Last summer was a pivotal moment for women’s football in the UK. An England victory was then bettered as they urged the government to increase P.E. provisions for girls in schools across the country. Women’s football crowds are up, TV figures are growing, and more of these amazing women are household names – and this summer, it’s going up another notch.

The Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand kicks off in July, as England look to follow up their Euros win while Rep. Ireland will be bringing their World Cup debut.

For fans who can’t make the trip out there, fear not! Upfront, the women’s football podcast, from the team behind the Football Ramble, will be Down Under with all the latest news from what’s set to be another landmark moment for the women’s game.

Upfront’s tournament coverage last summer earned them a silver award in the 2022 British Podcast Awards, as hosts Rachel O’Sullivan and Chloe Morgan captured the unique spirit of the international tournaments. They’ll have episodes recorded live at matches, across both countries, where they’ll be engrossed amongst worldwide fans. All delivered with the fun, occasionally chaotic tone that makes Upfront the biggest women’s football podcast in the UK. Think: the best mates’ football holiday ever, sent straight to your podcast app multiple times a week.

“One of the best parts about Upfront so far has been covering the Euros together” states Rachel. “To get to do that for a World Cup AND down under in Oz and New Zealand is even more exciting. Embedding yourself in a tournament is so fun and doing it so far away from home makes it a real adventure. I can’t wait to try and bring some of that atmosphere and tournament vibes (and the football of course) to our listeners.”

Upfront has never been afraid to tackle the big issues affecting women’s football; from the ACL injuries that threaten England’s chances, to how young girls from minority backgrounds haven’t felt the effects of the national team’s success. Guests from all corners of the game have joined Rachel and Chloe to raise awareness of issues and causes vitally important to the women’s football community.

For all your latest news and reaction from this summer’s women’s World Cup, make sure you’re subscribed!

Listen to Upfront on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps.

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This column was created with Stak. Stak produces podcasts that entertain and inform, including some of the UK’s biggest and most popular shows – boasting a combined 4 million monthly listen and over 45 years of podcasting experience. Whether recording remotely or in our broadcast-grade London  studio, we special in every stage of the podcasting process. To find out more or get in touch, visit our website at stak.london.

The post Are you ready for the Women’s World Cup 2023? appeared first on POD BIBLE.

Upfront is the latest addition to the Football Ramble’s podcast stable and, since its first episode in November, the show has grown to become the definitive podcast on women’s football. Each week, presenters Flo Lloyd-Hughes, Rachel O’Sullivan and Chloe Morgan tackle more than just the results on the pitch. They dissect the most urgent issues surrounding gender inequality in football and take listeners to the very heart of women’s football’s vibrant, underrepresented culture.

“I think listeners have really enjoyed our fresh, light-hearted approach to things but also our opinionated chat,” Flo says. “I don’t think we’ve held back and although people may not agree with us all the time, it’s certainly got people talking about the women’s game.”

“I’ve absolutely loved it, working with Flo and Chloe has been so much fun,” Rachel adds. “I look forward to coming in and recording with them every week. We discuss the important things in the game but have fun while doing it!”

This summer will be a huge moment for women’s football, as England hosts the European Championships for the first time since 2005. More than 100 days out from kick-off, ticket sales had already smashed the previous record set by the last tournament in the Netherlands and, within a day of tickets for the final going on sale, Wembley Stadium had sold out. And England will be there, chasing their first ever major trophy.

Whether from the studio or on the road at different venues across the country, Upfront will bring you three shows a week throughout the tournament that cover the game’s biggest stories and bring this festival of football straight to your podcast app.

“We’re going to be doing regular shows throughout the tournament, keeping everyone up to date and doing it all in our usual Upfront style,” Flo explains. “But as some of us will be on the road covering the tournament there will be some unique new bits to the show.”

As part of the build-up, there will be interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport and a special Upfront Guide to the Euros, arming you with everything you need to know ahead of the curtain-raiser. The show will also be shining a light on the grassroots: the community clubs, the projects that will be providing a safe space for women and nonbinary people to play football during a truly unforgettable summer.

“I’ve really enjoyed the opportunities we’ve had to speak to other journalists, players, or managers throughout this season,” says Rachel. “It gives us different takes on a lot of different subjects and I’m looking forward to doing more of that during the Euros!”

And after the Euros? It doesn’t stop. The World Cup qualifiers continue in September before the main event in Australia and New Zealand next summer.

“Tournament football is special and particularly in England, nothing beats when the nation gets behind the team,” says Flo. “I can’t wait for that excitement and hype to build around the tournament.” Rachel shakes her head and says simply: “It’s going to be a huge, huge moment for the women’s game.” Don’t miss a second of it!

Subscribe to ‘Football Ramble Presents’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps to catch episodes of Upfront throughout the summer.

The post Upfront: Covering an unforgettable summer of women’s football appeared first on POD BIBLE.

The Game Changers podcast speaks some of the biggest names in women’s sport as they talk frankly about their historic careers. There are now seven seasons worth of amazing women to listen to, and it’s difficult to know where to start! But to mark the fact that the Barclays FA Women’s Super League is also ten years old this year, they’ve put together a list of episodes with 24 women in football who have paved the way for others.

From left to right:

Sue Campbell

Director of Women’s Football at The FA and regarded by many as one of the most respected women in sport. Baroness Sue Campbell is former CEO at the National Coaching Foundation and The Youth Sports Trust and Chair of UK Sport from 2003 and 2013. Listen now >>

Shelley Kerr

The manager of the Scotland women’s team who led them to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 2019. Listen now >>

Moya Dodd

One of the most influential women in global sport. Moya served on the board of Football Federation Australia and Asian football’s governing body, before she became one of the first women to join the FIFA Council. Listen now >>

Hope Powell

Former England Women’s Football manager and the first woman to be awarded a UEFA Pro License. The second woman to be inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of the legendary Lily Parr. Listen now >>

Eniola Aluko

Professional footballer, media personality, lawyer and philanthropist and now best-selling author, Eniola’s high profile racism case against the FA led to critical reforms within the sport. Listen now >>

Jo Tongue

Football Agent, Director of Women in Football and a campaigner for equality in sport and the media. Former editor of 606, BBC 5Live’s flagship football phone in show and now CEO of Tongue Tied Management. Listen now >>

Stacey Copeland

Former England football player turned professional boxer. European silver medalist and three-time national champion and the first British woman to win the Commonwealth title. Listen now >>

Rose Reilly

One of Scotland’s greatest ever footballers. Eight league titles, World Player of the Year award, four golden boots, a professional career in France and Italy and a World Cup medal. Listen now >>

Mary Harvey

A goalkeeper for the US Women’s National Soccer team, winning both the World Cup and Olympic Gold. As former Director of Development at FIFA, Mary did much to drive gender reforms, and the work she did still has a huge global impact for the women’s game. Listen now >>

Kelly Simmons

Director of the Women’s Professional Game at the FA, Kelly leads the transformation of professional women’s football in England. Listen now >>

Emma Hayes

Hugely successful football manager at Chelsea Women, who also coached in the US. She led her team to the Barclays FA Women’s Super League title again in the 2019/20 season. Listen now >>

Jane Purdon

Jane Purdon leads Women in Football as its CEO. A qualified lawyer, Jane has worked at the highest level of football and sport. As Head of Governance and Leadership at UK Sport, Jane oversaw the creation of the Code for Sports Governance. Listen now >>

Sian Massey-Ellis

As one of England’s highest profile female match officials, working the Premier League and EFL, Sian has been a real trailblazer for female officials, appointed to matches in the Football League Trophy, UEFA Women’s Champions League, the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the UEFA Europa League. Listen now >>

Rimla Akhtar

Former Chair of the Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation and the first Muslim woman to sit on the FA Council. Awarded an MBE for her ‘contribution to equality and diversity in sport’. Listen now >>

Maggie Murphy

General Manager of Lewes FC Women, having previously worked at Amnesty International, Transparency International and Sport Integrity Global Alliance. Maggie is also a Director of Equal Playing Field, a charity dedicated to advancing women’s equality in sport. Listen now >>

Heather Rabbatts

Dame Heather Rabbatts is a businesswoman whose career has covered law, government, sport and media, including high profile positions at the Football Association, Millwall Football Club, the BBC and Channel 4. Listen now >>

Ebru Kosal

Former CEO at Galatasaray, the first woman to be elected to the Executive Board of the European Club Association and the first, and only, female General Secretary of the Turkish Football Federation. Ebru is now Chair of Women in Football. Listen now >>

Jill Scott

Football legend Jill Scott MBE has 149 caps for England and plays for Man City. She’s played in four World Cups and was part of Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics. Listen now >>

Steph Houghton

Captain of the Lionesses and Man City with over 100 appearances for England. Steph led Man City to two Women’s FA Cups, three Continental Cup successes and the Barclays FA Women’s Super League titles, as well as landing the PFA’s Merit Award in 2019. Listen now >>

Rachel Yankey

An incredible winger, Arsenal legend Rachel Yankey MBE was the first professional female player registered in England, and went on to become one of the country’s most successful and well known footballers.

Kelly Smith

Widely regarded as one of the greatest-ever female players, Kelly Smith MBE is England women’s record goal scorer and four-time Women’s Premier League winner with Arsenal Women. Listen now >>

Gail Newsham

Having spent almost three decades telling the story of the Dick, Kerr Ladies – arguably the most important team in the history of women’s football. Gail is the author of ‘In A League of Their Own!‘ Listen now >>

Casey Stoney

Manager at Man United Women, Casey was capped over 100 times for England and captained the Lionesses and Team GB during the London 2012 Olympics. Listen now >>

Jacqui Oatley

The first female commentator on Match of the Day, Jacqui presented the BBC’s flagship sports news show Sportsweek, hosted Euros and World Cups for the BBC and ITV and now hosts football and darts for ITV and the Sunday Supplement for Sky. Listen now >>

Listen to The Game Changers podcast: Fearless Women in Sport on ACAST, SPOTIFY and all OTHER PODCAST APPS. You can find out more at fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers.

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