The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast With Nick & Dom

Welcome to Episode 34 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom..... We have recently recorded 2 back-to-back episodes on some recent observations on the season to date after a busy January and like last week, we had so much we still had on our "to discuss" list that we have extended the subject with some different observations into this episode too. Whilst these episodes are amongst our most popular and are the DNA of our Podcast ambitions, we will still be choosing specialist subjects, special guests etc to mix things up for the audience going forward. So, whilst we might be positive, negative and potentially explosive - we cover a lot in this last of this type of episode for a little while....... Watch this space for some future brilliant content on all sorts of things that fellow football fans talk about, but on this episode we cover...... Patrick Bamford's first ever red card for an embarrassing dive Watford - the club that keeps on giving Do bogey teams and bogey grounds really exist & why? Who are your bogey teams and bogey grounds? Conversely, who do you have the hex over - let us know? Last minute winners, limbs & scenes What are your best memories? The mysterious end of transfer window "injury" curse Why Piers Morgan is guilty of recency bias & should know better IFAB - Just do better......... Lots to get stuck into - let us know if you agree, disagree or just want to get involved - we would love to hear what you think. We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 33 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom..... We did an Episode last week on some recent observations on the season to date after a busy January and we had so much we still had on our "to discuss" list that we have extended the subject with some different observations into this episode too. These episodes are amongst our most popular and are the DNA of our Podcast ambitions. Positive, negative and potentially explosive - we cover a lot in this podcast with more to come on Episode 34 next week - so much to cover....... We start with a apology, but to whom? The Champions League Round 8 threw up some brilliant moments What does the PL domination of the CL mean for the knockout phase? What does BRILLIANT football form look like statistically? We discover an abomination of a tattoo.... Why the FA are a disgrace - quoting rules to get away with it The curse of the Interim Manager / Coach being permanently appointed What does this mean for Michael Carrick at Man Utd? Why appointing Coaches from the MLS is just wrong Villa's goals from outside the box Why we think Pep should just bugger off And more...... Lots to get stuck into - let us know if you agree, disagree or just want to get involved - we would love to hear what you think. We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 32 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom..... After a hectic post-Christmas run of fixtures, back-to-back games coming thick and fast including a variety of midweek fixtures, the conclusion of AFCON and the return of European Club Football in the shape of the Champion's League, the Europa League & Europa Conference we have a lot to discuss. So, we have another of our "Observations on the Season to Date" Specials. These episodes are amongst our most popular and are the DNA of our Podcast ambitions. Positive, negative and potentially explosive - we cover a lot in this first half of a double podcast with more to come on Episode 33 next week - so much to cover....... Celebrating Super Fans Genuine & Appalling Half & Half Scarf Spotting Are Fans Entitled to a Refund for a Poor Performance? Treating Villa Fans Like Cattle (or Criminals) in Istanbul Flip Flopping Spurs Fans How Can Man City Sign Semenyo & Guehi? TV Scheduling Treating Fans Like Dirt – AGAIN Why Players Only Get Cramp in Certain Match Situations We Cannot Ignore the AFCON Final Take a PROPER Penalty You Muppet And More..... We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to the latest Managerial Merry-Go-Round on this new Episode 31 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. As we recorded this in mid-season, early January, and the transfer window is open, we are also in another managerial silly season. Recent events at Man Utd and Celtic in particular mean we have no option but to give this our attention - the Managerial Merry-Go-Round is the gift that keeps giving and there is a lot to cover..... We covered the principle of this in Episode 9 on 31st August towards the end of the summer transfer window, so this is not only a look forward with a crystal ball on what might happen in the second half of the season, but a (smuggish) look back on how accurate our discussions were in August too. Covering the likes of: How Did We Do With Our August Managerial Predictions? Who Do We Give a BIG Apology To & Why? Man Utd - Culture & Succession Planning Interim & Temporary Managers Who Might Be In The Frame For The Next Knee-Jerk Appointment Is Liam Rosenior Already Under Pressure at Chelsea? The Celtic "S*it Show & Why They Deserve It Up & Coming Managers & Coaches Who Should Stay Put & Build Something? Current Vacancies & Name Drops Who Is Under Pressure & Might Not Survive? Why Some of This is MADNESS And More...... This is a