The Buff

The Bolton News
  • 4.9 (90)
  • FOOTBALL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to the The Buff, a Bolton Wanderers podcast from The Bolton News.  On Thursday join chief football writer Marc Iles for a light-hearted look at the latest headlines, rumours, reaction, and some big-name guests.  Before every game we bring you The First Word with the best of the pre-match press conference and a look at the key stats behind the game, and then after the final whistle we bring you The Last Word with instant reaction.

  1. The Last Word - Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Bolton Wanderers

    21 HR AGO

    The Last Word - Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Bolton Wanderers

    Welcome back to The Last Word... And an impressively brave victory at Plymouth which answered a lot of questions about Wanderers heading towards the play-offs. There was more of a story to tell at Home Park aside from an action-packed game, and Marc Iles takes you through events on and off the pitch. We hear from Steven Schumacher and Plymouth boss Tom Cleverley - and why there may have been a bit of naughty language picked up by the microphones! We get Henry Hewitt's take on an important three points and look forward to Monday's game at home to Stockport County, which suddenly feels a little less fraught. We have a very special offer for listeners of The Buff Podcast - so take note. Subscription to The Bolton News will cost from £31 for a WHOLE YEAR! Alternatively, pay £4 for four months - after which it will be £4.99 per month. You'll be doing this podcast a massive favour by using The Buff's subscription page, so please do take a look. For all the details, please click HERE. We are on the lookout for advertisers and sponsors for The Buff, The First Word and The Last Word. If you are interested in getting involved in the biggest BWFC podcast, or would like to advertise in our Bolton Wanderers coverage in the Bolton News please email our advertising department on emily.wood@localiq.co.uk   Remember, it isn't just a podcast, it's The Buff Podcast. And we're here every Friday. If you want to get in contact with the show, please email thebuffmail@gmail.com or tweet Marc on @MarcIles and @Henry__Hewitt  And please, please leave a review. We work hard to put these episodes out every single week, in-season and out, and the more feedback we get, the better the product. Having said all that, we are currently only accepting five-star ratings, as all the other ratings are broken.

    38 min
  2. The First Word - Plymouth Argyle v Bolton Wanderers

    2 DAYS AGO

    The First Word - Plymouth Argyle v Bolton Wanderers

    Welcome to The First Word and, ladies and gentlemen, we are at the business end of the season. Two huge games over the Easter weekend begin down on the South Coast at Plymouth, as Steven Schumacher goes back to the club he led out of League One in 2023. Bolton start the day in third and knowing two wins this Easter could effectively wrap up their place in the play-offs. Drop points, however, and the tension rises further. We hear from the head coach plus striker Mason Burstow, the Plymouth Herald's Chris Errington drops by to talk about the Pilgrims and BWFC fan Russ Pollitt sums up his mood ahead of the big game. It's The First Word.... The start to your matchday in podcast form! We have a very special offer for listeners of The Buff Podcast - so take note. Subscription to The Bolton News will cost just £31 for a WHOLE YEAR! Alternatively, pay £4 for four months - after which it will be £4.99 per month. You'll be doing this podcast a massive favour by using The Buff's subscription page, so please do take a look. For all the details, please click HERE. We are on the lookout for advertisers and sponsors for The Buff, The First Word and The Last Word. If you are interested in getting involved in the biggest BWFC podcast, or would like to advertise in our Bolton Wanderers coverage in the Bolton News please email our advertising department on emily.wood@localiq.co.uk   If you want to get in contact with the show, please email thebuffmail@gmail.com or tweet Marc on @MarcIles and @Henry__Hewitt  And please, please leave a review. We work hard to put these episodes out every single week, in-season and out, and the more feedback we get, the better the product. Having said all that, we are currently only accepting five-star ratings, as all the other ratings are broken.

    37 min
  3. The Buff Podcast Easter Weekend Special: Plymouth Argyle and Stockport County

