Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

While some of football’s biggest names are being chased by elite clubs in Europe and beyond this summer, one story has shown the stark economic reality of women’s football: Reading FC Women. At the end of June, they notified the FA that they would not be able to compete in the Championship this season because of insufficient funds; now, they are re-entering the pyramid in the fifth tier. This week, they released 16 players. Chloe and Rachel sit down with the journalist who broke the story - Tom Garry of The Guardian - to find out what’s happened, hear about the real-world consequences, and discuss what this disaster says about the women’s football ecosystem. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

But do England fans need to start changing their expectations? Chloe and Rach react to that edgy 0-0 draw with Sweden in Gothenburg which secured the Lionesses’ qualification for Euro 2025. We discuss the Alessia Russo conundrum, whether Hannah Hampton can keep hold of the No.1 jersey, and what the qualification campaign as a whole has told us about next summer’s title defence. Plus, bloody hell Ireland! Where did that come from?! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lionesses downed Ireland last week, but some familiar problems in front of goal left Chloe and Rachel longing for the days of Ellen White! We discuss why Sarina Wiegman’s England are missing that clinical edge and what needs to change ahead of a tough test against Sweden. Plus, we talk about the latest wicked whispers on the transfer market – including Lyon trying to snatch Katie McCabe and a pretty long to-do list for Brighton's new gaffer. Goodbye Mikey Harris, must remember to thank him. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back! We’re separated by an ocean and haven’t spoken in a few weeks but we had to jump on for another episode, as the transfer market hots up and England prepare for some crucial Euro 2025 qualifiers. Today, we wonder what on Earth is going on at Man United, as legends like Mary Earps and Katie Zelem have let their contracts expire and left a club that seems unsure of what it needs to do next. Elsewhere, Man City put the WSL on notice after Viv Miedema’s touted move to Manchester City was confirmed - and Fran Kirby’s gone to Brighton?! Plus, we look ahead to another Upfront derby as England face Ireland on Friday! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back with a bonus episode after England tried the exact same thing against France - but got a win! We celebrate some impressive performances from Hannah Hampton and Alessia Russo and wonder if England’s stuttering form is because they don’t have a tournament to conquer this summer. Plus, Ireland put in another good showing but will finish bottom of the group after losing to Sweden. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back after England came out on the wrong side of a tussle with France - should we accept that this is part of the harder qualification process we asked for? Or is there cause for concern… We also recap some impressive performances from Scotland and Ireland, see Emma Hayes make her debut as the USWNT manager and discuss FIFA’s new maternity protocols that are definitely an improvement - but do they go far enough? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brazil is set to become the first-ever South American country to host a Women’s World Cup, as they’ve won the 2027 bid! So what will this World Cup look like? Brazilian football journalist Júlia Belas Trindade joins us to discuss the response to this announcement back home in Brazil, as well as the background behind their bid. And finally, they tackle the million-dollar question: could Brazil lift the World Cup on home turf? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barcelona toppled the mighty Lyon for the very first time on Saturday! Chloe and Rachel react to an epic spectacle and the fairytale ending to a difficult season for Alexia Putellas. Plus, we discuss who should start in midfield for the Lionesses against a tricky France side and Chair of Goaldiggers Gaia Lailder joins us to talk about a growing problem in grassroots football. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who was our player of the season? Who was our manager of the season? And – most importantly of all – what was our WTF moment of the season?! The prestigious Upfront Awards are back. Join Chloe and Rachel to relive a glorious and dramatic season of WSL football! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the final day of the WSL season, Chloe and Rachel spoke to a range of Chelsea voices around Old Trafford about Emma Hayes, what she means to them, and her and the club’s future. They catch up with Mark and Prue, two of the founders of the Chelsea Women’s Supporters Group who remember times when there was just four(!) of them turning up at away games. We also chat with Tracy Brown, chair of Chelsea Pride, and hear from Jessy Parker Humphreys about exactly what kind of hole Hayes will leave behind. Come join us for the ride! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chloe and Rachel reflect on the final weekend of the WSL and discuss the season’s winners and losers. Did Manchester City bottle it and how can they avoid the same slip-up next season? Will Arsenal’s decision to let Vivianne Miedema go turn the fans against Jonas Eidevall? And what’s the future for managerless Aston Villa and rudderless Brighton? We’ve got (some) of the answers to all those questions on a bumper end-of-season edition! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clo and Rach give their reactions to an astonishing day at Old Trafford and a fairytale ending for Emma Hayes. From Mayra Ramírez’s incredible display, to Fran Kirby’s emotional goal – we had a front seat and share all our insights from outside the stadium! Come join us. And don’t worry: we’ll be back as usual on Tuesday to look back on the final weekend across the WSL! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The sun was out, the good times were flowing, Chloe and Rachel were back together at Box Park… the weekend felt like Euro 2022 all over again! And then - for Spurs - reality struck. Clo and Rach react to a huge victory for Manchester United to lift their first major trophy. Could this change the trajectory of their summer transfer window? And how do Spurs – especially Becky Spencer – come back from such a drubbing? There’s also the small matter of Viv’s departure from Arsenal (?!!). Rach explains why things have never been better since Joe Montemurro’s days at the club and Chloe road tests some new strike partnership names at Man City. Bunny…Mied? MiedHemp? We’ll keep working on it. Plus, a preview of the FINAL weekend of the WSL! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Sunday is a first for Tottenham Hotspur: it will be their first EVER Women’s FA Cup final. And it’s been quite the journey over the past 20 years. One woman who knows that better than anyone is former Spurs player and captain – now academy coordinator – Jenna Schillaci. She’s also one of Chloe’s former teammates! They discuss how far the club has come since their playing days and why this season has seen such a huge mentality shift from their relegation-threatened days 18 months ago. From Jenna’s memories of non-league, to Jess Naz’s rise since her ACL injury in the Championship, join us to hear all about Spurs’ long road to Wembley! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in March, Chloe and Rachel came together with over 50 young women and dozens of coaches for a very special event with the Premier League at the National Football Museum in Manchester. Their aim? To discuss gender equality, explore opportunities for women within the football industry, and inspire these young girls. The event was all organised by Premier League Changemakers, a programme that provides training opportunities for girls and young women across the country in leadership and – of course – football. So, on today's episode, you're going to hear from some of the people that make that happen. Chloe and Rachel take you inside this inspiring day and chat with coaches and women and girls leads from some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League and WSL, as well as Ruth Shaw OBE, Chief Executive of the Premier League Charitable Fund. From football training for Somali women in Bristol, to young women getting the skills to coach young boys at programmes in Manchester, you'll hear about some of the inspiring work that's going on in all corners of the country. Chloe and Rachel also reflect on the Premier League's No Room For Racism Action Plan, the importance of diversity in women's football, and Chloe's own journey into the sport. There's also the small matter of Chloe's Spurs shirt being installed in the museum! Tune in to hear about that and much more. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WHAT a week in the WSL! Clo and Rach try to make sense of it all after three minutes and two Stina Blackstenius shots sent the WSL trophy back towards west London on Sunday. Chloe reckons it’s somewhere in St Albans now… They discuss Chelsea’s sensational collapse at Liverpool, before some ol’ Emma Hayes mind games brought them back from the brink. Plus, should Steph Houghton have got minutes for Man City? Chloe explains why a proper send-off means everything to players. We also discuss Liverpool leapfrogging Manchester United and Carla Ward’s Aston Villa exit! What next for them? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bristol City’s relegation was confirmed last Sunday after defeat to Manchester City. Today, Lauren Smith joins Rachel on the pod to reflect on relegation and their WSL journey this season. Lauren reveals what it’s really like to fight at the bottom of the table in the WSL, the importance of getting the backing of the board at Bristol, and her continuing ambition to promote young talent – even with their return to the Championship. Rachel also finds out how Lauren thinks the gap can be closed between the top and the bottom in the WSL – including rewarding smaller clubs’ academies when talent like Lauren Hemp move to pastures new. Join us for a fascinating discussion! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chelsea and Emma Hayes’ Champions League run is over! Barcelona broke yet more hearts in front of a sold out Stamford Bridge – and Hayes was left fuming with the referee. Now the dust has settled, Clo and Rach look back on the game and whether there were other reasons behind Chelsea’s collapse. Looking at you, Maya Ramirez. Elsewhere, we react to Lauren Hemp’s contract extension at Man City and Ellie Roebuck’s soon-to-be-confirmed move to Barcelona. Finally, Crystal Palace defender Annabel Johnson joins us (with her Championship medal) to give us the inside track on Palace’s title celebrations and give the pod a special thank you. Stay tuned! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barcelona in mid-April. Stephanie Frappart in the middle. Emma Hayes with her formal blue coat on. It can only mean one thing: an ICONIC Champions League semi-final! Chloe and Rachel look back on a historic victory for Chelsea at the Estadi Olímpic and how they “played dirty” to do it! Also, the Ann Katrin Berger Era comes to an end, Rachel explains why she’s worried about Man City in the last stretch of the season, and we find out how Crystal Palace have gone from Championship regulars to WSL-team-in-waiting. It’s not got anything to do with Chloe, we promise… Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re joined by the goalkeeper who has made the most saves in the WSL this season: it’s Brighton No.1, Sophie Baggaley! Rachel sat down with her ahead of Brighton’s clash with Everton at the Amex on Friday night. Sophie reflects on her first season at Brighton: from her midnight arrival on transfer deadline day, to Melissa Phillips’ shock exit just six months later. She also reveals which Brighton players fancies themselves between the sticks and her friendly rivalry with Elisabeth Terland! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Sign up for the Football Ramble Patreon to get ad-free Upfront shows and more: patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.