The Football Ramble
Encyclopedia
The Football Ramble is a podcast
about football, produced in London
by The Football Ramble Ltd. Originally provided fortnightly, this was increased to a weekly show at the beginning of the 09/10 football season, mainly due to repeated listener requests.
It is presented by Marcus Speller
, who is joined by Luke Moore
, DJ Pete Donaldson
, and comedian Jim Campbell. On the podcast, emphasis is placed upon European
(especially the English Premier League), and World Football, providing an irreverent viewpoint on the sporting issues of the day.
. In June 2009 the podcast reached the number 1 spot in the iTunes
sports podcast chart, beating off competition from titles from The Guardian
and the BBC
. It is currently the largest independent sports podcast.
The podcast then moves on to that weeks Premier League games and news before moving onto information about recent world football news.
The panel - normally Jim and Pete - then read out e-mails which are introduced by a jingle which has been sent in by a listener. One theme is stories of when listeners have met famous footballers. In 2011 a new feature was bought in by Pete Donaldson called Going for Glold where he reads out 'cryptic clues' of a proffesional footballer until the 'rambleforce' get it, however Pete's facts are often flawed which leads to utter madness.
The podcast finished with the weekly profile which is of a footballer, football manager, football personality, stadium, team, match or tournament. These profiles are inducted into the Dean Windass Hall of Fame.
. Prior to this a book written by Tim Lovejoy
was similarly snubbed.
(or DWHoF) is a regular feature on the Ramble in which figures from the world of football are profiled in extensive detail. However, inductees are not limited to people, as competitions, entire teams, derbies and a stadium have all been inducted. The profile section is named after Dean Windass
, who was inducted alongside Dion Dublin
, and Windass himself appeared on an edition of the Ramble in which he requested Paul Gascoigne
to be inducted, which he was soon after. Kenny Pavey
was also interviewed on an episode and he requested Teddy Sheringham
be inducted. Luke and/or James-or-Jim often jump in during the start of the profile, noting how many years before or after the Summer of Love
the subject was born and stating that the player in question "won the sperm race".
, who managed the Argentinian national football team during the tournament. It is unknown whether El Diego sanctioned the setting up of the corner or if he has ever visited it. Due to the aloofness of Moore's reports listeners are left uncertain as to the interior - rumours are rife regarding this, though it seems general consensus that the focal point is a small plinth with a lock of Diego's hair, some of his nose cartilage and a signed photo of the great man. The corner did have an electronic combination lock installed where the code was 1-9-8-6. At least one of the other Ramblers has visited Diego Corner while Moore was away for a couple of weeks, and Marcus Speller was able to hear a quote from El Diego when Moore had left the window ajar.
video game as one of the 'media outlets' who review manager progress throughout the season.
The Football Ramble has been featured in various Football and non-football publications. Football Punk, Four Four Two and The London Paper have all featured lengthy articles on the podcast. All members - except Pete - have appeared on Sky News, debating various footballing matters.
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
about football, produced in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by The Football Ramble Ltd. Originally provided fortnightly, this was increased to a weekly show at the beginning of the 09/10 football season, mainly due to repeated listener requests.
It is presented by Marcus Speller
Marcus Speller
Marcus Speller is a presenter and broadcaster most commonly known as the presenter of The Football Ramble. Marcus has been with the Ramble since 2007 and has also occasionally appeared on Sky News as a pundit as well as doing some stand up comedy...
, who is joined by Luke Moore
Luke Moore (broadcaster)
Luke Moore is a writer, producer, broadcaster and pundit. Born in Portsmouth, England, he is co-founder, co-producer and co-presenter of The Football Ramble....
, DJ Pete Donaldson
Pete Donaldson
Pete Donaldson, is a Radio and Television presenter, Producer and Voice Over Artist who is best known for his radio shows on Xfm London and Xfm Manchester, alongside his work on the Alex Zane Breakfast Show and the Lauren Laverne Breakfast Show He also featured on the Danny Wallace Saturday show on...
, and comedian Jim Campbell. On the podcast, emphasis is placed upon European
European football
European football is a colloquial term referring to any international football club competition that is organised by UEFA. Any club that wishes to participate in European football must qualify through their respective domestic league or domestic cup competitions...
(especially the English Premier League), and World Football, providing an irreverent viewpoint on the sporting issues of the day.
Origin and Listening Figures
The podcast began in April 2007 in Luke Moore's kitchen, featuring original presenter Christopher Apples. 2008 saw Apples leave the show, to be replaced by XFM DJ Pete DonaldsonPete Donaldson
Pete Donaldson, is a Radio and Television presenter, Producer and Voice Over Artist who is best known for his radio shows on Xfm London and Xfm Manchester, alongside his work on the Alex Zane Breakfast Show and the Lauren Laverne Breakfast Show He also featured on the Danny Wallace Saturday show on...
. In June 2009 the podcast reached the number 1 spot in the iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
sports podcast chart, beating off competition from titles from The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. It is currently the largest independent sports podcast.
Podcast
The podcasts begin with the Ramble theme tune playing which is sometimes preceded by famous footballers speaking, for example "I'm Les Ferdinand and you're listening to The Football Ramble". The host Marcus then introduces the panel individually before asking a question based on a recent event which each host answers, before the winner being chosen and allocated that week's points by Marcus, (who normally gives them to himself because he is a bit selfish).The podcast then moves on to that weeks Premier League games and news before moving onto information about recent world football news.
The panel - normally Jim and Pete - then read out e-mails which are introduced by a jingle which has been sent in by a listener. One theme is stories of when listeners have met famous footballers. In 2011 a new feature was bought in by Pete Donaldson called Going for Glold where he reads out 'cryptic clues' of a proffesional footballer until the 'rambleforce' get it, however Pete's facts are often flawed which leads to utter madness.
The podcast finished with the weekly profile which is of a footballer, football manager, football personality, stadium, team, match or tournament. These profiles are inducted into the Dean Windass Hall of Fame.
Features
One regular feature on the Ramble was a "funny stories" section, originally read by Chris Apples and later by James-or-Jim following Apples' departure. The section focused on bizarre stories from the world of football, almost inevitably originating from South America. A running theme has also been Marcus' recommendations of his "book of the week", usually given to most books referenced on the show. One of the only books to explicitly not get this honour was "Carra" by Jamie CarragherJamie Carragher
James Lee Duncan "Jamie" Carragher is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League side Liverpool...
. Prior to this a book written by Tim Lovejoy
Tim Lovejoy
Timothy Paul Lovejoy is a British television presenter most famous for hosting Saturday morning football programme Soccer AM alongside Helen Chamberlain for over a decade.- Career :...
was similarly snubbed.
The Dean Windass Hall of Fame
The Dean Windass Hall of FameThe Dean Windass Hall of Fame
The Dean Windass Hall of Fame is a regular feature on The Football Ramble in which figures from the world of football are profiled in extensive detail. However, inductees are not limited to people, as competitions, entire teams, derbies and a stadium have all been inducted. The inductees are also...
(or DWHoF) is a regular feature on the Ramble in which figures from the world of football are profiled in extensive detail. However, inductees are not limited to people, as competitions, entire teams, derbies and a stadium have all been inducted. The profile section is named after Dean Windass
Dean Windass
Dean Windass is an English footballer, who predominantly played as a striker, and is known for his spells at Bradford City and his hometown team Hull City...
, who was inducted alongside Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin
Dion Dublin , is a retired English footballer. He was capped four times for England. Dublin started his career as a centre back with Norwich City, but made his name at Cambridge United as a goal-scoring centre forward. However, in his later years he showed his versatility by becoming an...
, and Windass himself appeared on an edition of the Ramble in which he requested Paul Gascoigne
Paul Gascoigne
Paul John Gascoigne , commonly referred to as Gazza, is a retired English professional footballer.Playing in the position of midfield, Gascoigne's career included spells at Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton and Gansu Tianma, where he scored at least a goal...
to be inducted, which he was soon after. Kenny Pavey
Kenny Pavey
Kenneth Steven "Kenny" Pavey is an English footballer who currently plays for Allsvenskan club AIK from Solna, near Stockholm.-Career:Pavey made his debut at local club Affenley FC before moving to his boyhood favourite club Millwall. He ended his junior years at Sittingbourne where he also made...
was also interviewed on an episode and he requested Teddy Sheringham
Teddy Sheringham
Edward Paul "Teddy" Sheringham MBE is a retired English footballer, and the father of footballer Charlie Sheringham. Sheringham played as a striker, and had a successful career at the club level, winning almost every domestic honour available with his clubs, most notably the Treble with Manchester...
be inducted. Luke and/or James-or-Jim often jump in during the start of the profile, noting how many years before or after the Summer of Love
Summer of Love
The Summer of Love was a social phenomenon that occurred during the summer of 1967, when as many as 100,000 people converged on the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, creating a cultural and political rebellion...
the subject was born and stating that the player in question "won the sperm race".
Diego Corner
Established by Luke Moore (who serves as Keeper of the Keys to the Corner) during the 2010 World Cup. Diego Corner is a separate room/dimension from where Moore gives regular updates of the life and crimes of Diego MaradonaDiego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
, who managed the Argentinian national football team during the tournament. It is unknown whether El Diego sanctioned the setting up of the corner or if he has ever visited it. Due to the aloofness of Moore's reports listeners are left uncertain as to the interior - rumours are rife regarding this, though it seems general consensus that the focal point is a small plinth with a lock of Diego's hair, some of his nose cartilage and a signed photo of the great man. The corner did have an electronic combination lock installed where the code was 1-9-8-6. At least one of the other Ramblers has visited Diego Corner while Moore was away for a couple of weeks, and Marcus Speller was able to hear a quote from El Diego when Moore had left the window ajar.
Zlatan's Zeppelin
Established by Pete Donaldson (Deputy Waitress of Zlatan's Zeppelin) this new feature highlights the crazy life and antics surrounding Swedish striker Zlatan IbrahimovićZlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimović is a Swedish footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Milan and the Swedish national team for which he is captain....
Going For Glold
Pete Donaldson's latest addition to the show is the critically acclaimed 'Going For Glold'. In it he reels off a list of clues as to the identity of a mystery footballer for the other ramblers to guess; if they know who it is they must say 'stop' and then have a guess. The origins of the name are a mystery to all involved.Pete FC and Ramble Extra
On the website there is a section known as Pete FC (or Pete's Friday Club). This section is a selection of things created by Pete Donaldson including videos and comic strips he has drawn. It also includes Ramble Extra which is an addition to the regular podcast summing up the rest of the weeks events. It has not been updated since 15 July 2011.Media appearances
The Podcast can be found in the Championship Manager 2010Championship Manager 2010
Championship Manager 2010 is a Football Manager simulation video game. It is developed by Beautiful Game Studios and published by Eidos Interactive...
video game as one of the 'media outlets' who review manager progress throughout the season.
The Football Ramble has been featured in various Football and non-football publications. Football Punk, Four Four Two and The London Paper have all featured lengthy articles on the podcast. All members - except Pete - have appeared on Sky News, debating various footballing matters.
Website
The Football Ramble website also contains blogs by various contributors throughout the world and has a very active and dedicated forum to discuss the Ramble, football and many other topics.Ramble Contributors
- Andy Brassell - European football/Retro Ramble
- James Horncastle - Retro Ramble
- James Appell - Russian and Eastern European football
- Rupert Fryer - South American football
- Chris Nee - North American football
- Joel Richards - Argentinian football
- Chris Mann - Premier League/English Football
- Kay Murray - Real Madrid
- Steve Reynolds - Footballing philosophy
- Michał Zachodny - Polish football
- Our Man in Pyongyang - North Korean football