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© 2026 Rovers Report
Description
Hosted by Lee Passmore and Lars Kjestrup — two coaches that eat, sleep and breathe football.
This is the world of Finnish amateur football as it really is: the challenges, the stories, the passion and insights from those involved.
Whether you're a player, coach, referee or just a fan - we all share the love for this beautiful game.
The Rovers Report podcast isn’t about pundits or big money transfers — it’s about the real local football that gives and takes so much.
Real football. Real voices.
If you have a question, a story or just want to say hi, contact us on roversreportpodcast@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram @roverspodcast
Thanks for listening
8 Episodes
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In this episode, Lee, Lars and the Benny the Mysterious German officially launch Replot Rovers FC — a brand new football club being built from scratch on a small island off the west coast of Finland. This isn’t just an idea anymore. It’s happening. We talk about where the project started, why we decided to take it seriously, and what it actually takes to build a football club from the ground up — from people and identity, to structure, ambition, and long-term vision. There’s also an honest lo...
In this episode, Lee and Lars talk to Jackie Freeman a.k.a Jackie Grealish (and her husband Ray) about the challenges of playing football as you get older, getting your first England call up at the age of 61 and much more. Jackie went viral recently on social media after the BBC featured her as the "oldest women's footballer in the UK". She returned to her playing days after a 35 year break, and is still going strong. A truly inspirational story for anyone reaching the later stages of their...
In this episode, Lee and Lars take a closer look at the growing instability of the coaching role in modern football. With a wave of recent managerial changes in the Veikkausliiga, the conversation starts in Finland before widening out to the global game. Why are coaches being given so little time to build? How much authority do they really have these days? And what happens when football decisions are driven by business interests and short-term results? The discussion explores the pressure...
In this episode of Rovers Report, Lee and Lars sit down with Ilmari Niskanen to talk through his football journey — from coming up through the junior system at KuPS to playing professionally in Germany, Scotland, and now England. Ilmari reflects on his development at KuPS, his thoughts on the club’s recent championship win, and what it took to earn his move abroad. He shares honest insights into adapting to different football cultures, the demands of professional life in Germany and the UK, a...
In this special episode of Rovers Report, Lee and Lars dedicate the conversation to FC Haka following the recent fire at the Tehtaan Kenttä Stadium, and reflect on why moments like this matter to the entire football community. They talk about what a football club’s home really means — to players, supporters, juniors, and families — and why football has a unique ability to bring people together when it matters most. Rivals on the pitch, united off it. The episode also explains how football fan...
In this episode of Rovers Report, Lee and Lars take a closer look at the cost of football at the amateur level — from the rising fees in junior clubs to the challenge of funding a senior team on limited resources. They dig into why investing in talented young players actually matters, how contracts (or the lack of them) affect small clubs, and what it would take for local teams to hold onto their best juniors instead of losing them for nothing. And on the global side of the game, the conversa...
In this episode of Rovers Report, Lee and Lars discuss the structure of Finnish football — from the junior levels all the way up to the senior game. They talk about what the pathway looks like for young players, how it compares to England and Denmark, and the challenges that come with cost, commitment, and opportunity. An honest look at how young players develop, what keeps them motivated, and why enjoyment should always stay at the heart of the game. There are a few words from Jarkko Wiss to...
In the first episode of The Rovers Report Podcast, Lee and Lars sit down to talk about where it all started, their backgrounds in football from England to Denmark and eventually to the west coast of Finland, how the game shaped their lives, and why coaching at the amateur level is about much more than results. Let's discuss the commitments, the excuses and take an honest look at what it means when football becomes a way of life. Contact us at roversreportpodcast@gmail.com or on Instagram @r...
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