It Was What It Was : The Football History Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.