How It All Played Out

"If we don't beat you, we'll knock your bloody blocks off"In one of the most bitter and controversial Ashes series ever played, England set their sights on taking down Australian cricketing legend Don Bradman. Their method? A brutal, calculated strategy known as Bodyline - a tactic so aggressive it sparked outrage, strained diplomatic ties, and forever changed the spirit of the game.In this episode of How It All Played Out, Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward take you back to 1932 - was Bodyline a genius strategy or just plain unsporting? And why did it cause such a deep rift between two cricketing giants?Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com Get in touch on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides & Adem WatermanProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producer: Sam Trudgill Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Some of the most iconic victories have come after the longest waits. England's historic Ashes victory in 2005 came after an 18-year drought. They famously secured the urn with a 2–1 series victory by drawing the final Test at The Oval.2025 saw Crystal Palace end a 119-year wait for a major trophy, Newcastle United end a 56-year wait by winning the Carabao Cup, and, over in golf, Rory McIlroy ended one of the most agonising waits in modern sport by winning the Masters to complete the Grand Slam. Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward bring you the story behind the 2005 Ashes triumph, Rory’s historic win and Amrullah, the horse who famously never won a single race despite competing 74 times over a 10-year career.A little extra bonus to tie you over after Season 2, enjoy! Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.comGet in touch on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adem WatermanHead of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

In the last episode of Season 2, as we gear up for the Ashes, Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward bring you the story of Australian media magnate Kerry Packer, who all the current players should be thanking.Packer turned the gentile game of Test cricket upside down as he signed the captains of England, Australia and the West Indies to what some called his 'rebel circus'. For two years at the end of the 1970s, the traditional world of white flannels, red balls and polite applause collided with coloured clothing, floodlights, music and marketing - cricket was never quite the same again. So how did Packer lure the best cricketers in the world? And how much of what we see today can directly be traced back to the drive, ambition and vanity of one Sydney businessman? We hope you've enjoyed Season 2 of How It All Played Out. While we take a short break you can check out all our past episodes on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts. Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com Get in touch on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie Penney Video Producer: Sam Trudgill Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Introducing Bloomin’ Legends! The podcast where Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods uncover the wildest, most unbelievable, and downright legendary true stories from history.In this episode, we dive into the unbelievable life of Max Woosnam, the man who might just be the greatest British sportsman of all time. A gentleman athlete who captained Manchester City, won Olympic gold, lifted the Davis Cup, scored a century at Lord’s, and even beat Charlie Chaplin at table tennis (using a butter knife).Woosnam was the definition of a Bloomin’ Legend, a man who did it all, and somehow made it look easy.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:⚽ Footballing Glory – From captaining Man City to facing off against England’s elite🎾 A Racket and a Revolution – Olympic tennis champion and Wimbledon Doubles hero🎬 The Chaplin Challenge – When Hollywood’s biggest star met his match🏅 The Forgotten Legend – Why one of Britain’s greatest athletes vanished from fame🎥 Watch the full episode now on the Bloomin’ Legends YouTube channel!Join the Conversation!📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends📩 Got your own legendary story? Whether it’s epic, absurd, or just plain bonkers, send it to bloominlegends@global.com and we’ll decide if it’s Bloomin’ Legendary or not!👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review to help more people discover Bloomin’ LegendsListen now to all episodes on Global Player.Download Global Player from your app store or visit www.globalplayer.comThis is a Global Original podcast, produced by Ben Fairclough.

Pep Guardiola celebrated his 1000th game as a coach at the Etihad on the weekend as his Manchester City side defeated Liverpool 2-0 in the Premier League. In that time Guardiola’s teams - Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City - have won an outstanding 71% of those 1,000 matches, lifting 12 domestic league titles, 3 Champions Leagues and numerous Cups - really just too many to mention.But his influence extends far beyond the mere winning of trophies. Playing out from the back has filtered its way down the leagues and Guardiola has spawned a number of coaches, two of whom are top of the Premier League and the Bundesliga.So on today's How It All Played Out Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward are asking - just how much has Pep Guardiola impacted world football? And is he still the same coach as he was in game one?Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com Get in touch on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyVideo Producer: Sam Trudgill Social Media Editor: Calum Scotland Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward bring you the story of Althea Gibson - don't worry if you've never heard of her, few have! Arthur Ashe is a name immediately recognisable to every tennis fan - and most sports fans.He was the first Black man to win the US Open, the Australian Open and Wimbledon - and the largest tennis stadium in the world, the US Open main court, is named after him.But he wasn’t the first Black player to win a Grand Slam. That honour went to New Yorker Althea Gibson, who won the French open in 1956 - a whole decade before Ashe. She also won both the US Open and Wimbledon in 1957 and in 1958. So why isn’t Althea Gibson as well known as Arthur Ashe? Why doesn’t she have her name up in lights like his? What is her story? Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com Get in touch on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie Penney Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Tottenham’s lamentable performance in their 1-0 home defeat by Chelsea on Saturday was bad enough for their fans - but then worryingly for them manager Thomas Frank was snubbed by 2 of his players, Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven as they came off the pitch.So Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward are asking, What happens when players and managers appear to fall out very publicly? What’s the long term impact for everyone concerned - and for the club? Hear stories of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo & Adel Taarabt!Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com Get in touch on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: George Sexton-KerrHead of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

It's one of the most iconic photos in Olympic history: Mary Decker falling flat on her face as Zola Budd runs past her bare foot. Decker, America’s golden girl and the World Champion on home turf, against Budd, from apartheid-ridden South Africa, who acquired a British passport in double quick time to line up, against her own will. Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward bring you the story behind the photo from the LA Games in 1984. How did two such different characters end up being the main protagonists in one of the Olympic’s most infamous moments? How did politics, the Daily Mail and fearsome fathers play their part? And what were the long term effects on both runners?Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com Get in touch on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyHead of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Liverpool’s defeat at Brentford on Saturday night was their fourth Premier League defeat of the season in a row - that's as many as they suffered in the whole of last season. In the past decade three reigning champions have lost that many in a row before - Leicester, Manchester City and Liverpool themselves. So Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward are asking, why do some Champions fall off so alarmingly when trying to defend their title? How did the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson famously buck that trend? And does this show footballers are human after all? Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com Get in touch on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyAssistant Producer: Jasmine Wissart Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

From General Franco to Johan Cruyff, and from a pig's head to the Messi v Ronaldo rivalry - Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague joins Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward to explain how El Clasico became the biggest club match in the world. And it's not all about fascism versus socialism, underdog versus serial winner...You might think you know the story but believe us, there's a lot of myths to be busted. Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com Get in touch on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyHead of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Cricket’s oldest and greatest rivalry resumes next month when the first Ashes Test starts in Perth. But a month out the phoney war has already started - the sledging is underway. It’s two former players who are at the forefront this time - Australian opener David Warner and a man who got him out for fun during the last Ashes, Stuart Broad.So, Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward are asking, what’s the history to this sledging? What purpose does it really serve? And does it ever work?Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com Get in touch on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyHead of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

In the 1980s English football was at an all time low. Attendances down, stadia crumbling, hooliganism all too prevalent, and then three horrific disasters - Bradford, Heysel and Hillsborough.Then almost out of nowhere Bobby Robson and his band of characters came within the width of the post of reaching the World Cup Final. England might have lost the semi-final against West Germany but they won the hearts of a nation who fell in love with football again. So how did Italia 90 change English football? Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com Find us on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides & Adem WatermanProducer: Sophie PenneyHead of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

After Jude Bellingham’s shock omission from the latest England squad, surely Thomas Tuchel couldn't leave him behind for the World Cup? Well, it has happened before... Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward tell the story of when Glenn Hoddle didn't take England's star player Paul Gascoigne to the 1998 World Cup - still one of the most controversial moments in English football history. Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com And find us on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides & Adem WatermanProducer: Sophie PenneyHead of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

"This race was an incredible exhibition of sprinting brilliance and power, but only because it came from a drugs bottle."In the scorching heat of Seoul during the 1988 Olympic Games, the world watched as two titans of track and field prepared to battle for gold in the men’s 100m final. Carl Lewis, the outspoken American, faced off against Ben Johnson, the quiet Canadian powerhouse and world record holder. What followed wasn’t just the fastest race ever run at the time - it was the most controversial in Olympic history.We revisit this episode of How It All Played Out, where hosts Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward unpack the dramatic story behind the dirtiest race in history, which changed the face of athletics forever. Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.comGet in touch on socials @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adem Waterman & Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie Penney Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

At 17 years old boxer Barry McGuigan won Commonwealth Gold for Northern Ireland but just two years later he fought at the 1980 Moscow Olympics for the Republic. So how did the Featherweight World Champion straddle the border and unite Ireland at the height of The Troubles, where bombs, bullets and killings were all too common?Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com And find us on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adem Waterman & Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyHead of Podcasts, Content and Production: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Russell Martin is looking for a new job after becoming the shortest serving manager in Rangers' 153 year history. As we record on Monday morning, Ange Postecoglou is clinging on at Nottingham Forest after the defeat at Newcastle - it’s no wins in 7 for Forest since the Australian took over 27 days ago. If Postecoglou leaves soon he would become the shortest serving Premier League manager. But who currently has that unwanted title? What happened there? And which manager only lasted the length of a pressed conference? Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward open the history books. Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com And find us on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyHead of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

1965-1975: A time when Sport Was A Lot More FunIn this episode of How It All Played Out, Paul Hayward takes Mark Pougatch on a personal journey through his favourite sporting decade - an era of flair, freedom, and unforgettable drama. From the dancing feet of Pelé to Johan Cruyff's total football, and Sir Gareth Edwards’ legendary try for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973. This is a celebration of sporting magic, unpredictability, artistry, and moments so jaw-dropping they may never come again.Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.comExecutive Producers: Adem Waterman & Adonis Pratsides Producer: Sophie Penney Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

The ‘Battering at Bethpage’, the ‘Legend of Long Island’... this weekend was a Ryder Cup for the history books. Europe held off a late comeback from the Americans to win 15-13 in New York - the first away win since the Miracle of Medina 2012. Have other captains got it as wrong as Keegan Bradley before? Does history show that rowdy crowds have worked for the Americans in the past? And what is it about team golf that links world number one Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods? Mark is joined by the Daily Mail's Ian Ladyman to discuss all that and more. Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com And find us on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyHead of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Ball tampering, fans storming the golf course, bringing in the military... this is the story of how the Ryder Cup rivalry changed forever. Can you believe that it was once a quiet, civilised exhibition between the UK and America? The War by the Shore and Battle of Brookline transformed all that. So how did the Ryder Cup become the commercial juggernaut of colour, cash and controversy that we're seeing this week? Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com And find us on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adem Waterman & Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyHead of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

After the tragic passing of Ricky Hatton, this week's bonus episode of How It All Played Out takes you back to the defining fight of his career. On June 4 2005 a raucous crowd in Manchester watched Ricky Hatton fight Kostya Tszyu for the IBF Light welterweight title.Hatton - the popular, skilful, combative, Mancunian Everyman - walked into the MEN Arena to sounds of his beloved Manchester City’s “Blue Moon,” his hands thrust deep into sky blue boxing gloves.That night was the high point of Hatton’s career as he brilliantly dethroned the Australian-based Russian Tszu - who had held the title for over a decade. Hatton had arrived. What made him one of the most popular British boxers of all time? And why did he - and so many sportsmen and women - find life so hard once the cheering had stopped? Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!We'd love to hear from you! Email us: howitallplayedout@global.com And find us on socials: @playedoutpodExecutive Producer: Adem Waterman & Adonis PratsidesProducer: Sophie PenneyHead of Podcasts: Factual: Al RiddellDirector of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells