We Are Going Up

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye. It's a packed final podcast of the 2014/15 season - thank you to everyone who has listened to us and supported us this year, as ever.

Norwich City are back in the Barclays Premier League at the first time of asking, after a superb 2-0 win against a below-par Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final on Monday. The Canaries sealed victory with goals from Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond in front of over 85,000 at Wembley.

We reflect on their promotion and the incredible turnaround at Carrow Road under Alex Neil, with Michael Bailey, sports journalist at the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News.

We also have an exclusive chat with the departing Brentford manager Mark Warburton, who joins us in the studio to reflect on a fantastic year for the Bees. They finished fifth in their first season in the second tier for over twenty years. We also ask Mark about where he sees himself going next.

There's also an interview with the Birmingham skipper Paul Robinson, who reflects on the job done by Gary Rowett since taking over at St Andrew's. The Blues finished inside the Championship top ten after three straight wins to end the season.

In addition, we reflect on the League One and League Two play-off finals over the weekend, which saw promotions confirmed for both Preston and Southend. Richard Foster, the author of a new book about the play-offs called 'The Agony & The Ecstasy', also joins us.

Plus, we have the results of this season's Fantasy Football and the dreaded playback of our pre season predictions...

**Our young players special will now be coming out over the summer**

Thanks for listening this season!

To contact the show please e-mail via wearegoingup.co.uk or tweet @WAGUpodcast. You can listen on Acast and subscribe here on iTunes (**if you could also rate and review us that would be much appreciated**).

If you like the show, please help us keep it free in 2015...

**To take advantage of our free Audible audiobook offer please sign up at audible.co.uk/goingup. Plus, if you trialled the service over 12 months ago the good people at Audible are giving you the chance to get your hands on another audiobook for free!Click here for all the various terms and conditions**

Wembley awaits! The boys are back, admittedly with a distinctly end of season feel, as we review the drama of the play-off semi finals and look forward to what lies in store for Middlesbrough, Norwich, Preston, Swindon, Wycombe and Southend this weekend.

Boro crushed Brentford 3-0 at the Riverside on Friday night to complete a hugely impressive 5-1 aggregate win, in front of a crowd of over 33,000. Anthony Vickers, sports writer and columnist for the Evening Gazette on Teeside, joins us to preview Monday's big game and tell us more about the amazing job done by Aitor Karanka. (N.B. Apologies for the sound problems on this interview).

We also catch up with big Swindon Town fan and We Are Going Up favourite Carl McQueen, as Mark Cooper's side prepare to face Preston on Sunday for a spot in the Championship. We discuss the Robins' incredible 5-5 thriller with Sheffield United and take a look at the players that have helped push them to the cusp of promotion.

We also preview the League Two play-off final, as Phil Brown heads back to Wembley with the Shrimpers - plus talk Bristol Rovers' return to the Football League, 'Underhill' (a new short film about Barnet directed by Simon Emmett) and er, Simon Grayson's hair...

To contact the show please e-mail via wearegoingup.co.uk or tweet @WAGUpodcast. You can listen on Acast and subscribe here on iTunes (**if you could also rate and review us that would be much appreciated**).

If you like the show, please help us keep it free in 2015...

**To take advantage of our free Audible audiobook offer please sign up at audible.co.uk/goingup. Plus, if you trialled the service over 12 months ago the good people at Audible are giving you the chance to get your hands on another audiobook for free!Click here for all the various terms and conditions**

It's all over for another year. The final weekend of the Football League season saw the usual mix of blood, sweat and tears, not to mention the odd pitch invasion or two (including one with a man on a mobility scooter). The boys are back together in London to look back over an incredible weekend.

MK Dons clinched the final automatic promotion spot in League One with a 5-1 drubbing of Yeovil on Sunday lunchtime at Stadiummk, whilst Preston slipped to a shock 1-0 defeat at Colchester. We're joined by Toby Lock, sports editor for the MK Citizen and Leighton Buzzard Observer. Toby tells us about what promotion means to Pete Winkelman, Karl Robinson and the city of Milton Keynes.

Bury also came from behind to pinch the final automatic promotion spot in League Two. The Shakers won 1-0 on a nervy afternoon at Tranmere, to edge out both Southend and Wycombe for a place in the third tier next season. A VERY happy Mark discusses his afternoon in Birkenhead, plus we're joined by Craig Nelson, the Bury reporter for the Bury Times and the Bolton News. Craig discusses the Shakers' amazing post Christmas turnaround, the impact of Nick Pope and their chances in League One next season.

We also hear a disappointed DC on Watford's final day damp squib, plus discuss Derby County's epic meltdown, relegations for Notts County, Crawley and Leyton Orient, and another farcical day at Bloomfield Road...

To contact the show please e-mail via wearegoingup.co.uk or tweet @WAGUpodcast. You can listen on Acast and subscribe here on iTunes (**if you could also rate and review us that would be much appreciated**).

If you like the show, please help us keep it free in 2015... you can help in one of three ways...

