Football Ruined My Life Podcast By Colin Shindler Jon Holmes Paul Kobrak (and the late Patrick Barclay) cover art

Football Ruined My Life

Football Ruined My Life

By: Colin Shindler Jon Holmes Paul Kobrak (and the late Patrick Barclay)
Listen for free

Season's Savings | $0.99/mo for 3 months

$8.99/mo thereafter—terms apply.
When Football Ruined My Life started back at the beginning of 2023 it was the new podcast about old football. In it, distinguished football journalist Patrick Barclay joined with Colin Shindler, author of the best selling Manchester United Ruined My Life, and the Super Agent Jon Holmes (think Gary Lineker, Peter Shilton, Tony Woodcock etc.) to talk about football as it used to be in the days before the invention of the Premier League. For over 80 weekly episodes, the podcast viewed those days fondly - though not uncritically - in comparison to today's game, which it views critically though not unfondly. And it welcomed everyone who wants to remember Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Charlton, Brian Clough and Bill Shankly and the days when you went to a Football League ground to watch your football and didn't wait for it to arrive on television. After the tragic and untimely death of Paddy Barclay in February 2025, Football Ruined My Life took a break to consider how (and if) to carry on. In May 2025 it has returned, with a panel of stars to make irregular appearances to join the regulars, Jon Holmes and Colin Shindler. These now include writer and producer Andy Hamilton, television executive Jimmy Mulville, the sports journalist and columnist for the Daily Telegraph Jim White and stand-up comedian Omid Djalili. But the feel and raison d'être of Football Ruined My Life remains the same. Still nostalgic? Yes. Still well informed? Certainly. But above all, it continues to glory in the football of our youth when the game seemed charmingly innocent, full of skillful, good hearted, kindly men like Norman Hunter, Ron Harris and Peter Storey. Join us every week for a romp through the 1960s, 70s, 80s and beyond that will warm you like a cup of scalding hot Bovril. Produced by Paul Kobrak. Contact the team at footballruinedmylife@gmail.comColin Shindler, Jon Holmes, Paul Kobrak Football Soccer
Episodes
  • 156. Paddy Barclay and Derby matches

    156. Paddy Barclay and Derby matches
    Oct 30 2026
    Since we received positive feedback after our first re-run episode with one of the three founder members of this podcast, Paddy Barclay, we thought you might like to hear again Paddy talking about derby matches. One of the pleasures of making a podcast that does not depend on its topicality is that we can reintroduce subjects which remain perennial debating points. Paddy was well placed to comment on the bitter sectarian rivalry of Glasgow as Colin Shindler was on Manchester’s equally intense but not as violent internal conflicts. Jon Holmes of course has to travel to Nottingham to find a local derby which strains credibility though not as much as Crystal Palace’s derby with Brighton at the far end of the A23. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    43 mins
  • 155. Postbag

    155. Postbag
    Oct 23 2026
    This week Colin Shindler and Jim White open the postbag which is predictably full of scorn for the owners and operating officers of Manchester City… but also includes some well written observations on the state of football and football supporting in this country. We have an intelligent audience, and the postbag reflects that intelligence with very little of the emotion and bile that accompanies the game online and on radio phone ins. There are complaints too about the way we ignore the lower leagues and don’t give enough credit to the young players of today. And there’s a surprise guest appearance of FRML’s most consistent critic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    55 mins
  • 154. Leeds United’s Implosion

    154. Leeds United’s Implosion
    Oct 16 2026
    In this episode Colin Shindler and Jon Holmes talk to the author Dave Tomlinson about his book Doing A Leeds. Even by the standards of traditional football chaos, what happened to Leeds United between 1996 and 2005 constituted a financial, football and psychological roller coaster. The Elland Road club ascended at breathtaking pace to the Champions League semi-finals and plunged almost immediately into a nightmare of bankruptcy, relegation and a fire sale of the outstanding players who had got them onto the top table of Premier League and European football. David O’Leary seemed to be the manager of the future, he and chairman Peter Ridsdale forming a winning team before the latter abruptly sacked the former and was then ejected from the board he had been running. Plenty for both panel and listeners to get stuck into – like a Norman Hunter tackle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    40 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet