Another week without a guest gives me time to reflect on the clubs & fans that have been part of Random Fandom so far.

In this episode I look back at each club and see what has happened to them since we featured them and if they have anything left to play for in the remaining games of their seasons.

Again, if you know someone who you think would be a good guest or fancy coming on yourself, please get in touch!

If you'd like to come on and chat about your fandom then drop me a line at randomfandomfc@gmail.com

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Time for something a bit different this week.

First up we review the Manchester City game away at Everton after we had Chris come on the show last time out.

Then, as I was away this week and couldn't record, we have something a few of you have been asking for.

My back story.

Yup, time for my origin story and the highs & lows along the way.

Arsenal FC – Club Overview

Arsenal Football Club is a professional football club based in North London, England. Founded in 1886 as Dial Square by munitions workers in Woolwich, the club later became known as Royal Arsenal, then Woolwich Arsenal, before settling on its current name. Arsenal moved to Highbury in 1913 and became a major force in English football under manager Herbert Chapman in the 1930s, introducing tactical innovations and winning multiple league titles.

Arsenal has won 13 league titles, including an unbeaten league campaign in the 2003-04 season—known as "The Invincibles"—a rare achievement in top-flight football. The club has also won a record 14 FA Cups, demonstrating consistent success in domestic competitions. Under long-serving manager Arsène Wenger, who led the team from 1996 to 2018, Arsenal became known for their attractive, attacking football and developed a strong emphasis on youth and financial prudence.

The club moved from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, a modern 60,000-capacity venue. Arsenal maintains fierce rivalries, particularly with Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby and with Manchester United stemming from their intense battles in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Iconic players in the club’s history include Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, Patrick Vieira, and Ian Wright. Arsenal remains one of England’s most successful and widely supported clubs, consistently competing in the Premier League and European competitions.

If you'd like to come on and chat about your fandom then drop me a line at randomfandomfc@gmail.com

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This week it is the turn of Manchester City as I welcome Chris onto the pod.

Before I speak to him I have to cover off the game for Universitario who we were following last week after talking to Renato.

Then it's Chris and his Manchester City story.

Manchester City FC – Club Overview

Manchester City FC, commonly known as Man City, is a professional football club based in Manchester, England. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark’s (West Gorton), the club adopted its current name in 1894. City has experienced various highs and lows throughout its history but has become one of the most dominant forces in world football in recent years.

The club won its first major honor in 1904, securing the FA Cup, and went on to claim two First Division titles before the Premier League era (1936-37 and 1967-68). After a period of decline, including relegation to the third tier in the late 1990s, City’s fortunes changed dramatically following the club’s takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008. With significant investment and top-tier management, including Pep Guardiola, City has become a powerhouse, winning multiple Premier League titles, including a historic treble (Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League) in the 2022-23 season.

The club has won nine English league titles, seven FA Cups, eight League Cups, and the UEFA Champions League, securing their place among Europe's elite. Their home ground, the Etihad Stadium, has been the stage for their recent dominance, with star players like Sergio Agüero, Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland leading their success. City’s rivalry with Manchester United in the Manchester Derby remains one of the most intense in football, reflecting their rise to the top of the game.

If you'd like to come on and chat about your fandom then drop me a line at randomfandomfc@gmail.com

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This week it's something a but new for Random Fandom as we have our first ever non-English based team as we welcome Renato onto the pod.

He is a fan of Club Universitario de Deportes based in Peru.

Before we speak to him we have a quick recap of the Spurs game we were following after fan Dave came on last week. The game was at home to Southampton so we'll kick things off with a quick match report.

Fact file as always for this weeks team:

Club Universitario de Deportes

Club Universitario de Deportes is a Peruvian sports club based in Lima.

The football team, popularly known as Universitario, has competed in the top tier of Peruvian football, the Liga 1, since 1928.

They are the most successful team in Peruvian football with 28 titles and have never been relegated.

The club was founded in August 1924 under the name Federación Universitaria by students of the National University of San Marcos but was forced to rename in 1931.

The club won its first Peruvian title in 1929, one year after its debut in the first division. The club won its first double in the 1945 and 1946 seasons and won its only treble after conquering the 2000 season.

Universitario has won twenty-seven first division titles, and was the first Peruvian club, and the Pacific, to reach the final of the Copa Libertadores in 1972. Universitario is one of the two most popular teams in Peru.

In the year 2000, they opened the 80,093-seat Estadio Monumental, currently the largest stadium in Peru and second-largest in South America, retiring their smaller Estadio Teodoro Lolo Fernández which was converted to a public training ground used by the club and the reserve team.

Universitario and Alianza Lima participate in the Peruvian Clásico, which has its roots in the club's first participation in the Peruvian Primera División in 1928.

The rivalry is among the fiercest on the continent and is the oldest and largest rivalry in Peru. It also has rivalries with Sporting Cristal, Deportivo Municipal, and Sport Boys.

If you'd like to come on and chat about your fandom then drop me a line at randomfandomfc@gmail.com

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This week we have Dave, a Spurs fan, come on the pod to chat about his fandom.

Before we speak with him we check in with the England result to see how they got on against Latvia which we previewed last time out.

Here is the usual fact file about the club we'll be following this week...

Tottenham Hotspur FC – Club Overview

Tottenham Hotspur FC, commonly known as Spurs, is a professional football club based in North London, England. Founded in 1882, the club has established itself as one of the most storied teams in English football. Spurs were the first club in the 20th century to achieve the league and FA Cup double, winning both in the 1960-61 season. The club has a strong reputation for playing attacking football and has consistently competed at the highest levels of the English game.

