That Peter Crouch Podcast

On this week’s episode of the Peter Crouch Podcast, Pete, Sids, and Chris are joined by one of football’s biggest characters… Sam Allardyce!

Big Sam gets stuck into everything from his playing days as a no-nonsense centre-half to the methods that helped make Bolton one of the most innovative teams in the Premier League. Sam explains how he embraced data, technology and set pieces long before they became staples of modern football, and why he still gets frustrated watching managers simply copy what everyone else is doing.

We also get into some of the huge names Sam brought to Bolton, including Jay-Jay Okocha and Nicolas Anelka, as well as his approach to building a dressing room full of different nationalities and personalities. Sam reveals how he convinced top players to take a chance on Bolton and why getting the culture right was just as important as what happened on the pitch.

There’s plenty on the other side of management too, as Sam opens up about his time at Newcastle, West Ham, Everton, West Brom and Leeds, including the realities of being brought in to save clubs from relegation and the frustrations of boards who refuse to invest when a team is on the verge of taking the next step.

And, of course, we had to talk about England. Sam looks back on the England job, the circumstances surrounding his departure and the changes he wanted to make at St George’s Park. He explains why the experience is something he says “he’ll never get over”, and what he believes could have happened had he been given the opportunity to continue.

Plus, there’s VAR, modern recruitment, data analysts, two-striker systems, mind games with rival managers, Arsène Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson and plenty more from one of the most fascinating managerial careers in English football.

This is a big one. Big Sam is in the building.

Chumbawamba

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00:00 - The lads discuss their weekends and the bizarre “regards to your family” phenomenon
03:16 - Chris discovers he absolutely hates Halloween scare mazes
06:15 - Could the lads become scare-maze actors for a forfeit?
08:56 - Sam Allardyce joins the podcast and explains where “Big Sam” came from
10:13 - Sam on being a no-nonsense centre-half and learning to play football
14:22 - Sam’s biggest frustrations with VAR and how it is hurting football
15:35 - The rise of the set-piece coach
18:27 - Why Sam loves two strikers
21:15 - Kevin Davies, Bolton and the simple maths behind Sam’s success
23:39 - How Sam used data and technology before it became standard in football
27:16 - Bolton’s culture and signing global stars
29:14 - Jay-Jay Okocha and Anelka
33:17 - Newcastle, Mike Ashley and the beginning of Sam’s “survival manager” reputation
37:15 - West Ham, Champions League ambitions and why clubs fail to push on
42:04 - Sam on recruitment, data analysts and why scouts still matter
45:52 - The England job
48:02 - Sam’s mind games with rival managers
51:28 - The difference between building a club and saving it
53:25 - West Brom, COVID and why Sam regrets taking the job
56:45 - Sam opens up about losing the England job and why he’ll never get over it
59:01 - What Sam wanted to change with England
01:05:00 - Sam faces listener questions
01:06:00 - The chip shop meme
01:11:04 - Sam Allardyce leaves
01:15:00 - Paddy Power segment, Why The Football Not? & predictions
01:25:20 - The final discussions and sign-of

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Join our Patreon Community - https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThatPeterCrouchPodcast

Shoutout to @‌rodemic, now powering the audio for the pod! - https://brandstore.rode.com/crouchpod

For more Peter Crouch:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/petercrouch
Therapy Crouch - https://www.youtube.com/@thetherapycrouch

For more Chris Stark

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Chris_Stark
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisstark/

For more Steve Sidwell

Twitter - https://twitter.com/sjsidwell
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stevesidwell14

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On this week’s episode of the Peter Crouch Podcast, Pete, Sids and Chris are joined by a veteran goalkeeper who has represented Bosnia and Herzegovina, playing for clubs such as Stoke City, Chelsea, and Everton… it’s Asmir Begović, and he’s here for a proper trip down memory lane.

(Also - we’d like to apologise for the scaffolding racket outside during the filming of this episode… this should be the last week of building works)

Asmir opens up about his incredible journey from being born in Bosnia during the conflict, fleeing the country with his family and eventually settling in Canada, to making it over to England as a teenager and beginning his professional football career at Portsmouth.

