Hospital Ball

York Hospital Radio
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Hospital Ball is a York City FC nostalgia podcast from York Hospital Radio featuring exclusive interviews with former players, managers and figures connected to the club.

  1. YHR Meets…John Helm (football commentator) - YHRadio Meets

    12 APR ·  BONUS

    YHR Meets…John Helm (football commentator) - YHRadio Meets

    York Hospital Radio meets John Helm, a true commentary legend whose career spans over six decades. From standing on the terraces to calling ten World Cups, John reflects on an extraordinary journey through the game. We cover his early commentaries covering Leeds United during the Don Revie era, iconic moments across various Yorkshire football clubs, his work on FIFA tournaments, the Indian Super League, and his current employment for Lincoln City who he commentates for despite being into his 80s. Alongside the highs, John shares his harrowing memories of the Bradford City fire and how he continues to respect those lives lost. We also dive into his philosophy behind the microphone, how he developed his distinctive style, and his respect for fellow commentators across the generations — before finishing with his famous party piece: naming every club in the English football pyramid, just as he did for a Guinness World Record in the 1980s. Interview conducted by Dan Tait. Edited and produced by James Charters.

    1hr 2min
  2. Kingsley James: Pride in What We Achieved | Inside York City’s Promotion (S15 Ep1)

    15 MAR

    Kingsley James: Pride in What We Achieved | Inside York City’s Promotion (S15 Ep1)

    Kingsley James lifts the lid on York City’s promotion season, his partnership with John Askey, and the tensions that eventually led to their departure. Here is an exclusive early release of Series 15 of York Hospital Ball featuring former York City assistant manager, Kingsley James. Having spent the vast majority of his playing career in the lower leagues, Kingsley faced the Minstermen many times before joining York City in November 2021 as the right-hand man to John Askey. The pair quickly put their stamp on the club, transforming the team’s fortunes and ultimately leading York City back to the National League with promotion at the end of their first season in charge. Despite a positive start to the following campaign, tensions began to grow between the management team and the club’s new ownership. Those difficulties eventually led to the departure of John Askey and, shortly afterwards, Kingsley himself. In this interview, Kingsley reflects on the highs and lows of his time at York City, offering a fascinating insight into life behind the scenes during a memorable and turbulent period at the LNER Community Stadium. This interview was conducted by Dan Tait, produced by Keith Lea, and edited by James Charters. The episode is sponsored by Radcliffe and Son Plastering. If you enjoy these podcasts, please consider supporting our charity: https://www.justgiving.com/charity/yorkhospitalradio

    1hr 17min
  3. Dipo Akinyemi: From Deliveroo to Delivering Goals (Episode 100)

    11 JAN

    Dipo Akinyemi: From Deliveroo to Delivering Goals (Episode 100)

    Hospital Ball welcomes York City striker Dipo Akinyemi for the 100th episode of the podcast. In this in-depth interview, Dipo reflects on his professional journey — from his early career at Stevenage, through a series of character-building loan spells, before finding his feet at Welling United and getting his career back on track. A move north of the border to Ayr United followed, where a spectacular first season saw Matt Uggla break the York City transfer record to bring Dipo to the LNER Community Stadium. Although his stay with the Minstermen lasted only two seasons, his impact was keenly felt by supporters. Here, Dipo talks candidly about his affection for York City, his relationship with the fans, and his departure from the club last year. This special milestone episode is sponsored by long-time supporter Ol Crabtree. If you enjoy the Hospital Ball podcast, please consider donating to our charity via justgiving.com/yorkhospitalradio. Original artwork image created by Tom Poole.

    57 min

  4. 17/08/2025

    Gary “The Ghost” Swann: York City’s Ultimate Cult Hero & Playoff Legend (S14 Ep5)

    Our final episode in this series on cult heroes features perhaps the ultimate York City cult hero – Gary Swann Born in York, Gary began his footballing career at Hull City, where he rose through the ranks to become a first-team regular, achieving two promotions over six seasons. He then moved to Preston North End, adding another promotion to his career achievements, before joining York City on a free transfer in 1992. At Bootham Crescent, Gary became an integral part of John Ward’s side and secured his place in Minstermen folklore with his vital goals in the playoffs. He later went on to play for Scarborough and enjoyed spells in Hong Kong and China before retiring from the game. This interview was conducted by Dan Tait and edited/produced by James Charters. If you’ve enjoyed this podcast series, please consider supporting us by donating via York Hospital Radio’s JustGiving page.

