The Football Historian Podcast

Welcome to The Football Historian Podcast, hosted by Peter Kenny Jones.

This is Part Two of our interview with former Premier League striker Nathan Ellington.

After leaving Wigan, Nathan opens up on the decisions that shaped the rest of his career — including the transfer he wishes he could take back, the reality of life at West Brom, and how quickly football careers can change.

We also discuss:

• Why one bad transfer can change everything
• The biggest mistake of his career
• Playing in the Premier League and not playing enough
• Life abroad in Greece, Thailand and beyond
• The politics behind football decisions
• His experience of Ramadan as a professional footballer
• The Association of Muslim Footballers and changing perceptions in the game
• The toughest opponent he ever faced
• Gerrard vs Lampard vs Scholes, Messi vs Ronaldo and more

This is an honest and fascinating insight into the highs and lows of a professional football career.

Want more from The Football Historian Podcast?

Watch the exclusive EXTRA section of this interview via our Patreon. It’s just £1 per month, giving you access to bonus episodes, monthly specials and the full back catalogue:https://www.patreon.com/TheFootballHistorianPodcast

Keep up to date with all our latest clips:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thefootballhistorianpod/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thefootballhistorianpod
X: https://twitter.com/TheFHPod
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Comedian and football creator Jim Daly joins The Football Historian Podcast to talk about the madness of football fandom.

Jim discusses growing up supporting Crystal Palace, the emotional moment Palace finally won the FA Cup, and why football fans secretly love suffering.

We also talk about parody songs, football comedy, fantasy football addiction, meeting footballers and the strange psychology of supporting a club.
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Welcome to The Football Historian Podcast, hosted by Peter Kenny Jones.

In episode 52 (Part One), I’m joined by former Premier League striker Nathan Ellington for the first of a two-part interview covering his journey through football — from non-league beginnings to the top flight.

Nathan explains how his career started at Tooting & Mitcham United before moving to Walton & Hersham, earning a Football League chance at Bristol Rovers and eventually making his name at Wigan Athletic. We talk about the key people who shaped his career, including playing under Ian Holloway, and his famous strike partnership with Jason Roberts.

Nathan also reflects on playing alongside talents such as Leighton Baines and Jimmy Bullard at Wigan, and gives a very honest account of his departure from the club — including how contract negotiations with chairman Dave Whelan unfolded and why leaving Wigan for West Bromwich Albion remains the biggest regret of his career.

This is Part One of a two-part conversation, with Part Two released in four weeks’ time.

We also filmed some bonus content during Nathan’s visit:

• Playing With Myself — Nathan and I play FIFA 05 on the PS2 and attempt to recreate the Ellington & Roberts partnership

• A Show & Tell episode featuring boots from his Watford days

• A Patreon Q&A where Nathan answers your questions

Subscribe on Patreon now for early access and bonus content.

Thanks so much for the continued support, and I hope this instalment of your soon-to-be favourite football podcast continues to impress.

CHAPTERING

00:01:43 – Rising from Non-League

00:21:44 – Signing for Bristol Rovers

00:23:54 – Meeting Jason Roberts

00:28:09 – The Importance of Gary Penrice

00:50:11 – Moving to Wigan

01:01:04 - Reuniting with Jason Roberts

01:09:18 - Playing with Leighton Baines

01:10:53 - Playing with Jimmy Bullard

01:14:28 - Why I Left Wigan

PATREON

Want more from The Football Historian Podcast?

Watch the exclusive EXTRA section of this interview via our Patreon. It’s just £1 per month for the first 100 patrons, giving you access to bonus episodes, monthly specials and the full back catalogue.

https://www.patreon.com/TheFootballHistorianPodcast

Keep up to date with all our latest clips on our socials:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thefootballhistorianpod/

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thefootballhistorianpod

X: https://twitter.com/TheFHPod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Football Historian Podcast, hosted by Peter Kenny Jones.

In this episode, I’m joined by Tyler Smith — best known for appearing on The Traitors UK — for a wide-ranging football chat covering Liverpool, modern football debates and his experience inside one of the toughest game shows on TV.

Tyler explains why he became a Liverpool fan growing up in Leicester, shares his all-time top fives, and gives honest answers in our regular Debate section on Messi vs Ronaldo, managers, goalkeepers, VAR and more.

We also talk in detail about The Traitors: what it’s really like inside the castle, how hard it is to spot a Traitor when you’re living it, and what happens after you’re banished.

(This episode was recorded in April 2025 — released February 2026.)

Thanks so much for the continued support, and I hope this instalment of your soon-to-be favourite football podcast continues to impress.

CHAPTERING

00:00:39 – Why I’m a Liverpool fan
00:02:24 – Top 5 Liverpool players
00:05:48 – Top 5 non-Liverpool players
00:09:44 – The Debate (Messi, Ronaldo, managers & more)
00:25:43 – Life on The Traitors

PATREON

Want more from The Football Historian Podcast?
Watch the exclusive EXTRA section of this interview via our Patreon. It’s just £1 per month for the first 100 patrons, giving you access to bonus episodes, monthly specials and the full back catalogue.
https://www.patreon.com/TheFootballHistorianPodcast

Keep up to date with all our latest clips on our socials:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thefootballhistorianpod/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thefootballhistorianpod
X: https://twitter.com/TheFHPod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Football Historian Podcast, hosted by Peter Kenny Jones.

In episode 50, I’m joined by Sonny Pike — one of the most talked-about young football talents of the 1990s — for an honest, reflective conversation about football, pressure, and finding love for the game again.

Rather than retelling the same old story, Sonny speaks openly about growing up in the spotlight, how those experiences now shape the way he supports his own son, and why football needs to do more to protect young players.

There’s also plenty of proper football chat along the way, including Sonny’s Liverpool fandom from growing up in London, his all-time five-a-side and XI, and settling some of the biggest debates in football history.

We also discuss Trent Alexander-Arnold’s move from Liverpool to Real Madrid, with Sonny offering a rare player-first perspective on ambition, loyalty and legacy.
(This episode was recorded in April 2025 — context notes are added where needed.)

Thanks so much for the continued support, and I hope this instalment of your soon-to-be favourite football podcast continues to impress.

CHAPTERING

00:00:00 – Introduction
00:00:30 – Growing up famous & pressure on kids
00:10:22 – Being a Liverpool fan in London
00:15:34 – All-time five-a-side team
00:16:42 – The Debate (Messi, Ronaldo, managers & more)
00:37:58 – Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid
00:42:58 – Traitors, red cards & what Sonny would change

Want more from The Football Historian Podcast?
Watch the exclusive EXTRA section of this interview via our Patreon. It’s just £1 per month for the first 100 patrons, giving you access to bonus episodes, monthly specials and the full back catalogue.
https://www.patreon.com/TheFootballHistorianPodcast

Keep up to date with all our latest clips on our socials:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thefootballhistorianpod/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@thefootballhistorianpod
X: https://twitter.com/TheFHPod

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices