Best Anfield South Podcasts (2024)

1
How South Africa Swimmers Stole America's Olympic Gold 31:13

13h ago31:13

31:13

The Redemption Games: Ryk Neethling and the Athens Olympics 4x100m Relay This episode dives into the captivating story of Ryk Neethling and the South African 4x100m freestyle relay team at the 2004 Athens Olympics. It's a tale of redemption, teamwork, and overcoming adversity. Bruised by Sydney The 2000 Sydney Olympics were a disaster for Neethling…

1
Can The Proteas Win The T20 World Cup? 22:50

16d ago22:50

22:50

By Luke Alfred

1
The Lowest Point Ever In Springbok Rugby: Lions Tour 1974 23:29

14d ago23:29

23:29

A Foul-Mouthed Parrot and The British Lions 1974 Tour of South Africa. In this episode, we delve into the fascinating and often brutal story of the 1974 British Lions tour of South Africa. Buckle up for tales of: A swearing parrot named Piet who heckled the Lions at their hotel breakfast. (Listen for this amusing anecdote at the beginning of the ep…

1
The Artist of Anfield: The Jürgen Klopp Story 24:02

21d ago24:02

24:02

A Charismatic Leader Transforms Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool I dive into the remarkable career of Jürgen Klopp, a manager who wasn't just a superb tactician, but never lost sight of the human touch. From Humble Beginnings to the Brink of Ruin We start with Borussia Dortmund, a club on the verge of financial collapse. Before Klopp's arrival, the …

1
The Incredible Feats Of Vaudeville Strongmen 23:37

28d ago23:37

23:37

Exploring the Unconventional: From Marrow-Tossing to Nail-Bending. In the vast landscape of sports journalism, there's often a gravitational pull towards the grandeur of major events and superstar athletes. Yet, there's a hidden world waiting to be discovered in the sidelines, in the quirky, the obscure, and the borderline absurd sports that defy c…

1
The First Man To Ever Run A 4 Minute Mile: The Story Of Roger Bannister 24:10

1M ago24:10

24:10

Breaking Barriers: Roger Bannister and the Four-Minute Mile. Step back in time to May 6, 1954, when history was made on the Iffley Road track in Oxford. Join me as I delve into the captivating story of Roger Bannister's legendary assault on the four-minute mile barrier, a feat that captured the world's imagination and forever changed the landscape …

1
The United Rugby Championship Is Like A Netflix Drama 23:01

2M ago23:01

23:01

United Rugby Championship: Season 3 - The Drama Heats Up! Forget Netflix, this is real-life drama unfolding! The United Rugby Championship's final stretch is packed with nail-biting contests as South African teams fight for a place in the playoffs. The Fallen Champions: The Stormers, victors of Season 1, haven't quite repeated their dominance. They…

1
How I Fell In Love With Sport Part 2 25:22

2M ago25:22

25:22

In this episode, I take us on a trip down memory lane, exploring my life as a South African boy, with a love for cricket, during the 1970s and early 1980s. We delve into the joy of playing barefoot on the Wanderers outfield, the thrill of watching heroes like Graeme Pollock and Kevin McKenzie in action, and the camaraderie of lunchtime games on the…

1
The Inspiring History Of Women In The Boston Marathon 23:40

2M ago23:40

23:40

Step back in time with me, Luke Alfred, as we trace the footsteps of relentless women who dared to disrupt the Boston Marathon's status quo. Discover how Bobbi Gibb and Kathrine Switzer's audacious strides ignited a revolution in women's sports, transforming a mere footrace into a symbol of gender equality. Gibb’s surreptitious dash from the bushes…

1
A Horse Named Foinavon: The Greatest Upset In Grand National History 24:32

2M ago24:32

24:32

This week we delve into the rich history and legendary moments of the Grand National steeplechase, and the remarkable victory of the horse Foinavon in 1967. From the historical significance of the race to the unexpected twists and turns, join us as we uncover the unforgettable story behind one of horseracing's most iconic moments. Episode Highlight…

