe met outside the José Alvalade Stadium after the full time whistle to reflect on their feelings after an extraordinary 90 minutes. But before that, Rachel gives you a flavour of the build-up to the game and the atmosphere inside the stadium as things unfolded... 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’ve got two SEISMIC bits of football news to get stuck into today! First up, despite coming into the game as the unfancied underdogs, Arsenal put in a performance for the ages and won the Champions League! Rachel and Chloe discuss their own experiences of Saturday’s final and praise a phenomenal effort from Renée Slegers and her players. Then, our preview of England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures gets interrupted by the shocking news that Mary Earps has retired from the Lionesses with immediate effect! We wonder how this will affect the side’s preparation for the Euros and what may have prompted such an immediate decision from the legendary keeper. 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.

Here we go, people! Whether you're an Arsenal fan jumping on a flight to Lisbon or you're a neutral who's just ready for a huge Champions League final, Chloe and Rach have got you covered. We look back on Arsenal's route to the final and Barcelona's various demolitions, before looking ahead to the key battles on Saturday. Can Mariona Caldentey make the difference? Will Renée Slegers make a huge call and change her defence? And just how many Super Bocks are going to be flying around? Plus, we give our big predictions. 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. **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.

Rach dials in from Portugal to catch up with Clo about the FA Cup final, where Chelsea flexed their dominance for one last time this season. Some BIG names rocked up to Wembley - and surprise, surprise, Sir Jim Ratcliffe wasn’t one of them… We also get our teeth stuck into some rather weird Marc Skinner quotes (sorry Marc) before weighing up Man United’s chances at the World Sevens tournament, which kicks off tomorrow! Plus, we discuss the worrying news that Blackburn Rovers could be withdrawing from the WSL2. 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.

Who was our player of the season? Who was our manager of the season? And - most importantly of all - what was our WTF moment of the season?! And yes, there were a fair few moments to pick from… The iconic Upfront Awards are back. Join Chloe and Rachel to relive a hugely entertaining season of WSL 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.

And just like that, the 2024/25 WSL season comes to a close! Clo and Rach are here to reflect on the final weekend and discuss this season’s winners and losers. Chelsea (obviously) managed to pull off another invicible campaign and Arsenal beat Man United 4-3 at the Emirates to hold on to second place! Plus, how did Aston Villa finish sixth after flirting SO closely with relegation at the end of March? And the manager merry-go-round strikes again at Crystal Palace… Come for a bumper end-of-season edition, stay for Rach’s Taylor Swift singalong! 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 us today is someone who’s been instrumental in reshaping and driving the women’s game forward in England: Kelly Simmons OBE! From putting the WSL on the map to championing investment in grassroots pathways - and everything in between - Kelly’s 30-year career at the FA has been nothing short of extraordinary. Kelly reflects on her journey, the highs and lows along the way and whether she’d do anything differently if she was starting out again. Plus, she gives her thoughts on why WSL relegation shouldn’t - and probably won’t - be scrapped, tells us why the exclusion of the women’s game from the Independent Football Regulator is a huge missed opportunity and gives her take on the FA’s controversial decision to ban transgender women from playing women’s football. Kelly is speaking at a Fair Game conference later this month. For more details and to get tickets, click 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.

First things first… in case you missed it, Rach got an assist in the WSL this weekend! But in other news, Chelsea clinched their sixth straight WSL title with two games to spare, on a random Wednesday night at Leigh Sports Village of all places! But can they go the whole season unbeaten? Clo and Rach dive into just that. Elsewhere, the Manchester Derby lived up to its name as United bagged themselves a place in the Champions League next season - surely Jim Ratcliffe knows about that, right?! Plus, London City Lionesses have become the WSL newbies after their spicy final-day match against Birmingham City. But will they be able to stay 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. **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 the Merseyside Derby this weekend! Which naturally means Clo and Rach have roped in Everton (and Ireland) number one, Courtney Brosnan! Courtney takes us inside Everton’s injury-hit season, the impact of fresh investment at the club, and what Brian Sørenson is building with this team. Elsewhere, she and Clo obviously get into the nitty-gritty of what it really takes to be a goalkeeper at this level, while Rach of course gets the lowdown on all things Ireland! And yes, Courtney does reveal what it’s like coming up against international teammates in a huge club fixture like this... 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.

Rach joins Chloe from an airport lounge in France, fresh from witnessing a true Arsenal masterclass on Sunday. Their hugely impressive comeback against Lyon means they’ve reached the Champions League final for the first time in 18 years! Arsenal’s Renée-ssance really is in full effect… Meanwhile, Chelsea suffered another semi-final exit to Barcelona but Rach tells us why their performance on Sunday was an improvement on that bruising first-leg. Plus, it was heartbreak at the weekend for Crystal Palace - and of course Clo - as their 7-1 defeat to West Ham confirmed their relegation from the WSL. 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.

Clo and Rach are back in the studio after a frustrating weekend of Champions League football for both Arsenal and Chelsea. Can either of them turn it around in the second legs? Clo reckons it’s close to impossible for Chelsea, but Rach has cooked up a strategy that might just work. Let’s just say the word “Tetris” springs to mind… Elsewhere, all this European drama has distracted us from a spicy WSL weekend, which saw Tottenham come so close to picking up their first league win since January. Why are they having such a weird season after showing such promise last year? And is Robert Vilahamn really in trouble? Clo and Rach get stuck into just that. 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.

Rach is here with a very special episode all the way from Canada, jetting over there for the launch of the brand-new Northern Super League! Ahead of the historic opening match between Calgary Wild and Vancouver Rise last night, she found time to sit down with Calgary’s head coach Lydia Bedford, who previously managed in the WSL. Lydia opens up about the challenges of relocating to a new country - during such a difficult time in her personal life - and shares the powerful way she managed to gel her squad in just a matter of weeks. Elsewhere, she gives us insight into what we can expect from Calgary Wild on the pitch and how her experiences at Arsenal, Leicester, Brentford and with England’s youth teams have shaped her coaching style. Oh, but more importantly, Lydia reveals how she and her dog Baxter have been adapting to life in Canada! After that, we hear from Canadian sports journalist Har Johal who joins Rach to react to this first-ever NSL match and explain what this brand-new league really means for Canada Soccer. 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.

First things first, if you haven’t seen that Phallon Tullis-Joyce save… where have you been this weekend?! Don’t worry though, Clo and Rach are here to fill you in... Manchester United are heading back to Wembley to defend their FA Cup crown - cue Clo’s celebrations - but can they get past Chelsea? Rach reckons this could be Chelsea’s best-ever chance at winning the quadruple. We also discuss Marc Skinner’s contract extension at United and why Man City are crying out for a summer rebuild. Should Nick Cushing stay on permanently? Clo and Rach aren’t on the same page about this one... Plus, Canada’s first-ever women’s professional soccer league kicks off tomorrow (about time!) and Rach is flying out for the opener… because why wouldn’t she be?! We dive into all the details of this brand new division! 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.

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.