The Sweeper

In Part 1, Lee reflects on his trip to watch high-flying Lugano take on Winterthur in the Swiss Super League. What’s the story behind their collaboration with MLS outfit Chicago Fire? What else has been behind the club’s rise to domestic cup winners and title challengers? And could Switzerland have its first national champion from the Italian-speaking region since 1949? We also hear from YouTuber and friend of the pod TheTimTraveller about Campione d’Italia (the exclave on the other side of Lake Lugano) and their eighth-division football team. Next up, it’s Paul’s turn to tell the story of his visit to Welsh outfit The New Saints ahead of their UEFA Conference League clash with Fiorentina. But what about the four Welsh clubs in the English pyramid dreaming of European football? Why is Norwegian second-tier club Bryne inviting spectators to bring their tractors to matches? And why are the Vatican’s men’s and women’s teams making a trip to Berlin soon? We answer all those questions in Part 2, which includes another guest appearance from YouTuber and Away Days host Ellis Platten. For the chance to win a Vatican national team shirt, to read our in-depth bonus blog about Lugano’s rise and to join our chat community on Discord, join us on Patreon at patreon.com/SweeperPod. You can also listen to our bonus podcast out on Wednesday 9 October, in which we talk about our visit to the Serie B match between FC Südtirol and Palermo, the Iranian ballistic missiles that made an appearance in the AFC Champions League 2 and the Romanian sporting director urging fans to abandon adult content creators. RUNNING ORDER00:00 – Intro00:51 - The rise of Swiss side Lugano10:34 - Mascots & miniature models13:15 - Campione d'Italia with TheTimTraveller17:25 - A stop-off at FC Südtirol18:52 - Behind the scenes at TNS25:00 - Alternative Welsh routes in Europe29:21 - Tractor tickets in Norway with Ellis Platten33:53 - The quirkiest VIP offerings in football38:27 - Peru's Vatican-themed football club42:12 - The Vatican's upcoming tour to Berlin Video: Away Days at Bryne: Out on Saturday 5 October Video: TheTimTravelleron Campione d’Italia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1fqinoNiZE Editor: Ralph Foster Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with FIFA+. Click here to get your free FIFA+ account and watch live football around the world: tinyurl.com/FIFAPlusSweeper Part 1 covers the best international window for underdogs in living memory, with San Marino’s first-ever competitive triumph, Anguilla’s first victory since 2010 & American Samoa’s first win since 2015 among the highlights. There’s also a mention for the Turks & Caicos Islands’ 14 year-old goalie, a rare competitive away win for altitude specialists Bolivia & a presidential helicopter disruption at Guyana vs. Suriname. There’s a special announcement to kick off Part 2, as we tell the listeners all about The Sweeper Podcast’s brand-new partnership with FIFA+ and all the matches around the world that can be live-streamed in top quality for free. The episode then finishes off with some great headlines from Chile and Argentina: Huachipato’s two games in one day, Barnechea’s 45-point deduction, Talleres’ gun-wielding chairman & Banfield’s half-time coach sacking. To enter the draw to win the San Marino-Liechtenstein match programmes & the Anguilla shirt, join us on Patreon at patreon.com/SweeperPod. There you will also be able to read our San Marino bonus blog and find our next bonus podcast on Wednesday 25 September, in which we talk about the Welsh substitute who got arrested before the final whistle, the Italian coach who scythed down an opponent & Chris Smalling’s nightmare debut for Al Fayha. RUNNING ORDER:00:00 – Intro00:31 – San Marino: Local disbelief05:00 – Anguilla: First victory in 14 years06:42 – Turks & Caicos: 14-year-old goalie10:21 – Bolivia: Altitude & away wins14:18 – International window: The best ever?16:08 – Guyana: The presidential helicopter18:55 – FIFA+: Introducing our new partner22:43 – Chile: Huachipato’s two games in a day26:50 – Chile: Barnechea’s 45-point deduction29:27 – Argentina: Talleres’ feisty chairman32:20 – Argentina: Banfield’s half-time sackingEditor: Ralph Foster Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you believe it?! San Marino, the worst team in the world by FIFA ranking (210), have ended the longest winless run in international football history (140 games dating back to April 2004) and won a competitive match for the first time in their history! The 'Titani' beat Liechtenstein 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League.Along with other content creators, friends & listeners, Sweeper duo Lee Wingate & Paul Watson were live in Serravalle to witness this monumental moment and talk about it afterwards in a special one-off bonus pod in a local bar after the final whistle. We hope you enjoy it - and please try out our other episodes if you do! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dive into the thrilling world of UEFA qualifiers with delightful underdog stories from Larne and TNS. Laugh along with hilarious football memes, including features on Mr. Bean and Slovan Bratislava's unexpected success. Discover bizarre incidents like a broken goal in Iceland and follow Papua New Guinea's Admiralty Islands FC as they relocate. Get excited for upcoming international fixtures, including the intriguing clash between Comoros and Madagascar, showcasing the quirks and cultural ties of global football.

