Sam's RSS Feed

The Hill Woods and the Bracewell-Smiths [Nov 2024]

#7

Today at 12:24 PM

In the latest history pod, Tim gives an oral history of Arsenal FC's stewardship from 1927, when Henry Norris is banned from football, to 2007 when KSE become involved. This is a story of two families, the Hill-Woods and the Bracewell-Smiths. Tim talks through their respective involvements in the club, how they used their connections from other industries and passed shareholdings and titles down their respective family trees and some of the key trigger points of their reigns.

The Formation of Arsenal (Part 2) - Professionalism [Jul 2024]

#6

Today at 12:23 PM

In this episode, Tim covers Royal Arsenal’s decision to ‘go pro’ in the summer of 1891. The pod recounts the events that led to the decision that the club were ready to become a professional club even though it was against the rules of their regional FAs and not the done thing in the south. Then Tim covers how they achieved it, the ‘shamateurism’ that preceded it and the internal and very bitter external politics that threatened the decision.

The Formation of Arsenal [Jul 2024]

#5

Today at 12:20 PM

In this episode, Tim covers how some men from the Dial Square cricket club in the Royal Arsenal factory decided to start a football team at the conclusion of the cricket season in 1886. Tim covers off the meetings that formed the club, the founders, some of the decisions that set the path to the club we know today and why Woolwich was ready for a football team in 1886.

The Move To Highbury [Jun 2024]

#4

Today at 12:19 PM

In this episode, Tim talks over the move from Woolwich to Highbury in 1913. Some of the background that led to the move, how and why they did it and how they used Henry Norris’ connections and his experience in property to enable the move and defeat the opposition to it.

The Marble Halls and Clock-End Clock [Jun 2024]

#3

Today at 12:18 PM

Tim goes through the history of the Marble Halls and the palatial East Stand as the brainchild of Herbert Chapman and his vision for a more luxurious, welcoming Highbury in the 1930s. Tim then goes through the history, the intention and the iconography of the Clock End clock.

Chapman wouldn’t live to see the finished versions of the clock or the east stand but both embody his legacy and gave Arsenal its sense of class, tradition and eternal branding.

WM Formation and the Tactics That Saw Herbert Chapman’s Arsenal Dominate [Jun 2024]

#2

Today at 12:16 PM

In this episode, Tim talks through Herbert Chapman’s tactical legacy at Arsenal and the WM Formation around which he would recruit and build the team that would dominate the English game. Tim talks about how Chapman exploited a change in the offside law to perfection, the players Chapman bought and repurposed to make the system work and how his revolutionary democratic approach with players led to the idea taking hold.

When Arsenal Won The League On Goal Average [Jun 2024]

#1

Yesterday at 5:21 PM

Tim gives an oral history of the 1952-53 season in which Arsenal won the league on the final day on goal average. Tim also looks at the post war, post Chapman context that made this such a difficult period for the club, driven by incredible manager Tom Whittaker and how it signalled the end of an era where Arsenal wouldn’t win another trophy for 17 years.

The Twelve Caesars: Vespasian [Jun 2026]

#90

Last Wednesday at 6:04 PM

Phoebe and Patrick tackle the first Flavian - Flavian Flav, the first man to wear a big sundial around his neck: Vespasian.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) [Jun 2026]

#89

Last Wednesday at 6:01 PM

You asked and we listened. We watched Mad Max: Fury Road, a movie that asks the question: what if the future was Australian and weirdly steampunk?

Join us for thrills, 2010s nostalgia and a surprising revelation about Meryl Streep.

The Twelve Caesars: Vitellius [Jun 2026]

#88

Last Wednesday at 5:59 PM

Milo, Phoebe and Pat are digging into the big man, the Marcus Lepidus of 69 AD - Aulus Vitellius. He may only have been emperor for 8 months but what an eight months...