really juicy subject that we really get stuck into, so why not comment, get involved and expand the debate. After all, this is and always has been a game of opinions. We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with this YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 30 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. We recorded this on the Friday morning of a (ridiculous) 4 day FA Cup 3rd Round Weekend, before the giant killing heroics of Macclesfield, Mansfield & Wigan and great games at Wrexham, Newcastle & Grimsby to name but a few…… But in the spirit of the podcast DNA it would seem natural for us to discuss "What's Wrong with The FA Cup in 2025/26". Your Hosts are both of a certain age where we still love the FA Cup - it's history, it's heritage, it's legacy and the memories it has created that are seared into the brain of any football fan of a similar vintage.  Hell, we can both still list EVERY FA Cup winner since 1970 in Nick's case and 1978 in Dom's case....... But, it is fair to say that over recent years, it seems to be dying the death by a thousand cuts - some of which we cover in this episode. A Four Day 3rd Round Schedule No Replays / Straight to Penalties A Terrible TV Schedule Matches Chosen for TV Teams Playing Weakened Teams Same Division Fixtures Semi-Finals at Wembley Why the Final Was ALWAYS Appointment to View Watching Why Palace Winning it Last Season Was Great News for the Competition Snow Covered Pitches & Orange Balls And More....... This is a real discussion podcast - so what is your view, and what is your age that supports that view? Are we just looking at things with the benefit of hindsight through rose-tinted glasses, and are we just curmudgeonly old buggers - or should the FA Cup be resurrected in the hearts and minds of genuine football fans? A clue - we think the latter! We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.  Why not comment, get involved and expand the debate. After all, this is and always has been a game of opinions.  We hope that you will enjoy these episodes as much as we enjoyed recording them. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Part 2 of our DOUBLE Episode Special of "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom". Released simultaneously, covering; “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” in our review of football in 2025.  This DOUBLE Episode Special is a wide ranging review of the wider football landscape and neither Boro or Everton heavy or a concentration on the usual Premier League suspects. So, whoever you support or follow, whether you are a match going fan or an armchair supporter, we think we have something for you across the 2 x episodes. After covering the GOOD stuff in Episode 28, this Episode 29 concentrates on what we consider some of the BAD & UGLY aspects of football across the year - and there are some brilliant rants and discussions to get your teeth into, including. Why Some Clubs Never Seem to Get Penalties Own Goals v Former Clubs The Birmingham City New Year's Day Curse Celtic - Enough Said Crap Owners Mo Salah Alexander Isaak Alejandro Garnancho John Terry The National League Promotion & Playoff Picture Crap Managers FIFA Ticket Pricing VAR Refereeing Standards And Much More....... It's a pretty packed episode, indicating that there are many things that get proper football fans riled....... Do you agree with us in either or both special episodes?  Have we missed some obvious scenarios and content? Why not comment, get involved and expand the debate. After all, this is and always has been a game of opinions. We hope that you will enjoy these episodes as much as we enjoyed recording them. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Happy New Year from Nick & Dom at “The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom”. We hope that 2026 will bring you health, happiness and some football joy (or at least not football heartache). And do we have a New Year treat for you to kick off 2026…… Welcome to Part 1 of a DOUBLE Episode Special released simultaneously, covering; “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” in our review of football in 2025. This DOUBLE Episode Special is a wide ranging review of the wider football landscape and neither Boro or Everton heavy or a concentration on the usual Premier League suspects. So, whoever you support or follow, whether you are a match going fan or an armchair supporter, we think we have something for you across the 2 x episodes. This Episode 28 concentrates on what we consider some of the GOOD aspects of football across the year - and there are some brilliant stories in there to celebrate. The Championship Run-In Last Season Why We Love "Smaller" Clubs Winning Stuff Scottish Football Jamie Vardy, Harry Kane & Erling Haaland (But Not Kylian Mbappe) Away Fans Community Clubs The Premier League Title Race Thomas Tuchel Morgan Rodgers And Much, More....... Episode 29 covers what we consider the BAD and the UGLY side of the game, with some rants and some people and situations in the cross hairs. Do you agree with us in either or both episodes? Have we missed some obvious scenarios and content? Why not comment, get involved and expand the debate. After all, this is and always has been a game of opinions. We hope that you will enjoy these episodes as much as we enjoyed recording them.  