The Way We See Sport, The Way We See Life

Chris Bayes
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A podcast hosted by Chris and Nathan that explores historical events through the prism of Sport.

  1. Christmas Special #2 of 2 - 'Festive Football - Upstanding Tradition or Outdated Practice?'

    12/26/2025 · BONUS

    Christmas Special #2 of 2 - 'Festive Football - Upstanding Tradition or Outdated Practice?'

    In the second of our festive double-header, Chris and Nathan investigate the history, traditions and future of Festive Football.   The inspiration for this episode came during a WhatsApp conversation between the two hosts in which Chris highlighted how this Boxing Day sees only one fixture taking place in the Premier League (between Manchester United and Newcastle United), as opposed to the usual full calendar.  As ever, Nathan was keen to remind Chris that football does exist beyond the top-flight with a full league and non-league programme taking place on Boxing Day! Within this second Christmas special, the co-hosts explore how football became as big a part of British football fans' festive calendar as Roast Turkey and all the trimmings.   We touch upon how modern football's synonymity with Christmas could perhaps stem from traditional forms of football such as Orkney's Kirwall Ba game or Ashbourne's Shrove Tuesday game and their association with public holidays. We then touch upon how football's growth coincided with societal changes such as the 1871 Bank Holiday Act, which granted workers time off over Christmas and with many clubs historically being linked with traditional industries or based in working-class communities fans flocked to stadia to watch their local team. Football was not the only sport to embrace the opportunities presented by the festive break.  Prior to the advent of Super League, Rugby League in England was traditionally a winter sport and Boxing Day was a key date in the sport's calendar seeing clashes between local rivals such as St Helens and Wigan, Warrington and Widnes and Halifax and Huddersfield. Nathan recounts some of his Grandfather's recollections of this fixture. The fact that 2025 sees only a single fixture on Boxing Day is perhaps reflective of and in response to criticism of the traditional British festive calendar from the likes of Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, both of whom have expressed criticism of the demands of the festive period from a 'player welfare' viewpoint.  All of this is discussed and more as we ask whether the traditional festive calendar is an upstanding tradition to be treasured and celebrated or whether it is an outdated practice that needs to move with the times. We wish all of our listeners a Merry Christmas and look forward to a prosperous and successful New Year for us all!

    57 min
  2. Christmas Special #1 of 2 - The Christmas Truce

    12/11/2025

    Christmas Special #1 of 2 - The Christmas Truce

    What is the most famous football match of all time? Geoff Hurst's hat-trick in 1966? Pele's demolition of Italy in 1970? Huddersfield Town's 3-0 triumph over Nottingham Forest to secure their first league title back in 1924? All worthy contenders, but it is probable that they all play second fiddle to a game that took place in front of no fans, with makeshift goalposts and on pockmarked, uneven terrain. We speak, of course, about the Christmas Day football match of 1914, played between German and British soldiers who were at war with one another, on a battlefield full of shell craters. In this Christmas special of The Way We See Sport, The Way We See Life, Nathan and Chris look back on an event that was, first, underplayed and, thereafter, mythologised. The two presenters cover Blackadder, the Farm, and a range of primary source accounts as they seek to explore the true story of a football match played within a war zone.  Was it quite the triumph of peace over war that is usually framed as? How did it happen? And why did it never happen again? If you're interested in the story of the most famous football match of all time, we urge you to give this episode a listen. Regardless of whether or not you do so, Nathan and Chris wish all their listeners a vey Merry Christmas.

    56 min
  3. SPECIAL pt. 2 of 2 - 'Born and bred' - Athletic Bilbao - The club where summer never ends

    11/06/2025 · BONUS

    SPECIAL pt. 2 of 2 - 'Born and bred' - Athletic Bilbao - The club where summer never ends

    In football, much is often made of the Lisbon Lions – a Celtic side that conquered Europe in 1967, with a team in which the majority of the starting eleven were born within a mere 12 miles of their Parkhead ground (the exception being Bobby Lennox, who was from Saltcoats, 30 miles from Glasgow). Yet decades after the Glasgow side had long embraced the contributions of national and international talent, one European side holds true to a strict policy of regional recruitment – Athletic Club of Bilbao. In this, the second episode of a two-part special, Chris and Nathan continue to explore the pros and cons of a Cantera recruitment policy. After expressing a somewhat critical take on Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s attempt to select local talent in the 70s and 80s, the presenters consider why Bilbao tend to be lauded for continuing a similar approach to the one abandoned by Yorkshire decades ago. This is a story of the Basque Country; with a narrative that begins in prehistory, centred around a language different to any other on the same continent. It winds its way through Medieval times, before concluding with such influential twentieth century figures as Franco and Picasso. We hope you enjoy this journey into the unique identity of a very special football club, one that markets itself as 'Unique In The World'.  This episode of TWWSS, TWWSL explores what makes Athletic and their approach so special and to consider what it tells us about globalisation and identity in the modern world.

    52 min
  4. SPECIAL pt. 1 of 2 - 'Born and bred' - The Benefits and Dangers of Regional Recruitment

    10/31/2025 · BONUS

    SPECIAL pt. 1 of 2 - 'Born and bred' - The Benefits and Dangers of Regional Recruitment

    In 1968, Yorkshire County Cricket Club were untouchable. No other team in the country could compete with their ethos, their production line of England greats, or their roll of honour. Seven league titles in the previous decade had confirmed their position as titans of the county game. Yet the next two decades would yield the most barren spell in the team's history. As other counties welcomed an array of global talent, Yorkshire held true to the belief that they shouldn't select any player born outside of the county's borders. In this, the first of a two-part special, Nathan and Chris begin to explore the benefits and drawbacks of a 'Cantera' recruitment policy - an approach to player selection that emphasizes the cultivation of local talent at the expense of welcoming players from further afield. As the world got ever more globalised, Yorkshire CCC (between 1968-92) and Athletic Bilbao stood as anachronisms; teams which turned away from attempts to recruit the best the planet could offer in favour of selecting those from within the region they represent. In doing so, these two proud clubs bring into focus the fine line between local pride and insularity.  Athletic Bilbao will be the focus of the second episode but, for now, we hope you enjoy an edition that includes some of the greatest names to have ever played the sport of cricket; from Rhodes to Vaughan, from Trueman to Root. It charts the highs and lows of a county that still stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of the number of County Championship triumphs, but faced existential crisis during the racism scandal that engulfed the game in recent years. It is a story of Yorkshire Cricket, warts and all.

    1h 5m
  5. 'The Man Who Sold The World' - Maurice Lindsay and his vision for Rugby League

    09/15/2025

    'The Man Who Sold The World' - Maurice Lindsay and his vision for Rugby League

    In the latest episode of 'The Way We See Sport', we return once again to the sport of Rugby League, focusing on the transformative role played by Maurice Lindsay, a divisive, yet visionary figure whose influence developed during the Thatcherite period, initially as the figurehead of 'The Gang of Four' directors who helped to transform the fortunes of Wigan during the 1980s. Embracing the pro-market values that were at the heart of Thatcherism, Lindsay reshaped the Wigan club recruiting big money signings such as Ellery Hanley, Joe Lydon and Andy Gregory, alongside putting in place measures that enabled the club to capture the brightest young talents in the game such as Shaun Edwards and Andy Farrell.  Lindsay's influence was responsible for resurrecting the fortunes of Wigan and resulted in the club winning 8 Championships, 8 consecutive Challenge Cups and 3 World Club Challenge titles between 1987 and 1996.  As part of this success, Wigan (as Lindsay saw it) were "setting a standard of excellence that others should seek to emulate".  Critics and fans of other clubs on the hand, claimed Wigan's fiscal policy was merely proof of an unlevel playing field. Having driven Wigan's regeneration, Lindsay's influence began to increasingly permeate the wider sport.  He became Great Britain's Team Manager and was in part responsible for a shift in the national side's fortunes, before he became the Rugby Football League (RFL) Chief Executive in 1992.  Installed in the hotseat at Chapeltown Road, he sought to revolutionise the sport of Rugby League with his characteristic zeal.  He had little time for smaller clubs and many traditionalists, believing that the sport needed to embrace commerce and replicate football's rebirth through the establishment of the Premier League. Rupert Murdoch's role in the Super League War down under saw Sky make a "once in a lifetime" offer of £77 million to the RFL to establish a Super League, move to a summer season and to uproot a century of tradition.  Ridiculous mergers were proposed and met with a great degree of hostility.  However, the Super League was ultimately established and offered Lindsay the opportunity to implement his vision for Rugby League's 'Brave New World'. In this long-form episode, Chris and Nathan discuss his rise to prominence with Wigan, his role in the establishment of Super League and how despite the fact he was a divisive and at times unpopular figure, much of the discourse he led during the 90s around the future of the game, particularly in relation to expanding the game  remains prominent in Rugby League circles.

    1h 42m
  6. 'O Sir, you are old'

    08/28/2025

    'O Sir, you are old'

    In the wake of the release of 'Original Sin', a book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson detailing the deterioration of President Biden between 2020 and 2024, Nathan and Chris explore the one opponent no sportsperson can defeat - age. This episode looks at three sporting icons who, arguably, pushed on too long beyond the peak of their powers. Michael Schumacher was the all-conquering motor racing champion, but his return to Formula 1 was somewhat underwhelming. Muhammad Ali was a boxing icon, but the later fights of his career may well have done him untold damage. Matt Busby turned Manchester United into the most glamorous football club in the country, but his decision to remain involved with the club after his tenure as manager ended cast a shadow over the work of his successors. Each of these stories reveals something slightly different about the cruelty of the aging process, the impact it can have on an individual’s legacy, and the damage it can do to institutions if it is not properly acknowledged and understood. In 2020, Biden was the man who defeated Trump. By 2024, his unwillingness to accept the limitations of his age created the conditions for his opponent’s return. This episode of 'The Way We See Sport, The Way We See Life' seeks to understand how and why this happened.

    1h 7m
  7. ’East Meets West’ – The ‘Bruderduel’ between East and West Germany at WM 74

    08/21/2025

    ’East Meets West’ – The ‘Bruderduel’ between East and West Germany at WM 74

    During the 1974 World Cup, the tournament featured a clash between the hosts (West Germany) and their Communist neighbours (East Germany) during the Group Phase.  'The Bruderduel' between the two Germanys was heralded as "The most politically charged football match of all-time".  It represented a fascinating clash of cultures and ideologies, with the Communist East (appearing in their first World Cup) being drawn alongside the hosts, the more famed West Germans, who had cemented their standing as a footballing powerhouse winning the European Champions of 1972. Before 'The Bruderduel', the expectation and fear amongst those in The East was that the game would be a mismatch and would see West Germany showcase their status as one of the favourites for WM74.   However, these fears proved to be unfounded as the plucky East German side shocked and outgunned their more established neighbours, claiming a surprise 1-0 victory thanks to a strike from Jürgen Sparwasser. Join Chris and Nathan as we take a deep-dive into the history of the two Post-War Germanys, how they emerged and how their international and club sides fared during the 1970s up until reunification in 1990.

    1h 28m
  8. Egalite – Tennis and the Battle for Equal Rights for Women

    08/14/2025

    Egalite – Tennis and the Battle for Equal Rights for Women

    From Martina Navratilova to Serena Williams, few sports have provided as many iconic female icons as tennis. Yet, this does not mean that the sport has been immune from criticism over the manner in which it treats its female stars. The fact that tennis Grand Slams showcase female players alongside the men makes it all the more apparent when inequity exists. In the latest episode of The Way We See Life, The Way We See Sport, Nathan and Chris delve into the twentieth century’s three waves of feminism, identifying tennis as a means of considering the different objectives and themes of each wave. From an attempt by the Suffragettes to burn down the All-England Club, through Billie Jean King’s participation in the Battle of the Sexes, to the triumphs of Venus Williams on and off the court, this episode explores the battle for true “Egalite”. We hope you enjoy this latest episode in the podcast series that seeks to use sport as a prism to understand the social and political trends of the last century.

    1h 6m
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A podcast hosted by Chris and Nathan that explores historical events through the prism of Sport.

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