    47 min

  5. 10/08/2025

    Paul Stephenson: the highs and lows of a life in football (S14 Ep4)

    In 1995, Paul Stephenson arrived at Bootham Crescent for a bargain £35,000. His dazzling skill and quick feet made an instant impact on York City supporters. Despite battling injuries in his first season, he played a key role in the club’s famous League Cup triumph over Premier League side Everton in 1996 and became a firm fan favourite during his three seasons at the club. In this exclusive interview, Paul reflects on his years with the Minstermen and his remarkable football journey. Starting out in Newcastle United’s youth ranks alongside Paul Gascoigne, he earned England youth honours before breaking into the first team at St James’ Park and then enjoying successful spells with Millwall and Brentford. His move to York City was followed by a return to his native North East, where he closed out a career of over 500 appearances with Hartlepool United. Paul speaks candidly about the highs and lows of professional football — from unforgettable victories to the mental and physical challenges of long injury layoffs. This is a heartfelt and insightful conversation for anyone who loves the game, hosted by Dan Tait and produced by James Charters. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting our charity at: https://www.justgiving.com/charity/yorkhospitalradio

    46 min
  6. Bonus Pod: Paul Bowser talks Bootham Crescent books

    05/08/2025

    Bonus Pod: Paul Bowser talks Bootham Crescent books

    This special mid-series bonus episode features York City FC historian and author Paul Bowser. Paul has just released Part Three of his acclaimed trilogy, Bootham Crescent: A Second Home, and joins Hospital Ball to discuss his lifelong support of the club and the lengthy but rewarding journey of writing the books. The third volume is a 370-page A4 hardback covering the years 1993 to 2025 — documenting the final decades at the beloved Bootham Crescent ground, as well as the first four dramatic years at the LNER Community Stadium. 📘 Order your copy of the book here: https://www.tooab.com/2025/02/10/volume-three-of-bootham-crescent-book-trilogy/

    42 min

  7. 27/07/2025

    York City Cult Hero Jon Challinor on Near Misses, Wembley Redemption, and England Seniors Success (S14 Ep3)

    When Jon Challinor came on as a half time sub for Kettering against York City, his only intentions were to help preserve some pride for the poppies having being 4-0 down at the time. By the end of the match Gary Mills felt he was the best player on the pitch, by the end of the week he was a York City player and by the end of the season he was a double Wembley winner. This came after three near misses with promotions to the football league.  This podcast covers the ups and downs of a career that has included going out to America as a young pro to scoring in a World Cup final for England Seniors.  This interview was conducted by Dan Tait, edited and produced by James Charters.  If you enjoy these podcasts please consider donating to https://www.justgiving.com/charity/yorkhospitalradio

    55 min

  8. 24/07/2025

    Gordon Staniforth: From England Schoolboy to FA Cup Semi-Final | York City Podcast (S14 Ep2)

    From England schoolboy caps to 117 goals in professional football and an FA Cup semi-final, Gordon Staniforth’s career is the kind every young footballer dreams of. A two-time winner of York City’s Billy Fenton Clubman of the Year award, Gordon was a shining light during a challenging era for the club. Across two spells with York City, as well as a career that brought promotions and cup runs, he’s seen the game from every angle. In this episode, Gordon reflects on the moments that defined his journey – from being told to cut his hair to represent his country, to the thrill of walking out in an FA Cup semi-final. Hosted by Dan Tait, edited by James Charters, and produced by Keith Lea. If you enjoy this episode, please consider supporting our charity via York Hospital Radio’s JustGiving page.

    42 min
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About

Hospital Ball is a York City FC nostalgia podcast from York Hospital Radio featuring exclusive interviews with former players, managers and figures connected to the club.

Information

  • Creator
    York Hospital Radio
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    103
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Hospital Ball

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