Starcast: the Billingham Stars podcast

37 Episodes
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By: Craig Simpson march74sports audio network

The latest news, information and interviews from within the Big Red Machine!  Billingham Stars are defending their Moralee League championship in season 24/25 and Starcast will bring you the news as the squad is assembled and reports and reactions from the games as they happen throughout the season.

🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 2:1 Reunion
Today at 7:00 AM

The gang is back together and we look at the squad building for the Billingham Stars and wider around the NIHL North 1. 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also let us know where you're listening and which team you support.

Thanks for supporting the podcast wherever you watch or listen, please give a subscribe, share, like, review, comment on whatever platform you use. 

Follow @billinghamstars on all social media channels for the very latest from the club. 

Starcast is p...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 35: Everything is happening
05/31/2025

Off season catch up with the gang as news starts to feed into the NIHL North-a-sphere - nothing Billog related though.

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also let us know where you're listening and which team you support.

Thanks for supporting the podcast wherever you watch or listen, please give a subscribe, share, like, review, comment on whatever platform you use. 

Follow @billinghamstars on all social media channels for the very latest from the club. 

STARS POST MAT...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 34: The end
04/24/2025

We catch up on the successes at Steel City Showdown and the season ending game in Coventry and a quick thought on 24/25 season for the Billingham Stars.

Carol joined from her seaside retreat between Hartlepool, Seaton Carew and Redcar and battled some wifi issues but we got all the content we needed. 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also let us know where you're listening and which team you support.

Thanks for supporting the podcast wherever you watch or listen, pl...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 33: Showdown rundown and Ice Barn Shortlists
04/09/2025

Billingham reached the Steel City Showdown with a two-leg win over Deeside - we’ll talk about it as well as the other NIHL division semi finals. 

Stars will face a repeat of last year’s Final against Blackburn - we’ll talk about it AND the three other Finals taking place in Sheffield 

Steel City Showdown store: https://eihevents.square.site/ for hats, pucks, programmes and more merch!

Steel City Showdown tickets: https://eih.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/nihl_steelcity_showdown_2025 

Finally we have the NIHL North player and coach of the ye...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 32: Quarter, semi, parmo, go
04/02/2025

It’s the OG three on this week’s pod talking all things Stars in full post-season mode. 

Playoff quarter final wins over Leeds secured, lots of goals and lots of love for Luca.  We also check in with the playoff brackets elsewhere in the NIHL divisions.

The gang then look ahead to the semi final series with Deeside before the AOB segment features Coventry tickets, Steel City Merch, awards, presentation night and BOTW Parmo Review (watch on FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18oKV2Y2wK/)

Steel City Showdown store: https://eihevents.square...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 31: Hey Now You’re An All-Star
03/26/2025

We are delighted to announce NIHL’s official All-Star teams for North 1 and 2 (approx 35 mins in) - thanks to NIHL for giving us this honour/responsibilty! 

We are also joined by Stars’ coach Stephen Foster and captain Michael Elder to review where we are at the end of the regular season heading into playoffs (spoiler - it’s going kind of OK thanks!) 

How was the last game of the regular season and trophy lift?  We’ll tell you what we think!

The gang look at tables and playoff fixtures for North and South 1, congratulat...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 30: I’m still standing
03/19/2025

The gang are joined by Pete from Cross Check Clothing to talk about his hockey journey, how the brand was born and recently working with your Billingham Stars. 

Our 100 point men Chris Sykes and Iain Brown also drop by to talk goals, assists, points, trophies and more.  Of course Iain also talks about his league goals record.

There's the regular features reviewing Deeside double header, results & tables, South 1 watch and look ahead to the regular season finale. 

Save the date features in Any Other Business in a packed episode.  Tune in on Facebook, YouTube, Spot...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 29: Back to back
03/12/2025

Billingham Stars did another thing! A win on Sunday in Solihull secured a second successive League title for the Big Red Machine!

Goalie Jacob Hammond joins the crew to talk about it, before Carol, Jono and Craig go through the game in more depth. 

We look at results and tables from last week, before previewing a Deeside double header which starts with the party bus to North Wales and ends with a long-awaited return to home ice on Sunday. 

In AOB we look at South 1 to see who Billingham will face at Coventry and co...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 28: Stars stick in, six points closer to ultimate goal
03/05/2025

Your Starcast crew return sans guests for another packed pod talking all things of the Big Red Machine. A road double header saw two slow starts but ultimately two regulation wins. 

WIN! A pair of tickets to Steel City Showdown - answer in the social media thread on here or email starcast@march74.co.uk

Results and tables from last week, plus a look ahead to the Road to Hobs Moat and a trip to Solihull for Billingham on Sunday. 

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🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 27: Handbags and Rally Rags, We Won The Cup
02/26/2025

A story three years in the making… Billingham are Moralee Cup champions! 

Carol, Jono and Craig chat with Stars’ captain Michael Elder and scoring legend Chris Sykes about the weekend before reviewing the 120 thrilling minutes. 

We look at the results in the other Cup Finals, and NIHL 1 North league games that took place at the weekend. 

Finally we look ahead to Stars return to league play with a road double header in Leeds and *checks notes* Whitley Bay. 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - intera...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 26: A View From Cup Final Nerves
02/19/2025

The gang return for the latest Starcast talking all things Billingham Stars.

Carol, Jono and Craig review the home & home with Nottingham before looking ahead to the Moralee Cup Final against Blackburn this coming weekend.  Podcast exclusive post game interview from Sunday with hat-trick hero Lucas Dowdle too!

We are also joined in the second segment by Patrick Smyth, host and founder of A View From The Bridge - a podcast for Belfast Giants which is approaching a milestone episode next week.  

There’s also the week’s results & tables courtesy of NIHL Stats 


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 25: Inside out double header mailbag
02/12/2025

Carol, Jono and Craig are back for their latest Starcast. 

The gang look back at the road win over Widnes Wild complete with wardrobe malfunction before previewing Stars’ home & home with Nottingham this weekend.  

There’s last week’s results & tables, with some results of note for sure.  And we open our first ever mailbag to talk enjoyable seasons, All Time Billingham first line, under-rated Stars and players from other teams. 

Thanks to everyone who submitted a mailbag entry, will be great to see your own answers to the questions posed. 

Please like, subsc...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 24: Ben brings the boom and other stories
02/05/2025

Carol, Jono and Craig are flying solo this week in the latest episode of your fave Stars podcast.

The gang look back at the home win over Leeds Knights before previewing the upcoming games and Stars’ trip to Widnes in particular.  

There’s last week’s results & tables, some news & notes and the usual AOB topics round things off. 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also let us know where you're listening and which team you support.

Thanks for conti...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 23: Shots on goal and Banners on the Wall
01/29/2025

Carol, Jono and Craig are joined by Anthony Russell from the Banners on the Wall blog/podcast/YouTube show - Anthony tells us his hockey journey from Rostock to Basingstoke and also his thoughts on NIHL National and South, with an eye on crossover playoffs and the National Final in Coventry.

The Stars gang then look back at the big home win over Sheffield as Billingham returned to league action.  We also look ahead to the visit of Leeds Knights to the Forum on Sunday.  

There’s last week’s results & tables, some bits of news and th...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 22: Cup semis and Zero Pucks
01/22/2025

Carol, Jono and Craig are have their first guest of 2025 as Ben from the NIHL South podcast Zero Pucks Given (ZPG) joins to talk about his podcast journey, NIHL South and the crossover playoffs coming up in April. 

The Stars gang then review the two legs of the Moralee Cup semi final which saw Billingham reach their third successive Cup Final.  

Last week’s results, news and the usual AOB topics round things off. 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also l...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 21: To Hull and back and back
01/15/2025

Carol, Jono and Craig are back to look at the home win over Hull in league play ahead of a two-game Cup semi final against the same opponent.  

We also run the rule over the other Cup ties in the NIHL North this weekend, look at results from last week’s league play and the latest league table. 

We round off with the usual AOB topics. 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also let us know where you're listening and which...


🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 20: First footing finds fifteen
01/08/2025

Happy New Year from Starcast! 

Carol, Jono and Craig look back on the big win in Sheffield marking the start of 2025 for the Stars, before previewing the home 2025 opener against Hull Jets. 

We catch up on results and league table (and postponements!) from the weekend, some news from GB U20, NIHL North and Cup dates v Hull. 

We round off with the usual AOB topics. 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also let us know where you're listening and w...


STARCAST: Episode 19 - Christmas catchup concludes with Tees Tyne Trophy triumph
12/31/2024

Carol, Jono and Craig are back from a Christmas break to look back on two weekends of games - Deeside away and the Whitley double header - which (spoiler alert!) went very well for Billingham!