1
The Lockdown Champs League: Remembering Bayern's Flawless 2020 23:46

3M ago23:46

23:46

The 2019/20 Champions League season was a rollercoaster ride marked by unprecedented challenges, overshadowed by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite its surreal nature, being played in front of no fans, and swift conclusion, this season left an indelible mark on football history. Episode Highlights: The Pandemic's Grip on Football: As Covid…

1
Ep. 41 Man City Preview! 58:39

3M ago58:39

58:39

The boys are back from hiatus for a special 41st episode! Going into the business end of the season and possibly the most important game of the year so far, the boys are back to discuss this Sunday's top-of-the-table clash and some other Arsenal touchpoints. Don't forget to like and share! #COYG! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify…

1
How The Springboks Inspired A Boom In SA Club Rugby 23:02

3M ago23:02

23:02

One of the spinoffs of the Springboks winning the Rugby World Cup in 2023, is that club rugby in the country is booming. Quietly, without fuss, and without much wider public or media attention, the numbers are climbing. They have done so for the last four or five months. And it’s good that they’re doing so now, because we stand poised on the cusp o…

1
Why Cricket Has Lost It's Magic 23:32

3M ago23:32

23:32

Who of us hasn’t driven past a cricket match glimpsed momentarily through a hedge, unable for some good reason to stop? Who of us hasn’t caught a train, the inter-city 9:15 to somewhere, and seen cricket thin-sliced through a speeding carriage window? Circumstances and countries might differ, but this is the cricket match we cannot, for whatever re…

1
The Fan Who Infiltrated The Man United Team Photo: Karl Power 25:10

3M ago25:10

25:10

Gary Neville also objected. He knew that Power wasn’t part of the United starting X1 and told Power so. Power told Neville that he was doing this all for Eric Cantona and Gary was to shut up, which seemed to buy him the time he needed to sneak into the photograph. Neville surely didn’t buy Power’s explanation, although he might have been confused i…

1
Cricket's Most Infamous Ball Tampering Scandal: The Full Sandpaper-Gate Story 19:51

3M ago19:51

19:51

It emerged on day four that the ball-tampering plan had been hatched by senior players in the dressing room at lunchtime on the third day. Smith lost the captaincy and Warner the vice-captaincy, both banned by the ICC for one Test. In Australia, the shame and anger were widespread. Even the Aussie prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, felt compelled to…

1
Are Bafana Bafana Finally Good Again? 24:24

4M ago24:24

24:24

I don’t think I’m saying anything controversial in admitting that, like a good friend from university, Bafana Bafana and I have lost touch over the last 10 or 12 years. It hasn’t been an active thing on my part. I haven’t turned my back on Bafana, at least I don’t think I have. Rather, it’s been a passive withdrawal into other things. Keeping in to…

1
James Small: The Springbok Who Died In A Strip Club 22:33

4M ago22:33

22:33

There was something darkly comic about World Cup winning Springbok James Small, losing his life in a strip joint. Some of us might have lost other things – our virginity, our wallets, our self-respect, we might even have lost our mates, or our marriage in a strip joint – but Small wasn’t a small gestures kind of guy. He was all in. And there he was…

1
Why South Africa Overachieves In Sport 24:04

4M ago24:04

24:04

In the year between February 2023 and February 2024, for instance, six South African teams either won or reached World Cup finals, reached World Cup or continental semi-finals or hustled out of the group stages of World Cups to make the round of 16. In order of success, the teams are as follows: the Springboks, who won the Rugby World Cupfinal agai…

1
Why Financial Fair Play Is Beginning To Bite 25:46

4M ago25:46

25:46

City have been accused by the Premier League of 115 violations of Financial Fair Play regulations dating back 14 years. In the interests of time and brevity we can’t detail all 115 breaches here, but they can all be collapsed into the idea City have failed to provide the Premier League with information that “gives a true and fair view of their fina…

