The Football History Boys

This summer, backed by our loving social media audience, started our own podcast! TFHB Pod is there to discuss everything we love about the beautiful game, the historical stuff, the modern bits and some of the age-old debates fans love to argue about!

The podcast is available in all your usual podcast places, including Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocketcasts & RadioPublic. We'd love you to start listening, get involved with your views and ideas and share the pod with your mates.

Get in touch, using our Twitter, Facebook or drop us an email: thefootballhistoryboys@hotmail.com. If you want to join our Fantasy Premier League mini-league, head over to the official site and type in code: hhtkhy.

Here are the episodes that you can tuck-in to so far:


Episode 1 - Chums with Charles

Our first ever podcast began our journey into the world of podcasting!

We discussed the history of TFHB itself, looked at the first half of our latest 'Wales' …

The last two decades have seen an increasing number of professional football clubs across Britain review, revamp and redesign their official crest or badge as part of a continuing drive to modernise and commercialise the game. The latest generation of crests are rarely designed to demonstrate and commemorate the history and heritage of the club in question with the primary concern now being to create something that is simple, sleek and aesthetically appealing. Whether you agree with this process of evolution and modernisation is a different debate for a different time, but it is clear that the vast majority of clubs have bought into this new trend, often with a mixed response from supporters.

Stoke City implemented their current crest in 2001 as part of a broader range of initiatives that were a direct attempt to modernise the club following the opening of the Bet365 Stadium (then known as the Britannia Stadium) four years earlier. The club had previously used various manifestations o…

The Football History Boys bring you Episode 2 of our new podcast! We finish off the rest of our 'Wales' Greatest' series, taking some of your opinions on who should be considered the best, we step inside our Football TARDIS and head back to famous matches in 1953 & 1923 as well as stop at some of your chosen destinations and we also have time for a good bit of quizzing along the way!

As ever, get involved with your views, Tweet us: https://twitter.com/TFHBs or find the articles discussed over at our website: https://www.thefootballhistoryboys.com/.

If you want to join our Fantasy Premier League mini-league, head over to the official site and type in code: hhtkhy - Just don't leave in a player who has already been sold like Ben did!).











The Football History Boys, 2019

1934 - The world was gripped by economic depression, a depression that had started with the Wall Street Crash in 1929. Adolf Hitler rise to power under the slogan 'Arbeit und Brot' (Work and Bread) had led to him being elected Chancellor in 1933 before assuming the role of Fuhrer in 1934. American President Woodrow Wilson's idea of a 'League of Nations' to keep peace following the Great War (1914-1918) was failing and extreme beliefs were prospering across Europe. Into a melting pot of tension and uncertainty, the second ever addition of FIFA's 'World Cup' was due to take place.
Italy were led by fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and his policy surrounded the 'cult of personality'. Il Duce, as he was known, prioritised being seen as the perfect man and perfect leader, done through both propaganda and force. With plans of Italian expansion in mind, a war of revenge in Africa with Abyssinia (Ethiopia) would follow in 1935. Part of Mussolini's…

The Football History Boys begin their journey into the world of podcasting! In our first episode we discuss who TFHB are, the first half of our latest 'Wales' Greatest' series, sports' history in schools and the international tournaments that are taking place this summer.

Make sure you get invovled, sharing your views or entering our quiz over on Twitter: @TFHBs or find the articles discussed in today's show over at our website: www.thefootballhistoryboys.com.



The Football History Boys, 2019

Both The Football History Boys, Ben and I, are in education. Ben teaches in a primary school whilst I teach History in secondary school. We both love education and sharing our passion for sport with the young people we teach. However, the curriculum in England and Wales (where we have both taught) of course restricts the interests of teachers at times. If I could teach purely to my interests, my History lessons would be full of sports' history, but it goes without saying that is neither practical, nor good for all my students! So let TFHB delve into History education and the situation as it stands...

As a bit of context for their piece, it was sparked as I listened to a Jeremy Vine BBC Radio Two debate this year. He invited callers to discuss the school curriculum after he informed listeners that in 2018 schools were 'publicly recommended' by the media, celebrities or campaigners to 'teach' over 350 topics or subjects that were not currently taught; these included …

John Charles – Il Gigante Buono
It’s January 2004 and a teary eyed, grey haired 74-year-old man from Swansea carries his hulking frame around an Italian football pitch for the final time, as over 50,000 fans chant his name and pay an emotional tribute to him. It’s been 42 years since John Charles last donned the famous black and white of Juventus – but they haven’t forgotten. They never will. Days later he falls ill, and within a month he’ll be gone. The outpouring of grief at his loss prompts reflection and eulogies from those who knew him and some who were lucky enough to play with him, with the consensus being that he was a truly world-class player, but an even better human being.



Born just after Christmas 1931 in Cwmbwrla, Swansea, John was followed 4 years later by his younger brother Mel, who would later go on to represent Wales alongside him. He played youth football at Swansea and joined the club’s ground staff after he left school at 14, but he failed to make a single appearan…