The Speaking Frankly Football Show

TSFFS S3 EP19 On this week's show, our studio guest is Burscough chairman Jay Hawkes. We talk about Burscough and the remarkable season they've embarked upon with Phil Stafford at the helm, as well as next week's game against his former club, AFC Liverpool, which has an extra edge to it. We take a look at the FA Vase, the NWCFL and all the local clubs playing higher up the non-league ladder. We look at violence on the pitch following the hospitalisation of a player from Midhurst and Easebourne Community, as well as the level of abuse players have to put up with at the lower levels. Is it time leagues introduced "Crowd Assessors"? We have referee assessors, so why not? Can leagues stretch to sending people out to assess crowds, particularly those that have developed a reputation for poor behaviour, and those that engage in tragedy chanting? We take a close look at Bury FC and their manager, Anthony Johnson. His recent post-match interview gave great insight into the complexities of football management and made so much sense. He clearly wants supporters to understand, and doesn't apologise for having a little rant. But is he right? We think he is. We continue with other controversial issues, such as Gateshead's delayed takeover and Morecambe's signing embargo. And Dave Challinor is living proof that perseverance in management at non-league level truly can be a stepping stone to bigger things. He's landed the top job at sleeping giants Sheffield Wednesday. We round off the show with a look at the Liverpool Premier League and Skelmersdale United, before giving out predictions for the week ahead, as well as our usual expert analysis. All this and more.  

TSFFS S 3 EP 18 We have our usual round- up of the North West Counties, including the Macron Cup. Widnes' game this weekend has been postponed after they entered into a ground-share agreement with another club. They've left the Marine Travel Arena Stadium, but does this also mean they won't be going back to the DCBL Stadium? With only a couple of miles separating them from Runcorn Linnets and Runcorn Town, could they be moving to one of those grounds, subject to ratification by the FA and the League? We pose the question. We traverse the area, taking a look at all the usual suspects, and take a peek at those who' ve progressed in the FA Trophy. Marine are closing in on 1,000 ticket sales for their forthcoming first- round FA Cup tie at Bradford next week. Meanwhile, struggling Southport have announced their second manager in a few weeks, following Mark Duffy's departure. Calum McIntyre will take the reins, but Craig Noone has left the club. New managerial appointments have been announced almost everywhere, it seems, but one manager is staying put: Sean McConville at Clitheroe. But which club approached him? In Controversial Corner, we look at stadium bans imposed on managers and how the draconian nature of exclusion threatens non-league and amateur football. Are certain teams policing our game, leaving frustrated managers as easy targets for referees? Can players have the best of both worlds- rich food, booze, and still play competitive football? Is it right that they live such lifestyles, whether or not they are being paid, or are they simply stealing a shirt? Gateshead's potential new owners have hit a snag that could lead them to pull out of their proposed takeover. Who's putting obstacles in their way, and why won't they do the honourable thing and put fans and players first? Following Dale Vince's revelation that he wasn't bothered about an illegal approach for his former manager Robbie Savage, he's now suing Peterborough United and Robbie himself for £2m. He clearly has had his cage rattled more than we first believed. We finish off the show with a round- up of the Liverpool Premier League and the continued good form on show from Skelmersdale United, as well as our predictions for the NWCFL and our expert analysis. All that and more.

TSFFS S3 E17 In the pre-show show, Frank revealed that he now identifies as grass…the green, green grass of ganja variety, as he's passively inhaled far too much for his own health. There's a subliminal message in his revelation. AJ didn't help, as he turned up late with a new hair rinse more dangerous to the eye than looking directly at a solar eclipse. Studio guest Richard Brodie isn't sure if it's a good idea to have him in the dugout this weekend, but with the dark nights closing in, it was agreed that he might be a good substitute for floodlights should it get too dark at Edgehill! We start the show with our usual round-up of non-league football in the North West. We also take a look at Marine's success in the FA Cup after beating Hartlepool 2-0. They will now face Bradford City at Valley Parade in the First Round Proper. It's the funny season when chairmen get a little bit twitchy and managers lose their jobs. Normally, when this happens, it's down to results, but at Southport the narrative is a little bit different, as Mark Duffy's tenure came to an abrupt end following revelations that his X account had allegedly expressed support for far-right figure Tommy Robinson. The question is: can you ever be forgiven in these circumstances, and is this the end of the line for his career in football management? We also take a look at illegal approaches, following alleged revelations that Darragh MacAnthony, the chairman of Peterborough United, approached Robbie Savage before he formally approached Dale Vince at Forest Green Rovers. We pose the question: is the seven-day notice of approach, particularly at our level, an antiquated ruling, given the fact that players and managers often tout themselves anyway? We also touch on the subject of overseas sports investment brokers who try to set up billionaires with football clubs. It happened to Skelmersdale United once upon a time. Which clubs do you think would benefit from investment that could propel them into the big time? How about Bury for starters? We finish the episode by looking at the Liverpool Premier League, Skelmersdale United's big win over City of Liverpool, and all the other results around the league. We continue with our usual predictions and expert analysis of the NWCFL. And to give the show greater gravitas, we get a bird's-eye perspective from "The Gate Crasher, Richard Brodie" as he gives his thoughts as an ex-professional footballer turned manager. All this and more.

TSFFS S3 EP 16 In this week's show, we take a peek at non-league and amateur football right across the North West. Mind you, Skem manager Richard Brodie interrupts us once again! We look at all the movers and shakers in the FA Vase before crossing over to this weekend's fixtures in the FA Cup. We take a look at Bury, who face Harrogate Town at home, and Marine, who take a trip to Hartlepool United. The winners will go into the draw for the First Round Proper on Monday. Managers have been coming and going lately, and some are under pressure despite having only recently started. Mark Duffy has lost his Sporting Director at Southport and, after Saturday's defeat, they dropped into the relegation zone. Mark has gone on record saying that finding solutions will not be a "quick fix". It's been 22 years since they were plying their trade at Step Three of the NLS, with some supporters believing that's where they are heading once again. Can money fix the situation, and does anyone have any to give? In Controversial Corner, we discuss football cuisine, ask whether the FA Vase competition should be nationalised earlier, and consider a super play-off between all the feeder leagues to decide promotion to the NLS. We also discuss the shady side of football: clubs that aren't viable and American investment, which is slowly getting a grip on non-league football. We finish off with talk about Skelmersdale United and the Liverpool Premier League. We give you all our predictions and expert analysis. All this and more.   

TSFFS S3 EP15 We explore non-league football in the North West once again.  The final team from the North West Counties bowed out of the FA Cup on Tuesday night. Trafford will feel unlucky, as they were winning the match at home on Saturday until Essa Janneh scored a late equaliser in the 90th minute. 1,092 people watched the game at Shawe View against Atherton Collieries. However, the replay was a different story, as they lost 3-0. Marine beat Warrington Town to set up an exciting away tie at Hartlepool United in the final qualifying round. Bury will face Harrogate Town at Gigg Lane. Mark Duffy has been announced as the new manager of Southport FC, with some supporters calling it a "cheap and easy appointment." Owners Kieran Malone and David Cunningham have been open about their investment in the club and said their priority was financial sustainability. However, they have also been honest that they don't have unlimited funds. With so many sporting giants in the region, we ask whether a consortium could be formed to take control of Southport and eventually re-establish them in the Football League. Are the rumours unfounded, or could figures like Tommy Fleetwood, Tony Bellew, Duncan Ferguson, and Steven Gerrard pool their resources and have a go? It would be fantastic if they did. Grant Shenton has left Avro to take a vacancy at Radcliffe, while Jon Macken has been sacked at Stalybridge. Bootle's impressive run continues as they sit top of the NPL West with a perfect record. Prescot are in second place and performing well after last season's relegation. In "controversial corner," we examine post-match footage of a fight that broke out after Maghull's exit from the Edward Case Cup on Tuesday night. Cammell Laird won the tie on penalties. Maghull was previously involved in similar trouble during last season's play-off final against Droylsden. Droylsden FC were punished after being found guilty of three charges, fined £710, and subjected to two match ground closures. A third match closure was suspended for 12 months. An official statement claimed Maghull's players were "assaulted by members of the public." The footage doesn't look good regardless of the circumstances, and the repercussions could significantly impact the hosting club financially. We review Skelmersdale United's latest results and also take a broader look at the Liverpool Premier League. We also dispel rumours that one of our hosts attempted to profit from a merger with Skelmersdale Town. Finally, we share our usual predictions and expert analysis at the end of the show. All that and more.   

TSFFS S3 EP14 This week's episode features a roundup of the Macron Cup, the NWCFL, and all local non-league football. Richard Brodie gate-crashes the party once again and gives us his thoughts on our defeat at East Villa Rail last weekend.  In a controversial corner, we examine Edith & Belvedere, who nearly faced financial ruin because of legacy debts. The chairman and the club are doing their best to keep the club afloat, which raises the question: why are people so unforgiving when money is mentioned? Previous regimes are often accused of overspending and jeopardising the club's future, but why aren't people more sympathetic towards those trying to protect a football club's history? And is there a difference between legacy debts and legacy issues? We believe there is. Losing your ground due to a third-party decision, and then persevering to protect a club and stay in business, should be praised. Unfortunately, some sectors of society create a false narrative that too many people end up believing. In our humble opinion, those who genuinely try to protect their clubs deserve praise, not criticism. But we would say that, wouldn't we? We finish off the show with our usual predictions and expert analysis. 

TSFFS S3 EP13 In this week's show, we give our usual roundup of the NWCFL before hopping around the local, non-league and amateur football scene. In Controversial Corner, we talk about homophobic language within the game, how it can be combatted and what kind of punishment it will take to achieve this. Pagham FC have received complaints about the noise levels at their recent games. It appears they are victims of their own success. However, they have issued a public apology, albeit tongue-in-cheek. FC 219 is the brainchild of successful entrepreneur Tom Baker. He hails from Liverpool but is bringing 22 scholars from the USA to play at Tier 10 of the NLS. Tom has announced that his American team will be playing at Step 6 next season and most likely in the NWCFL. This was news to chairman Chris Sturrup, who first read about it in the Non-League Paper. How will this work, if indeed it happens, and where will they be playing their home games? There is growing unrest at National League side Gateshead after several members of last season's side were placed in a "bomb squad". They have been told to stay away from the first team, train separately in the afternoon and removed from the group chat. Lee Cattermole's side are 24th in the table, with one win so far. The scenes following their latest defeat, when they lost 6-1 to Southend United, were extremely hostile. We finish off with our usual predictions and expert analysis. All this and more. 

TSFFS S3 EP12 We reveal our first formal complaint in the pre-show segment. We then proceed with our usual roundup of North West Counties results, before exploring the broader field of non-league football in the North West. We take a look at the movers and shakers in the FA Vase & FA Trophy. Could Southport FC be taken over by a consortium led by former Liverpool star Steven Gerrard? It's been suggested, and why wouldn't it work, surrounded by figures like Tony Bellew and Duncan Ferguson? If they have taken advice from people like Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, you might think they'd steer clear. We speak to Andy McCann once again, following his Cheshire Football League representative side winning their UEFA regions group stage in Sweden on Sunday. They had to do it the hard way. Rob Payne came off the bench to score the winning goal in the fifth minute of injury time. We discuss how they managed it and look ahead to next year's finals. Controversial Corner examines Widnes Town and the news that they could be expelled from the league after playing just seven games in their brief history. The question remains: should the FA have sanctioned their admission to the NWCFL in the first place? It appears the FA did not do their homework. Doncaster City has resigned from the NCEL. Quite controversially, Doncaster City FC applied for permission to compete in the Scottish Cup when it was formed in 2022. The club believed a peace treaty dating back to 1136—which ceded Doncaster to the Scottish king—should allow them to participate in the knockout competition north of the border. Football agent Willie McKay established the club in what has since been regarded as an ill-fated experiment. We share our predictions and expert analysis of the NWCFL and Liverpool Premier League, and discuss what Skelmersdale United must do to turn their fortunes around. We are straightforward and unreserved in our critique. All this and more. 

TSFFS S3 EP11 In this week's episode, we kick off with our usual pre-show, show. Everything was going smoothly until Richard Brodie gatecrashed the opening segment. But being the true professionals we are, we managed to secure an interview with him! Chris Bull, manager of Ormskirk West End, joins us as a studio guest. We discuss his club and their plans for the future. We also cover the usual topics of NWCFL and other local non-league and amateur football. Who are the early movers and shakers, and who already looks like cannon fodder? This week's show is full of controversy. Prescot Cables' main stand is all but condemned, with talks about them potentially making a permanent move. Runcorn Linnets are facing ground issues too—their hybrid pitch has reached the end of its natural life, and there's also the small matter of replacing their perimeter fence. This comes at a significant cost, with the club needing to raise at least £100,000 to stay afloat. Has the Liverpool Senior Cup lost its credibility? Last season's final has still not been played. Rumours of a revamped competition have been circulating. Lancaster City and Maldon & Tiptree are both under new ownership, while Widnes Town have appointed a new chairman. Gainsborough Trinity found themselves victims of someone falsely claiming to be their First-Team Manager, Russ Wilcox. He appeared to be offering contracts and wages to various players, until Trinity caught wind of it. They have now issued a statement: "Stop impersonating our manager, stop wasting the time of players and clubs across the non-league game, and quite frankly, get a life." We conclude the show by looking at both Skelmersdale United and Ormskirk West End in the Liverpool Premier League. We also make our bold predictions for the upcoming fixtures. All this and much more.

TSFFS S3 EP10 In this week's episode, we look at all the movers and shakers in the NWCFL, including Burscough, who top the Premier Division. Maghull, who are seven points clear in Div 1N, and newcomers AFC Bridgnorth, who are top of Div 1S. We take a look at all the other local leagues affecting non-league football. Including Runcorn Town, who were beaten in the league for the first time in 380 days — 35 games. Joint manager Darren Moore reacted to the 2-1 defeat at Wythenshawe Town by saying, "We never really got into the game. We normally create a lot of chances, but we didn't look like scoring from open play." We examine the usual suspects: Marine, Southport, Avro, Bootle, Clitheroe, and both Warrington teams, to name a few. We also discuss Anthony Johnson's frustrations at Bury, as well as laugh at the boo boys who have already started baying for blood. Controversial Corner opens with two big stories affecting Rusthall FC and Maldon & Tiptree. We then feature a fantastic interview with Andy McCann, manager of The Cheshire Football League Representative side, who were crowned FA Inter-League Cup winners following a 3-1 victory over Herts Senior County League at the KingPower Stadium in Leicester, back in May. They are about to enter the UEFA Regions Cup in Sweden, where they will face teams from Finland, Portugal, and Sweden, before hopefully reaching the final. It's a fascinating story and insight into a competition often overlooked.  In the final part of the show, we'll discuss all things Skelmersdale United, including their first win of the season. We'll take an in-depth look at the Liverpool Premier League, then turn to our predictions for the week ahead and our usual expert analysis. All that and more.