1
How The First Ever Tied Test Match Came To Be 24:34

5M ago24:34

24:34

The 1960/61 West Indies tour of Australia was one of the greatest test series ever played. On the eve of the first Test in Brisbane, Don Bradman, the chairman of the Australian board but really everything cricket in Australia, asked Richie Benaud, the home skipper, if he could have a few words with his side. Benaud was not one to disagree with a pr…

1
The People's Gaffer: The Ange Postecoglou Story 24:28

5M ago24:28

24:28

In a comforting way, Ange Postecoglou is just the boy next-door. Pep left home early; Wenger is too haughtily academic, even in his relaxed moments. José’s been defeated by his grumpiness; Thomas Tuchel is fascinating but finally disqualified from boy-next-door status by a vague air of the nerd. Gareth Southgate is the boy-next-door that sort of wa…

1
The Last Springboks: How South Africa Beat Bill Lawry's Aussies 25:30

5M ago25:30

25:30

The past, they say, is another country. South Africa in 1970 really was another country, a pre-democratic country lost in the mighty bluster of High Apartheid. It was so much another country that it was in another century, which makes the 1970 series against Australia look a little like a museum piece today. Donate to The Luke Alfred Show on Patreo…

1
The Story Of Dean Elgar: Resolute Warrior 25:20

5M ago25:20

25:20

Dean Elgar is a legend of South African cricket, and a regularly underrated opening batsman. This is the inside story of his rise to the pinnacle of the game, from humble beginnings in rural South Africa. Donate to The Luke Alfred Show on Patreon. Get my book: Vuvuzela Dawn: 25 Sporting Stories that Shaped a New Nation. Get full written episodes of…

1
How Newlands Disgraced Jacques Kallis 24:35

6M ago24:35

24:35

There was once a kerfuffle about whether to name a grandstand at Newlands after Kallis. In their infinite wisdom the Western Province Cricket Association board decided not to, which is a little like failing to name a spacesuit after Neil Armstrong, or an auditorium after Louie. The cricket-loving public of the Western Cape have long since got used …

1
The Untold Handré Pollard Story 24:18

6M ago24:18

24:18

Handré Pollard was built for World Cups. By the time he was 21, he’d already starred in 3 Junior World Cups for the Baby Boks. 5 years later, he scored 22 points in the World Cup final, as the Springboks romped to a third World Cup victory. 4 years after that, he wasn’t in the original squad to defend South Africa’s title in France due to calf inju…

1
The Cult of Lance Armstrong: The Festina Affair and "The Tour of Renewal" 25:10

7M ago25:10

25:10

Of 189 riders who started the Tour de France in 1998, only 96 finished the race at the Champs-Élysées. It was dubbed the so-called "Festina Affair", after the disqualified Festina team. Cycling has a long history of doping, deceit, and flagrant cheating. 1999 marked the beginning of Armstrong's web of lies, bullying, and ruthless control over the T…

1
A Farewell To Quinnie, A South African Legend 23:32

7M ago23:32

23:32

Once again, the Proteas have bombed out of a World Cup. Not only did South Africa suffer a predictably bitter defeat to Australia, they lost something more – one of the finest ODI cricketers ever, Quinton de Kock. Although Quinton de Kock has announced his retirement from ODI cricket, you might be surprised to know that he’s only 30. Yes, his 31st …

1
Moneyball: The Most Influential Book in the History of Sport 23:01

7M ago23:01

23:01

2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the book that changed sport's analytics forever. This is the story of Moneyball. Donate to The Luke Alfred Show on Patreon. Get my book: Vuvuzela Dawn: 25 Sporting Stories that Shaped a New Nation. Get full written episodes of the show a day early on Substack. Check out The Luke Alfred Show on YouTube and Facebook…

