The Sweeper - A World Football Podcast TOB Sports Media
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- Sports
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The Sweeper is a football podcast unlike any other. Once a week, journalists Lee Wingate and Paul Watson bring you unique and quirky football headlines and stories from across Europe and the wider world that you won’t hear elsewhere.
Whether it’s San Marino’s 20-year winless run, Greenland’s week-long season or the two-team league in the Scilly Isles, The Sweeper does not focus on Europe’s top five leagues - but instead casts its net across FIFA’s 211 members and beyond.
Join us for a whistle-stop tour of the football world every Wednesday. Episodes are released at midnight CET.
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Algerian airport anger, a 560km voyage to Mauritius & a Transylvanian cup run
Part 1 is all about Africa, where a kit controversy has escalated into a geopolitical dispute between Algeria & Morocco ahead of the CAF Confederations Cup semi-final between USM Alger & RS Berkane. Elsewhere on the continent, Rising FC from Rodrigues Island in the Indian Ocean have made the long voyage to mainland Mauritius to take part in the cup, winning their last-32 tie!
It's back to Europe - or at least, UEFA - in Part 2 as Paul & Lee discuss the 'Isolation Derby' between SKA Khabarovsk & Yenisay Krasnoyarsk in the Russian second division and look at some of the lower-league clubs on track for cup success - including Transylvanian outfit Corvinul, who have made it to next month's final against Oțelul Galați with an all-Romanian squad.
On the bonus segment, there's talk of Harry Redknapp & Romario returning from retirement, a look at some goal-laden games in the ninth tiers of Italian and English football & the story of a Polish goalkeeper presented with a Zimmer frame as a birthday present by his Portuguese club. To listen to that, simply join us over at patreon.com/sweeperpod.
RUNNING ORDER:
00:00 - Intro
00:59 - Algerian airport anger
09:12 - Russ Cook's Africa run
10:52 - From Rodrigues Island to Mauritius
18:32 - The 'Isolation Derby' in Russia
21:12 - The Niue Island listener
23:11 - Corvinul & other second-tier cup runs
30:10 - Champions League fallen giants -
The fabulous Fenix Trophy, Nordic nonsense & Liechtenstein’s quirky cup
The latest Sweeper starts off in windy Wales with our visit to the game between Llantwit Major & Enfield Town in the Fenix Trophy and a wider look at the tournament regarded as the Champions League of non league. Then we're off to Scandinavia for some goalkeeper heroics, cupsets & geographical extremes, before finishing Part 1 in little Liechtenstein, where FC Vaduz will likely set a world record next month.
With Bayer Leverkusen having claimed the first league title in their 120-year history, Part 2 is dedicated to seven other European clubs gunning for their first-ever title and the longest ongoing title-winning streaks across the continent now that Bayern Munich's 11-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga is over. Finally, we look at the Moldovan Clasico, where two twins recently scored for opposing teams, and read some listener e-mails.
To win a unique Llantwit Major shirt and get access to the bonus segment of this podcast, where we chat about a Japanese side rising rapidly through the ranks, an unusual Portuguese on-pitch protest, an English team playing two games in two days and a truly bizarre Man of the Match award in the USA, join us at patreon.com/sweeperpod. We are entirely self-funded and your support makes a huge difference.
RUNNING ORDER:
00:00 - Intro
01:11 - A Fenix Trophy game in windy Wales
10:38 - Nonsense in the Nordic nations
17:13 - Liechtenstein's ludicrously quirky cup
23:15 - Potential first-time champs across Europe
31:00 - The longest ongoing title-winning runs
37:48 - Listener e-mails -
Copa Chile charm, Peruvian player names & a transfer to Tanzania
This episode of The Sweeper begins with a focus on South American domestic cup competitions. We hear about the Juan Fernández Islands – 670km off the coast of Chile – taking part in the Copa Chile as a special invitee and the unusual journey opponents Santiago Wanderers must take to reach them. Up next is Ecuador’s non-existent cup competition and the story of a team called Bonita Banana ('Beautiful Banana'), followed by some terrible pitches and hideously named players in Peru.
With Sudan’s Al-Hilal set to join the Tanzanian Premier League to escape the conflict in their homeland, we look at teams playing in other country’s football leagues in Part 2, including the likes of Liechtenstein's FC Vaduz and their uniquely tough path to the Champions League. Finally, we have an update on The Sweeper’s competition in conjunction with Icarus, which will send one lucky fan to Bhutan to watch Thimphu City in action.
To hear the bonus segment of this podcast, Sweeper Xtra, which is an extended Q&A session with Lee Wingate and Paul Watson touching on their best and worst football experiences, culinary treats, animal encounters and aspirations for the future, join us at patreon.com/sweeperpod.
