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Football Ruined My Life

Football Ruined My Life

By: Colin Shindler Jon Holmes Paul Kobrak (and the late Patrick Barclay)
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About this listen

 When Football Ruined My Life started back at the beginning of 2023 it was the new podcast about old football. In it, distinguished football journalist Patrick Barclay joined with Colin Shindler, author of the best selling Manchester United Ruined My Life, and the Super Agent Jon Holmes (think Gary Lineker, Peter Shilton, Tony Woodcock etc.) to talk about football as it used to be in the days before the invention of the Premier League. For over 80 weekly episodes, the podcast viewed those days fondly - though not uncritically - in comparison to today's game, which it views critically though not unfondly. And it welcomed everyone who wants to remember Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Charlton, Brian Clough and Bill Shankly and the days when you went to a Football League ground to watch your football and didn't wait for it to arrive on television. After the tragic and untimely death of Paddy Barclay in February 2025, Football Ruined My Life took a break to consider how (and if) to carry on. In May 2025 it has returned, with a panel of stars to make irregular appearances to join the regulars, Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler. These now include writer and producer Andy Hamilton, television executive Jimmy Mulville, the sports journalist and columnist for the Daily Telegraph Jim White and stand-up comedian Omid Djalili. But the feel and raison d'être of Football Ruined My Life remains the same. Still nostalgic? Yes. Still well informed? Certainly. But above all, it continues to glory in the football of our youth when the game seemed charmingly innocent, full of skillful, good hearted, kindly men like Norman Hunter, Ron Harris and Peter Storey. Join us every week for a romp through the 1960s, 70s, 80s and beyond that will warm you like a cup of scalding hot Bovril. Produced by Paul Kobrak. Contact the team at footballruinedmylife@gmail.comColin Shindler, Jon Holmes, Paul Kobrak Football (American) Football (Soccer)
Episodes
  • 136. Turning Points

    136. Turning Points
    Apr 10 2026
    This week Andy Hamilton, Colin Shindler and Jon Holmes discuss turning points in football history. The historian A.J.P. Taylor, a name that has never graced a football podcast previously famously described the 1848 revolutions, particularly in Germany, as a "turning point in history that failed to turn". Well the panel now discuss those moments in football history which were significant turning points in the evolution of the game we see today. Our first turning point deals with the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary but some time after its collapse. On a murky afternoon in November 1953 the Hungarian football team came to Wembley and shocked the world by defeating England in its fortress – and not just defeating them, they wiped the floor with us. But was this really a turning point in British football? After all, the old WM formation carried on for many years after Hidegkuti had demonstrated the value of a new fashioned number 9 and you could argue that it took a further 13 years until 1966 when England finally emerged from the 1953 induced nightmare. Are the panel’s turning points the same as yours? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • 135. The One With Dominic Sambrook

    135. The One With Dominic Sambrook
    Apr 6 2026
    This week’s special guest on the podcast is the distinguished historian Dominic Sandbrook, author of magisterial histories of Britain from 1956 to 1982 and of course a co-host of the podcast The Rest is History. More to the point, however, he is a passionate supporter of Wolverhampton Wanderers whom we have shamefully neglected in our previous 134 plus podcasts, mainly because we have been waiting to get hold of Dominic. In Who Dares Wins, his history of Britain from 1979 to 1982, he not only references the 1980 Wembley final in which Wolves beat Clough’s Nottingham Forest but he utilises the names of Wolves players on a far larger scale. If you listen to this edition of the podcast you will discover how and why he does it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • 134. Underrated Players

    134. Underrated Players
    Mar 27 2026
    This week Omid Djalili, Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler discuss the sort of player who should have played for their country but never did, players who lacked the ebullience to stand out from their more aggressive and extrovert team mates and players - wherever they operated in the football pyramid. Players who were the unshowy but reliable… who got the ball, made ground and passed accurately to a colleague in space. On a fictional level the list would start with Blackie Gray who did all the donkey work for Melchester Rovers and provided what we now call the assist for Roy Race, who scored all the goals and was credited with the fancy title of Roy of the Rovers. Today’s edition is all about the Blackie Grays of this world. To be fair to Gary Lineker he always credited Peter Beardsley as the creator of many of his goals for England. Listen to discover who else is regarded as underrated in this way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 mins
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It is a treat to be able to hear the great Patrick Barclay again. Such a lovely man a great football journalist.

Remembering Patrick

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Could've and should've been interesting but spoiled by the guests just wanting to out name drop each other. An opportunity missed

The Lovies Episode

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