
Rafa Benitez & the games that made him
A special episode from the Football Daily archives when in 2019 Rafa Benitez joined Guillem Balague to talk Istanbul, Tyneside & Madrid. [This is a re-versioned episode from the Football Daily archive. It was first published on the 25th April 2019]
3 Aug 31min

Neil Warnock on football, Yorkshire puddings and chiropody
As the Football League returns, Football Daily brings a special episode from the archives when Neil Warnock joined the 72+ squad to look back on some of his favourite memories in football. From bowling and chiropody, to Chris Morgan and Adel Taarabt, Neil Warnock lifts the lid on some of his funniest and most memorable stories.
2 Aug 43min

Best of The Commentators' View 2024/25 - Part Three
The best bits as John Murray, Ian Dennis & Ali Bruce-Ball talk football, travel & language. Also hear from commentators Peter Drury and Conor McNamara. WhatsApp voicenotes to 08000 289 369. Emails to TCV@bbc.co.uk00:55 Peter Drury memories of being on Sports Report, 06:35 Ian Dennis & Izzy Christiansen get caught sticky-handed, 10:35 Conor McNamara gets kick-off time wrong! 13:50 Gadgets and gismos to stay warm in the winter 18:00 Ali’s Shrewsbury storyGlossary so far: 2-0 is a dangerous score, After you Claude, All-Premier League affair, Aplomb, Brace, Brandished, Breaking the deadlock, Bundled over the line, Champions elect / champions apparent, Clinical finish, Commentator’s curse, Coupon buster, Cultured/Educated left foot, Denied by the woodwork, Draught excluder, Elimination line, Fellow countryman, Foot race, Formerly of this parish, Fox in the box, Free hit, Goalkeepers’ Union, Goalmouth scramble, Good touch for a big man, Honeymoon Period, In and around, In the shop window, Keeping ball under their spell, Languishing, Loitering with intent, Marching orders, Nestle in the bottom corner, Numbered derbies, Nutmeg, Opposite number, Park the bus, PK for penalty-kick, Postage stamp, Put their laces through it, Rasping shot, Red wine not white wine, Relegation six-pointer, Rooted at the bottom, Roy of the Rovers stuff, Sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, Sleeping giants, Slide rule pass, Small matter of, Spiders web, Stayed hit, Steepling, Stinging the palms, Stonewall penalty, Straight off the training ground, Stramash, Throw their cap on it, Thruppenny bit head / 50p head, Put it in the mixer, Towering header, Turning into a basketball match, Turning into a cricket score, Walking a disciplinary tightrope, Wand of a left foot, We’ve got a cup tie on our hands, Where the owl sleeps, Winger in their pocket, Wrap foot around it, Your De Bruynes, your Gundogans etc.
1 Aug 26min

Women's Euros: Spain Stutter into Semis
Eilidh Barbour is joined by former England internationals Izzy Christiansen and Gilly Flaherty to reflect on Spain's 2-0 win over hosts Switzerland in the Women's Euros quarter-finals in Bern. They also look ahead to tomorrow's quarter-final between France and Germany in Basel, as well as reflecting on England's victory over Sweden on penalties on Thursday.Topics: 00:36 - Spain stutter into semis 05:28 - Hosts Switzerland bow out 10:11 - France v Germany preview 15:38 - England v Sweden reflections 21:24 - Will Italy trouble England? 23:06 - Who are the favourites out of the final five? BBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Sat - 2000 - QF4 - France v Germany Tue - 2000 - SF1 - Italy v England Wed - 2000 - SF2 - Spain v France/Germany
18 Jul 25min