RUNNING ORDER:
00:00 - Intro
01:20 - The Juan Fernández Islands in the Copa Chile
09:00 - The non-existent Copa Ecuador
12:36 - Horrendous pitches & player names in Peru
20:04 - Al-Hilal of Sudan to play in Tanzania
23:43 - Clubs playing in leagues of other countries
33:19 - Update on the Bhutan competition by Icarus -
North Korean no-show, Georgian jubilation & glorious groundhopping
First up on this episode of The Sweeper, we delve deeper into North Korea’s mysterious cancellation of their World Cup qualifier against Japan and look back at memorable moments in the hermit kingdom’s football history. Then we’re off to Georgia to hear about the nation’s maiden qualification for a major tournament, before we chat through Austria's Rangnick resurgence as they shape up to be EURO 2024 dark horses.
After the break it’s time to show some love for groundhoppers and to hear some amazing stories from our patrons in pursuit of the joy of ticking off new stadiums. Then we announce an exciting new competition from Thimphu City and shirt manufacturer Icarus that will see someone win a trip of a lifetime to Bhutan, plus there's a San Marino shirt giveaway too!
To hear the bonus segment of this podcast where we chat about Estonia’s U21 side playing a friendly against the wrong team, a Romanian player who was sacked for turning up to training drunk and then appointed sporting director, and a Bosnian giant in decline, join us at patreon.com/sweeperpod.
RUNNING ORDER:
00:00 Intro
01:15 North Korea's mysterious no-show
08:33 Georgia's EURO jubilation
11:57 Austria's Rangnick resurgence
16:22 Glorious groundhoppers
33:25 Thimphu City/Icarus competition
38:29 San Marino shirt giveaway
Browse the Icarus website: icarusfc.com
Read the Thimphu City-Icarus competition details: icarusfc.com/pages/thimphu-city-sweepstakes -
San Marino’s 20 years of hurt, Austria’s six-second goal & Burrito Brava joy
Fresh from his trip to San Marino, Paul reflects on the attempt by FIFA’s lowest ranked country to break a 20-year winless streak against Saint Kitts & Nevis, before Lee rounds up the other international news - from the Basque Country's draw with Uruguay to the 'End of the Alphabet Derby - and Producer Tom chips in with a live report as Austria break an all-time record.
After the break, we hop on over to the USA to hear about New York City vs. Toronto at Yankee Stadium - there are few fixtures that could have been more Sweeper than two clubs from different countries meeting in a league match at a baseball stadium - and dissect some of the madness of the US Open Cup, including burrito-based heroics and a rare case of lacrosse stopping play.
To hear the bonus segment of this podcast with the ex-Shanghai Shenhua president banging in goals in the Chinese cup aged 58, arguably the most disastrous debut in football history and the Channel Island of Alderney trying to break their 104-year losing run, join us over at patreon.com/sweeperpod.
RUNNING ORDER
00:00 - Intro
01:05 - San Marino's double-header with St. Kitts
15:17 - International round-up
16:39 - The fastest-ever international goal
21:39 - New York City FC vs. Toronto FC
29:47 - US Open Cup madness
33:20 - Patreon episode teaser
Ellis Platten's Away Days video in San Marino: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56buY8H9Bd0&t=445s&ab_channel=AwayDays -
The 'Virgin Derby', Basque aspirations & a record return in Romania
This episode of The Sweeper begins by looking at the Virgin Derby between the British Virgin Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands in 2026 World Cup qualification. Meanwhile, a non-FIFA team, the Basque Country face Uruguay and may harbour UEFA aspirations.
The Danish Superligaen strikes a huge blow to the European Super League, which might now be forced to rebrand, a Romanian coach returns to the same club for a 10th spell int the dugout and we play a Sweeper version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
RUNNING ORDER
00:00 - Intro
01:15 - The Virgin Derby
10:36 - Basque Country v Uruguay
17:17 - Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
28:30 - Danish Superliga strikes a blow
33:57 - Coach in Romania returns for 10th time
40:04 - Preview of upcoming Sweeper trips
Customer Reviews
Fantastic!
If you enjoy hearing about the non-major leagues in Europe, this is for you!
Fun stuff from the outer reaches of the football world!
Fun stories from the lesser know corners of the football world, a nice balance to the global gazzilionaire playground.
5-Star Pod
Never ceases to tickle my urge to travel while simultaneously spreading stories about the beautiful game. From Saint Pierre and Miquelon to Nauru, Lee and Paul never disappoint with their comprehensive coverage.
PS: My Pohnpei kit is a favorite among my collection. Up the Sweeper Pod !