Roker Rapport Podcast

Tomorrow, ‘Sunderland Til I Die’ will be finally unveiled to the world via Netflix. Joining us to talk all about it are Leo, Ben and Souts from Fulwell73, the production company behind it. You can listen for free on Acast, iTunes, Spotify, & YouTube - get stuck in!

What are we talking about this episode?

When, where, why, and how did the lads from Fulwell73 decide to make a documentary on the trials and tribulations of Sunderland AFC?

How did the initial talks go with the club, and what was the pitch that convinced Netflix to green-light such a series?

What was it like as fans, watching all this past drama unfold from the inside?

Did the approach and the vision evolve as the season progressed?

Who was easier to deal with, and how important was it to involve the fanbase the way they did?

A little background on the lads as fans of Sunderland, the production process, and talk of further seasons being released;

All this and much, much more! Tune in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our special guest on the Roker Rapport Podcast today is former Sunderland and Leicester winger Matt Piper, to talk all about his time at the club, his career, his teammates, his managers and his life! You can listen for free on Acast, iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube - get stuck in!  

What are we talking about?

Matt talks about his experience coming up through the youth system at Leicester, living under the threat of administration, and harsh lessons learned from playing for Mansfield in the lower leagues;

Doing the right thing for your fans and your club; presented with a difficult choice at a young age, Matt talks about what really drove his sale to Peter Reid’s Sunderland;

Great memories of his welcome to wearside from club legends like Phillips and Quinn, and the young players he spent most of his time with (and how Tore Andre Flo helped him with an important life decision off the pitch)

Following Reidy’s departure, Matt talks about his turbulent relationship with former manager Howard Wilkinson... (Parental guidance - Explicit content)

The differences between managers like Reid, Wilkinson, and Mick McCarthy among many others;

The highs and lows of the game; Relegation and promotion, and the mentality needed to deal with both;

The injuries that held him back; getting terrible news from one of the world’s leading specialists, and how important the support of the fanbase was during these difficult times;

Matty talks about the early end of his career, and how it ultimately impacted his mental health, his lifestyle choices and coping mechanisms;

The PFA and the issues surrounding young lads and lasses who suddenly find themselves without a career, and trying to transition away from the world of football into a relatively normal life;

Answering your Twitter questions; Beating Luke Ball at table tennis, the young lads celebrating the downfall of Wilkinson, adjusting to his new career as a commentator, working within his academy, the spectre of double denim, and some advice for Duncan Watmore!

A great lad giving a thoroughly open, frank, honest (and often pretty explicit) interview! Wonderful stuff. Tune In!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us on the Roker Rapport Podcast, fresh off the back of their trip to watch the lads play Accrington, are Durham CCC’s Chris Rushworth, Brydon Carse & Matty Wilson. You can listen for free on Acast, iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube - get stuck in!

What are we talking about?

Connor nails his introductions like a boss;

Our rain soaked visit to Accrington at the weekend;

The finer points of sh*thousery, and what the ref's ultimate abandonment of the game might mean going forward;

Our collective love of League One football;

Chis, Brydon and Matty tell us all about their love for Sunderland, and how it all began;

Cricket; You can drink in the stands which is class, but what's it all about eh?

All things SAFC, a canny few things Durham CCC, and much more in-between! Tune In!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re joined to preview Sunderland’s upcoming visit to the Wham Stadium by non other than the Chairman of Accrington Stanley himself - Andy Holt! You can listen for free on Acast, iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube - get stuck in! 

What are we talking about?

Breaking new ground; Andy looks forward to welcoming 2600 Sunderland fans to the Wham Stadium, as their attendance record looks set to be broken this Saturday!

We get some history of the club itself, and how Andy came to own it (despite that not being his original intent);

As a fellow owner and Chairman, what does Andy think of the work put in by Stewart Donald and co since their takeover of Sunderland?

Pubs, Trains and Happy Meals; We cover a few different topics, and we find out why you apparently can’t buy your lads a burger in the football league..

Andy talks Accrington, and how important it is for the new breed of Club owners to make themselves available to the fans no matter what;

Predictions and much more; A great deal of pride goes into running his club, and he talks directly to the fans about how proud he is of all of them, and how far they’ve come in a relatively short time.