**We have a brilliant offer with Paddy Power exclusively for We Are Going Up listeners. If you sign up by following this link, first time account holders that bet a fiver will get a twenty quid free bet.**

**You can also bet on the Football Pools for a month free, by signing up here to win huge cash prizes.**

**Also, to take advantage of our free Audible audiobook offer please sign up at audible.co.uk/goingup.**

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They have done it! Both Watford and AFC Bournemouth have clinched promotion to the Premier League after an incredible weekend full of twists, turns and let's be honest... really difficult maths. An elated DC explains how he celebrated Watford's promotion in the back of a taxi in Newcastle, plus gets further reaction from long time friend of the show Mike Parkin, co-host of the 'From The Rookery End' podcast.

He also catches up with Michael Dunne, host of Bournemouth's 'All Departments' podcast - after the Cherries beat Bolton 3-0 on Monday night to set up a first ever season in England's top division. Michael pays tribute to Eddie Howe and Harry Arter amongst others.

Mark is also live from Bury, by the wonder of modern technology - ahead of a nervous weekend for the Shakers and Southend, as the League Two promotion race goes to the wire...

We also discuss relegations for Millwall, Wigan, Cheltenham and Tranmere, promotion for Shrewsbury and the return of Barnet to the Football League...

To contact the show please e-mail via wearegoingup.co.uk or tweet @WAGUpodcast. You can listen on Acast and subscribe here on iTunes (**if you could also rate and review us that would be much appreciated**).

If you like the show, please help us keep it free in 2015... you can help in one of three ways...

**We have a brilliant offer with Paddy Power exclusively for We Are Going Up listeners. If you sign up by following this link, first time account holders that bet a fiver will get a twenty quid free bet.**

**You can also bet on the Football Pools for a month free, by signing up here to win huge cash prizes.**

**Also, to take advantage of our free Audible audiobook offer please sign up at audible.co.uk/goingup.**

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thirteen years ago Burton Albion were competing in the Northern Premier League, lining up against teams such as Frickley Athletic, Hucknall Town and Marine. Next season they will be taking on the likes of Coventry City, Bradford City and Blackpool in League One.

The Brewers clinched promotion to the third tier of English football for the first time in their history, with a 2-1 win at Morecambe on Saturday. Now, boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is targeting the title. We find out more from BBC Radio Derby's Burton Albion reporter and commentator Joe Shennan.

Joe is also a Wycombe fan, so gives us his assessment on the latest twist in the League Two promotion race. Are Southend United now favourites to pinch third? The Shrimpers made it six straight wins and seven straight clean sheets with a 1-0 win at Bury on Tuesday night. We hear from their manager Phil Brown, talking to talkSPORT.

Elsewhere on Mark's birthday show, there's Adam Federici's Wembley howler to discuss – plus Watford and Preston on pole, Micky Adams leaving Tranmere and the ten best players in the Football League…

To contact the show please e-mail via wearegoingup.co.uk or tweet @WAGUpodcast. You can listen on Acast and subscribe here on iTunes (**if you could also rate and review us that would be much appreciated**).

If you like the show, please help us keep it free in 2015... you can help in one of three ways...

**We have a brilliant offer with Paddy Power exclusively for We Are Going Up listeners. If you sign up by following this link, first time account holders that bet a fiver will get a twenty quid free bet.**

**You can also bet on the Football Pools for a month free, by signing up here to win huge cash prizes.**

**Also, to take advantage of our free Audible audiobook offer please sign up at audible.co.uk/goingup.**

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What has happened to the Hatters? After a fantastic first season back in the Football League, Luton Town lost 2-1 at Northampton on Saturday to make it eight defeats out of nine in the league (including six in a row), a run which has seen them drop out of the League Two play-off spots as a result.

Mark is joined by Mike Simmonds, sports editor at the Luton News, to discuss where it's all gone wrong recently at Kenilworth Road, and preview the crucial run in that lies ahead for John Still's men.

Elsewhere, down at the bottom of League Two - could the great escape actually be happening for Hartlepool United? Pools beat Cambridge 2-1 on Saturday, their fourth win in a row, to move out of the relegation zone for the first time in five months.

How has Ronnie Moore managed to turn things around, and can they go on and complete the job? Mark talks to Nick Loughlin, sports editor of the Northern Echo.

Adam Williams from BBC Online also joins Mark in DC's absence, as they talk Sheffield United having a wobble, THAT David Ball chip for Fleetwood and Gary Johnson taking charge of Cheltenham - plus a busy Easter weekend on the horizon...

To contact the show please e-mail via wearegoingup.co.uk or tweet @WAGUpodcast. You can listen on Acast and subscribe here on iTunes (**if you could also rate and review us that would be much appreciated**).

If you like the show, please help us keep it free in 2015... you can help in one of three ways...

**We have a brilliant offer with Paddy Power exclusively for We Are Going Up listeners. If you sign up by following this link, first time account holders that bet a fiver will get a twenty quid free bet.**

**You can also bet on the Football Pools for a month free, by signing up here to win huge cash prizes.**

**Also, to take advantage of our free Audible audiobook offer please sign up at audible.co.uk/goingup.**

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bristol City picked up the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for a record third time with a 2-0 win against Walsall on Sunday, in front of a crowd of over 72,000 people at Wembley Stadium. It marks the first silverware of a remarkable season for the Robins, who are hot favourites to clinch promotion to the Championship (and the League One title) in the next few weeks.

