
Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Platform Reach
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Estimated from 37 chart positions in 37 markets.
By chart position
- 🇬🇧GB · Soccer#22100K to 300K
- 🇦🇺AU · Soccer#38100K to 300K
- 🇨🇦CA · Soccer#40100K to 300K
- 🇺🇸US · Soccer#5830K to 100K
- 🇮🇳IN · Soccer#13100K to 300K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
248K to 776K🎙 Daily cadence·158 episodes·Last published 2d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
828K to 2.6M🇬🇧12%🇦🇺12%🇨🇦12%+34 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
331K to 1.0M
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
—
* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
From 17 epsHosts
Recent guests
Recent episodes
Football's Coming Home: How England Won The 1966 World Cup | Part Three
Jun 23, 2026
Unknown duration
Football's Coming Home: How England Won The 1966 World Cup | Part Two
Jun 16, 2026
Unknown duration
Football's Coming Home: How England Won The 1966 World Cup | Part One
Jun 9, 2026
55m 01s
Brazil at the World Cup with Tim Vickery: Pelé, Maracanazo and Ancelotti's New Era
Jun 2, 2026
55m 48s
The Greatest Champions League Finals of All Time
May 26, 2026
1h 02m 59s
Social Links & Contact
Official channels & resources
Official Website
Login
RSS Feed
Login
| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/23/26 | ![]() Football's Coming Home: How England Won The 1966 World Cup | Part Three | To listen to the full four-part series instantly, subscribe to our Patreon where listeners can enjoy ad-free listening, our World Cup Wednesdays, bonus editions and live Q&A episodes.Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson continue their series on how England won the 1966 World Cup by focusing on the quarter-final against Argentina, presented as the tournament’s key and most controversial test. They explain Alf Ramsey’s tactical preparation, including hiding his 4-1-3-2 “wingless” system and replacing the injured Jimmy Greaves with the more aerially suited Geoff Hurst. The episode traces Ramsey’s lessons from England’s 1964 South American trip, where Argentina’s pragmatic defensive approach and man-marking shaped his thinking, then sets the fraught 1966 backdrop: referee paranoia, Argentina’s internal chaos and recent coup, and a Wembley training dispute caused by greyhound racing. They dissect Antonio Rattín’s baffling dismissal amid language barriers and unclear bookings, the ugly atmosphere, and England’s 1–0 win through Hurst, before covering the aftermath, including Ramsey’s “animals” remark, protests, bans, fines, and Argentina’s defiant homecoming.00:00 Setting Up England Argentina01:23 Ramsey Hides Wingless Wonders03:16 Hurst Replaces Greaves05:11 Mundialito Lessons In Brazil09:47 Argentina Pragmatism And Press Reaction15:43 Referee Paranoia And FIFA Politics19:14 Argentina Chaos Before Wembley22:40 Greyhound Racing And Pre Match Tension26:32 Match Begins And Footage Limits29:37 Rattin Booking Sparks Flashpoint33:57 Booking Confusion Builds35:06 Rattin Sent Off Mystery38:40 Interpreter Myth Explained41:53 Aero Bars and Union Jack45:25 Who Was Actually Booked46:06 Press Fury and Fix Claims51:56 Ten Men Battle On56:01 England Finally Break Through57:18 Animals Comment Fallout01:03:17 Bans Fines and Aftermath Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 6/16/26 | ![]() Football's Coming Home: How England Won The 1966 World Cup | Part Two | To listen to the full four-part series instantly, subscribe to our Patreon where listeners can enjoy ad-free listening, our World Cup Wednesdays, bonus editions and live Q&A episodes.Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson continue their four-part series on England’s 1966 World Cup win by tracing how Alf Ramsey’s team took shape amid low expectations and press criticism after a 3–2 Wembley loss to Austria. They discuss doubts over the 4-2-4, Bobby Charlton’s role, and growing concerns about Jimmy Greaves’ form, before key friendlies reveal Ramsey’s “wingless wonders” approach: a 4-1-3-2/4-3-3 hybrid showcased in Spain and then unveiled dramatically in Poland with the surprise inclusion of Martin Peters. At the World Cup, Ramsey initially reverts to wingers, drawing 0–0 with Uruguay, then beating Mexico 2–0 via a standout Bobby Charlton strike and France 2–0 with Roger Hunt’s goals. Two shadows emerge: Nobby Stiles’ violent conduct against France and Greaves’ shin injury that rules him out of the quarterfinal, opening the door for Geoff Hurst.00:00 England Written Off01:48 Austria Defeat Fallout04:17 Ramsey Rethinks Tactics07:47 Greaves Under Scrutiny10:24 Spain Reveals Wingless Plan15:08 Poland Test and Peters Shock20:43 Hiding the System22:21 World Cup Opener Uruguay25:49 Uruguay Stalemate Fallout26:49 Meet J L Manning28:58 Tactics Jargon Backlash32:24 Mexico Magic Moment33:15 Charlton Screamer Breakdown36:18 France Win And Rotation39:04 Stiles Controversy And FA Row42:36 Greaves Injury Hurst Opportunity44:50 Greaves Debate Luxury Player50:05 Next Episode And Patreon Plug Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 6/9/26 | ![]() Football's Coming Home: How England Won The 1966 World Cup | Part One✨ | 1966 World CupAlf Ramsey+4 | — | FAIpswich Miracle Title | EnglandBrazil | 1966 World CupAlf Ramsey+5 | — | 55m 01s | |