This is a wonderful chat with a down to earth, absolute gent of the game - some real insight for fans of real football everywhere. Tune in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were in the Midlands this weekend to witness Sunderland’s 1-1 draw with Walsall - as was today’s Roker Rapport Podcast guest, Nick Barnes of BBC Newcastle! You can listen for free on Acast, iTunes, Spotify, & YouTube - get stuck in!

What are we talking about this episode?

Barnesy and Gav talk about the matchday experience down at Walsall;

Central defence - are Baldwin and Flanagan the pair that we need to take us forward?

Aiden McGeady scored again - how good was his performance?

Josh Maja’s situation - if he doesn’t sign a new deal, what path should the club take?

Nick gives an update on when we can expect Duncan Watmore to start a first team game;

We take a brief look ahead to the Notts County and Accrington games;

All this and much, much more! Tune in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sunderland are off to the Bescot Stadium again this weekend - so, with that in mind, we caught back up with Walsall journo Joe Masi to preview Saturday’s game. You can listen for free on Acast, iTunes, Spotify, and YouTube - get stuck in!

What are we talking about?

Saturday's eventful away draw at Walsall;

What did their fans make of the away support, the celebrations, and Max Power's now rescinded red card;

Looking ahead to the next game; Joe outlines what he thinks went wrong with the last meeting from their perspective, and tries to guess at how Dean Keates will line up his boys against us this time;

Reactions to both team's midweek games, and some injury news that could well improve our chances of keeping a cup run going;

Is it more insulting to the Saddlers and the clubs around them if we don't celebrate a comeback like that?

All this and much more! Back to Bescot we go!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us in the studio is Sunderland Executive Director Charlie Methven, who is appearing on his second Roker Rapport podcast to answer your questions, and to talk all things SAFC and more. You can listen for free on Acast, iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn and YouTube - get stuck in!

What are we talking about today?

Getting to know Charlie as a person;

The Fan experience at the Stadium of Light... and certain musical choices!

What the financial implications are for the club if they fail to remove high earners;

What is it like watching Sunderland play from the Directors Box?

Favourite pints, stolen kebabs, and the morning after the night before...

Connor and Charlie compile a few fashion tips! Aye.

The potential breakaway European Super-league and PL2;

Plus much, much more! 90 minutes of podcast gold!!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us in the studio to talk candidly about his controversial time as a Sunderland player is Lee Clark. You can listen for free on Acast, iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn and YouTube - get stuck in!

What are we talking about this episode?

Lee tells all about where Sunderland’s interest in him started;

How a boozy session with Peter Reid convinced him to come;

His happy memories of playing for the Lads;

The night he told Peter Reid he couldn’t play for Sunderland in the Premier League;

THAT photo - Lee gives his account of what actually happened, and why it happened;

The fallout - what was said, and how he left;

Some great stories about Kevin Ball;

His managerial career and what he’s up to now;

His perspective on Chris Maguire - the man he signed at Bury;

All this and much, much more! Get stuck in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Graham managed to squeeze in a chat with Express and Star writer Joe, in between a couple of big player interviews, to discuss the upcoming away trip to the West Midlands, and to see how the Saddlers are doing these days. Tune In!

What are we talking about this episode?

How are Keates' men doing this season?

Tactical breakdown and Analysis of their recent games;

Players to watch; With talented wingers and a tendency to absorb pressure and hit on the counter, who do Jack's Lads need to look out for?

Handling Maja; The saddlers have signed someone who may well cause our young star a few problems..

Predictions, League One chatter and banter, and much more! Get stuck in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Xtra host Graham had the chance to catch up with the absolute Lad that is Kieran Richardson to discuss his time at Sunderland, Roy Keane, Steve Bruce, that absolute screamer against the mags, the fanbase as a whole, that ponytail, and the highlights of his playing career to date.

What are we talking about this episode? 

If Kieran could pick a team from the players he played alongside at the Stadium of Light, who would make the top eleven?

Roy Keane; What was it like to play under him after playing alongside him, and how did it feel when he left the club?

The City itself; Did he enjoy his time here, living alongside the fans?

Playing against Newcastle; How did it feel to hit that free kick, and could he feel what it meant to the fanbase?

Real team players; What did he make of talk about team spirit at the time, and dressing room drama? 

The love of the game; Kieran tells us his preferred position, but the importance of doing a job no matter where you are on the pitch.

The reasons why he had to leave us;

What are his abiding memories of the club, and would he change anything about his time here?

All this and much, much more! Get Stuck in!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.