The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast With Nick & Dom

Welcome to Episode 45 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. After a few weeks of lots of football action around the globe, we have another episode in which we aimed to discuss recent observations and research on: Things We Have Loved Things We Have Hated, and..... Other Stuff Such was the amount of stuff we loved and hated, that the other "stuff" will have to wait a week or two for another episode, but we think you will still enjoy this one as much as we enjoyed recording it. Covering subjects we have loved such as: Events at Sheffield Wednesday Billy Sharp Rochdale v York City Limbs in Scottish Away Ends PSG v Bayern Southend Defender, Gus Scott-Morris's Travel Hiccup Masked VAR Saboteurs Jarred Bowen Dugout Age Differences Subjects we hated (or loved a whole lot less) included: Pitch Invasion Banning Orders Fixture Congestion Moaning The Length of Grass on a Pitch Ally McCoist Encouraging & Supporting Cheating Officials Causing Season Ending Misery in League Two MLS Franchises Potentially Moving Tactical Goalkeeper Injuries (Again)….. Lots to get your teeth into. What do you think? Are we right, are we wrong, do you have a different view or opinion? If you want to comment or reach out, please do. We would love to hear from you...... The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. This Episode is again brought to you in association with our EFL & National League Fan Welfare & Mental Health Partners huddleUp. If you have any influence in a club, in a supporter’s group, as a sponsor or in a commercial role - they want to hear from you. To contact Adam Franklin or Conner Botterill at huddleUp, you can an email them at - [email protected] or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 44 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. A serious one this week folks and a MUST for any fans of Championship, recent Championship, League One and even other clubs in the pyramid....... Sadly inspired by the demise of Leicester City and the very real possibility that they may well go to the wall, (which no fan of any other club wants to see), we have dug deep into the financial precipice that many Championship, former Championship and League One clubs in particular are hurtling towards, so we have entitled this week's episode: "The Sorry State of Football Finances - Will Football Eventually Eat Itself?" Some references by Dom in the podcast to a great read - "States of Play" by Miguel Delaney, which we would also highly recommend. But we don't care about the Premier League enough and there are plenty of other podcasts who cover their finances in depth.  So yes, Leicester City are the current Poster Boy Club for absolute financial mis-management, but what about many others? We discuss some eye-watering collective losses and numbers and some specific club situations including: Bristol City Middlesbrough Preston QPR Cardiff City Norwich Swansea Why are they spending the money they spend - primarily on player's astronomical wages - is it in pursuit of the Premier League dream? Does that even pan out, because we also look at the financial problems of some of those who have "made it", including: Leeds Nottingham Forest Fulham Southampton Are they any better off by being in the Premier League and are Sunderland one bad second season away from doing a Leicester? Then there are individual weekly wages. Who are the Top 7 earners in the Championship this season and how the hell can ANY of them claim to be worth ANYWHERE near their weekly wage? Clue - Leicester City are well represented in the Top 7. On Leicester City - there is a great post in the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast Group on Linkedin by Andy Costigan going into depth about the Leicester City spiral of decline over 10 years since they lifted the PL title – well worth joining the Group and also having a read – great work Andy. Link here - https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7452602508859920384?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAGZUtIB7fehCgVOGNaPEGmSPZrP2n-4paI Headline - They have spent £116m MORE than any other club in the Championship since 2020, despite a promotion in there – caused by two relegations – and they are now “broken” and in League 1. Then there is League One - how much have the aggregate losses increased by over the last 4 years and where is that going to lead? Is it inevitable and unstoppable? Worrying content, but something for EVERY fan to listen to. We share some of our thoughts and ideas, but what are your thoughts?  We would be more than happy to have your views and comments. We hope that you will "enjoy" this episode as much as we enjoyed researching & recording it. The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. This Episode is again brought to you in association with our EFL & National League Fan Welfare & Mental Health Partners huddleUp. If you have any influence in a club, in a supporter’s group, as a sponsor or in a commercial role - they want to hear from you. To contact Adam Franklin or Conner Botterill at huddleUp, you can an email them at - [email protected] or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.

Today on Episode 43 of "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom", we have a very special guest with us to discuss not only his football career, but also..... "Is Football What It Used To Be?" With over 50 years in professional football as a top player at Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Sunderland and many other clubs including a number overseas including in Japan, as a Manager with over 450 games under his belt, and as a FIFA Registered Agent as well as a Talent Scout - welcome to the podcast, David "Hodgey" Hodgson...... He won a lot of honours in his playing career and won a Playoff Final as a Manager too, so he has a lot to share. He is also a lovely Fella and has some great stories including: His early career at Boro Which one player does he believe most DESERVED to be a Pro, and why? Did he actually want to leave Boro and go to Liverpool? What football was actually all about "back in the day" Has it been far too overcomplicated? Why passing out from the back annoys the hell out of him What he thinks is missing from the modern game Why is punditry also annoying and missing the point? Which game was a potential decade defining one for Boro in the 80's? Why he loved being a Manager & the pull of one particular club? Which clubs he turned down for a Manager role and why? Why he loves coaching young kids? And, as an absolute show stopper at the end of the episode, which legendary international, serial winning Coach could have been Manager / Coach at Birmingham City, but for the intervention of another legendary Manager. THAT is some story....... Hodgey was a truly brilliant and engaging guest.  It was our absolute pleasure to meet and interview him on all things football, and there was so much untold stuff that we will definitely have him back soon.       We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. This Episode is again brought to you in association with our EFL & National League Fan Welfare & Mental Health Partners huddleUp. If you have any influence in a club, in a supporter’s group, as a sponsor or in a commercial role - they want to hear from you. To contact Adam Franklin or Conner Botterill at huddleUp, you can an email them at - [email protected] or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 42 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. At the end of the last (thank God) international break of the season, as we enter the business end and run-in, we take the opportunity to discuss “Club v Country?” The age-old argument and discussion about what is the priority for players, clubs and fans - and does it differ between these groups? We cover a lot, after sticking it to Arsenal in the first quarter of the episode to be fair...... Why we enjoyed the karma of Arsenal losing in the FA Cup after 11 mysterious "injury" withdrawals over the international break The Ben White for England debate Would English Arsenal fans rather win the Premier League or Champion's League or see England win the World Cup? Whilst this debate has raged for years, is there less of a desire to represent your country in 2026, and if so, why? Which players from the past would walk over broken glass to play for England? But the discussions go deeper than that. We also cover; When Championship clubs have a lot of players away and little time to turn them around for the brutal run-in Does an international break give an out-of-form club player a shot at redemption which can then benefit the club and their fans? What is the conspiracy theory around Michael O'Neill's dual role as Northern Ireland AND Blackburn Coach - and does it have any merit? Was Ryan Giggs just different to Mark Hughes when called up for Wales (not being Welsh and all)? What is the Leeds United / Wales international players curse and will it strike again as they battle the drop from the Premier League? Loads to get your teeth into and loads of areas where we would welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback. Let us know what you think....... We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. This Episode is again brought to you in association with our EFL & National League Fan Welfare & Mental Health Partners huddleUp. If you have any influence in a club, in a supporter’s group, as a sponsor or in a commercial role - they want to hear from you. To contact Adam Franklin or Conner Botterill at huddleUp, you can an email them at - [email protected] or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 41 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. As it is the last international break before the end of the season and the World Cup, despite us not really being a predictions and tactical analysis type podcast, we discuss "Can or Will England Win the World Cup"? Spoiler alert, Nick thinks we can, but neither of us think we will - and we are not sure Dom even thinks we can..... But why do we think what we think? Who in the England Squad COULD Get Us Over The Line? Where Are We Weak? What Needs To Change From EVERY Previous WC Since 1970? Where Might We Reach & Then Fail? Why Waltemade & Upemecano Will Not Be The Problem Who Do We Think Are The Favourites? Who Might Be Fun Dark Horses? Which Traditional Giants Don't We Rate? Ultimately, Who Do We Think Will Win It - If Not England? It's only about opinions, and we BOTH hope that come July, we are wrong, and we are eating humble pie with a big dollop of custard.... But what do YOU think? Are we right to be less optimistic than the usual UK media frenzy? Do we have too many overrated players who are simply not as good as they and the media make out? Are other teams simply better than us, and more experienced WINNERS? Let us know what you think....... We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.  The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. This Episode is again brought to you in association with our EFL & National League Fan Welfare & Mental Health Partners huddleUp. If you have any influence in a club, in a supporter’s group, as a sponsor or in a commercial role - they want to hear from you. To contact Adam Franklin or Conner Botterill at huddleUp, you can an email them at - [email protected] or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 40 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. On this week's episode we discuss more recent observations on the football landscape that as match-going fans have the potential to annoy and upset us all, but also we share a few stories worth celebrating too - so it's not all a rant..... Including; Why Pep Has Broken the Premier League Has He Broken Football as Well? The PL Teams Getting Battered in Europe How Liverpool Got Their Champion's League Mojo Back Recent FA Cup Inconsistencies & Observations Football Is STILL Corrupt Infantino Is STILL a Disgrace The AFCON Debacle Fans Leaving Early Easter 2027 Is Already Ruined More VAR Controversy (Shocking Eh)! Celebrity Football Club "Ownership" Some Fantastic & Worthy Celebrations of Players & Fans Alike A real mixed bag, but discussed with our usual passion, energy and he occasional ranty language - apologies to those of a sensitive nature..... We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. This Episode is again brought to you in association with our EFL & National League Fan Welfare & Mental Health Partners huddleUp. If you have any influence in a club, in a supporter’s group, as a sponsor or in a commercial role - they want to hear from you. To contact Adam Franklin or Conner Botterill at huddleUp, you can an email them at - [email protected] or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.  

