My Mate's A Footballer

BBC Radio 5 Live
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  • COMEDY
My Mate's A Footballer

Joe Wilkinson has always wanted a professional footballer to be his mate. Step forward Patrick Bamford, who has signed up to this podcast to work out if the pair really can become true friends. Joe is a lifelong Gillingham supporter and wants to discover what it takes to play the game at the highest level because you can't support a friend without understanding what they've gone through and the challenges they face. Pat has agreed to answer any question that Joe thinks of so they will cover plenty of ground and you get to hear insight and stories from inside the dressing room at a professional football club as the two hosts get to know each other by spending time together recording this podcast.

  1. 14 NOV

    My Mate’s a Comedian

    The tables are turned in this special one-off episode where Pat interviews Joe and hears from Ricky Gervais and Katherine Ryan about the worlds of comedy and stand-up. They tell Pat the best and worst parts of the job, Joe reveals whether fellow comedians are supportive for newbies and peers on TV panel shows and Pat learns all about what ‘eating the floor’ means plus why Joe still feels bad for friend and fellow comedian Russell Howard.

    46 min

  2. 7 NOV

    How to create the perfect set piece

    An episode about Tony Pulis and other managers gets sidetracked with chat about the topical art of set pieces after Arsenal and Mikel Arteta’s recent successes. Pat reveals how much managers pay attention to them in training, how routines are devised and what happens when they go badly wrong during a game. Plus there’s another 5-a-side question that Joe poses which causes much hilarity for them both.

    37 min

  3. 31 OCT

    Fireworks, Fitness Coaches and Bus Drivers

    Joe discusses the remaining staff roles at a football club to see which one he fancies including: fitness coaches, ball boys, security guards, bus drivers and analysts. Pat reveals what it’s like being a ball boy who’s been given tactical instructions from a manager, how security guards get involved with tunnel bust-ups and stopping fireworks plus there’s a frank admission about the varying levels of fitness in a squad of elite players.

    37 min

  4. 24 OCT

    Luke Ayling on Guardiola, Wenger and ‘Trojan’ Bamford

    Luke Ayling drops into the pod with Joe and Pat to discuss a storied career that began at Arsenal before ending up under Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough and reveals why he loves playing for the former Manchester United midfielder. Ayling is known as ‘Bill’ so tells Joe why he adopted that nickname, why Pat was known as a ‘Trojan’ after he joined Leeds and how Thierry Henry ‘ended’ his Arsenal career, plus how Pep’s inverted full backs makes the game more complicated for him as a right back.

    42 min

  5. 17 OCT

    Clangers, Team Train Journeys and ‘Spygate’

    The power is in the hands of the listeners for this episode - everything is on the table as Pat’s promised to answer any question that Joe selects. Today the pair discuss why the man had a pair of bolt cutters on him when he got caught up in the ‘Spygate’ scandal, who decides how a team travels to an away game and what it’s really like in the dressing room after a teammate has made a high-profile mistake.

    36 min

  6. 10 OCT

    Footballers’ Food Bills, Wild Cats and German Bread

    Joe decides what role he would most like to take on after hearing all about the club chef as Pat reveals all the details about the club canteen. Chef Alex details the best and worst parts of his job, Joe can’t get on board with some of the footballer’s dinner choices and Pat reveals the cost of food is taken from players' salaries. Plus the pair discuss Pat making the trip to the New Forest to see wild horses, Peppa Pig and big cats.

    38 min

  7. 3 OCT

    The Kalvin Phillips Ep

    Pat pauses Joe’s search for a role at Leeds and invites his (other) friend Kalvin onto the pod to chat about Pep, dealing with abuse and the move to Ipswich. Kalvin takes great delight in analysing Joe’s free kick, reminisces about playing in the Euros and enjoys Joe being thrown under the bus after Pat reveals details of their conversation before the pod was recorded. To listen on most smart speakers just say “ask BBC Sounds to play My Mate's a Footballer”

    43 min

  8. 19 SEPT

    Joe Wilkinson vs Pam the Receptionist

    Joe continues his search for a role at Pat’s football club, Leeds United, and this week the pair investigate the jobs of Press Officer and Receptionist. Pat reveals how the media team react when a player says something they shouldn’t and what actually happens in ‘media training’. Joe discusses how intimidated he usually is by receptionists but learns why that might not be the case at a football club.

    32 min
See All (42)

Hosts & Guests

About

Joe Wilkinson has always wanted a professional footballer to be his mate. Step forward Patrick Bamford, who has signed up to this podcast to work out if the pair really can become true friends. Joe is a lifelong Gillingham supporter and wants to discover what it takes to play the game at the highest level because you can't support a friend without understanding what they've gone through and the challenges they face. Pat has agreed to answer any question that Joe thinks of so they will cover plenty of ground and you get to hear insight and stories from inside the dressing room at a professional football club as the two hosts get to know each other by spending time together recording this podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 5 Live
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2024
  • Show Website
    My Mate's A Footballer

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