    2 DAYS AGO

    The Buff Podcast Easter Weekend Special: Plymouth Argyle and Stockport County

    Welcome back to The Buff Podcast... And a great big Easter Weekend for Bolton Wanderers. Marc Iles and Henry Hewitt are back to go through all the headlines after the international break and preview two massive games in the play-off race. Wanderers head to Plymouth Argyle on Good Friday before hosting Stockport County on Easter Monday, after which they could have one foot in the play-offs... Or a scenario we'd rather not think about. As ever we tackle all the talking points from the Toughsheet, including those frightening accounts, and we read out your emails. It's the biggest, it's the best, it's The Buff! We have a very special offer for listeners of The Buff Podcast - so take note. Subscription to The Bolton News will cost just £4 for four whole months. You'll be doing this podcast a massive favour by using The Buff's subscription page, so please do take a look. For all the details, please click HERE. We are on the lookout for advertisers and sponsors for The Buff, The First Word and The Last Word. If you are interested in getting involved in the biggest BWFC podcast, or would like to advertise in our Bolton Wanderers coverage in the Bolton News please email our advertising department on emily.wood@localiq.co.uk   Remember, it isn't just a podcast, it's The Buff Podcast. And we're here every Friday. If you want to get in contact with the show, please email thebuffmail@gmail.com or tweet Marc on @MarcIles and @Henry__Hewitt  And please, please leave a review. We work hard to put these episodes out every single week, in-season and out, and the more feedback we get, the better the product. Having said all that, we are currently only accepting five-star ratings, as all the other ratings are broken.

    1hr 18min
  4. BWFCST 10th anniversary: Steven Schumacher and Fergal Harkin Q&A

    28 MAR

    BWFCST 10th anniversary: Steven Schumacher and Fergal Harkin Q&A

    We have recorded a special podcast from the Bolton Wanderers Supporters' Association's 10th anniversary event, including a Q&A session with Steven Schumacher and Fergal Harkin, plus an exclusive interview with Ricardo Gardner about his upcoming charity game. We have a very special offer for listeners of The Buff Podcast - so take note. The latest deal for subscription to The Bolton News will appear in these notes for every episode. And you'll be doing this podcast a massive favour by using The Buff's subscription page, so please do take a look. For all the details, please click HERE. We are on the lookout for advertisers and sponsors for The Buff, The First Word and The Last Word. If you are interested in getting involved in the biggest BWFC podcast, or would like to advertise in our Bolton Wanderers coverage in the Bolton News please email our advertising department on emily.wood@localiq.co.uk   Remember, it isn't just a podcast, it's The Buff Podcast. And we're here every Friday. If you want to get in contact with the show, please email thebuffmail@gmail.com or tweet Marc on @MarcIles and @Henry__Hewitt  And please, please leave a review. We work hard to put these episodes out every single week, in-season and out, and the more feedback we get, the better the product. Having said all that, we are currently only accepting five-star ratings, as all the other ratings are broken.

    42 min
  5. The Buff Podcast present: Life's a pitch and then you cry...

    26 MAR

    The Buff Podcast present: Life's a pitch and then you cry...

    Welcome back to The Buff Podcast... And we'll try and keep talk of the Port Vale game to a minimum. After that monstrosity it looks like the play-offs are Bolton's only remaining shot for promotion. Marc and Henry chat through what that will look like, how tough the run-in will be, and what missing out on a top two spot could mean to morale. We read out your emails, Why I'm a Wanderer, plus look through the headlines from The Bolton News. And to finish it all off, Marc and Henry predict what the top six will look like...  It's the biggest, it's the best, it's The Buff! We have a very special offer for listeners of The Buff Podcast - so take note. Subscription to The Bolton News will cost just £5 for five whole months. You'll be doing this podcast a massive favour by using The Buff's subscription page, so please do take a look. For all the details, please click HERE. We are on the lookout for advertisers and sponsors for The Buff, The First Word and The Last Word. If you are interested in getting involved in the biggest BWFC podcast, or would like to advertise in our Bolton Wanderers coverage in the Bolton News please email our advertising department on emily.wood@localiq.co.uk   Remember, it isn't just a podcast, it's The Buff Podcast. And we're here every Friday. If you want to get in contact with the show, please email thebuffmail@gmail.com or tweet Marc on @MarcIles and @Henry__Hewitt  And please, please leave a review. We work hard to put these episodes out every single week, in-season and out, and the more feedback we get, the better the product. Having said all that, we are currently only accepting five-star ratings, as all the other ratings are broken.

    1hr 20min
  6. The Last Word - Port Vale 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

