Old Firm Facts

Would Adam invite Emma Dodds back for a second appearance on the Old Firm Facts podcast? Don't ask silly questions...

A reporter and pitchside interviewer on BT Sport and Premier Sports as well as matchday host on Rangers TV, Emma is one of the most recognisable faces in Scottish football. She discusses Europa League Rangers versus cinch Rangers, interviewing Jurgen Klopp, why Jude Bellingham impressed her on and off the pitch, whether Scottish football would benefit from VAR, Ally McCoist's musical taste, learning from Hazel Irvine, memories of Rangers' last visit to Belgrade, why football can learn from rugby when it comes to referees and THAT Steven Gerrard response.

As an executive producer at BT Sport for Sunset + Vine, Grant Philips has directed over 2,000 matches in a career that's taken him to the World Cup and European Championships. He talks about the Ibrox Batcam, how he would have responded to Christian Eriksen's collapse as a match director, the Chris Sutton clip that was more popular than the Champions League Final, what makes Emma such a well respected figure in the game, hanging out with Des Lynam and how BT Sport's Scottish football coverage became so influential.

Adam debunks a myth involving Mark McGhee, puts questions from Twitter to his guests and shares an exciting new feature inspired by Jermain Defoe.

For more information about the podcast, go to: www.thebiglight.com/oldfirmfacts

Even by Scottish football standards it's been a busy few days, and Adam's joined by three guests to make sense of it. 

Joining him for the bulk of the show are journalists Amy Canavan and Jason Soutar. Amy, who last year was nominated for Football Writers Association Student Football Writer of the Year award, is a regular on the A Celtic State Of Mind podcast as well as presenting the Soccer Supernova podcast, commentating on the SWPL for BBC Scotland, writing for BBC Scotland the The Celtic Way and working as a media officer for Lowland League side Bonnyrigg Rose. She tells Adam about her new football documentary, what Ange Postecoglou got right against Rangers, Celtic's successful January window, hostility directed at Celtic podcasters and her appearances on a certain Rangers Twitter account. 

As a fan of both Rangers and Arsenal, few are in a better position than Football365 writer Jason to discuss Aaron Ramsey's arrival at Ibrox. He also discusses a ridiculous Borna Barisic performance, where it went wrong for Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Celtic Park, where it went right for Kieran Tierney at the Emirates, the most memorable story he's covered, the dysfunctional retro sportswear brand that is Arsenal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's bizarre deadline day family holiday. 

Raith Rovers supporter and Women's Officer for the Perth & Kinross Constituency Labour Party explains why she's deeply unimpressed with her club as Adam takes an in-depth look at a shameful few days in Kirkcaldy.

He also asks his guests to help him debunk a myth involving a confused Dundee signing, puts questions to them from Twitter, sets them a tricky Aaron Ramsey quiz question and shares a staunch musical pun from the Scottish Cup archives. 

For more information about the podcast, go to: www.thebiglight.com/oldfirmfacts

For his first episode of 2022, Adam is joined by stand-up comedian Jim Burke and Sky Sports presenter Kelly Cates. 

Jim talks about Leigh Griffiths' departure from Celtic, 'keeping his side of the street clean' when it comes to offensive chants, how an acquaintance called 'Scouse Paul' was the only unhappy Liverpool fan after the 2005 Champions League Final, a game-changing Wordle tip from Stuart Cosgrove, his issue with retro Scotland tops, performing stand-up during a pandemic and an awkward conversation Kelly's dad caused Jim to have with his mother, 

Kelly discusses how the Hillsborough disaster shaped her outlook, society's 'expendable underclass', the importance of 'picking the right enemies' when fans wind up opponents, memories of that night in Istanbul, the biggest change she's seen in her industry, her approach as host when the likes of Roy Keane and Micah Richards get into heated debates. and being pushed around in a pram by Graeme Souness. 

Adam puts questions from Twitter to his guests, asks them to help him debunk a myth involving Brendan Rodgers' teeth and checks in with everyone's favourite Scottish football blog. 

For more information about Old Firm Facts, go to: www.thebiglight.com/oldfirmfacts

After a few weeks away Adam returns with a Christmas special, and he's brought a couple of popular past guests with him. 

Former Soccer FM duo Ray Bradshaw and Steven Mill become the first to make three appearances on the show, joining Adam for a look back at the Scottish football highlights of 2021. 

Award-winning stand-up Ray has recently supported Frankie Boyle and John Bishop, as well as making appearances on BBC Scotland's A View From The Terrace and Sky Sports. He speculates about John Collins' belly button, reflects on his ongoing beef with Superscoreboard host Gordon Duncan, shares his uncanny N-Dubz impression and predicts the chaos that Gary Caldwell would wreak in Grinch form, as well as hailing the important legacy of Rose Ayling-Ellis' Strictly win.

