Who Are Ya?

Blackpool was the scene of our first ever Who Are Ya episode, where we joined an Anti-Oyston protest march. Thanks to the hard work, dedication and persistence of Blackpool FC supporters, they Oystons have at long last been ousted.  Nearly two years after we recorded the first Who Are Ya, we joined the Blackpool fans again - as the Bloomfield Road turnstiles welcomed back so many old friends. Here is a short episode, where they tell us in their own words, what it means to be going home. Twitter: @WhoAreYaPod We'd love you to share this episode however you can. Interviews by David Cowlishaw

This episode is different from our usual club-focussed approach as we explore football’s relationship with tragedy. The history of football has unfortunately been littered with tragic events, but has football changed how it deals with death? Can football be a force for good in dealing with grief, or has the media turned death into spectacle?

Crewe Alexandra are known all across the UK for their investment in young talent and producing the stars of the future.  The Railwaymen have had mixed fortunes in League Two this season, but fans have an opportunity to directly air their grievances to the manager David Artell.  However, grey clouds hang overhead, as fans come to terms with the aftermath of the football sexual abuse scandal. How has this changed things at Gresty Road? We went to find out.

In this episode we speak to an International Manager. Justin Walley was the manager of the Matebeleland football team in the 2018 conifa world cup. His is a football journey that’s taken him from Leicestershire to Zimbabwe via setting up a team Latvia and travelling the world in the name of football . His book ‘One football no nets’ the story of Matebeleland’s journey to the alternative world cup in London is out now. We chat about the book, CONIFA, meeting Bruce Grobbelear in a car park and what it is that inspired Justin to travel the world in search of football. In case we don’t see you before then, from myself and Ben, have a great Christmas and a happy new year too. @WhoAreYaPod

Ben flies to Rome in the latest episode of Who Are Ya to see Lazio in action. After the game, every time he tells people about his football experience, it always gets the same response. "That's the team with the fascist links?" Instead of sitting there and nodding along, Ben set out to learn more around the elephant in the room of I Biancocelesti, and ask Lazio fans Who Are Ya?

Daniel Gray, author of several football books including 'Black Boots and Football Pinks: 50 Lost Wonders of the Beautiful Game', speaks to David Cowlishaw about that book, stadiums, the inherent geekiness of football fans and what we love and hate about the way the game has changed. Daniel's book is available here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/black-boots-and-football-pinks-9781472958860/ Subscribe to Who Are Ya here (and we'd love a review) https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/who-are-ya/id1240831226?mt=2

In the summer of 2017, we went to Blackpool to document their struggles. Now though, we’re at another Fylde coast club with a very different story.  Fleetwood Town’s rise through the leagues has been an incredible journey and brought joy to a town that sorely needed it.  Tuesday nights, freezing cold winds, and a football club on the up. We ask Fleetwood Town... Who Are Ya?

We spoke to filmmaker, activist, and Football Beyond Borders co-founder Pez (@pezzativity) about the incredible work Football Beyond Borders do, the impact of Copa 90, growing up with the Premier League in Zimbabwe, the appeal of Dulwich Hamlet and plenty more. Subscribe to us on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ie/podcast/who-are-ya/id1240831226?mt=2 Twitter @WhoAreYaPod Instagram @WhoAreYaPod

Brentford are not a football club that you'd expect to be in the top flight. The last time they were there was in the 1930s. But thanks to an innovative owner, a young, exciting squad and a team of management staff who all share the same beliefs for taking this club forward, the fans at Griffin Park are buzzing - and are ready for a long-awaited return to the top of the English football pyramid. This is a club we expected to be jealous. This is a club that now expects success. We travelled to West London to find out how everything is going so right for The Bees, and ask Brentford fans, Who Are Ya?

Jonny Sharples has established himself as an essential follow on Twitter, always getting huge ‘numbers’ for his football observations, jokes and Photoshops.  He visited us for a chat about how he started following football (Alan Shearer is to blame), Teletext, Mike Ashley, Twitter, Football Manager, the greatest striker who never existed and football’s relationship with mental health.  You’re probably already following him @JonnyGabriel  The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) Website is https://www.thecalmzone.net/