We find out more about Sunday's final and an incredible season for Steve Cotterill at Ashton Gate from Paul Binning, author of the Bristol City blog The Exiled Robin.

Elsewhere, Notts County have sacked manager Shaun Derry following a run of just three wins from their last twenty-four games. It leaves the Magpies teetering on the brink of relegation to League Two. We discuss where Notts go next with Jacob Daniel, the deputy editor of Notts County’s Black and White fanzine.

There's also Sheffield Wednesday's late show, Preston's promotion chances and Hartlepool on the charge to discuss - plus DC tells us more about his very special international break...

To contact the show please e-mail via wearegoingup.co.uk or tweet @WAGUpodcast. You can listen on Acast and subscribe here on iTunes (**if you could also rate and review us that would be much appreciated**).

If you like the show, please help us keep it free in 2015... you can help in one of three ways...

**We have a brilliant offer with Paddy Power exclusively for We Are Going Up listeners. If you sign up by following this link, first time account holders that bet a fiver will get a twenty quid free bet.**

**You can also bet on the Football Pools for a month free, by signing up here to win huge cash prizes.**

**Also, to take advantage of our free Audible audiobook offer please sign up at audible.co.uk/goingup.**

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The curse strikes again. Less than twelve hours after recording our latest show, another Football League manager has bitten the bullet. This time the axe has fallen on Ian Holloway, who has been sacked by Millwall following Saturday's 4-1 defeat at home to Norwich.

The Lions sit 23rd in the Championship table after five defeats from their last six games, a run which has left them eight points from safety and staring relegation to League One in the face.

David Cameron Walker catches up with Millwall fan and Lions Live Radio presenter Joe Amphlett, who gives his thoughts on Holloway's sacking, plus the club's new caretaker manager Neil Harris and a disasterous season at the New Den.

You can also hear part of Holloway's final interview as Millwall manager.

To contact the show please e-mail via wearegoingup.co.uk or tweet @WAGUpodcast. You can listen on Acast and subscribe here on iTunes (**if you could also rate and review us that would be much appreciated**).

If you like the show, please help us keep it free in 2015... you can help in one of three ways...

**We have a brilliant offer with Paddy Power exclusively for We Are Going Up listeners. If you sign up by following this link, first time account holders that bet a fiver will get a twenty quid free bet.**

**You can also bet on the Football Pools for a month free, by signing up here to win huge cash prizes.**

**Also, to take advantage of our free Audible audiobook offer please sign up at audible.co.uk/goingup.**

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With just ten games of the season remaining, the Championship promotion race looks set to be one of the most exciting of all time, with the top five clubs separated by just one single point. Incredible.

In fact eight clubs still realistically have their eyes on a place in the Premier League next season, including Steve McClaren's Derby County, who blew a 2-0 lead in injury time against Birmingham at the iPro on Saturday, dropping two valuable points in the process.

The boys catch up with Steve Nicholson, chief football writer at The Derby Telegraph, to find out more about a difficult week for the Rams, plus preview their tricky looking run in.

We're also joined by Mark O'Haire, the founder of We Love Betting, to look at the games still to face their rivals Bournemouth, Watford, Middlesbrough, Norwich, Ipswich, Brentford and Wolves. We ask, who’s got the bottle to handle the pressure?

Elsewhere, Dave Whelan steps down as Wigan chairman, Tony Mowbray is back in football as the new Coventry manager, and the scrap for play-off places in Leagues One and Two hots up...

Plus, as it's our 150th episode, we play out some of our best bits from the past three and a half years!

To contact the show please e-mail via wearegoingup.co.uk or tweet @WAGUpodcast. You can listen on Acast and subscribe here on iTunes (**if you could also rate and review us that would be much appreciated**).

If you like the show, please help us keep it free in 2015... you can help in one of three ways...

**We have a brilliant offer with Paddy Power exclusively for We Are Going Up listeners. If you sign up by following this link, first time account holders that bet a fiver will get a twenty quid free bet.**

**You can also bet on the Football Pools for a month free, by signing up here to win huge cash prizes.**

**Also, to take advantage of our free Audible audiobook offer please sign up at audible.co.uk/goingup.**

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a follow up to our live special from London Road (make sure you download that show first), the boys catch up with big Peterborough fan and talkSPORT presenter Adrian Durham, for his take on Darren Ferguson's departure.

Adrian tells Mark and DC why it went wrong for Ferguson, what needs to change for the Posh to climb up the table again, and why he should be the new manager himself...!

There's also Adrian's thoughts on the League One promotion race and a quick re-cap of Episode 149...

If you enjoy the show, please help keep free in 2015! You can help in one of three ways...

**We have a brilliant offer with Paddy Power exclusively for We Are Going Up listeners. If you sign up by following this link, first time account holders that bet a fiver will get a twenty quid free bet.**

**You can also bet on the Football Pools for a month free, by signing up here to win huge cash prizes.**

**Also, to take advantage of our free Audible audiobook offer please sign up at audible.co.uk/goingup.**

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.