Asmir looks back on his time at Pompey, including some brilliant stories from competing with David James, eventually breaking into the first team. He also reveals what it was like working under Tony Pulis at Stoke, the strict rules in that dressing room, the incredible team spirit they developed and how Crouchy’s arrival helped change the club.

The lads also revisit Asmir’s famous long-range Premier League goal, which remains one of the most memorable goals ever scored by a goalkeeper, before getting into his move to Chelsea, his relationship with José Mourinho and what it was like competing with Thibaut Courtois.

There’s plenty more along the way, from Asmir’s experiences of football in Canada and his journey through the English leagues to stories from some of the biggest dressing rooms and managers he encountered throughout his career.

Chumbawamba

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00:00 - Intro, meeting Lamine Yamal, and the lads' weekend
05:03 - Man City charges, potential punishment and the impact on football
10:29 - Could Man City face a points deduction?
15:30 - Asmir Begovic joins and looks back on playing with Crouchy
20:02 - Asmir's childhood, moving to Canada and starting again
25:39 - How Asmir's route to England began
30:09 - Macclesfield, Bournemouth and breaking through at Yeovil
35:13 - David James, the goalkeeper battle and Asmir's breakthrough
40:08 - Tony Pulis' rules at Stoke and taking passports
45:20 - Stoke's low block, stadium wind and the secret to their style
50:19 - Asmir's record-breaking Premier League goal
55:20 - Chelsea, Mourinho and the pressure inside the dressing room
01:00:37 - Mourinho's intense methods and Asmir's move to AC Milan
01:05:20 - Everton, Frank Lampard and surviving relegation battles
01:10:13 - Asmir's future, coaching ambitions and life after playing
01:12:40 - Asmir says goodbye and leaves the podcast
01:17:35 - Predictions: Croatia vs England and the international fixtures
01:19:39 - France vs Italy — the lads make their predictions
01:21:04 - Crouchy reads from A Court of Thorns and Roses
01:22:15 - The VERY unexpected fairy book reading
01:25:40 - The lads react to the reading and wrap up

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Join our Patreon Community - https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThatPeterCrouchPodcast

Shoutout to @‌rodemic, now powering the audio for the pod! - https://brandstore.rode.com/crouchpod

For more Peter Crouch:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/petercrouch
Therapy Crouch - https://www.youtube.com/@thetherapycrouch

For more Chris Stark

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Chris_Stark
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisstark/

For more Steve Sidwell

Twitter - https://twitter.com/sjsidwell
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stevesidwell14

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On this week’s episode of That Peter Crouch Podcast, Pete, Sids, and Chris are reunited with a very special guest and original podcast legend, Tom Fordyce, for a proper trip down memory lane! Tom joins the boys to reflect on the good old days, the origins of the pod, and the incredible journey from the very first recording to where things are today.

The lads dive straight into some classic tournament nostalgia, reminiscing about the madness, the atmosphere, and the unforgettable moments from the World Cup. Tom and Pete share behind-the-scenes stories, hilarious tour tales, and look back at the chaos that made those early days of the podcast so iconic.

Of course, it wouldn't be a proper reunion without getting stuck into the legendary folklore of the show—including the story behind Chumbawamba, classic catchphrases, and the listener messages that shaped the community. There are plenty of laughs, classic anecdotes, and top-tier banter as the lads catch up on everything they’ve missed.

As always, the boys also get into the latest football talking points, dressing room antics, and the usual listener emails and dilemmas.

Chumbawamba

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00:00 - Welcome to Episode 425 & Tom Fordyce is back!
03:15 - The iconic original trio reunion
07:40 - Looking back at the very first recordings of the pod
12:10 - Early pod chaos and how it all started
16:45 - World Cup memories & tournament nostalgia
21:30 - Behind the scenes: Pete and Tom’s favourite tournament antics
26:15 - The true story and legacy of Chumbawamba
31:50 - Unpacking the pod’s best running jokes & catchphrases
37:25 - How the pod has evolved: Pete, Sids, Chris & Tom catch up
43:10 - Football chat: Dressing room tales & current talking points
49:05 - The greatest listener messages & emails from over the years
55:40 - Classic listener dilemmas: What would Crouchy do?
01:02:15 - Favourite moments, biggest laughs & listener shoutouts
01:08:30 - Looking ahead & final reflections on the good old days
01:12:00 - Tom says goodbye & wrapping up Ep 425