Welcome to Episode 39 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast. On this week's episode we discuss the bizarre phenomenon of Football Superstitions - whether those are Fans, Players, Coaches, Owners or even Clubs.... Nick will readily admit that he has a few matchday rituals or superstitions and whilst Dom claims at the outset of the episode that his daughter Mia has a lot, he felt that he didn't have any - until by the end, he also realised that he too had LOADS..... We share some famous and some not so famous player, coach, owner and even club superstitions from the likes of; Johan Cruyff Lauren Blanc Kolo Toure Pepe Reina John Terry Former Spanish Coach, Luis Aragones Ivan Rakitic Giovanni Trappatoni Vincent Tan Real Madrid Kevin Keegan Barry Fry Rene Higuita Iker Casillas Paulo Di Canio and a few more..... We know that these superstitions and rituals bear absolutely ZERO correlation to what happens to your team in any game - but we still have them. Mad eh? So, what are your superstitions or rituals - how did they evolve, are they permanent or temporary depending on results? You do know that they are just bolloxs, but of course, they are YOUR bolloxs and THAT counts…... We had a lot of fun with this one and as such, we hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. This Episode is again brought to you in association with our EFL & National League Fan Welfare & Mental Health Partners huddleUp. If you have any influence in a club, in a supporter’s group, as a sponsor or in a commercial role - they want to hear from you. To contact Adam Franklin or Conner Botterill at huddleUp, you can an email them at - [email protected] or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.  

Welcome to an EXTRA Episode This Week - Episode 38 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast - Our Bucket List German Footy Weekend. By the time this episode is released, Nick, Dom & Nick's son, Rob will be at Manchester Airport awaiting a plane to Dusseldorf for what is now an annual German Footy Weekend. As Borussia Dortmund fans we are looking forward to Nick & Rob's seventh & Dom's fourth visit to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday afternoon v Augsburg as the core of the weekend. But we are also taking in Borussia M?nchengladbach v St. Pauli at Borussia Park on Friday night too. We cannot wait. Alcohol and Bratwurst may be taken - it is almost compulsory, but we thought we would share a few things about the overseas weekend - and particularly in Germany, so that any other football fans with a bucket list can get an insight into how easy it is to do this.... How did this all start? What are the logistics? Getting tickets - at face value prices Getting around regional Germany The weekend experience - particularly in Dortmund Multiple matches Things to look out for and where to take care We would like to think that even if you have no ambitions for a bucket list trip, you will still enjoy this episode - just three match going footy fans enjoying a different match going experience for a weekend. If this is on your bucket list - this is akin to a public service broadcast - ha ha.  Thanks also to Craig Solomon & the team at the Official Boro BVB Fan Club for all of your help too. We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. This Episode is again brought to you in association with our EFL & National League Fan Welfare & Mental Health Partners huddleUp. If you have any influence in a club, in a supporter’s group, as a sponsor or in a commercial role - they want to hear from you. To contact Adam Franklin or Conner Botterill at huddleUp, you can an email them at - [email protected] or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.

After an Exceptionally Bonkers Few Weeks of Clubs at Various Levels Making Stupid, Knee-Jerk Decisions, We Recorded Episode 37 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast With Nick & Dom and Entitled It: "The Pressure for Success - Why Clubs Are Making Desperate Decisions & The Impact of Them" We consider why when Brian Clough lasted 44 days at Leeds in the 1970's, it made headline news - front page, back page and internationally. Now, Eric Ramsey lasting exactly the same time at West Brom hardly causes a ripple. We discuss what we think is the madness at the likes of: West Brom (a club in crisis) Leicester (Premier League Champions less than 10 years ago) Spurs (not too good to go down) West Ham (still looking for the West Ham way - whatever THAT is) Nottingham Forest (4 permanent Managers in one season - so far) Watford (it's Watford.....) Celtic (MLS appointment from hell) Are social media keyboard warriors (many of whom have never set foot in a stadium), making clubs nervous to give Managers & Coaches time?  Are the riches on offer so great as to make it unthinkable to go down or fail? And yet every season 3 go down and 3 go up from all top 4 English leagues - someone has to, and some will also miss out - it's just maths. We also consider if the relative early success of Michael Carrick at Man Utd in his interim role has set unrealistic expectations elsewhere - expectations that are simply creating an itchy trigger finger in the Boardrooms of football - all looking for the mythical "New Manager Bounce". Does this even exist? On a other note we applaud a recent public statement about Phil Parkinson at Wrexham by the Hollywood owners, but we might still be a little cynical..... Finally, we consider some idiotic perspectives from small groups of so-called fanbases on the likes of: Daniel Farke (before a ball was even kicked this season) Adoni Ireola (after a mid-season run without a win) Chris Davis - (after losing three in a row at a newly promoted club) Unai Emery (yes HIM, with Villa having a brilliant season on 3 fronts) We also discuss why Gabby Agbonlahor is an idiot - but that doesn't take long obviously...... We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. This Episode is again brought to you in association with our EFL & National League Fan Welfare & Mental Health Partners huddleUp. If you have any influence in a club, in a supporter’s group, as a sponsor or in a commercial role - they want to hear from you. To contact Adam Franklin or Conner Botterill at huddleUp, you can an email them at - [email protected] or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.  

Welcome to a very special Episode 36 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. This week, we launch our new relationship with a brilliant organisation, huddleUp who are targeting predominantly Championship, EFL & National League Clubs to offer a brilliant resource, supporting the wellness, wellbeing and mental health of football fans up, down and around the country. With a football club being at the heart of a community, and supporters as a collective, broadly fitting the demographic of many who struggle with or struggle to access resources to reduce or better manage their day-to-day mental wellbeing and mental health pressures & challenges, huddleUp has big plans to offer access to local services, run by local professionals, who understand some of the local issues like socio-economic challenges that can quickly spiral..... Our two podcast guests Adam Franklin & Conner Botterill of huddleUp share how things have already started - how and why 11 clubs are already on board, how the service(s) are both delivered and accessed locally - and how YOU can get involved with YOUR club if this resonates with you or someone close to you. This is more than a tick box on mental health - it is by the fans, for the fans at THEIR clubs and we at The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast are delighted to be on side with this excellent service. So, if you are involved in, or connected to a Championship, EFL or National League Club as: A Supporter Liaison Contact A Commercial Manager or Officer A Sponsorship Liaison Contact A Fan Forum Leader An Active Club Fan A Matchday Sponsor - at Whatever Level A Local Mental Health First Aider…… ....... please get in touch to support huddleUp at YOUR club. Mental health seems to go from "I have no mental health issues, I am okay" to "I am suicidal or near suicidal" but there are literally thousands in this middle ground that need help - and your football club might just be catalyst for accessing the support needed. To contact Adam or Conner at huddleUp, you an email them at; [email protected] or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at; https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk   There really are no downsides....... A Quick Overview to Help Most wellbeing support looks good on paper but… it rarely gets used. Apps sit unopened. EAPs gather dust. Resources aren’t communicated very well. Meanwhile, real people are still struggling. That’s why huddleUp is here. A human-first wellbeing partner that actually gets used, because it’s simple, relatable, and built around conversations, not click-through rates. huddleUp supports people inside and outside of work, helping them through whatever life throws at them: Confidential triage service (real humans, not bots) Guidance for managers who don’t want to “get it wrong” A wellbeing calendar tackling real issues (grief, addiction, burnout, parenting, neurodiversity + more) Return-to-work wraparound support Access to therapy & counselling at discounted rates This is probably our most important Podcast Episode to date and we thank you for watching, listening and hopefully sharing and supporting. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. We hope that this episode will inspire you. The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

Welcome to Episode 35 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. This week, as a result of a lot of recent media discussions on whether people are, or have fallen out of love with football (particularly at Premier League level apparently), we discuss a number of issues that lead us to ask whether the lack of genuine "world class" players is one aspect that could be devaluing the experience we have always come to know and love. Covering areas such as: Are Fan Expectations Now Just Unrealistic? The Disconnect Between Fans, Clubs & Players The Financial Rip Off We Have to Endure Taking Fans for Granted Taking a No Risk Approach to the Game - Is It Killing It? The Lack of Personalities & Mavericks Cheating, Diving, Time-Wasting & Other Annoyances But....... The biggest discussion is around the QUALITY of what we are seeing (or not seeing), week in week out. We covered Mavericks on Episode 27 and Whether Football Was Better 10 - 15 Years Ago on Episodes 14 & 19, but this is about the PLAYERS & the overused term, "WORLD CLASS"..... We share our definition, and why this means many of the players currently, and too regularly described as such are simply good players on the world stage, but far from world class. Oh, and be prepared to spit out your coffee or swerve into a ditch when you hear who TalkSPORT Presenter, Darren Bent actually described as world class, live on air this week - mental! Lots to get stuck into - let us know if you agree, disagree or just want to get involved - we would love to hear what you think. We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

