EFL Unfiltered with David Prutton

In the first episode of this four-part mini-series looking at the inner workings and functions of The EFL, Mark Clemmit chats to Dave Wetherall, Head of Youth Development and Alex Richards, Head of Safeguarding to learn more about how the system works, and the responsibility that the EFL has to educate, protect and nurture the next generation of footballing talent.

t’s the final episode of the official EFL podcast for the 2020/2021 season, and we thought we had to end with a best of! Now that everything has been concluded and the close season is upon us, Mark Clemmit takes a fond look back at some of the best interviews that we’ve been lucky enough to share with you over the last 9 months, so sit back, relax and enjoy, as Clem brings you the very best of the guests part two!

Who better to join Mark Clemmit and cast an expert eye over this extraordinary season, than the former Wimbledon, West Ham, Cardiff City, Crystal Palace, Watford, Reading, Stevenage and Leyton Orient legend that is Jobi McAnuff! Jobi recently announced his retirement from professional football, and now looks forward to spending more time with his wife and kids and concentrating on life beyond a 20 year playing career. Clem and Jobi discuss his own personal achievements over the last two decades, as well as the playoff champions from last weekend and have a look ahead to the Euros which are just around the corner. McAnuff is enough when it comes to this penultimate episode of the official EFL podcast, and it’s a joy to hear these two expertly dissect everything and everything EFL related, as we enter the close season.

Sometimes you don’t need to over complicate things. Simple ingredients and a simple recipe often create the best results, and that’s very much the case with this week’s official EFL podcast. 3 playoff finals, expertly previewed by 2 men in just under 1 hour. Like steak and chips or bread and butter, the joy is in its simplicity and youwon't find a better playoff preview than Clem and Prutts playing at the top of their game!

With next week being our big preview of the playoff finals, Mark Clemmit this week sits down to have a frank and honest chat with 3 inspirational gentlemen representing each of the 3 divisions within the EFL. Exiting the championship with nothing but pride in himself and his players is Wycombe Wanderers extraordinary coach Gareth Ainsworth. Erik Samuelson talks about his own personal role in the return of Wimbledon to Plough Lane and what it will be like to finally have the fans back in, and Mark Bonner looks back at Cambridge United’s fantastic achievement in Skybet League Two, which sees them promoted and competing with some very big clubs next season in League One!

It’s been a season that none of us will ever forget and in the most challenging of circumstances, football in this country has pulled together and the achievements of the 72 EFL league clubs both on and off the pitch has been extraordinary. One of our regular pod pundits this season, Curtis Davies discusses all the key points with Mark Clemmit as the curtain comes down on the 2020/2021 season, and Newport County’s Kevin Ellison talks to Clem about the his own personal battles over the years, as we shine a light on Mental Health Awareness Week.

This weekend 40 year old James Coppinger will hang up his boots after more than 20 years as a professional footballer, and call time on a glittering playing career that has seen him make more than 600 appearances for Doncaster Rovers! As he sits down with Mark Clemmit to reflect on his long life in the game and look forward to the final weekend, we couldn’t not remind him of his part in an extraordinary match at Griffin Park on the 27thApril 2013, that saw him score in the dying seconds to promote Doncaster Rovers as league one champions, in a game that will long live in the memory as one of the greatest of all time.

Two men from two divisions with two very expressive forms of celebration. Hull City’s influential midfielder George Honeyman looked every inch the rockstar last weekend, as he celebrated his side’s promotion back to the Skybet Championship with a performance of ‘I Want To Break Free’ that even Freddie Mercury would’ve been proud of. Elsewhere Cheltenham Town boss Michael Duff, used the medium of dance to display his delight at his side’s automatic promotion to Skybet League One, and is already rumoured to be on the long list for this year’s Strictly. Mark Clemmit is also joined by the chair of ‘Kick It Out’ Sanjay Bhandari, to discuss this weekend’s mass boycott of social media, as the football world come together and stand united in the fight to tackle online racist abuse, and discrimination of all kind within the sport.

He started and ended his career at Carrow Road, and few people are better qualified to talk about Norwich City and their spectacular achievements this season, than premier league goalscoring legend, Dion Dublin. Owen Coyle, back from the Indian Super League on a sabbatical joins Clem to talk about all the news this week, and there’s been a lot for him to cast his expert eye over, and EFL Chair Rick Parry is here to discuss the welcome return of a controlled number of fans for Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final at Wembley.

Wednesday the 14th April saw the EFL host its fifth annual day of action, an initiative that sees all 72 clubs in the Skybet Championship, League 1 and League 2, pull together to help those in their local community that need it the most. From stocking foodbanks, to creating social hubs to help tackle loneliness and depression, the scale of fundraising and good causes is breathtaking! On this special edition of the official EFL podcast, Mark Clemmit talks to those who have selflessly helped out in their local area, and those who have benefitted so much from what can be done, when the football communities within the EFL come together at this time every year.