The Back Page

This final episode of this season of Between the Lines is a documentary about one of the most beloved of all sports books, Joe McGinniss's 1999 hall-of-famer, The Miracle of Castel di Sangro.

McGinniss - an American who had previously written landmark books on US politics and true crime - read a magazine piece about an Italian team's improbable rise to Serie B and decided to spend a year of his life embedded with them. The resulting book has it all: tragedy, crime, glory and despair, hope and disillusionment.

This special episode would not have been possible without the co-operation of Joe's widow, Nancy Doherty. We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, and also your own thoughts and memories of this great book. Search for @BackPagePress on Twitter and Facebook.

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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit backpagepress.substack.com

Last season, our Socios at patreon.com/grahamhunter got an exclusive interview with David Preece. This is the second part of that full interview.

In part two, David breaks down the unique skills of some of his favourite keepers, including Edwin van der Sar and Gianluigi Buffon.

If you would prefer not to wait 12 months to listen to these extra interviews, it’s time to become a Socio at patreon.com/grahamhunter

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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Last season, our Socios at patreon.com/grahamhunter got an exclusive interview with David Preece. For the first time, here’s the full episode.

David is one of the most accomplished ex-professionals at writing about football - he is dragging analysis of goalkeeping beyond the lazy clichés. And it helps, too, that he played for my beloved Aberdeen.

In part one, David speaks about being on the end of a whirlwind thrashing by a Celtic side which featured the legendary Henrik Larsson, how he broke every finger during his career and how losing a match threw him into a pit of gloom.

If you would prefer not to wait 12 months to listen to these extra interviews, it’s time to become a Socio at patreon.com/grahamhunter

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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

In the ninth episode in this new season of Between the Lines, 26-year-old Catalan journalist Pol Ballus tells us how he went from full-time waiter and part-time freelancer to inside the machine of Pep Guardiola's Man City.

Enjoy

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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit backpagepress.substack.com

In the eighth episode in this new season of Between the Lines, Martin and Neil from BackPage take you behind the scenes of their latest bestseller, Pep’s City: The Making of a Superteam. They talk about the huge editorial challenges they faced and their productive relationship with both authors, Lu Martin and Pol Ballus.

Part two, Martin's chat with Pol, is out tomorrow.

Enjoy

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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit backpagepress.substack.com

Hola!

Andrea Orlandi will be the next big thing in broadcasting punditry– you heard in here first.

I adore listening to his analysis of the beautiful game, skills which were honed when he played at Barcelona observing the talents of the likes of Ronaldinho, Deco and Sergio Busquets. Andrea wants to put the viewer in the boots of the player in a given situation. He wants to you to visualise what goes on in the changing-room, behind the scenes.

Andrea’s biggest regret was avoiding a meeting with Pep Guardiola when the now-legendary manager took over the Barca B side, but he never rued snubbing a big-money move to Greece for the Roberto Martínez revolution at Swansea City. Despite the initial culture shock in which he had to get changed in the training ground car park, Andrea and Swansea gained promotion to England’s top flight under Brendan Rodgers. Andrea gives an amazing insight into why Brendan WILL go on to be a Premier League-winning manager, not least because training is such a joy under the Northern Irishman. He’s also brilliant on what makes great punditry and why, and who will win La Liga this season.

You will love this interview with this articulate, charming man.

Graham

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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

In part two of our monthly Q & A, our beloeved socios ask Graham questions on football in Spain and the UK.

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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Hola

Here's the first part of our November Q&A.

Enjoy!

Graham

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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

In 2006, David Goldblatt published 'The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football'. It was an extensive study of the beautiful game stretching back from its very origins into the early years of the 21st century. Job done. Or not.

The last decade or so has witnessed seismic shifts in football, from its economic transformation and politicisation through to the emergence of China and United States on the global stage. So, David went back to the drawing board and the result is another book, another epic study of the beautiful game by the best football historian in the business.

'The Age of Football: The Global Game in the 21st Century' is out now and fits inside a Christmas stocking, so long as it’s a very big stocking. This is a live event recorded at Waterstones in Glasgow where myself and David chatted about the process of completing such an epic project.   

Thanks to David for this interview and check him out on Twitter @davidsgoldblatt. And please check out the rest of this season of Between the Lines. The rest of the episodes from this season feature interviews with Ben Reiter, Oliver Kay, Lawrence Donegan, Daniel Gray and Hugh MacDonald. Finally, if you’ve enjoyed this, please leave us a review, tell a friend, spread the word. 

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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit backpagepress.substack.com

Like his father before him, Clive Allen played in a great Tottenham Hotspur side, and in part two this prolific scorer shares memories of what it was like being fed by the marvellous Chris Waddle.

There’s also chat about Julian Dicks and getting West Ham promoted to the top flight, starring in the early days of Soccer Saturday alongside George Best and Alan Brazil, and Clive’s affinity for Harry Kane, a player he helped to shape. Oh, and did you know that after he retired from soccer Clive played American football for the London Monarchs?

Clive also reflects on the recent sacking of Mauricio Pochettino, and how he had what could almost be described as a premonition that the Special One would one day manage Spurs.

Enjoy

Graham

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

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com