We catch up on results, tables, Cup semi lineup, some breaking signing news elsewhere in the league and look ahead to the first game of 2025 in Sheffield. 

Finally the gang talk about their highlights of the year 2024. 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also let us...


STARCAST: Episode 18 - One flu over the Lions' den
12/18/2024

🎥📺⭐️🎙🔴 STARCAST 18: One flu over the Lions’ den

A short benched Billingham Stars battled to a come-from-behind win in Nottingham where only one of our crew was present! We’ll have all the details. 

Plus the results and tables and we look ahead to the next couple of weekends for Billingham, including the Tees Tyne Winter Classic Christmas Cracker - league and Cup points on the line between now and the end of 2024. 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also let us know where you're li...


STARCAST: Episode 17 - Billingham NIne-Nine
12/11/2024

Stars and Hawks split the weekend series, but Billingham make a statement in their home win on Sunday.  Carol, Jono and Craig look back at the action from Lancashire and Teeside.

There’s the results and tables from NIHL North 1 and a look ahead to next week’s early face off in Nottingham for Stars at Lions. 

GB Women face off on Thursday for their Olympic Qualifiers and love to Nottingham Panthers for the Adam Johnson shirt retirement on Saturday. 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - inter...


STARCAST: Episode 16 - The Virtual Vasilenko Suite. And Stars did a win.
12/04/2024

Back to winning ways for Billingham, the gang talk about the Solihull game. 

We also look ahead to the crunch double header with Blackburn which includes our Teddy Toss on Sunday at Forum Ice Arena. 

Our feature interview is Solway Sharks head coach Martin Grubb, who is midway through his second season in NIHL National division.  We have a fun catch up with Martin and reminisce about the ‘good old’ NIHL North 1 days.

Plus the results and tables from NIHL North too! 

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix...


STARCAST: Episode 15 - A Lioness and a Vixen walk into a podcast
11/27/2024

The gang are back to review Stars’ loss at Blackburn, their first reverse in two months and 11 games. 

We also look ahead to the visit of Solihull Barons to Teesside on Sunday, while Jono has a list of Supporters Club topics to bring in AOB. 

Our feature interview is GB captain Jodie Alderson-Smith who, as well as playing Women’s Elite League, has also been a part of NIHL Blaze since 2018 and guested for Deeside Dragons against the Stars last season. 

All the results and tables from NIHL North too in another packed episode. 


STARCAST: Episode 14 - Goals record, points record, press record
11/20/2024

Carol, Jono and Craig are back slightly later than normal but looking back on the last seven days of Stars hockey.

Two big wins, scoring milestones, player trivia and a huge, huge game coming up.

Plus great insight on player development from Trevor Hendrikx of Cardiff Canucks.

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow. Also let us know where you're listening and which team you support.

Follow @billinghamstars on all social media channels for the very latest from the...


STARCAST: Episode 13 - Road win Leeds to a home double header
11/13/2024

No guests just all hockey chat from Carol, Jono and Craig as Billingham Stars pick up a road win in Leeds and look ahead to a weekend of home comforts with TWO home games this coming weekend.

We look at the results & table in the NIHL North with an eye on a hellish run of games for the Stars before the year's end.

Carol has the listeners on the naughty step for not joining in with the playlist songs - Mick Fern excepted - while we also set a challenge related to Billingham teams with multiple...


STARCAST: Episode 12 - Steel City, NIHL bosses and more
11/05/2024

We're joined by the director and GM of NIHL - Martin Peters and Haydn Hunter - to talk all things NIHL, the season so far, working with clubs to make the league successful and announcing the venue for playoff finals!

The the gang return to scheduled programming with a look at the win over Widnes, ahead to Leeds away and go through results from across the weekend.

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also let us know where you're listening and which t...


STARCAST: Episode 11 - 47 seconds, 13 goals, 6 points
10/30/2024

On the anniversary of Adam Johnson's passing we share the pre-game ceremony from Sunday and briefly talk about the legacy of the AJ47 tragedy on players and safety equipment here and across the pond.

Carol, Jono and Craig then look at the Stars' two wins last weekend which kept them atop the NIHL North 1 - away to Hull and home to Nottingham.

There's the results and tables roundup powered by Joe Scutts and NIHL Stats and we look ahead to a single game weekend for Billingham as Widnes Wild head to Teesside on Sunday.