Radio presenter Steven is responsible for one of the most widely shared moments so far on the Old Firm Facts podcast, and he brings us a certain controversial political figure's opinion on Hamilton Accies as well as his own thoughts on Peter Grant's 'sexy football', unpleasant Tommy Wright memories, Les Battersby's East End Park cameo, nostril-waxing, the joy of Ally McCoist's Scotland commentary and why he was cut out of a recent radio moment that went viral.

Adam breaks down the best stories, headlines and quotes from each month of the year as well as asking his guests for their 2021 highlights and 2022 wishes, putting questions to them from Twitter, debunking two myths involving Celtic's trip to Dingwall and giving an Otis Redding classic a Derek McInnes twist.

We've all experienced a popular manager leaving our team. It happens. Few of us, however, have reacted by filming ourselves punching a lifesize cardboard cutout of said manager, 

Adam is joined for a second time by Rangers supporter John Walker to make sense of the fallout from Steven Gerrard's departure. John, who hosts the Scots Abroad podcast and also appears on the Rangers Rabble podcast, discusses what people get wrong about Gerrard's time at Ibrox, being taken in by his 'happy, settled' line, why comparisons with Brendan Rodgers leaving Celtic don't make sense, participating in a Michael Beale coaching masterclass, the Wenger philosophy that applies to Aaron Hickey, why the national team should look to emulate Switzerland and the Scots abroad who are impressing him.

Also joining Adam is Alasdair Mackenzie, a Rome-based Scottish journalist covering football for Reuters as their Italy correspondent. He talks about how Scotland fans are no longer deriving pleasure from pain, a bizarre Serie A managerial situation, what's going wrong for Jose Mourinho at Roma, an unusual party thrown by Graeme Souness, why Bologna is the perfect place for Hickey's development, what Scotland does better than Italy in terms of the matchday experience, working at the Euro 2020 opening ceremony, his favourite Ross County moments, the Scotland international currently playing in Milan's midfield and Scotland's Man of the Year Giorgio Chiellini. 

Celtic fan and stand-up comedian Jim Burke returns to spend a few minutes sharing memories of Bertie Auld after the legendary Lisbon Lion sadly passed away.

Adam speaks puts questions from Twitter to his guests, relives a mortifying experience on another podcast, debunks a myth involving their manager's departure and lists 10 questions certain Rangers fans were asking themselves after hearing the Gerrard news.

For more information about Old Firm Facts. go to: www.thebiglight.com/cop26

Old Firm Facts x Football Cliches x The Terrace. Three podcasts (and two Adams) come together for a look at football's unique language. A writer and editor for the Athletic, Adam Hurrey is the man behind Football Cliches. What started as a blog became a hugely popular Twitter account, book and podcast. Adam traces an enduring football cliche back to Gareth Bale, recalls some bizarre 'classy touches', examines football's hierarchy of respect, shares his important advice for under-fire managers, explores the gentrification of Ally McCoist, adjudicates on some recent Scottish football tweets and explains why Alfredo Morelos would be good at getting served in the pub.

Robert has made the jump to TV with his fellow Terrace podcasters and is currently appearing in season four of A View From The Terrace. Hearts TV host/co-commentator Robert discusses how the TV show has affected the way he looks at football coverage, why neutrals should support Hearts, what's changed at Tynecastle since last season, memories of Marius Zaliukas, his work on the FC United to Prevent Suicide campaign, Neil Lennon's Scottish Cup Final attire, the siege mentality in call centres, holding the door open for a prominent Scottish football figure on his way to the recording and Vladimir Romanov's submarine. 

The other Adam talks to Sports Media LGBT+ founder Jon Holmes about the impact of Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo coming out, puts questions from Twitter to his guests, finds out their ideal pub companions from the world of football and asks them to help him debunk a myth involving respectful goal celebrations. 

For more information about the podcast, go to: www.thebiglight.com/oldfirmfacts

It would be fair to say that certain figures in Scottish football could have used a PR expert in recent days. 

