The FootPol Podcast

What really happened when the FA took over women’s football in 1993 – and why does it still matter today?

In this first episode of 2026, co-hosts Francesco Belcastro and Guy Burton are joined by Rafaelle Nicholson of Bournemouth Media School to unpack the hidden history, politics and governance of women’s football in England – from the rise and fall of the Women’s Football Association (WFA) to today’s debates over WSL independence and the recent introduction of NewCo governance.

Drawing on archival evidence and first-hand accounts, the conversation challenges the long-standing claim that the 1993 handover was a “merger.” Instead, it argues it was a takeover – one that dismantled a rare, gender-balanced governing body and replaced it with male-dominated FA structures, with lasting consequences for representation, accountability and grassroots autonomy.

The episode explores:

• How the WFA (1969–1993) built women’s football during and after FA hostility
• Why the FA takeover reduced women’s voice in governance, even as the game later grew
• Cross-sport parallels in women’s cricket, rugby, and hockey under 1990s “single governing body” policies
• What today’s WSL/Newco model could learn from both the Premier League breakaway and past governance failures
• Why women’s sport is still treated as a media apprenticeship, and how journalism education may be quietly changing that

With women’s football booming on the pitch but still contested off it, this episode asks a blunt question: growth for whom, and at what cost? And as the WSL edges towards greater autonomy, are we about to repeat history – or finally correct it?

Essential listening for anyone interested in women’s football, football governance, the FA, the WSL, sports politics and the future of the women’s game.

For those interested in reading the full article by Raf, it is available at the Sport in History website here.

As the year comes to a close, FootPol examines what it really takes to build a career in women’s football — and how politics, policy and power shape pathways into the professional game. In this episode, co-hosts Guy Burton and Francesco Belcastro are joined by Sydney Minarik, former Clemson University defender, to discuss elite NCAA Division I women’s soccer, professional opportunities, and her upcoming move to Australia’s National Premier League (NPL). Drawing on her experience in one of the most competitive college football environments in the United States, Sydney offers an insider perspective on recruitment, positional change, and the shifting relationship between college soccer and the professional game.

The conversation goes beyond the pitch to explore the structures shaping women’s football globally. Guy, Francesco and Sydney discuss the long-term impact of Title IX, the effects of visa and immigration restrictions on international players, and the inequalities created by the U.S. pay-to-play system. They also examine ACL injuries, women-specific training and equipment, under-fueling, and the growing role of performance data and sports science — asking why women’s bodies have so often been overlooked, and what must change as the women’s game continues to grow. 

FootPol will be back in January 2026 with more episodes exploring football and politics from around the world. Subscribe so they come through to you automatically!

Last Friday's 2026 World Cup draw in Washington DC kicks off a new mini-series running on the FootPol Podcast this season, about debutant nations heading to next year’s tournament. In this first episode, we turn to Uzbekistan — one of the most intriguing first-timers on the global stage.

Guy Burton and Francesco Belcastro are joined by Donat Iskanderov, a Central Asian groundhopper from Tashkent, to unpack how Uzbekistan reached its first-ever men’s World Cup and what that achievement means for the country. Together they explore the domestic football landscape and the evolution of the national team, shifting from early post-independence squads dominated by ethnic Russians to today’s Uzbek-led side that resonates far more with supporters. Donat discusses the political significance of qualification for the government’s “New Uzbekistan” narrative, the surge in national pride, and the young players now emerging in European leagues.

This episode sets the tone for our ongoing World Cup debutants series as we track the football, politics and identity shaping the newest members of the global game. Watch out for future episodes on Jordan, Cabo Verde and Curaçao!

Historian and sociologist of football David Goldblatt is back on the podcast to talk to hosts Guy and Francesco about his latest book 'Injury Time. Football in a state of emergency'. David's excellent work discusses how football is an extraordinary tool to understand the recent past in Britain, from Brexit to covid and the various crises associated with the rising cost of living, growing inequality and climate change. As well as setting out the problems and challenges that society faces, David also offers some suggestions to improve things through football.