Welcome to Episode 34 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom..... We have recently recorded 2 back-to-back episodes on some recent observations on the season to date after a busy January and like last week, we had so much we still had on our "to discuss" list that we have extended the subject with some different observations into this episode too. Whilst these episodes are amongst our most popular and are the DNA of our Podcast ambitions, we will still be choosing specialist subjects, special guests etc to mix things up for the audience going forward. So, whilst we might be positive, negative and potentially explosive - we cover a lot in this last of this type of episode for a little while....... Watch this space for some future brilliant content on all sorts of things that fellow football fans talk about, but on this episode we cover...... Patrick Bamford's first ever red card for an embarrassing dive Watford - the club that keeps on giving Do bogey teams and bogey grounds really exist & why? Who are your bogey teams and bogey grounds? Conversely, who do you have the hex over - let us know? Last minute winners, limbs & scenes What are your best memories? The mysterious end of transfer window "injury" curse Why Piers Morgan is guilty of recency bias & should know better IFAB - Just do better......... Lots to get stuck into - let us know if you agree, disagree or just want to get involved - we would love to hear what you think. We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 33 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom..... We did an Episode last week on some recent observations on the season to date after a busy January and we had so much we still had on our "to discuss" list that we have extended the subject with some different observations into this episode too. These episodes are amongst our most popular and are the DNA of our Podcast ambitions. Positive, negative and potentially explosive - we cover a lot in this podcast with more to come on Episode 34 next week - so much to cover....... We start with a apology, but to whom? The Champions League Round 8 threw up some brilliant moments What does the PL domination of the CL mean for the knockout phase? What does BRILLIANT football form look like statistically? We discover an abomination of a tattoo.... Why the FA are a disgrace - quoting rules to get away with it The curse of the Interim Manager / Coach being permanently appointed What does this mean for Michael Carrick at Man Utd? Why appointing Coaches from the MLS is just wrong Villa's goals from outside the box Why we think Pep should just bugger off And more...... Lots to get stuck into - let us know if you agree, disagree or just want to get involved - we would love to hear what you think. We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 32 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom.... After a hectic post-Christmas run of fixtures, back-to-back games coming thick and fast including a variety of midweek fixtures, the conclusion of AFCON and the return of European Club Football in the shape of the Champion's League, the Europa League & Europa Conference we have a lot to discuss. So, we have another of our "Observations on the Season to Date" Specials. These episodes are amongst our most popular and are the DNA of our Podcast ambitions. Positive, negative and potentially explosive - we cover a lot in this first half of a double podcast with more to come on Episode 33 next week - so much to cover....... Celebrating Super Fans Genuine & Appalling Half & Half Scarf Spotting Are Fans Entitled to a Refund for a Poor Performance? Treating Villa Fans Like Cattle (or Criminals) in Istanbul Flip Flopping Spurs Fans How Can Man City Sign Semenyo & Guehi? TV Scheduling Treating Fans Like Dirt – AGAIN Why Players Only Get Cramp in Certain Match Situations We Cannot Ignore the AFCON Final Take a PROPER Penalty You Muppet And More..... We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to the latest Managerial Merry-Go-Round on this new Episode 31 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. As we recorded this in mid-season, early January, and the transfer window is open, we are also in another managerial silly season. Recent events at Man Utd and Celtic in particular mean we have no option but to give this our attention - the Managerial Merry-Go-Round is the gift that keeps giving and there is a lot to cover..... We covered the principle of this in Episode 9 on 31st August towards the end of the summer transfer window, so this is not only a look forward with a crystal ball on what might happen in the second half of the season, but a (smuggish) look back on how accurate our discussions were in August too. Covering the likes of: How Did We Do With Our August Managerial Predictions? Who Do We Give a BIG Apology To & Why? Man Utd - Culture & Succession Planning Interim & Temporary Managers Who Might Be In The Frame For The Next Knee-Jerk Appointment Is Liam Rosenior Already Under Pressure at Chelsea? The Celtic "S*it Show & Why They Deserve It Up & Coming Managers & Coaches Who Should Stay Put & Build Something? Current Vacancies & Name Drops Who Is Under Pressure & Might Not Survive? Why Some of This is MADNESS And More...... This is a really juicy subject that we really get stuck into, so why not comment, get involved and expand the debate. After all, this is and always has been a game of opinions. We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with this YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 30 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. We recorded this on the Friday morning of a (ridiculous) 4 day FA Cup 3rd Round Weekend, before the giant killing heroics of Macclesfield, Mansfield & Wigan and great games at Wrexham, Newcastle & Grimsby to name but a few…… But in the spirit of the podcast DNA it would seem natural for us to discuss "What's Wrong with The FA Cup in 2025/26". Your Hosts are both of a certain age where we still love the FA Cup - it's history, it's heritage, it's legacy and the memories it has created that are seared into the brain of any football fan of a similar vintage.  Hell, we can both still list EVERY FA Cup winner since 1970 in Nick's case and 1978 in Dom's case....... But, it is fair to say that over recent years, it seems to be dying the death by a thousand cuts - some of which we cover in this episode. A Four Day 3rd Round Schedule No Replays / Straight to Penalties A Terrible TV Schedule Matches Chosen for TV Teams Playing Weakened Teams Same Division Fixtures Semi-Finals at Wembley Why the Final Was ALWAYS Appointment to View Watching Why Palace Winning it Last Season Was Great News for the Competition Snow Covered Pitches & Orange Balls And More....... This is a real discussion podcast - so what is your view, and what is your age that supports that view? Are we just looking at things with the benefit of hindsight through rose-tinted glasses, and are we just curmudgeonly old buggers - or should the FA Cup be resurrected in the hearts and minds of genuine football fans? A clue - we think the latter! We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.  Why not comment, get involved and expand the debate. After all, this is and always has been a game of opinions.  We hope that you will enjoy these episodes as much as we enjoyed recording them. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Part 2 of our DOUBLE Episode Special of "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom". Released simultaneously, covering; “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” in our review of football in 2025.  This DOUBLE Episode Special is a wide ranging review of the wider football landscape and neither Boro or Everton heavy or a concentration on the usual Premier League suspects. So, whoever you support or follow, whether you are a match going fan or an armchair supporter, we think we have something for you across the 2 x episodes. After covering the GOOD stuff in Episode 28, this Episode 29 concentrates on what we consider some of the BAD & UGLY aspects of football across the year - and there are some brilliant rants and discussions to get your teeth into, including. Why Some Clubs Never Seem to Get Penalties Own Goals v Former Clubs The Birmingham City New Year's Day Curse Celtic - Enough Said Crap Owners Mo Salah Alexander Isaak Alejandro Garnancho John Terry The National League Promotion & Playoff Picture Crap Managers FIFA Ticket Pricing VAR Refereeing Standards And Much More....... It's a pretty packed episode, indicating that there are many things that get proper football fans riled....... Do you agree with us in either or both special episodes?  Have we missed some obvious scenarios and content? Why not comment, get involved and expand the debate. After all, this is and always has been a game of opinions. We hope that you will enjoy these episodes as much as we enjoyed recording them. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Happy New Year from Nick & Dom at “The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom”. We hope that 2026 will bring you health, happiness and some football joy (or at least not football heartache). And do we have a New Year treat for you to kick off 2026…… Welcome to Part 1 of a DOUBLE Episode Special released simultaneously, covering; “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” in our review of football in 2025. This DOUBLE Episode Special is a wide ranging review of the wider football landscape and neither Boro or Everton heavy or a concentration on the usual Premier League suspects. So, whoever you support or follow, whether you are a match going fan or an armchair supporter, we think we have something for you across the 2 x episodes. This Episode 28 concentrates on what we consider some of the GOOD aspects of football across the year - and there are some brilliant stories in there to celebrate. The Championship Run-In Last Season Why We Love "Smaller" Clubs Winning Stuff Scottish Football Jamie Vardy, Harry Kane & Erling Haaland (But Not Kylian Mbappe) Away Fans Community Clubs The Premier League Title Race Thomas Tuchel Morgan Rodgers And Much, More....... Episode 29 covers what we consider the BAD and the UGLY side of the game, with some rants and some people and situations in the cross hairs. Do you agree with us in either or both episodes? Have we missed some obvious scenarios and content? Why not comment, get involved and expand the debate. After all, this is and always has been a game of opinions. We hope that you will enjoy these episodes as much as we enjoyed recording them.  The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 27 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. Have we got a pre-Christmas treat for you, and it might just be our best episode to date - let us know what you think. We have called this episode "Back to the Future" because football seems to have re-discovered: The Long Throw The Set Piece Giant Centre Halves at Corners 442 Even at the top level of the Premier League, teams like Arsenal are ripping up the Pep Tikka Taka playbook (thank goodness) and trying "new" things, that to many, are not that new..... Tony Pulis and Sam Alladyce must be loving it, but please don't expect the call to arms to fill a dugout position anytime soon Guys - your time has come and gone - we can but hope. So, if we are indeed going "back to the future", does that mean we can expect to see the re-emergence of the genuine Football Maverick - a player who's off-field legend supports his on-field silky skills and unique approach to getting fans off their seats? Probably not as the lifestyle choices would certainly be seen as "questionable" in the modern era - but that's no excuse for us not to discuss; George Best Peter Osgood Stan Bowles Tony Currie Frank Worthington, and..... Gazza What do they all have in common and who does Nick compare them to in terms of England Caps - to Dom's amazement? Also, who do we think is the last genuine on-field Maverick - so difficult to manage that even Neil Warnock gave up and let him have free rein, to brilliant effect? Finally, who is the genuine 1970's Football Maverick so potentially obscure that there is book written about him entitled "The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw"? Whatever your age, whatever your vintage, whoever you support and grew up adoring, we think that proper football fans will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 26 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. As match going football fans, we like to consider some of the more interesting subjects around world football and hope that they engage and entertain our audience - as well as creating discussion and debate. There are plenty of podcasts that analyse games (some endlessly) - but we like to think we "observe" the game and share our thoughts - and that you enjoy our approach too. On this episode, after another short initial rant about the ticket prices at the disgraceful FIFA World Cup 2026, we look at a fascinating area of football success in Spain and if or how that success could, might, or may never translate to any English team. That success is Athletic Club of Bilbao, one of only three teams NEVER to have been relegated from the top flight in Spain - you can probably guess the other two...... A team in Canada are trying to replicate that success - only recruiting and developing players from their own region - in Athletic Club's case, the Basque Region of Spain, in Canada, the French speaking Quebec region. Will it Work? What Are The Regional & Club Implications? What Would be the Impact on Academy & Youth Development? How Long Would It Take To Develop Resilience Like Athletic Club? Could a Club Hold It's Nerve Long Enough? We also discuss which English League One club we think might be an ideal testbed to try to replicate the model in the English pyramid - League One being the highest level we think could even consider this approach. We think proper football fans will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Despite us hanging FIFA out to dry with our take on the disgraceful ticketing and other issues around the World Cup in 2026 on our recent Episode 16, here we are, 9 episodes later and we cannot ignore another scandal and another blatant attempt to take the piss out of fans in favour of a desire to MAKE EVEN MORE MONEY. And this was recorded BEFORE Donald Trump "won" the completely fictitious "FIFA Peace Award", which I am certain we would have caned in this episode had we recorded after the World Cup Draw debacle. We hate the World Governing Body of the game we love and think that every other fan will have the same opinion. Welcome to Episode 25 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. We do however start with a celebration of: Scotland Northern Ireland Wales The Republic of Ireland Norway (Dark Horses to Win The World Cup)? Curacao Cape Verde & Haiti We look at the demise of Italian football at international level and why the FIFA qualification process makes it harder to qualify from Europe than most other regions - and why FIFA seem to love this? Thanks to Pellegrino Riccardi & Mark Mortimer on Linkedin for sharing the following link on this: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pellegrino-riccardi-24425a9_italys-football-collapse-a-leadership-activity-7396152496743661569-HuAF?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAGZUtIB7fehCgVOGNaPEGmSPZrP2n-4paI Why attracting 48 teams to the tournament is a great idea for FIFA but why they also don't want ANY of the minnows to progress beyond the initial group stages. Finally, we also consider final 4 seeding - which is an utter sham and a fix and why CR7 Cristiano Ronaldo is the ONLY player in world football to warrant the execution of a never before used Article 27 of the Governing Body Rules - setting him on probation for a recent red card for violent conduct rather than taking his ban, whereas the bans seem to be remaining in place with a case to answer for two other players in EXACTLY the same situation. Is this also MONEY related, or just a case of "who you know"? Whatever, it is, it is yet another disgrace! We think proper football fans will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

