This week Omid Djalili, Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler discuss the sort of player who should have played for their country but never did, players who lacked the ebullience to stand out from their more aggressive and extrovert team mates and players -  wherever they operated in the football pyramid.  Players who were the unshowy but reliable… who got the ball, made ground and passed accurately to a colleague in space.  On
a fictional level the list would start with Blackie Gray who did all the donkey work for Melchester Rovers and provided what we now call the 
assist for Roy Race, who scored all the goals and was credited with the
fancy title of Roy of the Rovers.  Today’s edition is all about the Blackie Grays of this world.  To be fair to Gary Lineker he always credited Peter Beardsley as the creator of many of his goals for England.  Listen to discover who else is regarded as underrated in this way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

This week Omid Djalili, Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler discuss the sort of player who should have played for their country but never did, players who lacked the ebullience to stand out from their more aggressive and extrovert team mates and players - wherever they operated in the football pyramid. Players who were the unshowy but reliable… who got the ball, made ground and passed accurately to a colleague in space. On a fictional level the list would start with Blackie Gray who did all the donkey work for Melchester Rovers and provided what we now call the assist for Roy Race, who scored all the goals and was credited with the fancy title of Roy of the Rovers. Today’s edition is all about the Blackie Grays of this world. To be fair to Gary Lineker he always credited Peter Beardsley as the creator of many of his goals for England. Listen to discover who else is regarded as underrated in this way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week&nbsp;Omid Djalili, Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler discuss the sort of player&nbsp;who should have played for their country but never did, players who lacked the ebullience to stand out from their more aggressive and extrovert team mates and players - &nbsp;wherever they operated in the football pyramid.&nbsp; Players who were the unshowy but reliable… who got the ball, made ground and passed accurately to a colleague in space.&nbsp; On
a fictional level the list would start with&nbsp;Blackie Gray who did all the donkey work&nbsp;for Melchester Rovers&nbsp;and provided what we now call the 
assist&nbsp;for Roy Race, who scored all the goals and was credited with the
fancy title of Roy of the Rovers. &nbsp;Today’s edition is all about the Blackie Grays of this world. &nbsp;To be fair to Gary Lineker he always credited Peter Beardsley as the creator of many of his goals for England. &nbsp;Listen to discover who else is regarded as underrated in this way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

134.  Underrated Players

When Football Ruined My Life started back at the beginning of 2023 it was the new podcast about old football. 

In it, distinguished football journalist Patrick Barclay joined with Colin Shindler, author of the best selling Manchester United Ruined My Life, 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. 

For over 80 weekly episodes, the podcast viewed those days fondly - though not uncritically - in comparison to today's game, which it views critically though not unfondly. And it welcomed 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. 

After the tragic and untimely death of Paddy Barclay in February 2025, Football Ruined My Life took a break to consider how (and if) to carry on.

In May 2025 it has returned, with a panel of stars to make irregular appearances to join the regulars, Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler. These now include writer and producer Andy Hamilton, television executive Jimmy Mulville, the sports journalist and columnist for the Daily Telegraph Jim White and stand-up comedian Omid Djalili. 

But the feel and raison d'être of Football Ruined My Life remains the same. Still nostalgic? Yes. Still well informed? Certainly. But above all, it continues to glory 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, 80s and beyond that will warm you like a cup of scalding hot Bovril. 

Produced by Paul Kobrak.

Contact the team at footballruinedmylife@gmail.com

Sports

Soccer

Football

When Football Ruined My Life started back at the beginning of 2023 it was the new podcast about old football. In it, distinguished football journalist Patrick Barclay joined with Colin Shindler, author of the best selling Manchester United Ruined My Life, 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. For over 80 weekly episodes, the podcast viewed those days fondly - though not uncritically - in comparison to today's game, which it views critically though not unfondly. And it welcomed 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. After the tragic and untimely death of Paddy Barclay in February 2025, Football Ruined My Life took a break to consider how (and if) to carry on. In May 2025 it has returned, with a panel of stars to make irregular appearances to join the regulars, Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler. These now include writer and producer Andy Hamilton, television executive Jimmy Mulville, the sports journalist and columnist for the Daily Telegraph Jim White and stand-up comedian Omid Djalili. But the feel and raison d'être of Football Ruined My Life remains the same. Still nostalgic? Yes. Still well informed? Certainly. But above all, it continues to glory 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, 80s and beyond that will warm you like a cup of scalding hot Bovril. Produced by Paul Kobrak. Contact the team at footballruinedmylife@gmail.com

When Football&nbsp;Ruined&nbsp;My&nbsp;Life&nbsp;started back at the beginning of 2023 it was the new podcast about old&nbsp;football.&nbsp;

In it, distinguished&nbsp;football&nbsp;journalist Patrick Barclay joined with Colin Shindler, author&nbsp;of the best selling&nbsp;Manchester United&nbsp;Ruined&nbsp;My&nbsp;Life, and the Super Agent Jon Holmes (think Gary Lineker, Peter Shilton, Tony Woodcock etc.) to talk about&nbsp;football&nbsp;as it used to be in the days before the invention of the Premier League.&nbsp;

For over 80 weekly episodes, the podcast&nbsp;viewed those days fondly - though not uncritically - in comparison to today's game, which it views critically though not unfondly.&nbsp;And it welcomed everyone who wants to remember Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Charlton, Brian Clough and Bill Shankly and the days when you went to a&nbsp;Football&nbsp;League ground to watch your&nbsp;football&nbsp;and didn't wait for it to arrive on television.&nbsp;

After the tragic and untimely death of Paddy Barclay in February 2025, Football Ruined My Life took a break to consider how (and if) to carry on.

In May 2025 it has returned, with a panel of stars to make irregular appearances to join the regulars, Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler. These now include writer and producer Andy Hamilton, television executive Jimmy Mulville, the sports journalist and columnist for the&nbsp;Daily Telegraph&nbsp;Jim White and stand-up comedian Omid Djalili. 

But the feel and raison d'être of Football Ruined My Life remains the same. Still nostalgic? Yes.&nbsp;Still well informed? Certainly. But above all, it continues to glory in the&nbsp;football&nbsp;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, 80s and beyond that will warm you like a cup of scalding hot Bovril.&nbsp;

Produced by Paul Kobrak.

Contact the team at footballruinedmylife@gmail.com

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134. Underrated Players

134. Underrated Players

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