America the Beautiful Game

We talk to Andrew Fox, Orange County Soccer Club defender and legendary trivia figure.
We talk about his unconventional journey to the USL, playing non-league in England, college scholarship in Texas, back to the English Football League before back to America.
We also talk about his red card for Grimsby Town against Crystal Palace - the first player in the UK to be sent off following a VAR review.
Fox tells us the detail of this extraordinary career footnote, why he loves football in the US and we talk promotion/relegation and fan banter.

We talk to soccer ticketing consultant Jim McCarthy.
We talk about why top football teams aren’t better at ticketing, the Messi and Caitlin Clark impacts in American sport and how Championship teams in England have their models wrong.
We discuss stadium seating areas, why ticketing is important and how he has turned bagel knowledge to Goldstar tickets to football.

We talk to former flying winger Gareth Ainsworth about his playing and managerial career.
He tells us about his literal baptism of fire at Wimbledon, what he learned there about culture and how he models himself on Diego Simeone.
Gareth talks about his desire to manage in the US, the away dressing room at Accrington Stanley and why Ryan Reynolds made such a brave choice at Wrexham.
We cover promotion and relegation, causing havoc against Newcastle and his love of music - and performances with The Cold Blooded Hearts.
A fun chat with a real character of the game.

We talk to entrepreneur Simon Leslie who took the plunge and bought himself a non-league team.
He talks about transforming the business into a media company, bringing in celebrities and overcoming fan resistance.
Simon explains why he’s in it for the long haul, changing the badge and firing the manager and trying to bring some aspects of American sport to the National League South.
He tells us about his long term ambitions, how everyone told him not to buy the club and beating Manchester United to a  new shirt sponsor.
Fascinating insight into sports ownership by an extraordinary entrepreneur.

I talk to Sacramento Republic boss Ashley Horsley. We talk about the excitement of running a soccer team, what a non-sports job can teach you about sports and what an Open Cup run do for a team.
We talk about women in sport, the public nature of the job and trying to conduct a business conversation during a match.
Data in sport, cheering the front office team up after a loss and growing the team in a tough business environment are all covered in our wide-ranging conversation.

Today is Open Cup day and we speak to Cody Copper, former US Youth and MLS keeper now plying his trade for Orange County Soccer Club.
He talks about the magic of the cup, returning to an MLS stadium and why the USL is such a growing league.
He tells us about his time in England with Ipswich and Southampton, having bags of urine thrown at him in Guatemala and why America crowds are meaner to goalkeepers.
We talk about MK Dons and how much he knew about their franchise story, conceding 13 goals in two games for Mew England and which goals haunt him.
A fascinating insight into the mind of a goalkeeper with transatlantic experience.

We talk to ex-player and now leading commentator and analyst Devon Kerr.
Together we reminisce about Orange County's 2021 USL Championship victory, the growth of the US game and how much the young American player's experience abroad has changed.
We talk about cherishing victories, emotionless commentary and deep research.
Devon tells us about his time playing in Germany, training with great players and his move to the commentary box.
We talk passion for the game, the growth of the USL and a long discussion about promotion and relegation.
A great discussion with a genuine soccer enthusiast.

We talk to the hilarious and fascinating Mark Donaldson, long-time ESPN commentator.
We talk to editing radio with a knife, the first team ever to beat the New York Cosmos and writing four sports books.
He tells us about his love for Hearts, the importance of Succession to the club’s growth, covering American sports as a Scotsman and who will be the next USMNT coach.
Fun, fascinating and nostalgic in equal measure.

We talk to LA Times soccer writer Kevin Baxter.
We talk the battle for LA supremacy, the rise and fall of LA Galaxy and his love of Manchester City - and his car.
He tells us about his reluctant move away from baseball reporting, how his wife shamed into improving his soccer coverage and the use of statistics in covering sports.
We talk World Cups, women’s football and America’s chances in 2026.
A romp through the world of soccer and sports journalism with one of the best in the business.

We talk to the effervescent Adam Richman, former host of Man vs Food and a true football lover.
He tells us why he chose Spurs, why he bought shares in Grimsby and why he is the shirt sponsor of charity football side Broadley FC.
We go deep into fandom, growth of the game in America and why he gets trolled for ten year old tweets about West Ham.
Adam assesses America’s World Cup chances, talks about football stars in commercials and we have a brief discussion about food at football stadia.
A fun chat with a real football guy.