...


STARCAST: Episode 10 - Zebras, Scims and Knights equals Six
10/23/2024

Our first special guest interview in this episode with Colin Davidson, IHUK Referee In Chief, joining the gang to talk all things #TeamStripes - hopefully inform and educate about the third team on the ice.

IHUK REFEREE WEBSITE: https://www.ihukreferee.uk/courses

After that Carol, Jono and Craig look back at six points for the BTC-sponsored Billingham Stars with wins over Sheffield and league newbies Leeds.

We look at results & tables across League & Cup before a quick preview of another double header weekend - at Hull and home to Nottingham (Sunday, 5.30pm Forum...


STARCAST: Episode 9 - Unbeaten gardening leave and breaking news
10/16/2024

The episodes keep coming even when Stars have no games!

Hunter, Langstaff and Simpson get together once again to review the hockey free weekend, their NHL predictions and all of last weekend's action in NIHL 1 North.

There's also news to report happening literally as recording happens, not all of it hockey related!

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also let us know where you're listening and which team you support.

Follow @billinghamstars on all social media channels for t...


STARCAST: Episode 8 - Chip Spice & Purple Patches
10/09/2024

Carol and Jono once again join Craig to look at a great on-ice weekend for Billingham Stars with two wins from two.

We look at results & tables from the NIHL North 1, shoutout Joe Scutts, talk about a hockey-free weekend, we let folk know our NHL teams and Stanley Cup predictions and much more.

Please like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you're getting your fix of Starcast - interaction helps the podcast grow.  Also let us know where you're listening and which team you support.

Follow @billinghamstars on all social media channels for the v...


STARCAST: Episode 7 - A Hull of an episode
10/02/2024

Starcast with added Hull Jets content!

Carol & Jono are back with Craig to talk all things Big Red Machine, this week joined by Andy Daintith and Mike Roddy from the league-leading Hull Jets - Stars' opponents on Saturday.

We also look back on the win over Sheffield and the next home game against Solihull Barons.

Remember to like, subscribe, share, comment and review wherever you get your podcast - it really does help us grow.

Follow @billinghamstars on all social media for the very latest from the club.

Starcast is...


STARCAST: Episode 6 - Deja Vu All Over Again
09/25/2024

Just one game for the gang to talk about, this Stars' first loss of the season as they go down in Solihull.

We talk about the game as well as the post-game chippy.  We look at the results around the NIHL North 1, another big weekend at both ends of the table.  And we look ahead to Star's return to home action on Sunday with the visit of Sheffield Scimitars.

Remember to like, subscribe, share and review where you can to help the podcast grow.

Follow @billinghamstars on all social media.

Produced by @ma...


STARCAST: Episode 5 - The Joy of Six
09/18/2024

A six point weekend for the Billingham Stars with two wins and 17 goals scored - plenty for Carol, Jono and Craig to talk about as well as this coming weekend's trip to a 'wounded' Solihull Barons.

Remember to like, subscribe, share and review where you can to help the podcast grow.

Follow @billinghamstars on all social media.


STARCAST: Episode 4 - Barn is burning
09/11/2024

The gang are back to review the home opener v Blackburn and look ahead to the first league double header of the season coming up - Deeside at the Forum and Widnes on the road.

Follow on all social media channels @billinghamstars


STARCAST: Episode 3 - Reverse the Charges
09/02/2024

Episode 3 of Starcast and Carol dials in from abroad to join Craig & Jono to look back at pre-season, more signing news, the best Grigors brother and looking ahead to Hawks visit on Sunday!

Follow on all social media channels @billinghamstars.


STARCAST: Episode 2 - Surprise!
08/06/2024

Craig Simpson is once again joined by Carol Hunter and Jono Langstaff to look at the last month in Stars-land, with news of signings and departures as well as fixtures, tickets and more.

Oh and there might be a special guest appearance too.

Follow on all social media channels @billinghamstars.


STARCAST: Episode 1 - Summer. Ish.
07/09/2024

Carol Hunter, Jono Langstaff and Craig Simpson bring you the first episode of Billingham Stars' new podcast.  A summer catchup looking back at 23/24 then reviewing signings to date, announcing another addition to Stars' 24/25 roster and discussing the league changes for this coming season.

Follow on social media at @billinghamstars.


Starcast: the teaser
07/08/2024