Inspired by a few recent and a couple of upcoming games - on Episode 24 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we ask whether a game is a genuine derby match or just a rivalry (often bitter, but not technically a derby game). We consider what we think constitutes a derby, who has one, and who doesn't and why we think that you can have ONLY ONE! What does this mean for London? What do non-fans of the London clubs involved think - and does this differ from the fans involved - we would be fascinated to get your opinions. We discuss why we think Arsenal v Spurs IS a derby but Chelsea v Arsenal is only a rivalry...... Why we don't care about the likes of West Ham v Fulham and a few more, and apart from fans of the two clubs, nobody else does either. Why do the likes of Boro, Coventry, Bournemouth, Palace, Brighton, Wrexham and a few more not even have a derby - because naming something after a Motorway or A Road doesn't make it one - trust us. When a derby is played or due to be played between two teams of unequal stature or form, does a bitter rivalry with a different club seem more appealing and does it trump this for the fans of the more "successful" club for interest at that time? We go international too and discuss some of the more appealing and attractive derbies in world football - and which ones we would love to go to, and why? What would be on your bucket list by the way? We think this is an episode that will have you nodding in agreement, tutting in disgust and shouting at your device in equal measure - so if that is the case, let us know with your comments what YOU think. We would LOVE to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

Ignore the episode number reference at the start of the recording- this is definitely Episode 23 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom - after we slipped the extra Episode 20 Rob Edwards Special in - having already recorded this one prior to publishing....... This is a very special GLOBAL Episode 23 as we have our first ever INTERNATIONAL Guest - Welcome Tommy Walker. Tommy is a; Foreign Reporter in the Southeast Asia Podcast Host at Dateline Bangkok VP at Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand ......and also a massive Boro fan...... He is very active on social media and on the ground in South East Asia – building and mobilising a growing Boro fan base of ex-pats and locals. He is currently involved in the Middlesbrough Supporters Clubs in Thailand, Honk Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Dubai & China, but this is NOT an episode about Boro as a club or even Boro as a fanbase. We have entitled this episode "Supporting Your Club & Rallying Others From Abroad" and it offers a fascinating insight into how to build a local, regional and in Tommy's case, a continental group of like-minded passionate fans who happen to live and work around the globe rather than in the UK - mobilising them so that collectively, everyone can better enjoy a matchday and supporter experience in wherever they may be living, working, or even just passing through. So please keep listening and watching to what is a fascinating episode - whoever you support, wherever you live or work, or if you have plans to travel abroad during the football season.…… Tommy is a TOP Guest who we know that our growing audience will enjoy. How did it all start? What were the key elements in building momentum? How do you get matchday TV support v the PRemier League coverage? How do you mobilise people to be a "part of something"? What is a matchday like in South East Asia? Why has Tommy initiated such a network of other Supporters Groups? What's the plan? These and many more questions are discussed with a very engaging and articulate guest. We are sure that whoever you support, you will really enjoy this one. We certainly enjoyed recording it and look forward to meeting Tommy in person over the Christmas break when he is back in the UK. A Parmo and a pint or two will certainly be on the menu. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

As we look to finish the last of the 3 Autumn International Breaks (thank goodness) - seeing England qualify with maximum points from a pretty easy group, but with Scotland's fate still unknown at the time of recording & release, we take this opportunity to offer our THIRD "Reflection of the Season So Far" musings on Episode 22 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. Don't be confused at the start when we mention Episode 21 - as we snuck in an extra Rob Edwards Special as a different Episode 20 to that originally planned, knocking back a couple of episodes we had already recorded and we don't really do editing....... This is indeed Episode 22! So what have we observed and what do we discuss?  We cover some great stuff, including, though not exclusively; Boxing Day Fixtures & Ticket Prices Scottish Football Is Suddenly Interesting (Well Less Routine Anyway) Thomas Tuchel's Relationship With The England Faithful Long Throws and Crap Corners Arsene Wenger's Proposed New Offside Laws More Terrible Refereeing & PGMOL Apology Letters Gateshead v Truro & Some Class Acts Around This Fixture Swedish Football (Yes, Really)...... We Celebrate Some Significant Player Shout Outs Honorable Mentions Across All 4 English Leagues Brazilian or Overseas Single Name Players Will Peterborough Ever Employ Darren Ferguson for a 5th Time? And Much, Much More....... We think any fan of the game, from any club, and of any age will really enjoy this episode - we certainly enjoyed recording it.  We also hope that you will have your own views too - please comment or get in touch, we would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

As a counter-balance to the nostalgic trip we took on Episode 19, Nick & Dom discuss some of the things they love about the modern game - and watching a lot of football as we do, it was a little easier than we might have imagined...... Welcome to Episode 21 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. Football has changed a lot in the years we have been watching, and whilst a lot of the change has been detrimental - VAR being a classic example, we cover a list of things that we think are actually worth celebrating. We cover some great stuff, including, though not exclusively; The Mix of New & Old Stadiums Available to Travelling Fans Not Smelling of Ciggys After the Game (or Getting Secondary Diseases) The Return of Safe Standing Unrestricted Views The Openness of the Premier League & Championship This Season The End of Hooliganism The Ease & Availability of Games to Watch From Around The World Spotting Other Fans at Railway Stations on Away Trips The Variety of Merchandise - Maybe Not The Prices No More Astroturf Pitches - Sorry QPR & Luton And Much, Much More....... We think any fan of the modern game will really enjoy this episode - we certainly enjoyed recording it.  We also hope that you will have your own views too - please comment or get in touch, we would love to hear from you - what do love about the modern game? The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to a Special Rob Edwards Episode of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom Parental Control needed for the odd sweary bit…….. As two card-carrying, match-going, long-term Middlesbrough fans this week has been up there with one of the strangest and most annoying in our memory – all because of the actions of one man – Robert Owen Edwards, also known as Rob Edwards or Snakeman! This is not a podcast episode just about Middlesbrough Football Club, it is a podcast about...... Integrity Trust Honour Greed MONEY Decision Making Doing The Right Thing And Consequences……. If you are a football fan of ANY Club, consider how you would react to the same situation evolving and unfolding around your Club, your Manager or Head Coach and how you would feel about it. This is not a rant of an episode, but we hope, a balanced take on something that is or should be (but sadly isn't), at the heart of football – TRUST.  We hope that we have got the balance right and that you will enjoy it – or at least that it will challenge a perception or two.  Please feel free to like, share, comment and subscribe to “The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom” for more regular and engaging topics across the football world out every Monday – brought to you by two blokes of a certain age who discuss things that proper fans discuss on the way to games, on the concourse or in the pub. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Feedback welcome, but for this episode in particular, please listen to or watch the episode before forming and sharing your opinions in your comments – we think on this occasion, this is really important. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  Moving on.......... 

Are you a fan of a certain age, maybe a match-going fan, maybe an armchair fan, but a fan nonetheless? On Episode 19 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we take you on a trip down memory lane - hankering after some of the things that you just don't see anymore at and around the game. Thanks also to Author, Daniel Gray who has a number of excellent books published by Bloomsbury that inspired some of our conversation.  Well worth looking up: Black Boots & Football Pinks Saturday 3PM Extra Time All excellent reads....... But don't worry if you are a younger viewer or listener, we give you some insights into what football used to be like - and you can decide if you would have liked to experience some of it - or even whether some of it seems believable in 2025. We cover some great stuff with a smile, including, though not exclusively; Streakers, Rattles, Rosettes & Top Hats Boot Colours Choosing Where to Stand The Smell of Matchday Bunking In For Free Two Up Top - Big Man, Little Man Local Owners & Chairmen Player Managers Goal Celebrations Combovers The Larger Player The Magic Sponge The Football Pools & The Pools Panel The Shoot Magazine League Ladders And Much, Much More....... We think any fan of any age or vintage will really enjoy this episode - we certainly enjoyed recording this one. We also hope that you will have your own views too - please comment or get in touch, we would love to hear from you - what do you miss or hanker after? The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.    

On Episode 18 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast we have a FIRST. We have a GUEST, and a very special one at that.  A man so recognisable at Boro and around the whole Championship scene that like Madonna & Pele, he only goes by a single name - welcome to the podcast YUSUF. This is not a podcast about BORO, it's about a genuine fan evolution to being a season card holder and an active away fan and we hope that any football fan will enjoy this and reflect on their journey to becoming a fan of their own club too. We cover a fascinating journey - starting with how and why an 8 year old kid living near Wembley came to recognise that a team from Middlesbrough even existed and then, with all of the Greater London options available to start his active follower to supporter to match going fan journey, he still chose a club over 250 miles away? We cover some great stuff with a really engaging guest including: What was the journey from a kid to a match going bloke? What does a typical matchday look like - Saturday & Midweek? How does he manage so much travel on public transport? What does Yusuf most enjoy about being an active Boro fan? Where is the most difficult stadium for him to get to for a game? Any travel or match day disasters to share? Being high profile, dealing with some of the "attention" from other fans What Is in a typical Yusuf match day pack-up? and much more..... We think any proper fan, especially match-going fans will LOVE this episode and we are delighted that YUSUF has been our very first podcast guest. We hope that you will enjoy and have your own views too - please comment or get in touch, we would love to hear from you. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

As we record this Episode 17 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast With Nick & Dom in the second international break of the season, we have taken another opportunity to share some of our observations, good, bad and hopefully a little funny on the season to date. Not the BIG clubs, but focusing on a lot of clubs and fans who might not get the airtime elsewhere..... Some examples include honourable mentions for the likes of - Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Boro, Preston, Stoke, Stevenage, Bradford & Grimsby. Including........ Chris Wilder being Chris Wilder AGAIN Over-exuberant goal celebrations getting yellow & red cards Who is the surprising Premier League midfield destroyer so far? The pies at Fratton Park Who is having their own goal of the season competition? Who do we feel has been THE PL surprise package of the season so far? A shout out to the 250,000+ UK grass roots volunteers How many of the 21 Watford Managers in the last 10 yrs do we recall? and a lot more....... We hope that you will enjoy and have your own views too - please comment or get in touch, we would love to hear from you. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

How Bad Do You Have To Be When You Compare Unfavourably to Sepp Blatter? On this week’s Episode 16 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we discuss the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Not from a footballing perspective - plenty of time for that, but…… The disgrace of the ticket pricing Ticket category bulls**t FIFA sticky fingers on re-seller sites Why 3 locations - if not just -$$$$$? Genuine concerns over safety & security Suits & corporates v real fans Why we don’t even need FIFA Why is Infantino no better, and probably worse than Blatter? And a lot more…… These charlatans are governing the global sport that we, and millions love. They are drinking from the trough of greed and they don’t give a toss about the fans - not one toss. An explosive episode that we think real football fans will want to listen to and comment on - so please do.  We would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

On this Episode 15 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we discuss TWO issues that are currently being discussed at length. 1. The Proposed Changes to the Championship Playoffs 2. The Saturday 3.00pm TV Blackout In terms of the proposed Championship Playoff changes, why wouldn't Championship Chairmen vote for an increase in places down to 7th & 8th - but why is that absolutely the WRONG thing to consider? Even though our club, Boro have been in 7th or 8th twice in the last 5 seasons, the same as Millwall and with Blackburn being there 3 times, why are absolutely and categorically against this proposal? What do we think would be the outcome and if you finish in 8th with an average of over 18 points a season less than the team in 3rd, is that even fair? A meaty subject that we both have strong views on..... In part two, we discuss why a 60+ years old ban on Saturday games at 3.00pm being shown on TV, is no longer fit for purpose and what we think would happen if the ban was lifted. Do we think it should, or should not be lifted and what do we think of some fans who "might" stop attending live games in person - particularly lower down the pyramid? Is 2025 the year we should rescind a 1960's moratorium and what do you think?  We hope that you will enjoy and have your own views too - we would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

On this Episode 14 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we might just be hankering back for a better footballing time. Discussing a subject suggested by regular listeners, Simon & Michelle Jennison, we look at whether Football Was Better 10-15 Years Ago? Has the 2008 - 2010 Pep Tikka Taka Revolution Gone Far Too Far? Are Man City Boring to Watch? Playing Not To Lose Is NOT Entertaining...... Is Possession and Pass, Pass, Pass For Stats Sake a Fan Turn Off? Were Prime Man Utd & Arsenal a Delight We Long To Have Back? Why Are So Many Managers Wedded to a "System"? Should Direct Football Be Making a Comeback or Is It Frowned Upon? Using a number of reference points, we think there is a lot in here to get you feeling a combination of annoyed and frustrated, but also nostalgic & hopeful - after all, we now see the likes of Set Piece Coaches and goals from long throws. Tony Pulis must be smiling on his sun lounger whilst making spoof TV adverts with Big Sam & Pards! We hope that you will enjoy and have your own views too - and why not suggest a topic or two like Simon & Michelle have done. We would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

On this Episode 13 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we look at what we describe as the "Murky" World of Multi-Club Ownership.  This was a subject suggested by regular listener, Steve Atkinson - Thanks Steve. This is a subject that vexes and annoys many regular football fans, and whilst we are not experts, we do have our own views on what this means for football, how they impact on things like player transfers, sponsorship deals and financial transactions. There are at least 26 Multi-Club Ownership Groups around the world - ranging from the City Group with 12 clubs, to many Groups with 2 clubs and a lot in between owning between 3 - 8. It just doesn't FEEL right. From our first awareness of the model via the Watford / Udinese Pozzo Family ownership - which doesn't seem like a model to aspire to, certainly on the pitch, to the well publicised activities of the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle, to the recent treatment of Crystal Palace by UEFA, the whole thing certainly seems muddy, unfair. We probably still have more questions than answers, but, we hope that you will enjoy and have your own views too!  Why not share those views with us? The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

On this Episode 12 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we look at the impact of Stadiums on fans, clubs and areas such as attracting players, investment and future growth. We look at the recent opening of the Hill Dickinson at Everton - how is the fan experience, where does it leave the old Goodison superstitions, match day routines and rituals, and how long does it take to find and embrace new ones? Are fans getting a better experience or are they just paying higher prices for a "different" experience? We look at ground openings such as: • 2025 - Everton – Hill Dickinson • 2020 - Brentford – The G-Tech • 2019 - Spurs – The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium • 2016 - West Ham – The London Stadium • 2011 – Brighton – Amex • 2006 - Arsenal – The Emirates • 2003 - Man City – The Etihad • 1997 – Stadium of Light – Sunderland • 1995 - Boro – The Riverside Stadium • 1993 - Millwall – Old Den v New Den What has been the longer term impact and what will be the legacy of these grounds? Would some fans rather go back?  Will The London Stadium EVER feel like "home" to West Ham fans, or indeed a "proper" football ground to everyone else? We would welcome your views and comments. We would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with this YouTube channel too. The season is back - until the next International Break spoils the momentum!

On this Episode 11 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we take the first (interminable) international break as the opportunity for us to reflect on what we have seen or experienced in the short season to date - much of which has annoyed us. No spoilers, but fair to say we don't both agree on everything.... A slightly longer episode than most as we have plenty to get our teeth into and hopefully, plenty to get your thoughts going as usual. We hope that you like this podcast, we hope that it gets YOU thinking about YOUR views on the subjects we cover. Do you agree, do you have a view or a comment, do you have a suggestion for us to tackle in a future episode? We would welcome your views and comments. We would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  Now let's get the season back on track!

As we are in the midst of the first international break of the new season, we have recorded and released a special Friday, pre-weekend Episode 10 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast celebrating all things non-league football. We want to encourage match-going fans in particular who cannot watch their usual Premier League, Championship or even League 1 or 2 game this weekend - to find and go and support your local non-league club. Same in Scotland..... We share a few tales and share why these clubs want and need our support and how they are the heart of the communities they serve - so deserve your attention. Shout outs for; - Tadcaster Albion - Thackley FC - Marine FC - Bootle FC - Dorking Wanderers - Newark Town - Darlington We hope that you like this podcast, we hope that it gets YOU thinking about YOUR views on the subjects we cover. Do you agree, do you have a view or a comment, do you have a suggestion for us to tackle in a future episode? We would welcome your views and comments. We would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information.

On this Episode 9 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we we have another single BIG subject - certainly for match-going and all regular football fans like ourselves. It will already be resonating with some - even this early in the season. We have gone early and we discuss "The Managerial Merry-Go-Round". Frank De Boer was sacked after just 3 Premier League games at Crystal Palace a number of seasons ago. As we record this episode, we are only 1, 2, 3 or maybe 4 games into the season, depending on which league your team is is, but....... - Will this 3 league game record be broken or even equalled this season? What does it say about any club hierachy who pull the trigger very early? How would it leave a club's plans and strategy to do it? Does it always work? A clue on the last one - Birmingham City - TWICE...... We also disagree on the relative success or otherwise of a Manager with a longer CV than almost anyone - and why he keeps coming back for more. Then its on to who we think might already be under pressure and in the crosshairs of either fans, club officials or both. No spoilers but we we discuss the Premier League, Championship & the SPL and even give a shout out to Morecambe FC - beautifully and recently saved from extinction. Plenty to get your thoughts going as usual. We hope that you like this podcast, we hope that it gets YOU thinking about YOUR views on the subjects we cover. Do you agree? Do you have a view or a comment? Do you have a suggestion for us to tackle in a future episode? We would welcome your views and comments. We would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too. The season is well and truly underway!

On this Episode 8 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we have a single BIG subject - certainly for match-going and all regular football fans like ourselves. We discuss "Fixture Scandals". This has been initiated by the recent announcement from the Spanish Football Federation that they have sanctioned a LEAGUE match between Villareal & Barcelona in Miami in December. Find out why Nick in particular is RAGING and what we feel this might mean for football fixtures going forward? We also discuss domestic fixtures and how they are created - certainly without much consideration of the fans! Midweek games, Thursday night kick offs, Monday Night Football on Sky, why Crystal Palace returned 1,500 tickets for an away game at Villa and much more...... How do German fans deal with matters they don't like and why it might just work better over there than over here. A real subject for real match going and football watching fans. Why are we LAST in the considerations? Plenty to get your thoughts going. We hope that you like this podcast, we hope that it gets YOU thinking about YOUR views on the subjects we cover. Do you agree? Do you have a view or a comment? Do you have a suggestion for us to tackle in a future episode? We would welcome your views and comments.  We would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with this YouTube channel too. The season is back and Nick in particular is already on the case on this episode!

On Episode 7 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, as the season kicks in to near full swing, we ask..... "What Are We Looking Forward To From The New Season"?  Some fun, some ambitious, some having no chance of coming to fruition and much in between.  We might upset or offend a few supporters of a few clubs, but it is only a bit of fun, and it is only a matter of opinion - so chill your beans before you hit "reply". We have a little dig at some deluded fans We look at how the 2 domestic cups might shape up We look at Sonny leaving Spurs and what that might mean? We "predict" where we would like or expect a certain few clubs to finish We consider the future of Wayne Rooney We want a resolution to a few major issues as soon as possible We lay out our hopes for the promoted clubs in the PL We lay out our hopes for the Championship promotion race We even discuss if Leicester in particular could "do a Luton"? Finally, we consider some international hopes for the season As ever, there is plenty to get your thoughts going. We hope that you like this podcast, we hope that it gets YOU thinking about YOUR views on the subjects we cover. Do you agree? Do you have a view or a comment? Do you have a suggestion for us to tackle in a future episode? We would welcome your views and comments. We would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with this podcast.  The season is well and truly up & running!

On Episode 6 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we were going to discuss two very different, but hopefully interesting subjects for regular football fans, like we ourselves are.... We were going to discuss "What Represents Success to Fans & Clubs - and Is There a Difference? We were then going to discuss "The Fixture List & Sky Fixture Timings", but in the interests of keeping things tight and proper around timings, we decided to just concentrate on the first subject and leave the second one for a future episode. So, here is your first single subject podcast episode on..... "What Represents Success to Fans & Clubs - And Is There a Difference? Are Club & Fan expectations always aligned & what if they are not? Who had the better season last season - Spurs or Arsenal & why? Finishing 4th and in the CL places v winning a trophy - what wins? Why do clubs safely in mid PL table play weakened squads in cups? Was Bristol City's playoff hammering by Sheff Utd still progress? Would all 3 promoted clubs to the PL take 17th before a ball is kicked? Same for Birmingham & Wrexham in particular in the Championship? Is success at club level disconnected for the game-going fan in particular? We also address what we think might represent success at our own clubs in Middlesbrough & Everton in the coming season. Plenty to get your thoughts going. We hope that you like this podcast, we hope that it gets YOU thinking about YOUR views on the subjects we cover. Do you agree? Do you have a view or a comment? Do you have a suggestion for us to tackle in a future episode? We would welcome your views and comments. We would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our Podcast. The season is back!

On this Episode 5, Nick & Dom discuss two very different, but hopefully interesting subjects for regular football fans, like we ourselves are.... In the first half we discuss Ticket Prices Why are ticket prices continuing to rise when revenues for big clubs certainly are massive? Is a season ticket good value where you support your club? How do walk-up supporters feel about the on-the-day pricing? What happened to the "£20 is Plenty" initiative & should this be for all home & away fans? Are clubs favouring football tourists over local supporters? How dare Man Utd charge a debenture to "own" your piece of plastic? If you pay more, can you moan more? Lots to get your teeth into. The second half is given over to Annoying People in Stadiums We are not the arbitrators of good style, good behaviour and standards, but come on..... The behaviour of some fans at home and particularly away games can be appalling and it is usually fuelled by drink and increasingly drugs. # Whilst this is indeed annoying, and we share some of our own stories of what we have witnessed inside & outside of stadiums over the years, there are plenty of other annoyances that get us riled and annoyed. How do you feel about the perennial late arrivers? The ones late back after half time? Those with a bladder the size of a pea and.... Those that always leave early to "beat the traffic", whatever the score or state of play on the pitch? Is karma just waiting around the corner for them? Finally, what about the "Gobshite Coach" who shouts the same thing from his seat (and it is ALWAYS a he), 20 times a game...... Is there a place reserved in hell for them? We hope that you like this podcast, we hope that it gets YOU thinking about YOUR views on the subjects we cover. We would welcome your views and comments. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with this podcast. The season is back! NICK & DOM

On this Episode 4, Nick & Dom discuss two very different, but hopefully interesting subjects for the average Joe Football Fans, just like us.... In the first half we discuss Technology & Rule Changes and in the second half, supporting the incredible season of PSG without Mbappe, we look at Galacticos - Are They All That? Part one It's more than a moan about VAR (although why wouldn't we), it's about the origins of technology in football and where we think it should have stopped. It's a debate around whether the technology itself is to blame, or are the rules like offside and handball in particular, the root of the problem when it comes to annoying and frustrating most fans? We discuss the overused and misinterpreted "clear & obvious" as well as whether referees are now guilty of re-refereeing games instead of just focusing on incidents. Lots to get your teeth into in such a thorny subject area. The second half is given over to the question of - Galacticos, Are They All That? It comes from a homage to the exploits of PSG this season (accepting that they didn't quite win the new Mickey Mouse FIFA Club World Cup as discussed in Episode 1 of this podcast). They won the Champion's League for the first time in their history without Mbappe and a recent history that included the likes of Messi & Neymar. We consider what even constitutes a Galactico and throw a few names around to prove (or disprove) a point or two. Finally we discuss who would win between a prime Galactico Heavy Real Madrid from 2003 - 2006 and prime Barcelona from 2009 - 2012?  Who would you be backing? Over to you to see what you think. We hope that you like this podcast, we hope that it gets YOU thinking about YOUR views on the subjects we cover. We would welcome your views and comments. Please don't forget to like, subscribe and share to help us to grow our audience and also to get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. Thanks for your support with this podcast. NICK & DOM  

On this very first episode of our brand new podcast, Nick & Dom discuss two big issues. Merchandise & The FIFA Club World Cup We had to start with merchandise with the name of the podcast we guess.....  We cover areas such as: What does a club identity mean to the shirt designers? What do fans like (and dislike) and get very bent out of shape about? What piece of apparel really gets on Dom's t*ts, and why? Should you EVER have your own name on the back of your shirt? WTF is a half & half shirt and how do they even exist? This and much more under the Merchandise section...... In part two we switch to the recent FIFA Club World Cup and ask...... Is this just tournament too far? Should the usual suspects be given a rest? How much do we all actually TRUST FIFA to distribute the revenues? Do teams really care (or is it all just about the money)? What will it do for Man City & Chelsea as the PL season unfolds? Is it a post-season tournament or a pre-season warm up (or neither)? These are just some of the discussions we have on this thorny issue that seems to divide fans (unless you are Chelsea and have just banked a £100m windfall we guess). We hope that you like this podcast, and we hope that it gets YOU thinking about YOUR views on the subjects we cover. We would welcome your views and comments. Please don't forget to like, subscribe and share to help us to grow our audience and also to get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. Thanks for your support with this new podcast launch.

On this third episode, Nick & Dom discuss two more current hot topics.... The Americanisation of Football & Fit & Proper  Very different, but very interesting either way. After the recent FIFA World Club Cup (which we discussed on Episode 1) and with the World Cup 2026 being co-hosted in the USA, we consider...... Cheerleaders - Warm Up Music & Fire Bombs Half Time Shows Individually Introducing the Players The Half Time Interview Foam Fingers Hot Dog Vendors Beer at Your Seat Pricing Is the World Cup next year going to herald an abomination for us all to endure going forward, or should we embrace trying to be more ra-ra and more like the NFL? These things and much more discussed in the first half of the podcast..... In the second half, we turn to a much more serious and damaging subject - well, maybe not as damaging as foam fingers, but the whole subject of Fit & Proper....... The plight of Sheffield Wednesday, Hull, Reading and the likes How did they happen and how was it allowed? FFP v Profit & Sustainability - Is it all smoke & mirrors? How do bigger clubs get away with spending £millions? Will a new Regulator make any difference? Does money and deep pockets for lawyers override compliance? Where does this leave fans? Lots to get your teeth and opinions into. We hope that you like this podcast, and we hope that it gets YOU thinking about YOUR views on the subjects we cover. We would welcome your views and comments. Please don't forget to like, subscribe and share to help us to grow our audience and also to get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. Thanks for your support with this new podcast.

On this second episode, Nick & Dom discuss two current hot topics.... The Transfer Window and Pre-Season In the first half, we discuss things such as: Is a fixed window really the best way of operating a transfer market? Was it better before the two fixed windows, and if so, why? How much power do Agents now have? Why does the window drive pressure and panic buying? Who are the winners and losers? What about loans? This and much more to get football fans thinking and discussing amongst themselves. In the second half, we turn to the Pre-Season, discussing areas such as: Do pre-season friendlies tell us ANYTHING? Minutes on the grass v running and cycling up hills? The health responsibilities of a modern day footballer Global brand awareness v burnout - who is responsible? Our best ever pre-season memory (clue, it is hard to recall) Our view on pre-season predictions....... Plenty to get you thinking about your own teams' pre-season and what it might mean for the season ahead - if anything. We hope that you like this podcast, we hope that it gets YOU thinking about YOUR views on the subjects we cover. We would welcome your views and comments. Don't forget to like and subscribe to help us to grow our audience and also to get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. Thanks for your support with this newish podcast launch.