This week on The FootPol Podcast, we explore the booming world of football tourism, stadium tours, and club museums with expert Felipe Bertazzo Tobar of Clemson University. From the Camp Nou to the Maracanã, Felipe unpacks how football heritage has become a powerful mix of politics, identity, and global business to co-hosts Guy and Francesco.

Why do clubs curate their histories the way they do? How are women’s football and fans reshaping the stories told in these spaces? And what happens when politics and commercial branding collide in the beautiful game’s temples?

Featuring real examples from Spain, Germany, the UK, and South America, this episode dives deep into how the global game sells memory — and what’s left out of the story.

Felipe's documentary, "The Match That Not Every Club Wants To Play," which is mentioned in the episode, can be watched here.

 #FootballTourism #SportsHeritage #StadiumTours #FootballPolitics #FootPolPodcast #SoccerCulture #FootballHistory

In the latest FootPol Podcast episode, Leslie Mabon, senior lecturer in environmental systems at The Open University discusses how football’s deep ties to industry reveal a bigger story about climate change, community identity, and the energy transition.

From the coalfields of Fife to the steelworks of Dortmund and Japan’s industrial clubs, football’s roots run through carbon-intensive economies. Mabon explains how clubs are now reinterpreting their industrial heritage — through shirts, banners, and community initiatives — while grappling with questions of sportswashing, ethical sponsorship, and sustainability.

The episode explores how energy and identity intersect: oil and gas companies still sponsor around half of Scotland’s Highland League teams, but a shift toward renewable energy sponsorship is under way — signalling how the game may help normalise the low-carbon transition.

As Mabon argues, football’s evolution mirrors society’s: industries that once drove emissions are now helping power the clean energy future. And while putting a wind turbine logo on a shirt won’t decarbonise a region overnight, it might just spark the conversations that do.

Why do millions of Africans passionately support European football clubs they’ve never seen in person? This episode addresses this question in Manase Chiweshe and Solomon Waliaula's recent book African Fans of European Football by exploring how fandom in Africa is reshaping global football culture.

From Liverpool murals on Zimbabwean buses to Arsenal “tribes” in Kenya, we unpack how football fuels identity, community, masculinity, and even prayer. We also discuss sports betting, gender, and how local leagues are adapting in response.

An eye-opening conversation about football as both a global business and a deeply local passion.

This week on the FootPol Podcast, Rory Magrath of Southampton Solent University joins co-host Guy to unpack LGBTQ+ issues in football. From the late acceptance of LGBTQ+ players and fans in the men’s game to the more welcoming culture in women’s football, Rory explains why attitudes have shifted — and what challenges remain. We also dive into his new book, LGBT Football Fans (Routledge, 2025), exploring how fan communities are reshaping the sport. 

FootPol is back for a brand new season — and we’re hitting the ground running. In this season opener, we recap the biggest political battles shaping the beautiful game and give you a taste of what’s to come.

We start with Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza and the mounting grassroots calls to expel Israel from world football — alongside the deafening silence from FIFA and UEFA. From there, we shift to the women’s game, exploring the politics laid bare in the Women’s Euros, the African Cup of Nations, and the Copa América Femenina.

We also dive into the controversies around the Club World Cup: Gianni Infantino’s curious friendship with Donald Trump, Saudi Arabia’s expanding influence at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and what all this means for football’s future.

This season, FootPol moves to a biweekly schedule — and we explain why. As ever, we want your input: like, share, and review the podcast, suggest future guests and topics, and connect with us on Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or by email at footpolpodcast [at] gmail [dot] com.

In the last episode of the seasone, co-hosts Guy and Francesco reflect on a great second season of FootPol, and pick apart some of the main themes from the season. They include conversations about community clubs and inclusivity as well as the relationship between social class and football in the past and present. There's also a look at the number of Asia-related episodes that were produced and what could be in store for next season.

But before that check out the back catalogue of episodes that you might have missed. And mark your calendars to join Guy and Francesco from September for season three. If you've got some thoughts and ideas of future episodes, topics and guests, then get in touch! You can do that via the FootPol Podcast's social media channels on BlueSky, Facebook and Instgram as well as Guy's and Francesco's LinkedIn profiles or via the podcast's email account, which is footpolpodcast AT gmail DOT com.