If you are a diehard football fan and have ever thought about doing something MORE with that passion, this episode is a great listen for you! In Episode 28 of the Because Football Podcast, we sit down with two of the founding members of the Ale and the Vale Podcast, Jonny Hancock and Stu Kerby. The Ale and the Vale Podcast is a fan-driven project about Port Vale FC, a football club based in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, that is currently in League Two, the fourth tier of professional English football.
Self-described as "3 fans talking absolutely relatable rubbish that you will have heard at any game at Vale Park", the podcast was named League One podcast of the year by ‘TheRealEFL’ awards in 2023, outperforming the team's on-field performance by some length! The podcast has also led and participated in numerous fundraisers for the community, fostering more concrete benefits other than serving as a rallying voice for what's in the head of many Vale supporters from week to week.
What began as a way to stay connected with each other and with their club during the pandemic has now grown into a weekly (sometimes more frequent) podcast that not only gives a voice to local supporters of Port Vale, but has managed to foster a close alliance with the club itself. This relationship has allowed the podcast to authentically bridge both groups, interview club personnel such as the club owner, Carol Shanahan, and even players and managers. It's the type of access and interconnectedness that is difficult to find among the mainstream modern football of today, and is a reminder of how important clubs are to their local communities, not only on the pitch, but off of it.
During this chat, Jonny and Stu explain us to the different types of match day experiences for English football fans, from home to pub to stadium experiences, the magic of away days, and their criteria for what makes a "big club". It's the type of conversation that goes beyond a simple man on the street post-match interview you may have seen on other fan-driven social media channels. We hope it offers more insight into what draws people to "smaller" clubs at lower tiers of football, away from the spotlight of today's mega-clubs and untouchable superstar players.
They also give their opinions on the Wrexham project by American owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, offering a perspective from a smaller club without the miraculous cash injection that has led to the Welsh club's "fairytale" story. And, finally, we end the pod with a discussion about what football has meant to their lives, and they offer their "Because Football...." answers.
We thank Jonny and Stu for their time and sharing their story with us at Because Football. UTV!
Listen to Ale and the Vale Podcast here:
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19 сен 2024