1
The 3 Unluckiest Sportsmen Ever 23:19

7M ago23:19

23:19

More and more sport nowadays means there’s more and more sport to forget. Here are the stories of three forgotten sportsmen: the member of a travelling circus who had a tragically short England cricket career the big-game hunter who was recalled to kick for the Springboks and the ‘Bok eighthman who charged his bar tab to management. It was the one …

1
We Love The Boks. But They Can’t Save South Africa 24:16

8M ago24:16

24:16

While we are all immensely proud of the Springboks and their World Cup final win over the All Blacks in Paris, we should also not jettison our critical faculties completely. There has been much talk, in the media and elsewhere, of what the Boks can teach us. They, the pundits say, can teach us about planning, co-operation, overcoming obstacles and …

1
Pelé: The Story Of Football's GOAT 22:49

8M ago22:49

22:49

This month is the anniversary of Pelé’s birth in 1940 in a small town in the state of São Paulo. Given that it would have been his birthday a couple of days ago, in this week’s podcast we have a good long look at Pelé and a good long look at Pelé’s Brazil, a land of spirits, coffee and military dictatorships. He was a man not only with the wrong na…

1
Boks vs France — Rugby's Nervous Breakdown 24:01

8M ago24:01

24:01

The Springbok consensus tells us that the national rugby team’s performances are good for the economy. They’re good for the economy because winning games like the quarter-final against France leads to productivity and social cohesion. But might the opposite not be the case? Might the Springboks not just exhaust us, causing us to be lazy and indigen…

1
The Best Side To Never Win A World Cup 48:41

8M ago48:41

48:41

With his heavy bat, Klusener hit thousands and thousands of balls in the 1999 World Cup in England. He was trying to achieve many things with this ritual, but mainly to groove his muscle memory and calm his nerves. ‘I needed to know how hard to hit it to get over the ropes – how much to get on it to get it to where it needed to go,’ he says. Someti…

1
The Cricket World Cup Used To Be Pretty Weird 28:16

8M ago28:16

28:16

The Cricket World Cup was once a far-smaller, protected and demure animal than the rampant commercial beast we know it as today. The first three World Cups – in 1975, 1979 and 1983 – were all hosted by England, with the first three finals being played at Lord’s. The qualifying events for the 1979 and 1983 World Cups were also played in England. It …

1
The Day The Olympics Turned Bloody 25:20

9M ago25:20

25:20

This week’s podcast is the first of several I’ll devote in the months ahead to sport in the 1970s. It was an age conspicuously different to our own. In some sports, like cricket and rugby union, an amateur dispensation prevailed. Football, although professional, was, as we shall see, still trying to wrap its collective mind around epochal issues li…

1
In Praise of Keshav Maharaj 24:07

9M ago24:07

24:07

He isn’t a power hitter and because his name isn’t Heinrich Klaasen or Aiden Markram, Keshav Maharaj tends not to get the plaudits he deserves in white ball cricket for the Proteas. Although a white ball novice, Maharaj is now 33. He’s canny, smart and very effective and he was one of the key players in the Proteas’ come-from-behind victory in the …

1
AFC BACK IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1:05:22

9M ago1:05:22

1:05:22

The boys are back for the 40th installment of the SFG Podcast. A special episode commemorating AFC's First champions league game since 2017. The boys will discuss the win over PSV as well as a quick preview of the first North London Derby of the season! You won't wanna miss this one! #COYG --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/po…

1
Billie Jean, Bobby And The 'Battle of the Sexes 2' 25:30

9M ago25:30

25:30

Fifty years ago this month, then-tennis superstar, Billie Jean King, agreed to play in a highly-lucrative exhibition match against former Wimbledon champ, Bobby Riggs, a man nearly twice her age. The spiel was called “Battle of the Sexes 2” and, although light-hearted, was also in deadly earnest. It was a time when recently-turned women’s professio…

1
Does The "Spirit Of The Game" Matter In Sport? 23:23

9M ago23:23

23:23

There’s been great deal of talk about “spirit of the game” in recent months, some of it erudite, some of it hot air. Most recently we were told that a 7-1 forwards backs split on the Springbok bench for the Twickenham friendly against the All Blacks wasn’t the done thing. Before that we were told by certain sections of the English media that Alex C…

1
Can The Springboks Win The 2023 World Cup? 24:21

10M ago24:21

24:21

World Cups hinge on small things, and the deeper you go in a competition, the smaller these small things become. The further you go in the competition, the bigger these small things become, too. Take what happened at the toss between Siya Kolisi and Owen Farrell in the final in Yokohama four years ago. These strange events and their significance we…

1
Johan Cruyff: The Man Who Turned Barcelona Upside Down 23:53

10M ago23:53

23:53

In 1973, after much coming and going, an athletic striker from Amsterdam was sold to a club of under-achieving Catalans on the Mediterranean. At the time, fifty years ago almost to the day, Amsterdam was a fount of progressive ideas, in culture and politics as well as football. By contrast, the Catalans were locked in a long argument with Madrid. I…

1
Wayde van Niekerk — Faster than the Camera 24:25

10M ago24:25

24:25

The fastest man ever over 400 metres is running again. This is the story of how he broke the world record. Seven years ago in Rio there was a strange, intimate moment between a champion and an athlete in the act of becoming a champion. The occasion was the men’s 400 metres final at the Rio Olympics. South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, 24, was running…

1
34 Seconds that Shook the Rugby World 23:09

10M ago23:09

23:09

By Luke Alfred

1
1995 World Cup Final — And the Lost Art of Missing Deadlines 23:01

11M ago23:01

23:01

I’ve wanted to do a podcast on newspaper closures and the mostly hard-working men and women who fill them for ages. The idea drifts in and out of consideration, but it was brought to the forefront of my thoughts the other day when a friend sent me an article written by a one-time reader of the New York Times’ sports section, detailing that the Time…

1
Why The Springboks Mean So Much 23:49

11M ago23:49

23:49

With the World Cup just over a month away, the coming three months will be a time of frantic activity for the Springboks. In this podcast I try to unravel the tangle of cultural, national and emotional factors that give them meaning to us as South Africans. Why do they mean what they do? And why is it that the Springboks mean so much? I was born in…

1
Desiree Ellis and Banyana Banyana's World Cup Journey 24:42

11M ago24:42

24:42

Banyana banyana, the South African women’s football team, are currently in New Zealand for the women’s World Cup. The competition represents a crossroads for them and their coach, Desiree Ellis. Will Ellis be able to help them fight their way out of the group? Or will they come back as one of the competition’s early loser. Ellis is no loser, as her…

1
Tom Curren Surfs The J-Bay Avalanche 22:29

11M ago22:29

22:29

With the Corona Open at Jeffreys Bay in full swing, in this episode of The Luke Alfred Show we look back at Tom Curren’s epic J-Bay ride there in 1993. Captured by filmmaker, Sonny Miller, and immortalised in the 1996 film, “Searching for Tom Curren”, Curren’s ride was the perfect coming-together. First, he was surfing royalty. Second, Miller was k…

1
The Oarsome Foursome: Rowing's Biggest Upset 35:03

11M ago35:03

35:03

Eskild Ebbesen, a wiry Dane with the penetrating stare of a Viking, is the greatest lightweight rower alive. He and his crew dominated lightweight rowing in the late 1990s, winning three consecutive World Cups, and although there was a hiccup in the Sydney Olympics of 2000, where they won bronze, they extended their authority over the next 10 years…

1
Björn Again: Borg's Bizarre Story 23:09

12M ago23:09

23:09

Björn Borg represented Sweden in the Davis Cup as a 15 year-old and, just after his 18th birthday, won the first of his 11 Grand Slam titles at the 1974 French Open. The late 1970s were years of incredible success, with Borg the undisputed world number one. But in 1980, in the final at Wimbledon, things began to go wrong in the fourth set tie-break…

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