🎙️ THE LATEST EPISODE IS OUT NOW!

How many subs is too many?
Who gets the game time?
And are grassroots football squads getting out of control? 👀

Richard and Marc are back for another episode of Half Time Oranges, and there’s plenty to debate from the latest weekend of grassroots football.

This week we’re talking about:

⚽ 3v3 football – after two weekends watching the Under 7s, has 3v3 won over the doubters?

🔄 Substitution rules – 10-second substitutions, youth football, safeguarding and the realities of applying different rules at grassroots level.

⏱️ Four quarters or two halves? – should teams have the choice, or is it just creating more confusion?

👥 Squad sizes – how many players should you actually take to a game?

🕐 Game time – how do you balance equal playing time with keeping your team competitive and organised?

🏆 FA Cup football – Marc talks about his upcoming Women's FA Cup appointment and another big weekend in grassroots football.

Plus the usual Half Time Oranges mix of football chat, opinions, stories and plenty of laughs! 😂

🎧 LISTEN NOW!

🍊 Find Half Time Oranges on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

👍 Like. Follow. Subscribe. Share.

And most importantly…

💬 Tell us what you think!

How do you manage your squad?
How many substitutes do you take?
And should everyone get equal game time?

🍊 Grab your Half Time Oranges and join the conversation!

#HalfTimeOranges #SubsAndSquadWars #GrassrootsFootball #FootballPodcast #GrassrootsFootballPodcast #YouthFootball #WomensFootball #FA Cup #Football #3v3

🎙️🍊 HALF TIME ORANGES | SERIES 3, EPISODE 2

The new grassroots season is here… but are we ready for it? ⚽

In this episode, Richard and Marc get stuck into what could be a very interesting season ahead.

🌧️ Pitches taking a battering after another difficult summer
🟨 New laws and the challenges facing referees
🤬 Player, coach and parent behaviour
⚖️ Discipline, reporting and the FA’s new approaches
🛑 Can stopping a game for 10 minutes prevent it being abandoned?
👥 The importance of supporting and developing grassroots coaches
💷 The funding and opportunities available to clubs
⚽ And why grassroots football is about far more than just playing matches

Plus, Marc reveals his score in the weekly Laws of the Game quiz… while Richard discovers that knowing football for years doesn’t necessarily mean knowing the laws! 😂

And, of course, there’s the small matter of the Half Time Oranges Facebook page being sent to the sin bin… 👀📱

🎧 Series 3, Episode 2 is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.

Give it a listen, share your views and let us know: what do you think will be the biggest issue facing grassroots football this season?

#HalfTimeOranges #GrassrootsFootball #FootballPodcast #Grassroots #Referees #Coaching #Respect #LawsOfTheGame #Football

New Season, New Rules, Same Grassroots Problems

🎙️ SERIES 3 | EPISODE 1 – THE SEASON OPENER IS HERE! 🍊The wait is over. Richard and Marc are back for the opening episode of Series 3, and it doesn't take long before they disagree... although, for once, it's not about Harry Kane!

⚽ Richard finally settles the debate on what is and isn't a Big Club.

🏃 Marc confirms that, against all odds and seemingly in defiance of modern sports science, his hamstring survived his first 90 minutes in the middle this season.

🌱 And perhaps the biggest question of all... what does seaweed actually do for grass? Is it the secret to better pitches, or just football's latest buzzword?

As always, there's plenty of grassroots football chat, opinions, laughs, and the occasional disagreement.

🎧 Tune in now and let us know where you stand on the big club debate... and if you can finally explain the seaweed mystery!

#HalfTimeOranges #GrassrootsFootball #FootballPodcast #Refereeing #Season3 #Episode1

🚨 NEW EPISODE OUT NOW! 🚨

It's here... Episode 40 and the Series 2 Finale of The Half Time Oranges!

What a journey it's been over the last two seasons. In this final episode, Marc and Richard look back at the highs, the laughs and everything that's made the podcast such a great experience.

This week, the lads chat about:⚽ Looking back over the last two seasons🏆 Celebrating County FA Awards and the incredible volunteers who keep grassroots football going👟 Richard's non-stop coaching schedule (seriously... does he ever stop?)😂 Marc couldn't resist getting one last dig in about Harry Kane!🍊 Plus plenty of the usual football chat, banter and stories from the grassroots game.

A massive thank you to everyone who has listened, shared an episode, left a review or simply stopped us at a football ground to say you're enjoying the podcast. Your support means everything to us.

We hope you've enjoyed Series 2 as much as we've enjoyed recording it. We'll be taking a short break before returning with Series 3—bringing you more guests, more stories and even more grassroots football chat.

🎧 Episode 40 – "Orange You Glad It's the End of the Season?" is available now wherever you get your podcasts.

Please like, share and let us know your favourite moment from Series 2 in the comments!

#HalfTimeOranges #GrassrootsFootball #Podcast #FootballFamily #CountyFA #Series2Finale #Episode40 🍊⚽

NEW EPISODE ⚽

What makes the perfect football tournament?

Should it be straight knockout? Group stages? Champions League style? This week, the lads get stuck into one of grassroots football's biggest talking points and share their thoughts on what really works.

Meanwhile, Marc doubles down on his Harry Kane comments... and he's still not changing his mind!

As if that wasn't enough, the recording is interrupted not once, but TWICE. Safe to say it wouldn't happen on Netflix!

Expect plenty of laughs, strong opinions, a bit of chaos, and everything you've come to expect from The Half Time Oranges.

🎧 Drops Today on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.

Have a listen, let us know your thoughts, and don't forget to like, follow and share.

#TheHalfTimeOranges #GrassrootsFootball #FootballPodcast #YouthFootball #TournamentFootball #SundayLeague #HarryKane #FootballFamily

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!

Tournament season is here... and so is the drama!

This week on Half Time Oranges, Richard and Marc dive into one of the hottest debates in grassroots football after a social media post sparked a huge discussion...

🎥 Has Parent VAR arrived?

Parents and coaches filming tournament matches to challenge referee decisions – is it helping the game, or are we taking grassroots football too seriously?

Then... Marc drops an absolute bombshell that leaves Richard almost speechless. 💣

Let's just say... it involves Harry Kane, and it's an opinion that will divide football fans everywhere!

As if that wasn't enough, the conversation goes into overtime as the lads discuss hydration breaks, tournament football, the influence of the USA on the game, and whether football is changing forever.

This week's episode covers:⚽ Parent VAR – should video footage ever be used to challenge referees?🏆 Tournament football – has winning become more important than enjoyment?💧 Hydration breaks – are they changing the flow of the game?💣 Marc's Harry Kane bombshell.🤣 Plenty of laughs, strong opinions and the usual Half Time Oranges banter.

🎧 So... what's Harry Kane got to do with grassroots tournaments?

There's only one way to find out...

🍊 Press play!

👇 Then let us know your thoughts in the comments.

#HalfTimeOranges #TournamentTrouble #GrassrootsFootball #YouthFootball #FootballPodcast #ParentVAR #HarryKane #England #FootballDebate

Tournament Trouble: Parent VAR & Harry Kane 🎙️⚽

Presentation Days, Participation Awards and Podcast Merch

The latest episode of The Half Time Oranges has landed!

This week Richard and Marc swap controversy for celebration as they discuss one of the highlights of the grassroots football calendar – Presentation Day.

🏆 Should every player receive an award?

🎖️ Do participation trophies still have a place in football?

👏 How do clubs properly recognise the volunteers, coaches, referees and committee members who make football happen every week?

And then there's the matter of the merch...

👕 Half Time Oranges hoodies, t-shirts and more seem to be appearing everywhere. Is this a carefully crafted marketing strategy or have the lads simply got carried away?

But perhaps the biggest shock of all...

Rumour has it that Marc became emotional during the episode and, in a rare slip, revealed that he is actually human after all. Listeners will have to decide for themselves whether this was a genuine moment or simply the effects of too many presentation evenings and end-of-season speeches! 😢🍊

In another unexpected development, Marc also manages to get through most of the episode without talking about referees. We say "most" because there are limits to what can reasonably be expected.

As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts:

🏆 What makes a great Presentation Day?

🎖️ Should every player receive an award?

👕 Would you wear Half Time Oranges merch?

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

#HalfTimeOranges #GrassrootsFootball #PresentationDay #FootballFamily #ParticipationAwards #VolunteerFootball #GrassrootsHeroes #TrophiesTearsAndTShirts

🎙️ The Half Time Oranges Podcast – New Episode Out Now!

This week… things get heated. 👀

Marc returns from his cup final and the big question is — did the hammy actually survive, or is retirement talk already on the cards? Meanwhile Richard’s attended that many County FA CPD sessions lately, people are starting to ask if he’s secretly on the FA payroll.

The sponsorship war in the background has now officially become ridiculous, both lads are fighting for camera space, and at one point Marc completely loses his head in a proper grassroots football rant. Some will agree with him… others definitely won’t. 🍿

There’s coaching debates, grassroots opinions that might upset a few people, plenty of digs flying about, and the usual Half Time Oranges chaos throughout.

If you like your football chat polite and sensible… this probably isn’t the episode for you. 🍊🎙️

🎙️ The Half Time Oranges Podcast – New Episode Out Now!

Richard and Marc are back, and this one’s got a bit of everything…

⚽ Richard dives into the world of 3v3 Future Fit football after taking his U7s to their first festival—what worked, what didn’t, and whether it really is the future of the game or just organised chaos with cones.

🤕 Marc drops a bit of a bombshell… he’s picked up an injury. The big question—career-ending, or just a well-timed break from the sidelines?

🔥 Coaches taking teams and walking them over to another club, the gloves are off—both lads have plenty to say about coaches moving teams between clubs, and it’s fair to say it’s got under Marc’s skin.

No filters. No holding back. This one gets heated… fast.

Honest, opinionated, and proper grassroots debate all the way through.

🎧 Get it on, get involved, and let us know your thoughts…

🚨 THE HALF TIME ORANGES IS BACK 🚨

AND… BIG NEWS STRAIGHT AWAY 🏆Richard drops it early… the club is up for Club of the Year 👀🔥

Not bad for a group that can barely get the tech working…Speaking of which… Marc’s somehow pulled it off again 🎥😂

Now onto the chaos…

⚽ What actually makes a GOOD training session?🧠 Are some coaches overthinking it… or just not thinking at all?🛑 And here we go…

Why are there always coaches playing centre back in training?! 👀😂

You know the ones…Step in, win every header, ping a 40-yard pass…Living their best life while the kids are just spectators…

Are they helping… or just stealing the session?!

We also get into the The Football Association rewards system… does it actually reward the right things?

The boys get going (again)… so yeah, this one’s nearly 40 minutes long ⏱️Bit of coaching chat… bit of chaos… bit of controversy…

👇 Coaches… be honest… have YOU ever played centre back in your own session?

#TheHalfTimeOranges #GrassrootsFootball #CoachingDebate #CentreBackCoaches