Spurs have won two top-flight league titles (1950-51 and 1960-61), eight FA Cups, and four League Cups. They have also enjoyed success in European competitions, becoming the first British club to win a UEFA trophy when they lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963. The club later won two UEFA Cups (now the Europa League) in 1972 and 1984. More recently, Spurs reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2019, finishing as runners-up to Liverpool.

The club's home ground is the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a state-of-the-art venue that opened in 2019, replacing the historic White Hart Lane. Tottenham has a passionate fanbase and maintains intense rivalries, particularly with Arsenal, in the North London Derby. Over the years, the club has been home to iconic players such as Jimmy Greaves, Glenn Hoddle, Paul Gascoigne, Gary Lineker, Gareth Bale, and Harry Kane. While silverware has been elusive in recent decades, Tottenham remains one of England’s most prominent clubs, frequently competing in European competitions and striving for further success.

If you'd like to come on and chat about your fandom then drop me a line at randomfandomfc@gmail.com

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This week we do something a little different as I lean into the International break and use it to talk about supporting England. I'm joined by fellow English fan John and we look back at our first memories, highs/lows, and a look ahead to what Tuchel may do in the job.

Before we catch up with him we recap the Lincoln score from last week via another live match report from Simon.

England Men's National Football Team - Overview

The England men's national football team represents England in international football and is governed by The Football Association (FA). Established in 1872, England played in the first-ever international football match against Scotland, making it one of the oldest national teams in the world.

England’s most iconic achievement came in 1966 when they won the FIFA World Cup on home soil. Managed by Sir Alf Ramsey and captained by Bobby Moore, the team defeated West Germany 4-2 after extra time at Wembley Stadium, with Geoff Hurst scoring a historic hat-trick. Since then, England has reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1990 and 2018, consistently competing at the highest level but often falling short of major tournament victories.

In the UEFA European Championship, England's best performances came in 2021 and 2024, when they reached the final but were defeated on penalties by Italy and then by Spain.

The team has just started it's World Cup qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup under the watchful eye of new manager, Thomas Tuchel.

Can he lead the three lions to glory - only time will tell.

With a squad featuring some of the world’s best players, a rich footballing heritage, and one of the most passionate fanbases globally, England continues to be a powerhouse in international football, aiming to add more silverware to its history.

If you'd like to come on and chat about your fandom then drop me a line at randomfandomfc@gmail.com

You and also find the pod on the following social media platforms:

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This week I welcome Simon the Lincoln City fan onto the show.

Before we catch up with him we recap the Derby scores from last week after we had Steve on last time.

Oh, and hang around after for something a bit special this week - A report from a stadium!

Lincoln City FC - Club Overview

Founded in 1884, Lincoln City Football Club, known as the Imps, is based in Lincoln, England. The club has spent much of its history in the lower divisions of English football and is well known for its passionate local support at the LNER Stadium, formerly Sincil Bank, which has been its home since 1895.

Lincoln has historically moved between the third and fourth tiers, with multiple promotions and relegations shaping its journey.

The club holds the unfortunate distinction of being relegated from the Football League a record five times, but each time, it has fought its way back.

One of its most remarkable rises came under Danny Cowley, who guided the club to the National League title in 2016-17, securing a return to the Football League. That same season, Lincoln became the first non-league club in over a century to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals, defeating several higher-league opponents along the way.

Following further success, including promotion to League One in 2019, Lincoln reached the 2020-21 League One play-off final but fell just short of achieving Championship football. The club continues to be a strong competitor in the third tier, with ambitions for future success.

Known for its resilience, strong community ties, and an ever-loyal fanbase, Lincoln City remains an integral part of English football’s rich landscape.

If you'd like to come on and chat about your fandom then drop me a line at randomfandomfc@gmail.com

You and also find the pod on the following social media platforms:

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This week I welcome Steve onto Random Fandom to chat about Derby County.

Before we get to him we need to do the match report for Liverpool and see how John & I got on with our predictions.

Derby County FC - Club Overview

Founded in 1884, Derby County is one of England’s oldest football clubs and has a rich history in the domestic game. Based in Derby, the club was one of the 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888. They initially played at the Racecourse Ground before moving to the Baseball Ground in 1895, which remained their home for over a century before relocating to Pride Park Stadium in 1997.

Derby’s greatest successes came in the 1970s under legendary managers Brian Clough and Dave Mackay. Clough led the Rams to their first-ever league title in 1971-72, transforming them into one of the top teams in England. After Clough’s controversial departure, Mackay continued the club’s success, guiding them to a second First Division title in 1974-75. The club also enjoyed memorable European campaigns during this period.

Following relegation from the top flight in the early 1980s, Derby endured fluctuating fortunes, experiencing promotions and relegations across divisions. The late 1990s saw a return to the Premier League under Jim Smith, with players like Paulo Wanchope and Stefano Eranio becoming fan favourites. However, financial struggles and inconsistent performances led to another period of decline, with the club experiencing administration in 2021-22, resulting in a points deduction and relegation to League One.

Now rebuilding under new ownership, Derby County remains a club with a proud history, passionate supporters, and ambitions to return to the upper echelons of English football.

Here are a couple of linke to the goals Steve talks about

Paulo Wanchope vs Man Utd

https://youtu.be/LVdaDkiIOfM?si=MOheC-wiWNCWPNq-

Charlie George vs Real Madrid

https://youtu.be/eRCyeGKCt74?si=3NQhnNf51ZYdQF5E

If you'd like to come on and chat about your fandom then drop me a line at randomfandomfc@gmail.com

You and also find the pod on the following social media platforms:

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