The FootPol Podcast
The podcast that brings together football and politics. We'll be exploring the relationship between the two, both inside and outside the game.
The podcast covers "Big Politics" like politicians, clubs, international and national federations and other organised groups and how they use or abuse the game to "Small, Everyday Politics" in the form of community-level clubs, fan associations and the way that football reflects the political challenges of our day to day lives.
The FootPol Podcast is brought to you by co-hosts Drs Francesco Belcastro and Guy Burton.
The FootPol Podcast
Pitching Ambition: The Rise and Risk of Non-League Football ft. Paul Caulfield
With the FA Vase and FA Trophy finals putting non-league football in the national spotlight at Wembley on Sunday 11 May—including a nail-biting outing for Guy’s own Aldershot Town FC—this week’s episode dives into the vibrant, volatile world of the English non-league game.
Guy is joined by freelance journalist and non-league connoisseur Paul Caulfield to unpack the unique ecosystem of clubs outside the English Football League. What makes non-league tick? What keeps it alive? And why do some clubs dream big, risking financial turmoil for promotion, while others settle for sustainability and a secure place in their local communities?
Whether you're a die-hard fan of grassroots football or just wondering what lies beyond the Premier League limelight, this episode is your guided tour through the passion, pitfalls, and paradoxes of non-league life.