Thankfully, media and comms professional Gordon Sheach was on hand to give his perspective on a recent incident that has had all of Scottish football talking about a particular League One club. The Tartan Scarf founder Gordon writes, tweets and presents a podcast about the Scottish national team, and he discusses what a country-over-club man does with his weekends, looks at Scotland's playoff hopes, explains why he takes issue with the idea of 'glorious failure', shares a touching story of friendship and football that went viral during the Euros, fills the show's weekly 'Not a Motherwell fan but this is class' quota and talks up Scottish football's 'homemade vibe'

Clean energy researcher Fraser Stewart is a Celtic fan who's presented widely-shared BBC Social videos on mental health. He reveals which Celtic player he'll happily share his home with, picks out the two issues Ange Postecoglou needs to address in January, tackles misconceptions around bipolar disorder, explains the importance of following up mental health 'cliches' with real action, has his say on whether COP26 could have been a Zoom call and why it could lead to a 'legacy of resentment' and suggests changes Scottish clubs could make to reduce their environmental impact. 

Adam puts questions from Twitter to his guests, asks them to identify a mystery VIP Celtic fan, debunks a myth involving a certain League One club's recent Q&A and ruins his chances of a sponsorship deal with a particular high street retailer. 

When it comes to eccentric, iconic, long-serving and occasionally cranky legendary managers, Scotland has Jim McLean and England has Brian Clough. Both of those names come up as Adam is joined by a Dundee United supporter and a Nottingham Forest fan.

Alistair Heather is a documentary host, columnist and Scots language advocate, who's spent the last year co-hosting Dundee United TV. On his second Old Firm Facts podcast appearance, he discusses his 'bromance' with a Tannadice legend, how he put his feelings about Fifers aside to get behind Tam Courts, why United's boss deserves credit for his anti-racism stance against Ross County, phallic referees, his conflicting emotions upon meeting Prince Charles, why he understands Weegies being reluctant to embrace Scots and how Darren Mackie became a 'reading champion' without reading.

Author and journalist Daniel Storey is Chief Football Writer for the i newspaper, and won the Football Supporters Federation's Football Writer of the Year award in 2016. He talks about what other clubs can learn from Motherwell, a 'punk rock football club' in Paris, his book on football icons, the moral dilemma facing Newcastle fans, how Messi reignited his mum's love of football, an infamous Andy Cole interview and a heartwarming moment involving Clough.

Adam puts questions to Twitter from his guests, debunks a myth involving Ally McCoist, Neil Lennon, Ronaldinho and some allegedly 'hilarious' Scottish football stories, reliving a classic Scottish football Q&A and sharing some in-depth analysis from Scott Brown. 

Adam and Ally also discuss a campaign they're involved in addressing male sexual entitlement, and why men need to look in the mirror and address their own behaviour.

For more information about the podcast, go to: www.thebiglight.com/oldfirmfacts

Bring a Rangers fan and an Everton fan together and there's one player who's guaranteed to come up. And after Adam's guests got Francis Jeffers out the way, they also had a chat about Duncan Ferguson. 

Rangers Review columnist Garry Carmody discusses Nathan Patterson's performances for club and country, the complex relationship between Rangers fans and the national team, how UEFA failed Glen Kamara, having his staunchness questioned and unearthing an iconic Scottish football clip. 

Stand-up comedian and writer Sam Whyte talks about her love of Stevie Naismith, what went wrong for Walter Smith at Goodison, reluctantly getting behind a Liverpool legend, her piece on Ronaldo and how football reacts to allegations against players, comedy influences and the contours of Mick McCarthy's calves.

Adam asks his guests to help him debunk a myth involving Kris Boyd, puts questions to them from Twitter, subjects them to a quiz on articles they've unwittingly appeared in and works through his addiction to Ally McCoist's commentary from Scotland's win against Israel.

For more information about Old Firm Facts, go to: www.thebiglight.com/oldfirmfacts

The New York Times has won 132 Pulitzer Prizes in its illustrious 170-year history, but it's only ever published one disclaimer involving the words 'Old', 'Firm' and 'liquidation'.

New York Times Chief Soccer Correspondent Rory Smith tells Adam about explaining Celtic and Rangers to the world, working with Rafa Benitez, Steven Gerrard's managerial future, English football's view of the SPFL, Scotland's place in the football landscape, 'the cult of the transfer', how Jordan Henderson is tackling online abuse, who benefits from Messi's PSG move and the time an England player's dad threatened to shoot him.

Dundee United fan Laura Costello helps to facilitate a Mental Health Awareness course which has been attended by hundreds within Scottish football, and also runs women's recreational sessions with Dundee West FC. She discusses Tam Courts' impact at Tannadice, United's draw against Celtic, the club's academy setup, why football needs more empathy, the impact of Scotland's World Cup 2019 appearance on women's football in the country and the advice she would give footballers regarding social media.

Adam puts questions from Twitter to his guests, shares some classic unconvincing excuses and writes a heartfelt apology on behalf of Bruno Fernandes.

For more information about Old Firm Facts, go to: www.thebiglight.com/oldfirmfacts