Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

Spain are HERE. They announced their arrival in Switzerland with a brutal 5-0 thrashing of Portugal. And they've got a perfect 18-year-old replacement for Aitana Bonmatí? Well that's just not fair. Chloe and Rachel sit down to reflect on Day Two at the Euros and look ahead to Germany's showdown with Poland tonight – plus, Rach has cutting edge insight from the Wankdorf Stadium... Join the Official Upfront Euro 2025 Fantasy League here! Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025 Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Euro 2025 is finally underway! Switzerland got off to a great start in their opening game against Norway, but a bit of quality (and luck!) meant Ada Hegerberg n’ co emerged victorious. Rach was at the game, so we'll hear her reaction to some impressive performances from the Swiss team and those doing the (slightly odd) opening ceremony. Plus, we chat Finland’s scrappy but vital win against Iceland and look ahead to what should be two cracking games later today, as Belgium play Italy and favourites Spain get their campaign underway against Portugal! Join the Official Upfront Euro 2025 Fantasy League here! Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025 Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. And for ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lionesses said farewell with the perfect performance against Jamaica – and Chloe was there to watch it! Clo and Rach look ahead to England's tournament and take a closer look at the Lionesses rivals in Group D, aka the Official Group of Death... Plus, our final tournament predictions! Will Chloe get booed again?! Join us to find out. Join the Official Upfront Euro 2025 Fantasy League here! Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025 Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Euros are finally here! In the first of our two-part Euros preview, Clo and Rach take a (nervous) look at Groups A, B and C! Rach explains why people need to be worried seriously about Germany, Chloe doffs her cap to Iceland's giant goalkeeper, and we ask the eternal question of every major tournament: why can't Norway make things click?! Plus, Chloe gets booed at Glastonbury. We need answers... Join the Official Upfront Euro 2025 Fantasy League here! Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025 Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eight days to go until the Euros, people! England will kick off their campaign against France on July 5th, so today Chloe and Rachel are putting themselves in Sazzy Wiegs' shoes once more: we're picking our final England starting XI! What's changed? Why do we think – even without Millie Bright – that England have the perfect centre-half combo? And who's in that number 10 role? Plus, Chloe is buzzing for England's first ever meeting with the Reggae Girlz and London City Lionesses are already splashing the cash in the WSL... Join the Official Upfront Euro 2025 Fantasy League here! Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025 Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we continue to close in on the Euros, we've got some questions. Like... are other countries having squad drama too? It turns out, yes! Chloe and Rachel catch up over the latest international news, including some big calls in France, a big tweet in Spain, and a big f**k up with the kit in Wales. Plus, Swiss football writer Craig King joins us to give the lowdown on the host's preparations – and there's big news from the WSL! It's official: the league will be expanding to 14 teams. Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025 Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And breathe. It's all been kicking off in the Upfront WhatsApp group this past week - from Fran Kirby's retirement, to Millie Bright's shock announcement, to the actual bloomin' Euros squad itself! Chloe and Rachel are ready to react to it all. They explain why Millie Bright should tell the haters to do one – while Clo is very excited about Michelle Agyemang's inclusion. But Rach has concerns about England's midfield... Elsewhere, Ireland waved goodbye to a legend last week too in Louise Quinn! Clo explains how a dressing room adapts to the departure of a big personality. Plus, we give our honest thoughts on Robert Vilahamn's sacking – and why it took Spurs so long to make their decision. Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025 Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re joined by an absolute legend of the English game. Steph Houghton remains one of the best defenders of all time and played over 120 times for England, captaining the Lionesses at two World Cups and a Euros. She has just finished the UEFA A Licence course - the highest qualification a coach can receive - which qualifies her to coach in the WSL! Will we be seeing her in the dugout soon? Rachel sat down with Steph to ask her about the future, her coaching philosophy and who her dream backroom staff would be! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025 **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chloe’s just about got the glitter off from Mighty Hoopla to chat all things international football! England put on a clinic against Portugal ahead of Sarina Wiegman unveiling her Euros squad on Thursday. Where does hat-trick hero Aggie Beever-Jones sit in the attacking pecking order? And if Lauren James is fit and back in the squad, who’s going to miss out? Plus, Wales and Scotland suffer Nations League relegation, in part due to a dodgy refereeing decision and a sloppy performance respectively. There’s hope for both Ireland and Northern Ireland tonight though, and the co-hosts for the 2031 World Cup have revealed themselves! It is weird that FIFA and the other co-hosts have said nothing yet, but there we are… Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're joined by one of England's exciting next generation and a rising star in the WSL: it's Brighton's Maisie Symonds! Rach caught up with Maisie from her seaside home (and, really, it couldn't be any closer to the sea) to look back on Brighton's season, which saw Dario Vidošić make an instant impact and some brilliant home form before a tougher second half of the campaign. She also reveals what it was like to be named in the Lionesses' squad for the first time back in March and get THAT phone call from Sarina Wiegman. Plus, Maisie explains why she wants to play World Sevens Football one day and we find out what post-season for a football-obsessed professional player really looks like... Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In case you hadn't heard, Arsenal wrote themselves into the history books on Saturday by beating Barcelona to win the Champions League. And now's your chance to relive it! Rachel and Chloe met outside the José Alvalade Stadium after the full time whistle to reflect on their feelings after an extraordinary 90 minutes. But before that, Rachel gives you a flavour of the build-up to the game and the atmosphere inside the stadium as things unfolded... Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve got two SEISMIC bits of football news to get stuck into today! First up, despite coming into the game as the unfancied underdogs, Arsenal put in a performance for the ages and won the Champions League! Rachel and Chloe discuss their own experiences of Saturday’s final and praise a phenomenal effort from Renée Slegers and her players. Then, our preview of England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures gets interrupted by the shocking news that Mary Earps has retired from the Lionesses with immediate effect! We wonder how this will affect the side’s preparation for the Euros and what may have prompted such an immediate decision from the legendary keeper. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here we go, people! Whether you're an Arsenal fan jumping on a flight to Lisbon or you're a neutral who's just ready for a huge Champions League final, Chloe and Rach have got you covered. We look back on Arsenal's route to the final and Barcelona's various demolitions, before looking ahead to the key battles on Saturday. Can Mariona Caldentey make the difference? Will Renée Slegers make a huge call and change her defence? And just how many Super Bocks are going to be flying around? Plus, we give our big predictions. Come join us! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rach dials in from Portugal to catch up with Clo about the FA Cup final, where Chelsea flexed their dominance for one last time this season. Some BIG names rocked up to Wembley - and surprise, surprise, Sir Jim Ratcliffe wasn’t one of them… We also get our teeth stuck into some rather weird Marc Skinner quotes (sorry Marc) before weighing up Man United’s chances at the World Sevens tournament, which kicks off tomorrow! Plus, we discuss the worrying news that Blackburn Rovers could be withdrawing from the WSL2. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who was our player of the season? Who was our manager of the season? And - most importantly of all - what was our WTF moment of the season?! And yes, there were a fair few moments to pick from… The iconic Upfront Awards are back. Join Chloe and Rachel to relive a hugely entertaining season of WSL football! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And just like that, the 2024/25 WSL season comes to a close! Clo and Rach are here to reflect on the final weekend and discuss this season’s winners and losers. Chelsea (obviously) managed to pull off another invicible campaign and Arsenal beat Man United 4-3 at the Emirates to hold on to second place! Plus, how did Aston Villa finish sixth after flirting SO closely with relegation at the end of March? And the manager merry-go-round strikes again at Crystal Palace… Come for a bumper end-of-season edition, stay for Rach’s Taylor Swift singalong! Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us today is someone who’s been instrumental in reshaping and driving the women’s game forward in England: Kelly Simmons OBE! From putting the WSL on the map to championing investment in grassroots pathways - and everything in between - Kelly’s 30-year career at the FA has been nothing short of extraordinary. Kelly reflects on her journey, the highs and lows along the way and whether she’d do anything differently if she was starting out again. Plus, she gives her thoughts on why WSL relegation shouldn’t - and probably won’t - be scrapped, tells us why the exclusion of the women’s game from the Independent Football Regulator is a huge missed opportunity and gives her take on the FA’s controversial decision to ban transgender women from playing women’s football. Kelly is speaking at a Fair Game conference later this month. For more details and to get tickets, click here. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First things first… in case you missed it, Rach got an assist in the WSL this weekend! But in other news, Chelsea clinched their sixth straight WSL title with two games to spare, on a random Wednesday night at Leigh Sports Village of all places! But can they go the whole season unbeaten? Clo and Rach dive into just that. Elsewhere, the Manchester Derby lived up to its name as United bagged themselves a place in the Champions League next season - surely Jim Ratcliffe knows about that, right?! Plus, London City Lionesses have become the WSL newbies after their spicy final-day match against Birmingham City. But will they be able to stay up? Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the Merseyside Derby this weekend! Which naturally means Clo and Rach have roped in Everton (and Ireland) number one, Courtney Brosnan! Courtney takes us inside Everton’s injury-hit season, the impact of fresh investment at the club, and what Brian Sørenson is building with this team. Elsewhere, she and Clo obviously get into the nitty-gritty of what it really takes to be a goalkeeper at this level, while Rach of course gets the lowdown on all things Ireland! And yes, Courtney does reveal what it’s like coming up against international teammates in a huge club fixture like this... Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rach joins Chloe from an airport lounge in France, fresh from witnessing a true Arsenal masterclass on Sunday. Their hugely impressive comeback against Lyon means they’ve reached the Champions League final for the first time in 18 years! Arsenal’s Renée-ssance really is in full effect… Meanwhile, Chelsea suffered another semi-final exit to Barcelona but Rach tells us why their performance on Sunday was an improvement on that bruising first-leg. Plus, it was heartbreak at the weekend for Crystal Palace - and of course Clo - as their 7-1 defeat to West Ham confirmed their relegation from the WSL. Follow us on X, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube! Email us show@upfrontpod.com. For ad-free episodes and much more from across our football shows, head over to the Football Ramble Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. **Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.