| 6/2/26 | ![]() Brazil at the World Cup with Tim Vickery: Pelé, Maracanazo and Ancelotti's New Era✨ | Brazilian football historyWorld Cup+5 | Tim Vickery | Mundiales | Brazil | BrazilWorld Cup+5 | — | 55m 48s | |
| 5/26/26 | ![]() The Greatest Champions League Finals of All Time✨ | Champions League FinalsEuropean football history+4 | — | Real MadridEintracht Frankfurt+9 | — | Champions LeagueEuropean Cup+5 | — | 1h 02m 59s | |
| 5/22/26 | ![]() Patreon Bonus Sneak Peek | Inside England: Southgate’s Culture Reset, EPPP and the Tuchel Gamble✨ | Gareth SouthgateEngland football+5 | Jonathan Northcroft | FA | Lympstone | SouthgateEngland DNA+6 | — | 16m 25s | |
| 5/19/26 | ![]() Breaking the Old Firm: Fergie's Aberdeen Revolution✨ | Scottish football historyAlex Ferguson+5 | Michael Grant | The Times | AberdeenCeltic+2 | AberdeenOld Firm+7 | — | 58m 27s | |
| 5/12/26 | ![]() The FA Cup & The Broken Neck | Bert Trautmann The Nazi POW & Man City Legend✨ | Bert TrautmannFA Cup+4 | — | Manchester City | EnglandMaine Road+1 | Bert TrautmannManchester City+5 | — | 52m 52s | |
| 5/5/26 | ![]() "Can't Win Anything With Kids" Manchester United's 1996 Triumph✨ | Premier LeagueManchester United+5 | — | Manchester UnitedNewcastle+3 | — | Manchester UnitedPremier League+5 | — | 56m 02s | |
| 4/28/26 | ![]() The Impossible Dream: Leicester City’s Premier League Win✨ | Leicester CityPremier League+4 | Jonathan Northcroft | Leicester CityArsenal+6 | — | Leicester CityPremier League win+7 | — | 1h 05m 25s | |
Want analysis for the episodes below?Free for Pro Submit a request, we'll have your selected episodes analyzed within an hour. Free, at no cost to you, for Pro users. | |||||||||
| 4/21/26 | ![]() Do I Not Like That! England's Downfall Under Graham Taylor | Part Three✨ | Graham Taylor's EnglandNorway's Golden Generation+4 | — | NorwayThe Impossible Job+1 | RotterdamPoland+1 | Graham TaylorEngland football+6 | — | 54m 05s | |
| 4/14/26 | ![]() Do I Not Like That! England's Downfall Under Graham Taylor | Part Two✨ | Graham TaylorEngland football+5 | — | — | EnglandNorway+3 | Graham TaylorPaul Gascoigne+8 | — | 50m 28s | |
| 4/7/26 | ![]() Do I Not Like That! England's Downfall Under Graham Taylor | Part One✨ | Graham TaylorEngland football history+5 | — | FA Cup | SwedenIreland+1 | Graham TaylorEngland manager+8 | — | 50m 32s | |
| 3/31/26 | ![]() Jan Åge Fjørtoft, on Norway + England's Nadir✨ | Norway football historyEngland football history+5 | Jan Fjørtoft | NorwayEngland | — | NorwayEngland+8 | — | 1h 02m 46s | |
| 3/25/26 | ![]() World Cup Countdown: 1966 | Patreon Sneak Peek!✨ | 1966 FIFA World Cupfootball history+4 | — | — | EnglandWest Germany | 1966 World CupBobby Moore+5 | — | 17m 43s | |
| 3/24/26 | ![]() Clyde Best: Breaking Barriers in English Football✨ | Clyde BestEnglish football history+4 | Clyde Best | West HamTampa Bay+2 | BermudaEngland | Clyde BestWest Ham+6 | — | 52m 02s | |
| 3/17/26 | ![]() Drugs, Murder, And The World Cup Part 3: The Narco History Of Colombian Football✨ | Colombian football1994 World Cup+5 | — | El TiempoAC Milan | — | Colombian footballAndrés Escobar+7 | — | 55m 07s | |
| 3/13/26 | ![]() BONUS SNEAK PEEK: Colombia Through Football ft. Professor Matthew Brown✨ | Colombian football historypolitical violence+4 | Professor Matthew Brown | University of Bristol | ColombiaArgentina+1 | Colombiafootball+8 | — | 17m 53s | |
| 3/10/26 | ![]() Drugs, Murder, And The World Cup Part 2: The Narco History Of Colombian Football✨ | Colombian footballWorld Cup history+4 | — | — | ArgentinaColombia+1 | ColombiaArgentina+8 | — | 47m 23s | |
