With the 2026 World Cup weeks away Dan, Craig, Louis and Mark come together to pick an alternative England squad ahead of the tournament. They have to pick one player from each team from the 2025-26 National League and have to take three goalkeepers on the plane. They also list their starting XI for the opening game of the World Cup.  Timestamps:  Squad selection intro/rules - 01:18 Goalkeepers - 02:02 Defenders - 06:33 Midfielders - 15:04 Forwards - 26:21 Starting XIs - 34:51 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Dan and Craig sat down with Worthing defender Joe Cook. Throughout the episode they discuss his career and idols growing up. They delve deeper into his time at Worthing and discuss his and Worthing’s title winning campaign in the National League South before looking ahead to his and the club’s expectations for the 2026-27 season.  Timestamps:  Joe Cook’s youth career - 00:55 Playing at step 3 and 4 of the non-league pyramid - 03:07 Joe Cook’s time at Chesterfield and Dorking Wanderers - 05:33 Joe Cook’s spell at Worthing - 09:27 Worthing’s 2025-26 National League South season - 12:12 Competitive nature of the National League South - 13:47 Adam Hinshelwood - 15:18 Looking ahead to the 2026-27 National League campaign - 18:22 General questions about Joe Cook’s career - 19:52 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Dan, Craig, Mark and Louis to break down the departure of Southend United head coach Kevin Maher. They look back at Maher’s time in charge of the Essex side and debate whether he has taken the club as far as he can. The quartet look at possible replacements that Southend could turn to for the 2026-27 season.  Timestamps:  Kevin Maher’s departure from Southend United - 01:40 Possible Kevin Maher’s replacements - 16:04 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Dan, Craig, Mark and Louis for their 100th episode of the show and an in depth look at the 2025-26 National League season. In this bumper podcast, the quartet review all twenty-four National League sides and rank their seasons from A to F.  Timestamps:  Eastleigh - 01:26 Morecambe - 05:52 Braintree Town - 11:42 Aldershot Town - 19:09 Truro City - 24:42 Brackley Town - 31:52 Sutton United - 38:36 Yeovil Town - 45:44 Solihull Moors - 50:54 Gateshead - 57:25 Altrincham - 01:03:26 Hartlepool United - 01:08:40 Woking - 01:13:48 Boston United - 01:18:24 Forest Green Rovers - 01:23:02 FC Halifax Town - 01:31:20 Wealdstone - 01:37:13 Southend United - 01:41:30 Carlisle United - 01:46:31 Tamworth - 01:53:50 Scunthorpe United - 01:58:47 Boreham Wood - 02:04:59 Rochdale - 02:10:27 York City - 02:17:58 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan, Craig and Louis join together to recap Southend United’s victory at Wembley on penalties against Wealdstone in the FA Trophy. The trio recap the game and look at the key moments leading up to Southend’s victory in the penalty shootout. Craig gives his take on what could be done to revitalise the competition and they discuss whether Kevin Maher will be in charge at the start of the 2026-27 season.  Southend v Wealdstone - 00:53 Kevin Maher’s future - 12:15 FA Trophy proposal for future seasons - 15:57 2026-27 FA Trophy Predictions - 20:06 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan, Mark and Louis are joined by Boreham Wood forward Abdul Abdulmalik to discuss his career so far. They cover a range of topics including Abdul’s experience in Millwall’s academy, representing England at youth level, Boreham Wood’s impressive 2025-26 campaign and the impact of manager Luke Garrard on his career.  Boreham Wood’s 2025/26 season - 01:06 Abdul Abdulmalik’s Millwall and England experiences - 04:32 Moving to Boreham Wood in 2024 - 08:07 Biggest Influences on Abdul’s career - 10:01 3Up campaign & FA Cup run - 13:56  National League play-off final - 16:43 Luke Garrard - 19:46 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan, Craig and Louis are joined by Sutton United and National League manager Chris Agutter. They discuss Chris’ career, playing style, his previous spell at Worthing and his time in charge at Sutton United alongside the future for the club.  Timestamps 0:00 - Welcome to Chris Agutter and the National League Lowdown Hosts 0:55 - Start of Chris’s managerial/coaching career 02:01 - Management and playing style across different roles 05:54 - Chris’ thoughts on Worthing FC 10:29 - Difference between National League South and National League 13:25 - Sutton United’s recruitment 17:43 - Sutton United’s academy graduates and prospects 23:58 - Implementing a style of play mid season 29:19 - Analysing Sutton United’s inconsistent results 38:07 - 2026/27 season for Sutton United A huge thank you to Sutton United and Chris Agutter for taking part.  Visit our dedicated National League X page: https://x.com/NLLowdown?s=20 Visit our TikTok page: https://www.tiktok.com/@nl_lowdown Visit our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/nationalleaguelowdown/ Watch our other exclusive interviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTK3bRVLUPmLNBCVRWs5lNYge5SdRwcw9&si=n6t2ijhAAvUlRD3O Keep up to date with all the National League news, results and previews here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTK3bRVLUPmLVKiu7nVgKX9dQcVRZtrKI&si=nljCqNOOxpJFdf50 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan, Craig and Louis come together to preview the FA Trophy final between Southend United and Wealdstone. Dan and Craig look back at the two side’s run to the final and their season so far. Louis recaps the previous head to heads between the sides this season and how the game could take shape. The trio have put together their combined XI for the two National League sides and make their predictions for the final.  Southend United route to the final - 00:57 Wealdstone route to the final - 03:09 Head to Head - 06:12 Southend United & Wealdstone combined XI - 08:30 Previous FA Trophy finals - 11:10 Predictions - 13:39 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan, Mark and Louis come together to recap the play-off final in the National League between Rochdale and Boreham Wood. The trio recap a dramatic game that saw outstanding individual performances and late, late drama involving Rochdale once again. They look ahead to how Rochdale will fare in League Two next season and what the future holds for Boreham Wood in the National League during the 2026-27 season.  Boreham Wood v Rochdale - 01:11 Rochdale in the 2026-27 League Two campaign - 24:53 Boreham Wood in the 2026-27 National League campaign - 31:07 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Craig, Mark and Louis come together to recap the play-off finals in the National League North and National League South. The trio recap a comfortable victory for Kidderminster Harriers away to South Shields and a historic victory for Hornchurch at home to Torquay United. They look ahead to how the newly promoted sides will do in the National League next season and whether the play-off losers can compete at the top of their respective divisions again next season.  South Shields v Kidderminster Harriers - 01:09 Kidderminster Harriers in the National League 2026/27 - 6:49 South Shields in the National League North 2026/27 - 10:59 Hornchurch v Torquay United - 15:22 Hornchurch in the National League 2026/27 - 23:28 Torquay United in the National League South 2026/27 - 28:58 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices