Pro Revolution Soccer – Novara Media Podcasts

It’s part of the national myth: the English invented football and to England it will return (next time!).

But if football is part of what makes England England, it’s equally part of the story of how Europe became Europe.

In this Pro Revolution Soccer season finale, Tom Williams and Juliet Jacques tell this story of oddballs, war, oligarchs, dodgy deals and footballing genius.

Along the way, they discuss how football relates to what is ‘pragmatic’ in politics, why Gareth Southgate is a bit like a good David Cameron, and explain the only certainty in the beautiful game: that there will always be more football.

Music by Matt Huxley.

Tom and Juliet expose the surprisingly rich history of football as a wing of political resistance, from Algeria to Palestine to the growing power of the grassroots game in Britain.

They also process England’s shock win against Switzerland, TV pundits’ criticism of Southgate, and the silence around Cristiano Ronaldo.

Music by Matt Huxley.

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Tom and Juliet are joined by Keir Milburn to take the long view on the Premier League. Juliet explains how ’80s hooliganism and stadium disasters led to the formation of a new top flight, boosted by Rupert Murdoch’s TV empire and resulting in the iron grip of the Big Five clubs today. Are we stuck like this?

They also discuss the incoming Labour government’s vision for football and take a moment to dwell on England v Slovakia.

Tune in next Wednesday for the final episode in our Euro 2024 miniseries.

Music by Matt Huxley.

This week Tom and Juliet are joined by David Goldblatt, author of The Ball Is Round, to answer a seemingly simple question: who runs football? David explains why billionaires and foreign investors love sinking their money into football, and what accusations of “sportswashing” leave out.

Plus, we talk about what’s going on with Southgate’s strategy. Has pragmatism become dogmatism for England?

Music by Matt Huxley. Design by Pietro Garrone. Produced by Chal Ravens.

As Euro 2024 gets underway, election results show a surge of support for the far-right across Europe. Can football help us make sense of it?

This week on Pro Revolution Soccer, Juliet Jacques and Tom Williams look at the connections between football and fascism, and explain how the same forces that allowed a tiny elite to take over the game are now reopening the door to the far-right.

Music by Matt Huxley. Design by Pietro Garrone. Produced by Chal Ravens.

Novara Media’s football podcast returns for another crack at the silverware! Every Wednesday until the Euro 2024 final, Juliet Jacques and Tom Williams provide political and tactical analysis of the tournament in an episode of two halves.

This week: the strange spectacle of politicians pretending to like football, the changing status of women and LGBT+ players and fans, what Starmer will do for the game, and England’s prospects after a flat showing against Iceland.

Music by Matt Huxley. Design by Pietro Garrone. Produced by Chal Ravens.

As the Qatar World Cup draws to a close, Tom Williams and Keir Milburn wonder about the future of international football and ask the most important question of all: what is to be done?

On the final episode of Pro Revolution Soccer, they’re joined by David Wearing, political journalist and lecturer in international relations at the University of Sussex, to look back on the upsets and delights of a tournament that should never have happened. David explains how brands, broadcasters and western powers all benefit from “the violence inherent in the system” and puts forward his vision of football as a force for good.

Catch up with the whole season of Pro Revolution Soccer at novara.media/football

Produced by Chal Ravens. Music by Matt Huxley. Design by Pietro Garrone.

Football elicits some of the most intense emotions we’re capable of feeling, from the hug-a-stranger joy of winning trophies to the phone-in misery of relegation. At the end of the day, it’s only a game – but maybe games are more serious than we think?

To discuss the emotional and social meaning of football, Keir and Tom are joined by writer, filmmaker and Clapton CFC centre-forward Juliet Jacques. They also speak to Novara’s labour movement correspondent Polly Smythe about the trade union leader who’s become an unlikely cheerleader for the Qatari government.

Find Polly’s article at novara.media/football and keep up with Pro Revolution Soccer every Friday until the World Cup final.

Produced by Chal Ravens. Music by Matt Huxley. Design by Pietro Garrone.

As Wales crash out of the World Cup after defeat against England, Keir Milburn and Tom Williams question their dedication to international football. After all, how can you support a national team if you don’t believe in borders?

On the third episode of Pro Revolution Soccer, Keir and Tom are joined by writer and broadcaster David Goldblatt – author of acclaimed football history tome The Ball Is Round – to discuss football as a national culture. Is cheering for England inherently jingoistic? Or can football be the bedrock of a popular progressive identity – one that no longer feels the need to mention the war when England play Germany? David explores the political potential of the current squad and reflects on the varied responses to Qatar ’22 around the world.

Look out for Pro Revolution Soccer, the football podcast that doesn’t leave politics at the turnstile, every Friday until the World Cup final.

Produced by Chal Ravens. Music by Matt Huxley. Design by Pietro Garrone.

Trophies. Glory. Trade deals. Kudos. What does Qatar really want from the World Cup? In the second episode of Pro Revolution Soccer, Keir Milburn and Tom Williams reflect on the opening week of the tournament and dig deeper into the political and sporting flashpoints so far.

They’re joined by Kate Mason from the Football Ramble, who talks about her years in the Gulf and what she learned while making her new podcast series, Inside the Qatar World Cup. Tom also speaks to Lebanese writer and activist Ali Reda about why Gulf petrostates are investing billions into football – particularly in the north of England – and what the British state gets out of the deal.

Pro Revolution Soccer is out every Friday until the World Cup Final. Find more World Cup coverage, including Ali’s article, at novara.media/football

Music by Matt Huxley. Produced by Chal Ravens. Design by Pietro Garrone.