| 3/6/26 | ![]() First Live Q&A | Sneak Peek! | Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. We’ve just hosted our first live Patreon Q&A, where Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson answered questions directly from members, covering football history, stories from the game and much more. Here is a section from the conversation, watch and listen to the full episode only on Patreon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 3/3/26 | ![]() Drugs, Murder, And The World Cup Part 1: The Narco History Of Colombian Football | Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this first part of our three-part special on Colombian football and the tragedy of Andrés Escobar.Co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper explore the extraordinary history of Colombian football leading up to the 1994 World Cup. This episode covers the intersection of football and narco-culture, Pablo Escobar's involvement in the sport, the tense rivalry with Argentina, and the dramatic road to qualification culminating in the legendary 5-0 victory at El Monumental. You can listen to this episode ad-free over on our Patreon - Follow the link here - or go to Patreon.com and search for It Was What It Was. You will also get access to our World Cup countdown, magazine retrospectives and bonus episodes as well as a monthly Q&A with Rob and Jonathan.01:39 The El Dorado League & Early Colombian Football10:11 Francisco Maturana: The Dentist Who Revolutionised Colombian Football19:02 Maturana's Influences: Total Football Meets South American Flair27:43 Navigating Narco-Culture: Pablo Escobar36:11 René Higuita: The Sweeper-Keeper & The Kidnapping41:25 Building Rivalry: Colombia vs Argentina at Copa América 199348:12 World Cup Qualifying Begins: Asprilla's Controversies54:03 The Road to Buenos Aires: Setting Up the Five-Nil Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 2/27/26 | ![]() BONUS: Turf Wars: Bill Buford Sneak Peek | We're on Patreon! As a treat to our loyal listeners, here's a sneak peek of what you'll be getting if you join the "It Was" Patreon community.This week Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by author Bill Buford to round up their series on hooliganism.BONUS EDITIONSExclusive deep dives, specials & extended conversations from one-off specials to extra episodes that expand on our weekly free shows, you’ll get fresh, members-only content - including our “Bonus Editions” strand where Rob and Jonathan go deeper into football’s biggest stories and hidden histories.WORLD CUP WEDNESDAYS!Our countdown to 2026 - every tournament revisited Join Rob and Jonathan as they walk through every World Cup from 1930 to today, exploring the drama, evolution, legends, controversies and cultural impact of each tournament.RETRO MAGAZINE COLLECTIONFlicking through the archives of classic football culture A nostalgic series diving into the pages of Shoot! and other retro football magazines - revisiting the stars, forgotten features, and football fandom of decades past.MONTHLY LIVE Q&A WITH ROB & JONATHANYour chance to ask two of football’s leading writers anything. Submit your questions about recent episodes, football history, their journalism, or upcoming projects — and hear their answers in our LIVE members-only Q&A.JOIN THE IT WAS COMMUNITYConnect with fellow fans & nostalgia lovers Meet other members who share your passion for football history. Be part of the conversation and help shape the future of the show.What’s includedExclusive contentQ&AsAd-free episodesPrivate communityFollow the link here - or go to Patreon.com and search for It Was What It Was Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 2/24/26 | ![]() Turf Wars Part Two: The History of Football Hooliganism | Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this second part of our two-part special on football hooliganism, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper trace the roots of football violence from the 1890s through to its transformation into organised ‘firms’ in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. They discuss the origins of the word ‘hooligan’, early crowd disorder and FA crackdowns, and how post-war prosperity, youth subcultures, away travel and ‘taking ends’ helped create a new kind of fan conflict. The episode also covers the European and England-team flashpoints of the 1970s and 80s, the political and policing response to the Popplewell Report, with later links to post-Hillsborough reforms and why large-scale hooliganism declined.You can listen to this episode ad-free over on our Patreon - Follow the link here - or go to Patreon.com and search for It Was What It Was. You will also get access to our World Cup countdown, magazine retrospectives and bonus episodes as well as a monthly Q&A with Rob and Jonathan.01:39 Where the Word ‘Hooligan’ Comes From (1890s London)04:03 Football Fever: Mass Crowds and Class Anxiety12:17 What Early ‘Hooliganism’ Looked Like: Pitch Invasions & Crowd Control17:43 Players Under Attack20:25 Fan-on-Fan Violence Emerges & the Rise of Away Travel22:08 Cup Finals, ‘Football Specials’ & Patronising Press Panic27:27 Post-War: The 60s–70s Gangs Are Coming29:02 Teddy Boys, Rock ’n’ Roll Panics & Mods vs Rockers31:02 Merseyside: Away Travel & the Rise of Chanting36:53 Taking Ends: Territory, Undercover Trouble & the New ‘Game’41:58 Europe & England