Noah, associated with a significant achievement in Armenian football, shares insights on the intense drama of UEFA qualifying matches, including his team's stunning victory over AEK Athens. The conversation shifts to Djibouti’s Arta Solar 7 and their innovative partnership with a solar company. They also dive into the unique dynamics of Caribbean football, discussing St. Kitts' extraordinary three-legged final, and the challenges faced by clubs in the region. Expect an engaging mix of triumph, travel hurdles, and the vibrant culture of football across continents.

Maikeli Lomu, an American with Tongan heritage, shares his inspiring journey from pottery in Utah to chasing a World Cup dream for Tonga. He reveals the challenges of grassroots football in Oceania and the emotional pull of representing his ancestors. The conversation also dives into the unique 2024 Greenlandic Football Championship on Disko Island, and thrilling Olympic chaos, including a wild match between Australia and Zambia. Plus, catch stories about the scandals and unforgettable moments shaping the world of football.

In Part 1, we round up all the latest highlights from the UEFA club competition qualifying rounds. We talk about two villages of under 1,000 people in the Faroes & San Marino that claimed big European wins, the Slovenian keeper that went on a René Higuita-style dribble against Connah’s Quay Nomads of Wales and FC Copenhagen’s upcoming trip to face ‘pub team’ Bruno’s Magpies at a stadium overlooking the African coastline. That is followed in Part 2 by an announcement about a change to the podcast, which will return to its previously fortnightly rhythm. We then round off the episode by talking about the ‘Pariah Derby’ between the North Korean and Russian women’s teams and turn our attentions to pre-season friendlies: the pitch invaders at Rapid Vienna vs. AC Milan, Augsburg’s immigration disaster and a playground-style switch in Heilbronn. If you don’t want to wait until Wednesday 7 August for our next podcast, then join us on Patreon for our bonus podcasts. In the episode on Wednesday 31 July, we will examine the intriguing back stories of three promoted clubs from Eastern Europe, take a look at the Coupe de France action in St. Pierre & Miquelon and discuss the upcoming Milne Cup between Orkney & the Shetland Islands in Scotland. You can sign up at patreon.com/SweeperPod. RUNNING ORDER:00:00 - Intro00:38 - Victorious villages04:52 - 27th time lucky for La Fiorita11:38 - The NK Bravo keeper on the run 13:41 - Icelandic accumulator threats15:19 - Pub team with a view of Africa21:31 - Podcast frequency announcement23:52 - North Korea's 'Pariah Derby'29:22 - Rapid vs. Milan & pre-season friendlies Video of the NK Bravo goalkeeper on a run: x.com/FootballBurp/status/1814063958224978365 Editor: Ralph Foster Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 1 is dedicated to the best part of the European football calendar: the UEFA club competition qualifying rounds. We chat about the Gibraltarian pub team that claimed a win in the Conference League, the victorious Polish and Romanian teams in the Europa League and the part-timers from the Faroe Islands excelling in the Champions League. In Part 2, we bring you a random mix of stories from across the football world: Paul has been offered a coaching job on a mystery island in the South Pacific, Thimphu City of Bhutan have come up with a great initiative to protect the white-bellied heron and The Sweeper has sponsored a football team for the first time at the Icarus Cup in the USA. Join us for Part 3 over on Patreon at patreon.com/SweeperPod to hear about the Brazilian policeman who fired a rubber bullet at a goalkeeper, an Anguillan side that allows their supporters a top-flight run-out and the Icelandic footballer presented with a bottle of champagne by a Fantasy Football Winner. RUNNING ORDER: 00:00 - Intro00:40 - EURO 2024 disappointment02:44 - Second-tier Corvinul's quirky situation09:39 - UEFA win for pub team Bruno's Magpies13:10 - San Marino, Wales & the Faroe Islands19:38 - A mystery island coaching job for Paul23:46 - Thimphu City's white-bellied heron initiative30:50 - The first Sweeper-sponsored football team Buy your Sweeper-sponsored football shirt from the Icarus Cup: https://icarusfc.com/products/malmo?_pos=1&_psq=malmo&_ss=e&_v=1.0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 1 is dedicated to the overachieving underdogs at the continental competitions taking place this summer: Canada at the Copa América, Vanuatu at the OFC Nations Cup and Georgia at the EUROs. Meanwhile, in Part 2, there is a rare move to a European club for an Eritrean player and an ex-Gibraltar international is jailed for drug dealing. Join us for Part 3 at patreon.com/SweeperPod as we round up some headlines from the home nations and bring you some spectacular transfer fails too.RUNNING ORDER:Intro - 00:00Canada at the Copa América - 00:59Vanuatu at the OFC Nations Cup - 07:58Georgia at the EUROs - 14:36Listener mails - 20:30A rare Eritrean transfer to Europe - 24:02Ex-Gibraltar international jailed - 28:13 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast covers a trivia quiz on UEFA qualifiers with funny back stories, Marshall Islands' debut international match in Futsal, and a delayed friendly between Erzgebirge Aue and Glenavon. It also explores unlikely fan friendships in football, UEFA Regions Cup, and Patreon perks.