Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

Having both missed out on automatic qualification for the World Cup, England and Ireland each face the play-offs in the autumn! England may have beaten Ukraine, but got the game plan very wrong against the Spanish, who appeared to be wearing boots that magnetised the ball to their feet.In other seismic news, it looks like two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas is London City-bound! Chloe and Rachel try to wrap their heads around what this could mean for the WSL. Finally, women’s football infrastructure expert Sarah Rock joins us to chat about purpose-built stadiums for the women’s game and the divisive idea of ‘regional grounds’.Follow us on X, Instagram, TikTok 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 rate and review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It means a lot and makes it easy for other people to find us. Thank you!**

Brighton put up a good fight but were ultimately blown away by Manchester City in the FA Cup Final. What’s more, Andrée Jeglertz’ team has been given a massive boost by Bunny Shaw announcing she’ll be staying! Could this be the start of a sky blue dynasty?While City fans celebrate, Arsenal fans have been left somewhere between shocked and fuming by Katie McCabe’s transfer to rivals Chelsea. It is hard to resist the champions of the World Sevens, in fairness. Rachel was on the ground at that wacky tournament and is here to tell us all about it.Finally, it’s that time again. England vs Spain for what feels like the millionth time.Follow us on X, Instagram, TikTok 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 rate and review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It means a lot and makes it easy for other people to find us. Thank you!**

Chloe and Rachel headed to The Valley to witness history: the first EVER WSL play-off to decide whether Leicester City would preserve their WSL status, or if it would be Charlton Athletic's time to shine in the top flight.As well as a pumping atmosphere, we speak to fans on both sides about their seasons, and hear from Chief Marketing Officer of WSL Football Ruth Hooper about this format and the raft of other changes introduced this season. Plus, you'll hear our verdict on the game and Chloe Morgan's real-time reactions to a truly memorable penalty shootout...Follow us on X, Instagram, TikTok 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 rate and review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It means a lot and makes it easy for other people to find us. Thank you!**

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Chloe and Rachel are back once again to round up the WSL season in the form of an awards show. Best player, best signing, “WTF” moment of the season – it’s all happening right here on Upfront. Will the takes be hot, lukewarm or ice cold? There’s only one way to find out…Follow us on X, Instagram, TikTok 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 rate and review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It means a lot and makes it easy for other people to find us. Thank you!**

At last, Man City got the job done! And they didn't even have to be on the pitch to seal their first WSL title in a decade.Chloe and Rachel look back on Manchester City's remarkable campaign and how they got the job done where so many other challengers have failed. But while they're triumphing on the pitch, we have some advice off of it: SIGN BUNNY SHAW UNTIL SHE'S 90!!Plus, we look at both FA Cup semi-finals, including Brighton's sensational comeback, and it's a very fond farewell for an Arsenal legend.Follow us on X, Instagram, TikTok 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 rate and review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It means a lot and makes it easy for other people to find us. Thank you!**

The Champions League title defence is over. It was one step too VAR for Arsenal. Sorry, blame Rach for that one.Chloe and Rachel react to Lyon's masterclass and moving perhaps one step closer to seeing Michele Kang without sunglasses. Meanwhile, Manchester City kept the title in their hands with last-gasp drama – was this the weekend that we saw the mentality of true champions?And we finally know the two teams coming up into the WSL! But if someone could let us know what happens to all of Charlton's 'champions' t-shirts that would be great...Follow us on X, Instagram, TikTok 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 rate and review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It means a lot and makes it easy for other people to find us. Thank you!*

It's all happening at the moment. Chloe and Rachel strap in for a bumper pod, starting with Arsenal's massive first-leg win over Lyon – in part thanks to some chaotic defending and in part thanks to Olivia Smith's tenacity (even after a million fouls).Elsewhere, Brighton spoil Man City's title charge which somehow means the title race could go down to the final day. In the meantime, it looks like Man City are trying to poach two Arsenal stars, so we give our thoughts on Beth Mead and Katie McCabe's futures. Plus, we look at why Chelsea's massive offer for Bunny Shaw is by no means a done deal.Finally, we turn our attention to an unhinged weekend in the WSL2, where Charlton and Birmingham slipped up in style to let Crystal Palace back in. Palace's Josie Green hops onto the pod to tell us about the atmosphere in the camp ahead of a dramatic final weekend...Follow us on X, Instagram, TikTok 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 rate and review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It means a lot and makes it easy for other people to find us. Thank you!*

It may have been a “claggy” pitch in Iceland, and it may not have been a classic England performance, but a win is a win! And in the Lionesses’ 500th game, no less. Make no mistake, though, the Dóttirs are a force to be reckoned with.Chloe and Rachel also speak to journalist and German football expert Kit Holden about Union Berlin’s groundbreaking appointment of Marie-Louise Eta as the head coach of their men's side.Finally, it’s nearly Champions League semi-final time. Four massive teams, three former winners. This should be good.Follow us on X, Instagram, TikTok 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 rate and review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It means a lot and makes it easy for other people to find us. Thank you!**

Sazzy Wiegs’ England continue to make Wembley their fortress, battling their way to a 1-0 win over their old foe Spain. Lauren Hemp scored in the blink of an eye (Chloe’s calling it a “semi bicycle kick half-turn volley”) and Hannah Hampton was heroic at the death.Elsewhere, Katie McCabe can’t stop scoring for Ireland! After narrow defeats to France and the Netherlands, they managed to hold on to defeat Poland in Gdansk. What a screamer from the captain, by the way.Follow us on X, Instagram, TikTok 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 rate and review us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your pods. It means a lot and makes it easy for other people to find us. Thank you!**