Abroad: From Paris 1975 to Euro 198044:00 1980s Casuals, Designer Gear & Firms Arranging Fights48:43 1985: Luton–Millwall, Heysel, Thatcher & the Popplewell Report51:28 Aftermath: CCTV, ID Schemes & Taylor Report53:50 Global Legacy: Ultras, Copycat Firms & Why Football Identity Endures Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 2/17/26 | ![]() Turf Wars Part One: The Making of ‘Hooligan’ | Welcome to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this first part of a two-part special on football hooliganism, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by special guest Cass Pennant - former West Ham United Inter City Firm member who later became an author and film producer. They discuss director Ian Stuttard (known as “Butch”) and his 1985 groundbreaking documentary 'Hooligan', which challenged the stereotype of hooligans. Cass explains how Stuttard earned access by spending months with the ICF without a camera, building trust, and later filming from inside the action. The episode also covers the Thatcher-era context, the film’s controversial release and its wider impact on how 'firms' were understood. We finish the episode with Cass reflecting on Stuttard’s wider documentary career, their later partnership in a production company, and Stuttard’s lasting legacy. Join us next week for the history of football hooliganism.You can listen to this episode ad-free over on our Patreon - Follow the link here - or go to Patreon.com and search for It Was What It Was. You will also get access to our World Cup countdown, magazine retrospectives and bonus episodes as well as a monthly Q&A with Rob and Jonathan.00:38 Introducing Cass Pennant and the Documentary03:21 How Ian Stuttard Got Access to the ICF11:08 Trust Test: A Year With No Camera15:28 1985 Context: Thatcher’s Britain, Youth Culture, and Misread ‘Casuals’24:19 Inside the Footage: Street Fighting, Early Video Cameras, and Codes of Conduct26:23 Butch’s War-Correspondent Mindset33:22 Back in the Studio: How ‘Hooligan’ Got Its Unfiltered Authenticity34:02 Pre-Broadcast Panic: Calls to Ban the Film & Fears of Copycats40:18 From Gangs to ‘Firms’45:33 Inside Whitehall: Giving Evidence to the Popplewell Inquiry54:59 Why It Faded: Fans Wanting Out, Politics, Policing & the Premier League Era58:42 Stuttard's Legacy: Funeral Reflections, Final Bucket List Match & Lasting Impact Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
| 2/13/26 | ![]() World Cup Countdown: 1934 | Patreon Sneak Peek! | We're on Patreon! As a treat to our loyal listeners, here's a sneak peek of what you'll be getting if you join the "It Was" Patreon community.In a new Patreon series - Rob and Jonathan take a trip back through the World Cup! This will be dropping every Wednesday on Patreon - so we've gone with the imaginative title of World Cup Wednesdays!If you join, you'll also be getting ad-free main episodes, loads more bonus episodes, magazine retrospectives and Q&As with Rob and Jonathan. Plus you'll be supporting the show and connecting with the "It Was..." community.Patreon subscribers get:BONUS EDITIONSExclusive deep dives, specials & extended conversations from one-off specials to extra episodes that expand on our weekly free shows, you’ll get fresh, members-only content - including our “Bonus Editions” strand where Rob and Jonathan go deeper into football’s biggest stories and hidden histories.WORLD CUP WEDNESDAYS!Our countdown to 2026 - every tournament revisited Join Rob and Jonathan as they walk through every World Cup from 1930 to today, exploring the drama, evolution, legends, controversies and cultural impact of each tournament.RETRO MAGAZINE COLLECTIONFlicking through the archives of classic football culture A nostalgic series diving into the pages of Shoot! and other retro football magazines - revisiting the stars, forgotten features, and football fandom of decades past.MONTHLY LIVE Q&A WITH ROB & JONATHANYour chance to ask two of football’s leading writers anything. Submit your questions about recent episodes, football history, their journalism, or upcoming projects — and hear their answers in our LIVE members-only Q&A.JOIN THE IT WAS COMMUNITYConnect with fellow fans & nostalgia lovers Meet other members who share your passion for football history. Be part of the conversation and help shape the future of the show.What’s includedExclusive contentQ&AsAd-free episodesPrivate communityFollow the link here - or go to Patreon.com and search for It Was What It Was Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | — | ||||||
Showing 25 of 169
Sponsor Intelligence
Sign in to see which brands sponsor this podcast, their ad offers, and promo codes.
Chart Positions
50 placements across 37 markets.
Chart Positions
50 placements across 37 markets.









