What makes a cyclist truly great? Is it the number of victories, the biggest races won, or the ability to produce moments that fans remember for generations?

In this episode, we explore the remarkable rise of Tadej Pogačar, the Slovenian phenomenon who has transformed from a promising young rider into one of the defining figures of modern cycling. From teenage prodigy to multiple Grand Tour and world champion, Pogačar has built great rivalries, come back from second-place finishes to dominate and become one of a kind in the sporting world. Mark and Marcus speak to journalist and author Chris Sidwells to truly understand what makes the champion tick.

We want to hear from you! Let us know about the episodes YOU want to hear by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Instagram and Tik Tok @sportishistory

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From generating little to no money to becoming one of the world’s most followed sporting competitions, the history of the football league is a story of ambition, money, innovation and dramatic change.

In this episode, we take a journey through the origins and evolution of league football in the UK, we speak to special guest football historian Peter Kenny Jones and explore how the world's most popular game originated from humble beginnings.

We want to hear from you! Let us know about the episodes YOU want to hear by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Instagram and Tik Tok @sportishistory

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you think modern English cricket can be chaotic, cast your mind back to the summer of 1988.

England were confronted by perhaps the most formidable team in world cricket: Viv Richards' West Indies. What followed was a summer of battered batsmen, terrifying fast bowling, captaincy turmoil and one of the most extraordinary Test series in English cricket history.

The West Indies arrived with Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Patrick Patterson — and England discovered very quickly that survival was going to be difficult. In this episode, Mark and Marcus explore the notorious "summer of the four captains" — or five, depending on how you count the men who led England during the wider season. As well as diving into the details we speak to a very special guest, one who knows more than most about the events that unfolded, captain Chris Cowdrey.

We want to hear from you! Let us know about the episodes YOU want to hear by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Instagram and Tik Tok @sportishistory

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do you think when you hear the word Cricket? A gentlemen's game, sandwiches at tea time, cable knit sweaters. You may not necessarily think of a sport doused in corruption and scandals, well, in today's episode that's exactly what we're looking for! Mark and Marcus look into some of the most blatant forms of cheating the sport has had to offer, from Bancroft's sandpaper fiasco against South Africa in 2018 to Dennis Lillee's aluminium bat in 1979, it's fair to say many have attempted to pull the wool over watching eyes.

We want to hear from you! Let us know about the episodes YOU want to hear by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Instagram and Tik Tok @sportishistory

Every week, Mark Pougatch and Marcus Buckland unpack unbelievable stories from the world of sporting history.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when an umpire and a captain go head-to-head?

Back in 1987, England cricket captain Mike Gatting and somewhat controversial umpire Shakoor Rana came to blows in one of cricket's most fiery encounters. In this episode, we revisit the explosive confrontation between the two during England's 1987 tour of Pakistan—a dispute that brought play to a halt, dominated headlines around the world, and became one of cricket's defining flashpoints. Mark and Marcus are also joined by special guest and photographer on that day who witnessed it all, Graham Morris.

Graham shares his firsthand memories of the incident, what it was like behind the lens as well as letting us into another extraordinary experience...away from sport. He's was also the photographer behind the famous images connected to the Enfield Poltergeist, offering another insight into a fascinating chapter of British history.

We want to hear from you! Let us know about the episodes YOU want to hear by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Instagram and Tik Tok @sportishistory

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What curse lasts for 75 years? Is it true? Is it a myth? Well, the wait for silverware is finally over for Mayo. After supposedly being cursed by a priest 51 years, the Gaelic football team managed to get their hands on the Sam Maguire Cup with victory against Kerry this past weekend but the story behind the victory is one passed on from generation to generation.

In this episode, Mark and Marcus pick the bones out of story built on community, pride, heartbreak and redemption.

We want to hear from you! Let us know about the episodes YOU want to hear by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Instagram and Tik Tok @sportishistory

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

And it's over...well, not quite yet. From Cape Verde's wondrous antics to Harry Kane's broken voice interview, join Mark and Marcus as we relive all the crazy twists and turns from the 2026 World Cup.

Whilst full of standout events such as Ferran Torres' winning goal in the final, Lionel Messi's remarkable final World Cup campaign and Kylian Mbappé's Golden Boot-winning tournament, in this episode we explore the side of the game that truly sticks in the memory, such as Norway's Viking row, the fans' passionate support for their countries and late late goals.

We want to hear from you! Let us know about the episodes YOU want to hear by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Instagram and Tik Tok @sportishistory

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time! After a month of hard fought battles, VAR controversy, unbelievable goals and heartbreak, the World Cup final is finally here. In this episode, Mark and Marcus build-up to the big game between Spain and Argentina Sunday night whilst not forgetting the two high profile semi-finals that have come before including France and England.

The pair take a look at the somewhat tactical mistakes from Tuchel and Deschamps in the semis, the stand out players heading into the final as well as key battles across the pitch and most importantly who they believe will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

We want to hear from you! Let us know about the episodes YOU want to hear by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Instagram and Tik Tok @sportishistory

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The World Cup has seen players, coaches and matches that will forever stay in memory but what about those moments that fly under the radar? Well, in this episode Mark and Marcus explore some of what can only be described as ONE-HIT wonders!

From players who produced unforgettable performances to countries engulfed in political pressure, the pair unpack Italy's Toto Schillaci, North Korea's triumph in 1966, concrete Ron Vlaar and the Iraq team from 1986.

We want to hear from you! Let us know about the episodes YOU want to hear by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Instagram and Tik Tok @sportishistory

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every World Cup-winning team has legendary players—but behind every champion stands a mastermind on the touchline.

In this episode, we dive into the brilliant minds that shaped football history, exploring the tactics, personalities, and leadership of four standout coaches of all time, Franz Beckenbauer, Alf Ramsey, Vittorio Pozzo, and Helmut Schön.

From endearing personalities to unforgettable triumphs, we'll uncover how these football masterminds built teams capable of conquering football's biggest stage.

We want to hear from you! Let us know about the episodes YOU want to hear by emailing us at [email protected] or following us on Instagram and Tik Tok @sportishistory

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices