The Speaking Frankly Football Show

Frank Hughes & AJ Vergette
  • 4.8 (6)
  • American Football

Hello and welcome to The Speaking Frankly Football Show. Hosted by Frank Hughes, Chairman of Skelmersdale United FC & AJ Vergette, Skelmersdale United Press Officer. We concentrate mainly on matters of non league football, but occasionally we stray and cover other controversial subjects in football as well. We give in depth analysis on the North West Counties Football League. Interviews, opinions, controversial issues and much more! We are Speaking Frankly.

  1. 5 Aug

    TSFFS S3 EP6, with special guest, David Platt

    TSFFS S3 EP6 We start the show by reviewing the winners and losers from the opening day in the NWCFL. There have been a few shocks as well. We discuss local non-league football at step four and above, including some clubs that have transferred to the Midland League Premier. In Controversial Corner, we look at Ashington AFC, recently featured in a documentary, 'Saving Our Club', which was part of the BBC's 'Our Lives' series - celebrating life in the UK in all its diversity through the eyes of remarkable people doing extraordinary things. It centres around a close-knit group of volunteers fighting to keep the club afloat amid threats of relegation and financial pressures. Does that sound familiar? Steve Yarwood resigned as joint manager of West Didsbury and Chorlton after their 7-0 defeat to Runcorn Town and immediately became involved in an unpleasant social media dispute with player Emmanuel Omorogbe. Rob Smethurst has stepped down once again as a director of Macclesfield to focus on personal interests. Has the recent controversy finally taken its toll? In part two of the show, AFC Knowsley manager David Platt joins us to discuss their recent promotion from the West Cheshire League, the challenges of meeting ground criteria, and his aspirations for the club. In the final part, we round up the fixtures with our expert analysis and predictions for the week ahead. All this and more.

  2. 30 Jul

    TSFFS S3 EP5

    TSFFS S3 EP5 On this week's episode of the show, we take a look at the ins and outs—the players who have signed and those who have left for pastures new. It's all heating up as a new season is about to start in the NWCFL, so we review this weekend's fixtures and make our predictions. In the controversial corner, we examine Widnes Town. One of their pre-season friendlies was postponed because they couldn't field a full team, and within days, they have made a plea for a chairman and committee members, claiming the lack of numbers is their weak spot. Surely this should have been addressed before they applied to join the counties? We consider the ramifications of Droylsden's pitch invasion when they won a penalty shootout against Maghull in last season's play-off final, and ask whether a three-match stadium closure order is a bit over the top. Scenes of relief and exhilaration were visible when the winning penalty was scored. This led to red flares being set off and unsavoury scuffles between rival fans, with one person being arrested. We've seen worse incidents in football, with less punishment. With video evidence of what happened, surely pursuing the worst offenders and punishing them more severely would have a greater impact. We also question what is going on at York City, as their National League-winning manager, Stuart Maynard, was bizarrely sacked due to a difference in direction and vision for the football club. We say farewell to our former coach and interim manager, Barney, and thank him for all the dedication and hard work he contributed to the club, as well as for all the laughs he brought us along the way. All this and more.

  3. 23 Jul

    TSFFS S3 EP4

    TSFFS S3 EP 4 This week's show features a look at Burscough and the news that Elliott Taylor has signed for Chorley. The good news is that Ben Barnes, Andrew Starkey, and Joel Skillen have put pen to paper. Chadderton have also been busy, but we discuss the impact of losing Lewis Byrne and Benito Lowe on the club's ambitions. Thornton Cleveleys have been recruiting players and reviewing their younger talent. The IOM Festival tournament was won by Bury, who defeated Radcliffe 2-1. We examine Sean McConville's Clitheroe, who recently loaned Freddie Machel from Bury, and consider their prospects for this season. Gary Moore has opted for experience to help Lower Breck go further than the play-offs. We take our usual look at Marine and Southport before moving on to Controversial Corner. Big-hitters Flixton are back in the mix, with reports of a £6k budget. Walthamstow sacked their manager before he even started, and Real Aston Cubs believe they were victims of a refereeing conspiracy. It was kids' football, and it seems one or two heads got carried away. We discuss season tickets at non-league level and ask: are some clubs raising their prices unnecessarily? We also talk about fake kits, unruly children being banned from football, and finish with a few football jokes. All this and more.

  4. 15 Jul

    TSFFS S3 EP3

    TSFFS S3 EP3 In this week's show, we profile FC St Helens and take a look at how they are not only dealing with their recruitment ahead of the new season but also using social media to full advantage, with a great media team.  We take a brief look at Atherton LR before switching to Widnes Town.  Newcomers, AFC Knowsley, are going about their business effectively as well.  We take a look at Clitheroe and see why manager Sean McConville is confident about their pre-season programme, as well as their forthcoming league campaign. In the controversial corner, we look at the Prescot Cables game being called off after Crewe Alexandra raised concerns about the pitch's safety. And then unsavoury events that unfolded in the game at Wythy Town, as an alleged Eric Cantona kung fu kick at Alty's Charlie Olsen led to the game being abandoned. Berkhamsted forgot to appoint officials for the home game against Chesham United and then had to scramble to find some. It can only happen in non-league football.  Parents are facing massive price hikes to keep their children playing football. Without genuine competition, the monopolisation of football means people can almost charge what they wish. Is it right that a kid has to pay a minimum of £35 a month to play football on a Saturday, and double that if he wants to play on a Sunday as well? And that's just the bronze package! It appears that kids are being priced out of the game.  We take a look at the results from the weekend, the fixtures for the weekend ahead and the IOM Football Festival, which starts on Friday.  Skem United had a good weekend as they won, so we discuss that, until the final bit where we talk about Britain's rudest-sounding football clubs and place names. All this and more.

  5. 10 Jul

    TSFFS S3 EP2

    TSFFS S3 EP2 This week's show features a look at the local non-league scene. We delve into Ramsbottom United as manager Rob Henry implements changes. Congratulations to Burscough's Chairman, Jay Hawkes, and his friends for raising nearly £1,800 for Derian House Charity during the West Lancashire Charity Cup launch. Euxton wasn't the only team celebrating on the weekend. We also give a sneak peek at other leagues, and clubs including Bury, Marine, and Southport. Bootle's new plastic pitch is a step closer to completion. We discuss their new signings, their potential to win the league, and evaluate the prospects of Clitheroe, Lower Breck, Runcorn Linnets, Stalybridge Celtic, and the newly promoted Wythenshawe, among others. In controversial corner, we report on the departure of Eccleshall's manager Liam Kelly, who stepped down after guiding his club to second place and a playoff final. What impact will this have on the club's future? We also consider whether clubs are failing mainly due to financial issues or if people—volunteers, players, and managers—are walking away because of the time required. We chat about Skem, as a new season approaches, and, if that's not enough, we review all three national competitions and the draws for each. All that and more.

  6. 1 Jul

    TSFFS S3 EP1

    TSFFS S3 EP1 In the first episode of series three, we take a look at all the key figures in the North West Counties. Since Phil Stafford took over as manager of Burscough FC, he's been busy recruiting players. Two of them had a combined total of 71 goals last season. We believe they will dominate the league, but as Staffo has said, "It looks good on paper, but we've got to make it work on the pitch. There is plenty of work to be done." Atherton LR have been recruiting well, as have FC St Helens. We don't know much about the newcomers, but we've still managed to predict the champions of each division and the teams we think will finish in the play-off positions. We take a look at Skelmersdale United and Andy Barlow's decision to step down, and also discuss the recruitment process. We also touch on some controversial topics, asking: Should we be blocking people on social media? In the past, the club has been criticised for blocking people when they've abused their power or free speech. Is it easier to block people than to try to educate them? All this and more.

  7. 15 May

    TSFFS S2 EP42, FEATURING, GARY LANGLEY (NWCFL) AND PHIL STAFFORD (BURSCOUGH)

    TSFFS S2 EP42 In this week's episode, we tackle all the controversial issues. The most prominent one is the FA League Allocations, and the show features league director Gary Langley to explain it from a NWCFL perspective. The JMO in Skelmersdale has increased its hire costs, and we ask whether they've gone too far, with some costs having doubled. It's fair to say they've invested hundreds of thousands of pounds into improvements, but why are these costs being fully passed on to the people they've reached out to—those described as 'ad hoc customers'. We have an exclusive interview with the new manager of Burscough, Phil Stafford. Having just won the Macron Cup with AFC Liverpool, he was still riding high when the offer came through. We ask him some serious questions about who he's taking with him and what his remit is. We finish the show by discussing Skelmersdale United.

  8. 7 May

    TSFFS S2 EP41, QUIZ OF THE WEEK

    TSFFS S2 EP41 We are joined by Skelmersdale United Manager Andy Barlow as we review all the north-west winners and losers. After 1,330 games in management, Ramsbottom United Manager Steve Wilkes has decided to retire. We pay tribute to him. We also examine a few controversial issues, including Dorking Wanderers, who have sold a stake in their club to a US investor. And in the final part of the show, we host our non-league quiz of the week.

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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Hello and welcome to The Speaking Frankly Football Show. Hosted by Frank Hughes, Chairman of Skelmersdale United FC & AJ Vergette, Skelmersdale United Press Officer. We concentrate mainly on matters of non league football, but occasionally we stray and cover other controversial subjects in football as well. We give in depth analysis on the North West Counties Football League. Interviews, opinions, controversial issues and much more! We are Speaking Frankly.

Information

  • Creator
    Frank Hughes & AJ Vergette
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 Frank Hughes
  • Show Website
    The Speaking Frankly Football Show

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