The Pinch Podcast

Welcome to the World Cup of… what?

You’ll have to listen to this Memory Lane special to find out.

We’ve borrowed the World Cup format, and Sam’s spreadsheet has generated 48 Blades, sorted by position, then thrown them into a full tournament structure of groups, knockouts, arguments and inevitable injustice.

Andrew, David, Paul and Sam each take charge of one section of the draw, defending their players on whatever grounds they choose: ability, stats, memories, cult status, vibes, nostalgia or outright nonsense.

This is quick-fire remembering, World Cup-style. We aren’t simply pitting best against best. There are minnows, underdogs and, yes, a few actual dogs in the fight.

Part One takes us from the live draw through to the Round of 32. Episode Two will take us all the way to the final.

One final Formline before we disappear for a summer lie down.

Sam, Riley and David review the season and answer listener questions before handing out the highly unofficial Pinch end-of-season awards — from best goal and biggest head loss to MVP and best win.

Along the way we revisit a Goldilocks season that somehow contained a six-game losing start, a 20-game spell as one of the Championship’s best teams, and a 13th-place finish that somehow felt both completely wrong and just right.

In Part Two of our look back at Sheffield United on VHS, we move into the 1990s. It’s a decade of survival acts, Wembley appearances, relegation heartbreak, and increasingly strange club videos.

Joined again by Paul Kemp and DeadBat, we revisit the season reviews, Christmas cash-ins, Brian Dean specials, and the gradual shift from grainy VHS tapes to the Sky Sports era. Along the way there’s Martin Tyler nostalgia, Dave Bassett appreciation, and stories of Wembley in 1993.

In this episode of Memory Lane, we revisit the golden age of Sheffield United on VHS. It’s often weird, sometimes wonderful and unusually pricey. Join Andrew, Paul and David to chat through grainy tapes, nostalgic highlights, and worn-out rewind buttons.

This is the first of two parts. See you next week for part two.

Sam, David and Riley run through their pre-season predictions. Many were bad. Some were very bad. The rest? They were less bad. Join us to roast our past hot takes and toast the closing of the 25-26 season.

Take a trip down Memory Lane, walk past Better Day Alley, swing a left by Wistful Road, then a right by Sentimentality Street, then arrive on Commentary Corner. You have reached your destination: here there be Mann and Motson and more.

In this episode of Memory Lane, we revisit some of Sheffield United’s most iconic commentary moments: the lines that instantly bring goals, players, and matches flooding back.

Joined by commentator Chris MacMillan, we explore what makes great football commentary before diving into the calls that have defined Blades memories. From unforgettable goals to perfectly delivered one-liners, this is a celebration of the voices behind the moments — mostly, Daniel Mann.

This episode covers Chris’ pick from 14-8. Next week we’ll cover 7-1.

On this episode of Hang It in the Louvre, we welcome lifelong Blade David Pendlebury into the Pinch Wing to curate his three defining Sheffield United images. From a wide-eyed first view of Bramall Lane in the late ’80s, to the eerie emptiness of lockdown football and Chris Wilder at his lowest, to one of the most visceral moments in modern Blades history—Basham’s arriving at Elland Road.