Join our Patreon Community - https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThatPeterCrouchPodcast

Shoutout to @‌rodemic, now powering the audio for the pod! - https://brandstore.rode.com/crouchpod

For more Peter Crouch:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/petercrouch Therapy Crouch - https://www.youtube.com/@thetherapycrouch

For more Chris Stark
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Chris_Stark Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisstark/

For more Steve Sidwell
Twitter - https://twitter.com/sjsidwell Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stevesidwell14

#PeterCrouch #ThatPeterCrouchPodcast
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On this week’s episode of the Peter Crouch Podcast, Pete, Sids, and Chris are joined by comedian Tom Davis for a proper chat about football, comedy, West Ham and his new show, The Reluctant Vampire. Tom talks about his journey from working on building sites to becoming a successful comedian, actor and writer, including the moment Mickey Flanagan convinced him to give stand-up a go and what it was really like getting on stage for the first time at 32.

The lads also get stuck into Tom’s brilliant Murder in Successville, hearing about the chaos of improvising with celebrities and footballers, as well as the very different realities of being funny on a podcast and actually standing in front of a room full of people waiting for you to make them laugh.

Football is never far away, with Tom opening up about his love for West Ham, his memories of Upton Park and why he feels the club has lost some of its identity. We chat about the changing relationship between clubs and supporters, the impact of social media, working-class fans, Declan Rice, Mark Noble and Jarrod Bowen, and whether West Ham can bounce straight back to the Premier League.

And finally, it’s time for Chris Stark’s Paddy Power forfeit. After losing the podcast’s score prediction league, Chris has to perform stand-up for the first time ever — at a proper comedy club, in front of hundreds of people, with Andrew Mensch and the lads helping him prepare. There are nerves, emergency jokes, an outrageous ring walk, a very personal check-up story…

As the Crouchy puts it: “that takes some bollocks or a bollock.”

Chumbawamba

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00:00 - The lads tease Chris Stark’s upcoming forfeit
05:00 - Everton’s £25,000 “Legends VIP” experience
08:30 - Who should the podcast send to Everton?
10:57 - Tom Davis joins the podcast
11:01 - Tom Davis, Chris Stark and the great barbecue war
14:25 - Tom’s stand-up tour and his new love of golf
16:21 - The madness of Murder in Successville
18:21 - Tom’s funniest celebrity moments from the show
20:11 - How Mickey Flanagan inspired Tom to do stand-up
21:00 - Tom’s first Peter Crouch joke
22:18 - Why being funny on a podcast doesn’t make you a stand-up
28:26 - Tom’s brutal introduction to life on the building sites
29:20 - Tom’s prank calls and being “useless” at scaffolding
30:21 - How Tom became obsessed with West Ham
32:06 - Why West Ham have lost their identity
34:17 - “Working-class people have been strangled out” of football
36:06 - Social media and football fans demanding answers
38:12 - Can West Ham romp the Championship?
40:15 - What makes a genuinely great football squad
41:10 - Tom’s favourite West Ham era and Upton Park memories
42:10 - Declan Rice, Mark Noble and West Ham’s talismanic players
44:05 - Why Jarrod Bowen staying could make him a West Ham legend
47:05 - Tom on West Ham’s uncertain future
48:18 - Tom’s thoughts on Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate
50:32 - Why Southgate changed England’s relationship with the fans
01:00:45 - Tom’s bizarre FIFA obsession led him to coaching
01:02:17 - When Tom’s wife caught him getting FIFA lessons
01:03:58 - Tom falls back into his gaming addiction
01:04:27 - Tom says goodbye
01:05:24 - The lads reveal how Chris’ forfeit went
01:08:00 - The coffee name game and football prediction chat
01:13:57 - The lads make their latest score predictions
01:15:05 - Chris’s forfeit mini-doc begins