Women's Euros: England v Sweden Preview
Katie Smith is joined by commentator Vicki Sparks, former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and the Telegraph's Luke Edwards to preview England's quarter-final against Sweden in Zurich.England manager Sarina Wiegman tells us about the mood in camp following Saturday's huge win against Wales, while Lucy Bronze discusses whether England will change their approach now they've reached the knockout stage.And we find out about Sweden's 'youth hostel'.Topics: 01:32 - 'Dark horses' Sweden 09:39 - Sarina Weigman interview 12:29 - Will Sweden target Hannah Hampton? 16:50 - How many Sweden players would get in England's starting 11? 18:55 - Ella Toone focus - will she keep her place? 26:41 - Lucy Bronze interview 36:45 - Sweden's 'youth hostel' 40:21 - Predictions BBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Thu - 2000 - QF2 - Sweden v England Fri - 2000 - QF3 - Spain v Switzerland Sat - 2000 - QF4 - France v Germany
16 Jul 41min

The Commentators’ View: The Open golf special
John Murray & Ali Bruce-Ball are joined by golf correspondent Iain Carter to talk about what it’s like commentating at The Open. What does ‘wearing the armband’ mean? Ali reveals the worst moment of his broadcasting career. Iain tells us his tip to be crowned Champion Golfer. All that plus more malapropisms, glossary suggestions, and Clash of the Commentators becomes Clash of the Correspondents!WhatsApp voicenotes to 08000 289 369, Emails to TCV@bbc.co.uk,03:20 Why does golf work on the radio? 05:30 How was the TCV live show in Sheffield? 07:45 Why did Iain want to be a golf commentator? 13:30 What is ‘wearing the armband’? 15:20 Ali gets told off by a golfer, 20:50 Ali’s ‘worst moment of broadcasting career’, 28:15 How did Iain get into golf commentary? 31:20 How does Iain prepare for The Open? 34:20 Clash of the Correspondents! 39:55 Malapropisms & the Great Glossary, 51:05 Who is Iain backing to win the tournament?BBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Wed 2000 QF1 Norway v Italy, Thu 2000 QF2 Sweden v England, Fri 2000 QF3 Spain v Switzerland, Sat 2000 QF4 France v Germany.
15 Jul 54min

The Commentators’ View: Women’s Euros special
Ali Bruce-Ball is joined by Conor McNamara & Vicki Sparks ahead of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025. Hear from England striker Alessia Russo, catch Vicki’s Toblerone tales from Basel and will the ‘false one’ get in to the Great Glossary of Football Commentary. Plus reaction to Manchester City crashing out of the FIFA Club World Cup, and will Clash of the Commentators champion Ali Bruce-Ball be beaten?Live show tickets: crossedwires.live/fringe WhatsApp voicenotes to 08000 289 369 Emails to TCV@bbc.co.uk00:50 Man City knocked out of FIFA Club World Cup, 03:10 Russell Fuller slips on his cliché banana skin, 07:30 Vicki Sparks joins the pod live from Switzerland, 13:40 5 Live commentaries at the Women’s Euros, 14:10 Hear from England striker Alessia Russo, 17:05 What are Wales aiming for at first major tournament? 19:20 Don’t give Vicki extra facts on matchday! 23:30 Toblerone tales from Basel, 25:15 Vicki vs Ali in Clash of the Commentators, 32:10 ‘False One’ for the Great Glossary?BBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Wed 1700 Iceland v Finland on Sports Extra 2, Wed 2000 Switzerland v Norway on 5 Live, Thu 2000 Spain v Portugal on 5 Live, Fri 1700 Denmark v Sweden on Sports Extra 3, Fri 2000 Germany v Poland on 5 Live, Sat 1700 Wales v Netherlands on 5 Live, Sat 2000 France v England on 5 Live.Glossary so far: 2-0 is a dangerous score, After you Claude, All-Premier League affair, Aplomb, Brace, Brandished, Breaking the deadlock, Bundled over the line, Champions elect / champions apparent, Clinical finish, Commentator’s curse, Coupon buster, Cultured/Educated left foot, Denied by the woodwork, Draught excluder, Elimination line, Fellow countryman, Foot race, Formerly of this parish, Fox in the box, Free hit, Goalmouth scramble, Good touch for a big man, Head tennis, Honeymoon Period, In and around, In the shop window, Keeping ball under their spell, Languishing, Loitering with intent, Marching orders, Nestle in the bottom corner, Numbered derbies, Nutmeg, One of those, Opposite number, Park the bus, PK for penalty-kick, Postage stamp, Put their laces through it, Rasping shot, Red wine not white wine, Relegation six-pointer, Rooted at the bottom, Roy of the Rovers stuff, Seen them given, Sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, Sleeping giants, Slide rule pass, Small matter of, Smash and grab, Spiders web, Stayed hit, Steepling, Stinging the palms, Stonewall penalty, Straight off the training ground, Stramash, Sweeper keeper, Throw their cap on it, Thruppenny bit head / 50p head, Turns like an ocean liner / aircraft carrier, Put it in the mixer, Towering header, Turning into a basketball match, Turning into a cricket score, Walking a disciplinary tightrope, Wand of a left foot, We’ve got a cup tie on our hands, Where the owl sleeps, Winger in their pocket, Wrap foot around it, Your De Bruynes, your Gundogans etc.
1 Jul 40min

The Commentators’ View: Wimbledon tennis special
Ali Bruce-Ball is joined by Conor McNamara & tennis correspondent Russell Fuller to talk about what it’s like commentating at Wimbledon. What is the secret to a good tennis commentary? Will any tennis-isms feature in the Great Glossary of Football Commentary? And will this correspondent come out on top in Clash of the Commentators?WhatsApp voicenotes to 08000 289 369 Emails to TCV@bbc.co.uk02:15 How does Russell prepare for Wimbledon? 04:05 Standing vs sitting & commentating in a booth, 07:15 Russell reveals the secret to a good tennis comms, 10:20 Ali & Conor on having a go at tennis commentary, 12:50 Russell reflects on the dramatic French Open men’s final, 17:30 Catering for a wide audience on 5 Live, 20:45 Conor’s ‘top top top’ player of the Club World Cup, 22:05 Tennis-isms & Americanisms in commentary, 30:10 Russell’s surprise Clash of the Commentators, 36:40 LIVE SHOW REMINDER, 39:50 Great Glossary of Football Commentary.BBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Sat 2000 England v Germany in UEFA U21 Final, Sun 1700 England v Jamaica in women’s friendly, Wed 1700 Iceland v Finland on Sports Extra 2, Wed 2000 Switzerland v Norway on 5 Live, Thu 2000 Spain v Portugal on 5 Live.Glossary so far: 2-0 is a dangerous score, After you Claude, All-Premier League affair, Aplomb, Brace, Brandished, Breaking the deadlock, Bundled over the line, Champions elect / champions apparent, Clinical finish, Commentator’s curse, Coupon buster, Cultured/Educated left foot, Denied by the woodwork, Draught excluder, Elimination line, Fellow countryman, Foot race, Formerly of this parish, Fox in the box, Free hit, Goalmouth scramble, Good touch for a big man, Head tennis, Honeymoon Period, In and around, In the shop window, Keeping ball under their spell, Languishing, Loitering with intent, Marching orders, Nestle in the bottom corner, Numbered derbies, Nutmeg, Opposite number, Park the bus, PK for penalty-kick, Postage stamp, Put their laces through it, Rasping shot, Red wine not white wine, Relegation six-pointer, Rooted at the bottom, Roy of the Rovers stuff, Sending the goalkeeper the wrong way, Sleeping giants, Slide rule pass, Small matter of, Smash and grab, Spiders web, Stayed hit, Steepling, Stinging the palms, Stonewall penalty, Straight off the training ground, Stramash, Sweeper keeper, Throw their cap on it, Thruppenny bit head / 50p head, Turns like an ocean liner / aircraft carrier, Put it in the mixer, Towering header, Turning into a basketball match, Turning into a cricket score, Walking a disciplinary tightrope, Wand of a left foot, We’ve got a cup tie on our hands, Where the owl sleeps, Winger in their pocket, Wrap foot around it, Your De Bruynes, your Gundogans etc.
27 Jun 54min