The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 27 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. Have we got a pre-Christmas treat for you, and it might just be our best episode to date - let us know what you think. We have called this episode "Back to the Future" because football seems to have re-discovered: The Long Throw The Set Piece Giant Centre Halves at Corners 442 Even at the top level of the Premier League, teams like Arsenal are ripping up the Pep Tikka Taka playbook (thank goodness) and trying "new" things, that to many, are not that new..... Tony Pulis and Sam Alladyce must be loving it, but please don't expect the call to arms to fill a dugout position anytime soon Guys - your time has come and gone - we can but hope. So, if we are indeed going "back to the future", does that mean we can expect to see the re-emergence of the genuine Football Maverick - a player who's off-field legend supports his on-field silky skills and unique approach to getting fans off their seats? Probably not as the lifestyle choices would certainly be seen as "questionable" in the modern era - but that's no excuse for us not to discuss; George Best Peter Osgood Stan Bowles Tony Currie Frank Worthington, and..... Gazza What do they all have in common and who does Nick compare them to in terms of England Caps - to Dom's amazement? Also, who do we think is the last genuine on-field Maverick - so difficult to manage that even Neil Warnock gave up and let him have free rein, to brilliant effect? Finally, who is the genuine 1970's Football Maverick so potentially obscure that there is book written about him entitled "The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw"? Whatever your age, whatever your vintage, whoever you support and grew up adoring, we think that proper football fans will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 26 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. As match going football fans, we like to consider some of the more interesting subjects around world football and hope that they engage and entertain our audience - as well as creating discussion and debate. There are plenty of podcasts that analyse games (some endlessly) - but we like to think we "observe" the game and share our thoughts - and that you enjoy our approach too. On this episode, after another short initial rant about the ticket prices at the disgraceful FIFA World Cup 2026, we look at a fascinating area of football success in Spain and if or how that success could, might, or may never translate to any English team. That success is Athletic Club of Bilbao, one of only three teams NEVER to have been relegated from the top flight in Spain - you can probably guess the other two...... A team in Canada are trying to replicate that success - only recruiting and developing players from their own region - in Athletic Club's case, the Basque Region of Spain, in Canada, the French speaking Quebec region. Will it Work? What Are The Regional & Club Implications? What Would be the Impact on Academy & Youth Development? How Long Would It Take To Develop Resilience Like Athletic Club? Could a Club Hold It's Nerve Long Enough? We also discuss which English League One club we think might be an ideal testbed to try to replicate the model in the English pyramid - League One being the highest level we think could even consider this approach. We think proper football fans will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Despite us hanging FIFA out to dry with our take on the disgraceful ticketing and other issues around the World Cup in 2026 on our recent Episode 16, here we are, 9 episodes later and we cannot ignore another scandal and another blatant attempt to take the piss out of fans in favour of a desire to MAKE EVEN MORE MONEY. And this was recorded BEFORE Donald Trump "won" the completely fictitious "FIFA Peace Award", which I am certain we would have caned in this episode had we recorded after the World Cup Draw debacle. We hate the World Governing Body of the game we love and think that every other fan will have the same opinion. Welcome to Episode 25 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. We do however start with a celebration of: Scotland Northern Ireland Wales The Republic of Ireland Norway (Dark Horses to Win The World Cup)? Curacao Cape Verde & Haiti We look at the demise of Italian football at international level and why the FIFA qualification process makes it harder to qualify from Europe than most other regions - and why FIFA seem to love this? Thanks to Pellegrino Riccardi & Mark Mortimer on Linkedin for sharing the following link on this: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pellegrino-riccardi-24425a9_italys-football-collapse-a-leadership-activity-7396152496743661569-HuAF?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAGZUtIB7fehCgVOGNaPEGmSPZrP2n-4paI Why attracting 48 teams to the tournament is a great idea for FIFA but why they also don't want ANY of the minnows to progress beyond the initial group stages. Finally, we also consider final 4 seeding - which is an utter sham and a fix and why CR7 Cristiano Ronaldo is the ONLY player in world football to warrant the execution of a never before used Article 27 of the Governing Body Rules - setting him on probation for a recent red card for violent conduct rather than taking his ban, whereas the bans seem to be remaining in place with a case to answer for two other players in EXACTLY the same situation. Is this also MONEY related, or just a case of "who you know"? Whatever, it is, it is yet another disgrace! We think proper football fans will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

Inspired by a few recent and a couple of upcoming games - on Episode 24 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we ask whether a game is a genuine derby match or just a rivalry (often bitter, but not technically a derby game). We consider what we think constitutes a derby, who has one, and who doesn't and why we think that you can have ONLY ONE! What does this mean for London? What do non-fans of the London clubs involved think - and does this differ from the fans involved - we would be fascinated to get your opinions. We discuss why we think Arsenal v Spurs IS a derby but Chelsea v Arsenal is only a rivalry...... Why we don't care about the likes of West Ham v Fulham and a few more, and apart from fans of the two clubs, nobody else does either. Why do the likes of Boro, Coventry, Bournemouth, Palace, Brighton, Wrexham and a few more not even have a derby - because naming something after a Motorway or A Road doesn't make it one - trust us. When a derby is played or due to be played between two teams of unequal stature or form, does a bitter rivalry with a different club seem more appealing and does it trump this for the fans of the more "successful" club for interest at that time? We go international too and discuss some of the more appealing and attractive derbies in world football - and which ones we would love to go to, and why? What would be on your bucket list by the way? We think this is an episode that will have you nodding in agreement, tutting in disgust and shouting at your device in equal measure - so if that is the case, let us know with your comments what YOU think. We would LOVE to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

Ignore the episode number reference at the start of the recording- this is definitely Episode 23 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom - after we slipped the extra Episode 20 Rob Edwards Special in - having already recorded this one prior to publishing....... This is a very special GLOBAL Episode 23 as we have our first ever INTERNATIONAL Guest - Welcome Tommy Walker. Tommy is a; Foreign Reporter in the Southeast Asia Podcast Host at Dateline Bangkok VP at Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand ......and also a massive Boro fan...... He is very active on social media and on the ground in South East Asia – building and mobilising a growing Boro fan base of ex-pats and locals. He is currently involved in the Middlesbrough Supporters Clubs in Thailand, Honk Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Dubai & China, but this is NOT an episode about Boro as a club or even Boro as a fanbase. We have entitled this episode "Supporting Your Club & Rallying Others From Abroad" and it offers a fascinating insight into how to build a local, regional and in Tommy's case, a continental group of like-minded passionate fans who happen to live and work around the globe rather than in the UK - mobilising them so that collectively, everyone can better enjoy a matchday and supporter experience in wherever they may be living, working, or even just passing through. So please keep listening and watching to what is a fascinating episode - whoever you support, wherever you live or work, or if you have plans to travel abroad during the football season.…… Tommy is a TOP Guest who we know that our growing audience will enjoy. How did it all start? What were the key elements in building momentum? How do you get matchday TV support v the PRemier League coverage? How do you mobilise people to be a "part of something"? What is a matchday like in South East Asia? Why has Tommy initiated such a network of other Supporters Groups? What's the plan? These and many more questions are discussed with a very engaging and articulate guest. We are sure that whoever you support, you will really enjoy this one. We certainly enjoyed recording it and look forward to meeting Tommy in person over the Christmas break when he is back in the UK. A Parmo and a pint or two will certainly be on the menu. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

As we look to finish the last of the 3 Autumn International Breaks (thank goodness) - seeing England qualify with maximum points from a pretty easy group, but with Scotland's fate still unknown at the time of recording & release, we take this opportunity to offer our THIRD "Reflection of the Season So Far" musings on Episode 22 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. Don't be confused at the start when we mention Episode 21 - as we snuck in an extra Rob Edwards Special as a different Episode 20 to that originally planned, knocking back a couple of episodes we had already recorded and we don't really do editing....... This is indeed Episode 22! So what have we observed and what do we discuss?  We cover some great stuff, including, though not exclusively; Boxing Day Fixtures & Ticket Prices Scottish Football Is Suddenly Interesting (Well Less Routine Anyway) Thomas Tuchel's Relationship With The England Faithful Long Throws and Crap Corners Arsene Wenger's Proposed New Offside Laws More Terrible Refereeing & PGMOL Apology Letters Gateshead v Truro & Some Class Acts Around This Fixture Swedish Football (Yes, Really)...... We Celebrate Some Significant Player Shout Outs Honorable Mentions Across All 4 English Leagues Brazilian or Overseas Single Name Players Will Peterborough Ever Employ Darren Ferguson for a 5th Time? And Much, Much More....... We think any fan of the game, from any club, and of any age will really enjoy this episode - we certainly enjoyed recording it.  We also hope that you will have your own views too - please comment or get in touch, we would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

As a counter-balance to the nostalgic trip we took on Episode 19, Nick & Dom discuss some of the things they love about the modern game - and watching a lot of football as we do, it was a little easier than we might have imagined...... Welcome to Episode 21 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom. Football has changed a lot in the years we have been watching, and whilst a lot of the change has been detrimental - VAR being a classic example, we cover a list of things that we think are actually worth celebrating. We cover some great stuff, including, though not exclusively; The Mix of New & Old Stadiums Available to Travelling Fans Not Smelling of Ciggys After the Game (or Getting Secondary Diseases) The Return of Safe Standing Unrestricted Views The Openness of the Premier League & Championship This Season The End of Hooliganism The Ease & Availability of Games to Watch From Around The World Spotting Other Fans at Railway Stations on Away Trips The Variety of Merchandise - Maybe Not The Prices No More Astroturf Pitches - Sorry QPR & Luton And Much, Much More....... We think any fan of the modern game will really enjoy this episode - we certainly enjoyed recording it.  We also hope that you will have your own views too - please comment or get in touch, we would love to hear from you - what do love about the modern game? The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to a Special Rob Edwards Episode of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom Parental Control needed for the odd sweary bit…….. As two card-carrying, match-going, long-term Middlesbrough fans this week has been up there with one of the strangest and most annoying in our memory – all because of the actions of one man – Robert Owen Edwards, also known as Rob Edwards or Snakeman! This is not a podcast episode just about Middlesbrough Football Club, it is a podcast about...... Integrity Trust Honour Greed MONEY Decision Making Doing The Right Thing And Consequences……. If you are a football fan of ANY Club, consider how you would react to the same situation evolving and unfolding around your Club, your Manager or Head Coach and how you would feel about it. This is not a rant of an episode, but we hope, a balanced take on something that is or should be (but sadly isn't), at the heart of football – TRUST.  We hope that we have got the balance right and that you will enjoy it – or at least that it will challenge a perception or two.  Please feel free to like, share, comment and subscribe to “The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom” for more regular and engaging topics across the football world out every Monday – brought to you by two blokes of a certain age who discuss things that proper fans discuss on the way to games, on the concourse or in the pub. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Feedback welcome, but for this episode in particular, please listen to or watch the episode before forming and sharing your opinions in your comments – we think on this occasion, this is really important. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  Moving on.......... 

Are you a fan of a certain age, maybe a match-going fan, maybe an armchair fan, but a fan nonetheless? On Episode 19 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we take you on a trip down memory lane - hankering after some of the things that you just don't see anymore at and around the game. Thanks also to Author, Daniel Gray who has a number of excellent books published by Bloomsbury that inspired some of our conversation.  Well worth looking up: Black Boots & Football Pinks Saturday 3PM Extra Time All excellent reads....... But don't worry if you are a younger viewer or listener, we give you some insights into what football used to be like - and you can decide if you would have liked to experience some of it - or even whether some of it seems believable in 2025. We cover some great stuff with a smile, including, though not exclusively; Streakers, Rattles, Rosettes & Top Hats Boot Colours Choosing Where to Stand The Smell of Matchday Bunking In For Free Two Up Top - Big Man, Little Man Local Owners & Chairmen Player Managers Goal Celebrations Combovers The Larger Player The Magic Sponge The Football Pools & The Pools Panel The Shoot Magazine League Ladders And Much, Much More....... We think any fan of any age or vintage will really enjoy this episode - we certainly enjoyed recording this one. We also hope that you will have your own views too - please comment or get in touch, we would love to hear from you - what do you miss or hanker after? The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.    

On Episode 18 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast we have a FIRST. We have a GUEST, and a very special one at that.  A man so recognisable at Boro and around the whole Championship scene that like Madonna & Pele, he only goes by a single name - welcome to the podcast YUSUF. This is not a podcast about BORO, it's about a genuine fan evolution to being a season card holder and an active away fan and we hope that any football fan will enjoy this and reflect on their journey to becoming a fan of their own club too. We cover a fascinating journey - starting with how and why an 8 year old kid living near Wembley came to recognise that a team from Middlesbrough even existed and then, with all of the Greater London options available to start his active follower to supporter to match going fan journey, he still chose a club over 250 miles away? We cover some great stuff with a really engaging guest including: What was the journey from a kid to a match going bloke? What does a typical matchday look like - Saturday & Midweek? How does he manage so much travel on public transport? What does Yusuf most enjoy about being an active Boro fan? Where is the most difficult stadium for him to get to for a game? Any travel or match day disasters to share? Being high profile, dealing with some of the "attention" from other fans What Is in a typical Yusuf match day pack-up? and much more..... We think any proper fan, especially match-going fans will LOVE this episode and we are delighted that YUSUF has been our very first podcast guest. We hope that you will enjoy and have your own views too - please comment or get in touch, we would love to hear from you. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

As we record this Episode 17 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast With Nick & Dom in the second international break of the season, we have taken another opportunity to share some of our observations, good, bad and hopefully a little funny on the season to date. Not the BIG clubs, but focusing on a lot of clubs and fans who might not get the airtime elsewhere..... Some examples include honourable mentions for the likes of - Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Boro, Preston, Stoke, Stevenage, Bradford & Grimsby. Including........ Chris Wilder being Chris Wilder AGAIN Over-exuberant goal celebrations getting yellow & red cards Who is the surprising Premier League midfield destroyer so far? The pies at Fratton Park Who is having their own goal of the season competition? Who do we feel has been THE PL surprise package of the season so far? A shout out to the 250,000+ UK grass roots volunteers How many of the 21 Watford Managers in the last 10 yrs do we recall? and a lot more....... We hope that you will enjoy and have your own views too - please comment or get in touch, we would love to hear from you. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

How Bad Do You Have To Be When You Compare Unfavourably to Sepp Blatter? On this week’s Episode 16 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we discuss the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Not from a footballing perspective - plenty of time for that, but…… The disgrace of the ticket pricing Ticket category bulls**t FIFA sticky fingers on re-seller sites Why 3 locations - if not just -$$$$$? Genuine concerns over safety & security Suits & corporates v real fans Why we don’t even need FIFA Why is Infantino no better, and probably worse than Blatter? And a lot more…… These charlatans are governing the global sport that we, and millions love. They are drinking from the trough of greed and they don’t give a toss about the fans - not one toss. An explosive episode that we think real football fans will want to listen to and comment on - so please do.  We would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.  

On this Episode 15 of the Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom, we discuss TWO issues that are currently being discussed at length. 1. The Proposed Changes to the Championship Playoffs 2. The Saturday 3.00pm TV Blackout In terms of the proposed Championship Playoff changes, why wouldn't Championship Chairmen vote for an increase in places down to 7th & 8th - but why is that absolutely the WRONG thing to consider? Even though our club, Boro have been in 7th or 8th twice in the last 5 seasons, the same as Millwall and with Blackburn being there 3 times, why are absolutely and categorically against this proposal? What do we think would be the outcome and if you finish in 8th with an average of over 18 points a season less than the team in 3rd, is that even fair? A meaty subject that we both have strong views on..... In part two, we discuss why a 60+ years old ban on Saturday games at 3.00pm being shown on TV, is no longer fit for purpose and what we think would happen if the ban was lifted. Do we think it should, or should not be lifted and what do we think of some fans who "might" stop attending live games in person - particularly lower down the pyramid? Is 2025 the year we should rescind a 1960's moratorium and what do you think?  We hope that you will enjoy and have your own views too - we would love to hear from you..... The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there. Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond. We also have an open Group on LinkedIn - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information. Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.