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Join our Patreon Community - https://www.patreon.com/cw/ThatPeterCrouchPodcast

Shoutout to @‌rodemic, now powering the audio for the pod! - https://brandstore.rode.com/crouchpod

For more Peter Crouch:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/petercrouch
Therapy Crouch - https://www.youtube.com/@thetherapycrouch

For more Chris Stark

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Chris_Stark
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisstark/

For more Steve Sidwell

Twitter - https://twitter.com/sjsidwell
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stevesidwell14

#PeterCrouch #ThatPeterCrouchPodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of the Peter Crouch Podcast, Pete, Sids, and Chris are back with another chaotic round-up of football, forfeits, predictions and some genuinely bizarre stories from the weekend.

The lads kick things off by finally revealing more about Chris’ comedy club forfeit, including the nerves before he took to the stage and the incredible reaction from an unsuspecting fan who realised exactly why Chris was there. The conversation then takes an unexpected turn as the boys discuss the strange habit of giving fake names when ordering coffee — with one particular Brazilian footballer-themed idea quickly becoming a potential global game.

We also get into the weekend’s football, including Arsenal’s impressive win over Chelsea and whether they could really run away with the Premier League. The lads debate Arsenal’s mentality, their defensive strength and the impact of their new signings, before discussing the controversial incident involving Morgan Rogers and Declan Rice.

Elsewhere, Jamie Vardy’s move to Burnley gets a mention, the boys react to Alex Gilbert’s brilliant Inbetweeners-inspired announcement video, and there’s plenty of love for Hull Marina — perhaps the next great summer destination?!

The boys also debate whether Spurs can finally turn things around, before reading some brilliant Why The Football Not? submissions, including one fan who watched his team win promotion from a tree and another who travelled from Dublin to Liverpool on a free ticket with no money, hotel or plan.

And then things take a very unexpected turn when Pete’s podiatrist arrives mid-recording to deal with his troublesome footballer’s toenails. The lads investigate Pete’s bizarre feet, discuss whether they’re a footballer thing, and somehow turn the whole situation into one of the strangest moments of the episode.

Another week, another set of disasters. Enjoy!

Chumbawamba

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00:00 - The boys are back and tease Chris’ comedy club forfeit
02:00 - The unbelievable “pizza box” incident on the walk to the comedy club
05:24 - The lads reveal their favourite fake coffee names
11:00 - Bottomless curry brunches: the new happy hour?
14:38 - Rice vs Rogers gets seriously spicy
16:14 - Could Arsenal romp the Premier League by 15 points?
19:01 - Footballers walking home and trying to stay anonymous
20:03 - Jamie Vardy’s Burnley return and a brilliant football announcement video
21:34 - Hull are flying — but what is going on with that kit?
22:53 - Is Hull Marina secretly the next great summer destination?
24:34 - Aston Villa’s struggles and the great Brighton vs Hove debate
26:21 - “Let’s give Hove some love”
29:46 - Can Spurs finally turn their season around?
31:33 - Why The Football Not? — watching a promotion-winning game from a tree
34:15 - A free Liverpool ticket leads to a 60-hour adventure
35:36 - Pete’s podiatrist arrives mid-recording
37:23 - The truth behind Peter Crouch’s troublesome footballer toes
39:35 - The score prediction league heats up
40:25 - Could one of the lads really be forced to dress as a dog at Crufts?
42:18 - The £50 Barry bet gets settled
43:20 - Manchester United vs Manchester City predictions
45:02 - Our latest audio disaster
47:15 - The lads make their Manchester derby predictions
49:19 - Liverpool vs Fulham predictions
50:44 - Coventry vs Brighton predictions
52:48 - The return of the themed footballer XI’s
54:03 - Signing off

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For more Peter Crouch:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/petercrouch
Therapy Crouch - https://www.youtube.com/@thetherapycrouch

For more Chris Stark

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Chris_Stark
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisstark/

For more Steve Sidwell

Twitter - https://twitter.com/sjsidwell
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/stevesidwell14

#PeterCrouch #ThatPeterCrouchPodcast
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