Football, Colonialism, and Racism with Ronny Blaschke

My guest is Argentinian football writer Luciano Wernicke, whose latest book 'The Dark Side of the Copa Libertadores' explores the murkier side of South American club football's premier tournament.

My guest is Ronny Blaschke, whose latest book 'Football and Racism' explores the relationship between football and colonialism. We look at football's role in the European colonial past, including the British, French, and German empires. What is their legacy today?

My guest is Matt Coughlan, author of Groundhopper: Tales from Football's Equivalent of Trainspotting. Matt's new book explores the experience of visiting 100 football grounds, focusing on non-league and less mainstream clubs, sparked by his disillusionment with Arsenal and the Premier League.

My guest is Matt Oldroyd from the Nottingham Forest fan group, Forza Garibaldi. Matt's new book, Trailblazers, explores the history of one of the world's oldest and most historically significant football clubs, two-times European champions Nottingham Forest. We look at what the club - and the city of Nottingham - has contributed to the game in England and worldwide.

My guest is Richard Hough, author of Verona Campione, a new book about Hellas Verona's surprise 1985 Scudetto win. We also discuss the ultrà scene in Verona, and the city's other clubs, Chievo and Virtus.  After my chat with Richard, I've tagged on a talk I gave recently on football against fascism in Italy before and during World War II, recorded at Manchester's Festa della Liberazione. 

I welcome Miguel Lourenço Pereira back onto the podcast to discuss his new book, Pasión: A Journey to the Soul of Spanish Football. Following the success of his first book in English, Bring Me That Horizon, a deep-dive into football in his native Portugal, Miguel pops next door to explore the diverse and deeply rooted cultural identities that make up Spanish football. In Pasión, Miguel demonstrates how football reflects the country's complex social and regional differences.

In this podcast, I speak to four people involved in the telling of the story of Argentinian club Newell's Old Boys. Founded in 1903, the Rosario-based club was inspired to play by the influence of Isaac Newell, born in Kent, England, who moved to Argentina and set up a school where football and physical education complemented academic studies.  In this podcast, we hear from (in order): Adrian Pope, who has been campaigning for a statue of Isaac Newell in his hometown of Strood for more than 20 years Amanda J. Thomas, who's writing a biography of Isaac Newell Jon Rye, who curated an exhibition about Newell in 2022 Margarita Newell, great-great-granddaughter of Isaac Newell and great-granddaughter of Claudio Newell, the club's founder  

I am joined by Dr Pete Watson from the University of Leeds, and Karen Ariza Carranza, journalist, founder of Tribuna Krizol - a platform to promote social change in sports and the participation of Colombian women in sports - and she's also an International Olympic Committee young leader. We're looking at the role of women's football within Colombia as an agent for change. In this episode, we cover: The Rise of Women's Football in Colombia: We look at the historical context of women's football in Colombia, and its growing significance both nationally and internationally. The Development of Women's Football in Colombia: We explore how women's football in Colombia has developed later than the men's game, with the first professional league only established in 2017. The Global Stage: We highlight the importance of international tournaments, particularly Colombia’s 2015 Women's World Cup victory over France, in boosting visibility and media attention for the sport. 'Critical Visibility Moments': We analyse the role of 'critical visibility moments', where women's football gains media traction, often when the men's team underperforms or is absent from major competitions. Club Structures in Colombia: We examine how club football remains structurally weak, with a lack of investment, limited teams, and dependence on men's clubs for survival. The Role of Linda Caicedo: We discuss the growing impact of key figures like Linda Caicedo, an Afro-Colombian player who overcame cancer to become a global star, now playing for Real Madrid. Growing Media Attention: We acknowledge that while women's football in Colombia has gained more mainstream media coverage, it still faces systemic challenges, including gender inequality, inadequate funding, and inconsistent broadcasting. How Does Colombian Women's Football Compare with its Latin American Peers?: We compare Colombia’s success in women’s football to Argentina’s struggles, positioning Colombia as the second-strongest team in South America behind Brazil. Activism is Making a Difference: We emphasise the role of grassroots activism, independent media, and journalists advocating for greater representation and support for the women’s game. What Does the Future Hold?: We conclude by considering the future of Colombian women's football, noting its potential to rival Brazil, provided the necessary structural and financial support is secured from the federation and clubs.

On St Patrick's Day - 17 March 2025 - I gave a talk about my new book, 'Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football' at Dulwich Hamlet FC, co-hosted by the Football and War Network with the support of Stanchion Books. Have a listen!

My new book, Shades of Green: A Journey into Irish Football, is out NOW! It's part-groundhop, part-history discovery of football on the island of Ireland as an outsider. My thanks to author and journalist James Hendicott for standing in as host in this episode to interview me (!)