The Throstle Club

Today's guests are former Express & Star photographer Geoff Wright and journalist Brian Halford.

Once a month, Norman and Bob sit down with someone who knows West Bromwich Albion from the inside — a former player, a club historian, a familiar voice from the press box, or a supporter with a story worth telling.

Unhurried, well-researched, and built on genuine affection for the club's history.

Broadcast on Black Country Radio Xtra, first Tuesday of every month at 4.00pm, repeated each Tuesday for the rest of the month.

Every episode is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and all major podcast services.

On air & on demand

WBA, West Bromwich Albion, Norman Bartlam, Wayne Fereday, Bob Downing, Black Country Radio, Andy Johnson, Steve Tudgay, Kayak, Albion Foundation.

Part football programme and part travelogue this is a review of the 2026 World Cup featuring reports on the early matches and interviews with West Midland based football fans we met on our travels across USA and Mexico.

Paddy Mulligan is the guest of Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing on the May 2026 edition of The Throstle Club.

The Throstle Club is a programme produced by Black Country Radio Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters of the club.

Our studio guests are well known Albion fans: Dave Knott and Ian Ward.

The Throstle Club is a programme produced by Black Country Radio Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters of the club.

Our studio guests are well known former Albion players Ally Roberston and Joe Mayo.

The Throstle Club is a programme produced by Black Country Radio Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters of the club.

Our studio guests are well known former Albion player Andy Johnson and Gurdial Singh of the Albion Foundation. February 2026.

The Throstle Club is a programme produced by Black Country Radio Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters of the club.

The January 2026 episode features former Walsall and West Bromwich Albion (1956-1973) player Stan Jones and Geoff Snape of the WBA Former Players' Association. 

The Throstle Club is a programme produced by Black Country Radio Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters of the club.

The December 2025 episode with Norman Bartlam, Bob Downing and Billy Spakemon.

The Throstle Club is a programme produced by Black Country Radio Xtra and presented by Norman Bartlam and Bob Downing. It is a monthly programme which looks back on the long and proud history of West Bromwich Albion featuring interviews with former players and reminiscences from supporters of the club.

The Albion Shilling Fund. How local newspapers organized a fund to safeguard the future of West Bromwich Albion in 1905.