    21 MAR

    The Last Word - Port Vale 1-0 Bolton Wanderers

    Welcome back to The Last Word... And a defeat against Port Vale that was as ugly as they come. We sift through the wreckage of arguably Wanderers' worst performance of the season, on what was without doubt the worst pitch. After two disappointing draws against Rotherham and Doncaster, Cardiff's lunchtime result left a small window of opportunity to cut the gap to eight points. But no such luck. We hear from Steven Schumacher and Eoin Toal, plus Bolton fan Henry Hewitt drops in with his take on the game. We have a very special offer for listeners of The Buff Podcast - so take note. Subscription to The Bolton News will cost from £31 for a WHOLE YEAR! Alternatively, pay £5 for five months - after which it will be £4.99 per month. You'll be doing this podcast a massive favour by using The Buff's subscription page, so please do take a look. For all the details, please click HERE. We are on the lookout for advertisers and sponsors for The Buff, The First Word and The Last Word. If you are interested in getting involved in the biggest BWFC podcast, or would like to advertise in our Bolton Wanderers coverage in the Bolton News please email our advertising department on emily.wood@localiq.co.uk   Remember, it isn't just a podcast, it's The Buff Podcast. And we're here every Friday. If you want to get in contact with the show, please email thebuffmail@gmail.com or tweet Marc on @MarcIles and @Henry__Hewitt  And please, please leave a review. We work hard to put these episodes out every single week, in-season and out, and the more feedback we get, the better the product. Having said all that, we are currently only accepting five-star ratings, as all the other ratings are broken.

    23 min
  7. The First Word - Port Vale v Bolton Wanderers

    20 MAR

    The First Word - Port Vale v Bolton Wanderers

    Welcome to The First Word as Wanderers aim to be pitch perfect at Port Vale! After a couple of frustrating draws, the Whites face a potential banana skin against a side sitting bottom of League One, but who have proven they are no pushovers with a remarkable FA Cup run. Hear from Steven Schumacher and Chris Forino, plus Russ Pollitt drops by to share his thoughts on the past week at Wanderers. It's The First Word.... The start to your matchday in podcast form! We have a very special offer for listeners of The Buff Podcast - so take note. Subscription to The Bolton News will cost just £31 for a WHOLE YEAR! Alternatively, pay £5 for five months - after which it will be £4.99 per month. You'll be doing this podcast a massive favour by using The Buff's subscription page, so please do take a look. For all the details, please click HERE. We are on the lookout for advertisers and sponsors for The Buff, The First Word and The Last Word. If you are interested in getting involved in the biggest BWFC podcast, or would like to advertise in our Bolton Wanderers coverage in the Bolton News please email our advertising department on emily.wood@localiq.co.uk   If you want to get in contact with the show, please email thebuffmail@gmail.com or tweet Marc on @MarcIles and @Henry__Hewitt  And please, please leave a review. We work hard to put these episodes out every single week, in-season and out, and the more feedback we get, the better the product. Having said all that, we are currently only accepting five-star ratings, as all the other ratings are broken.

    24 min
  8. Don't panic! Doom-mongering, draws and the case for the defence

    19 MAR

    Don't panic! Doom-mongering, draws and the case for the defence

    Welcome back to The Buff Podcast... And things are getting tense on Wanderers Mountain. Two draws against Rotherham United and Doncaster Rovers have all-but ended slim hopes of automatic promotion but do they hint at bigger issues? It seems inconceivable that Wanderers won't make the play-offs as a bare minimum but with Corey Blackett-Taylor now out for the season and a few awkward questions being asked about the club's season as a whole, is there a danger of implosion? We examine the pros and cons, look over the week's headlines from The Bolton News, read out your emails and give our predictions on what might happen at Port Vale this weekend. It's the biggest, it's the best, it's The Buff! We have a very special offer for listeners of The Buff Podcast - so take note. Subscription to The Bolton News will cost just £5 for five whole months. You'll be doing this podcast a massive favour by using The Buff's subscription page, so please do take a look. For all the details, please click HERE. We are on the lookout for advertisers and sponsors for The Buff, The First Word and The Last Word. If you are interested in getting involved in the biggest BWFC podcast, or would like to advertise in our Bolton Wanderers coverage in the Bolton News please email our advertising department on emily.wood@localiq.co.uk   Remember, it isn't just a podcast, it's The Buff Podcast. And we're here every Friday. If you want to get in contact with the show, please email thebuffmail@gmail.com or tweet Marc on @MarcIles and @Henry__Hewitt  And please, please leave a review. We work hard to put these episodes out every single week, in-season and out, and the more feedback we get, the better the product. Having said all that, we are currently only accepting five-star ratings, as all the other ratings are broken.

    1hr 21min
See All (102)

4.9
out of 5
90 Ratings

About

Welcome to the The Buff, a Bolton Wanderers podcast from The Bolton News.  On Thursday join chief football writer Marc Iles for a light-hearted look at the latest headlines, rumours, reaction, and some big-name guests.  Before every game we bring you The First Word with the best of the pre-match press conference and a look at the key stats behind the game, and then after the final whistle we bring you The Last Word with instant reaction.

Information

  • Creator
    The Bolton News
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Bolton News
  • Show Website
    The Buff

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