The Ground Jewels

This week's guest is the writer and architectural historian Simon Inglis. Simon has nominated Villa Park, home of Aston Villa Football Club as his Ground Jewel.

His book Football Grounds of England and Wales was first published in 1983 and it has been chosen by readers of The Times as the fourth best football book of all time.

We discussed Simon's Villa Park origin story, sight lines, smells and what makes Birmingham a truly exceptional city.

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Hosted by sports author James Dixon ('The Fix' & 'World in Union') the Ground Jewels podcast is dedicated to celebrating the deep connections individuals have with their favorite sports grounds.

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Artwork by Luke Williamson - https://www.lukewilliamsonart.com/

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This week's guest is the poet, playwright and journalist, Ian McMillan. Ian has nominated Oakwell, home of Barnsley Football Club as his Ground Jewel.

Ian is an acclaimed writer known for his strong and distinctive South Yorkshire accent as well as being the first poet-in-residence at a Premier League club, an idea dreamed up in a pub.

We discussed what makes Oakwell special including, the magnificent floodlights; the poetry of football and what Ian beautifully calls 'The Theatre of Annecdote'.

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Hosted by sports author James Dixon ('The Fix' & 'World in Union') the Ground Jewels podcast is dedicated to celebrating the deep connections individuals have with their favorite sports grounds.

***

Artwork by Luke Williamson - https://www.lukewilliamsonart.com/

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The Ground Jewels is back for another season to celebrate special sporting places.

Each Friday sports author James Dixon will invite a guest to share with you their Ground Jewel and together they will explore what makes that place special.

In this preview episode, James discusses what happened to him this summer, talks about his trip to Paris, including some of the fantastic venues that are being used for the Summer Olympics; and he teases some of the great grounds that are coming up on this season of The Ground Jewels.

#VillaPark #LaBombonera #TheOval #Oakwell

New episodes every Friday.

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This week's guest is the writer Henry Winter and Henry has nominated St James' Park, home of Newcastle United as his Ground Jewel.

Henry is an acclaimed journalist and the current Sports Journalist Association and Football Supporters Association 'Football Journalist of the Year'.

We discussed what makes Newcastle and St James' Park special including the walk from the train station, the watering holes around the ground and the famous Gallowgate End.

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Hosted by sports author James Dixon ('The Fix' & 'World in Union') the Ground Jewels podcast is dedicated to celebrating the deep connections individuals have with their favorite sports grounds.

***

Artwork by Luke Williamson - https://www.lukewilliamsonart.com/

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This week's guest is the writer Jen Offord and Jen has nominated The Valley, home of Charlton Athletic as her Ground Jewel.

We discussed her Charlton origin story, the time the club was locked out of its own ground and the political fight the supporters had to undertake to get back to The Valley; as well as how she's now sharing her love of The Addicks with her daughter.

***

Hosted by sports author James Dixon ('The Fix' & 'World in Union') the Ground Jewels podcast is dedicated to celebrating the deep connections individuals have with their favorite sports grounds.

***

Artwork by Luke Williamson - https://www.lukewilliamsonart.com/

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This week's guest is Aatif Nawaz and Aatif has nominated The Rose Bowl, the home of Hampshire CCC, the Southern Brave and (sometimes) the Southern Vipers, near Southampton as his Ground Jewel.

Aatif has nominated the Rose Bowl, in part, because in 2020, during the Covid pandemic he lived there alongside his heroes like Wasim Akram and Shane Warne. Listen to his memories of a unique time

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Hosted by sports author James Dixon ('The Fix' & 'World in Union') the Ground Jewels podcast is dedicated to celebrating the deep connections individuals have with their favorite sports grounds.

***

Artwork by Luke Williamson - https://www.lukewilliamsonart.com/

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

This week's guest is the BBC's South American football correspondent Tim Vickery and Tim has nominated Estadio São Januário, the home of Vasco de Gama, in

Tim is a respected journalist, who has lived in Rio for 30 years. Every week he's one half of theWorld Football Phone-In on BBC 5 Live, as well as lending his considerable talents to the likes of ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Brazillian TV.

We discussed the historic importance of São Januário, it's unique design as well as Tim's personal memories of the ground, which you may be suprised to learn involved an altercation at gun point.

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Hosted by sports author James Dixon ('The Fix' & 'World in Union') the Ground Jewels podcast is dedicated to celebrating the deep connections individuals have with their favorite sports grounds.

***

Artwork by Luke Williamson - https://www.lukewilliamsonart.com/

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

This week's guest is the physicist Jim Al-Khalili and Jim has nominated Elland Road, home of Leeds United as his Ground Jewel.

Jim is a professor of theoretical physics, an author, and the host of The Life Scientific on BBC Radio 4. We discussed how he became a Leeds fan growing up in Bagdhad, the role football played for him when he moved to the UK and his 500 mile round trips to watch Leeds from his home on the south coast.

***

Hosted by sports author James Dixon ('The Fix' & 'World in Union') the Ground Jewels podcast is dedicated to celebrating the deep connections individuals have with their favorite sports grounds.

***

Artwork by Luke Williamson - https://www.lukewilliamsonart.com/

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

This week's guest is the geneticist Dr Adam Rutherford and Adam has nominated Portman Road, home of Ipswich Town as his Ground Jewel.

Adam is a scientist, writer and broadcaster born and bred in Ipswich. We discussed his memories growing up during Ipswich's golden period in the late 70s and early 80s, his match going experience as well as his nervousness ahead of the climax of the 2023/24 season.

Adam also has one of the best Bobby Robson stories you'll ever hear.

***

Hosted by sports author James Dixon ('The Fix' & 'World in Union') the Ground Jewels podcast is dedicated to celebrating the deep connections individuals have with their favorite sports grounds.

***

Artwork by Luke Williamson - https://www.lukewilliamsonart.com/

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

This week's guest is the film maker Jonny Owen and Jonny has nominated Penydarren Park, home of Merthyr Town FC in Merthyr Tdyfil as his Ground Jewel.

Jonny's made some of the best football documentaries of the past few years I Believe in Miracles (Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest), Don't Take Me Home (Wales' Euro 2016 campaign), and The Three Kings (on Matt Busby, Jock Stein and Bill Shankly).

We discussed the social history of Merthyr, why it's a football town and not a rugby town, the club's golden era in the late 1980s which included a Cup Winner's Cup success against Atalanta, administration and what it's like to be a stadium sponsor.

Jonny is a unique and thoughtful voice in football and this episode is one not to be missed.

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Hosted by sports author James Dixon ('The Fix' & 'World in Union') the Ground Jewels podcast is dedicated to celebrating the deep connections individuals have with their favorite sports grounds.

***

Artwork by Luke Williamson - https://www.lukewilliamsonart.com/

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