The Sweeper

Exploring key events in Maltese football including title-deciding matches. Controversies in different continents like alleged poisoning in Russia and unique tributes in Brazil. Bonus segment on European football questions like VAR rejection and quirky player antics.

Part 1 is all about Africa, where a kit controversy has escalated into a geopolitical dispute between Algeria & Morocco ahead of the CAF Confederations Cup semi-final between USM Alger & RS Berkane. Elsewhere on the continent, Rising FC from Rodrigues Island in the Indian Ocean have made the long voyage to mainland Mauritius to take part in the cup, winning their last-32 tie!It's back to Europe - or at least, UEFA - in Part 2 as Paul & Lee discuss the 'Isolation Derby' between SKA Khabarovsk & Yenisay Krasnoyarsk in the Russian second division and look at some of the lower-league clubs on track for cup success - including Transylvanian outfit Corvinul, who have made it to next month's final against Oțelul Galați with an all-Romanian squad.On the bonus segment, there's talk of Harry Redknapp & Romario returning from retirement, a look at some goal-laden games in the ninth tiers of Italian and English football & the story of a Polish goalkeeper presented with a Zimmer frame as a birthday present by his Portuguese club. To listen to that, simply join us over at patreon.com/sweeperpod.RUNNING ORDER:00:00 - Intro00:59 - Algerian airport anger09:12 - Russ Cook's Africa run10:52 - From Rodrigues Island to Mauritius18:32 - The 'Isolation Derby' in Russia21:12 - The Niue Island listener23:11 - Corvinul & other second-tier cup runs 30:10 - Champions League fallen giants Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest Sweeper starts off in windy Wales with our visit to the game between Llantwit Major & Enfield Town in the Fenix Trophy and a wider look at the tournament regarded as the Champions League of non league. Then we're off to Scandinavia for some goalkeeper heroics, cupsets & geographical extremes, before finishing Part 1 in little Liechtenstein, where FC Vaduz will likely set a world record next month.With Bayer Leverkusen having claimed the first league title in their 120-year history, Part 2 is dedicated to seven other European clubs gunning for their first-ever title and the longest ongoing title-winning streaks across the continent now that Bayern Munich's 11-year stranglehold on the Bundesliga is over. Finally, we look at the Moldovan Clasico, where two twins recently scored for opposing teams, and read some listener e-mails.To win a unique Llantwit Major shirt and get access to the bonus segment of this podcast, where we chat about a Japanese side rising rapidly through the ranks, an unusual Portuguese on-pitch protest, an English team playing two games in two days and a truly bizarre Man of the Match award in the USA, join us at patreon.com/sweeperpod. We are entirely self-funded and your support makes a huge difference.RUNNING ORDER:00:00 - Intro01:11 - A Fenix Trophy game in windy Wales10:38 - Nonsense in the Nordic nations17:13 - Liechtenstein's ludicrously quirky cup23:15 - Potential first-time champs across Europe31:00 - The longest ongoing title-winning runs37:48 - Listener e-mails Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of The Sweeper begins with a focus on South American domestic cup competitions. We hear about the Juan Fernández Islands – 670km off the coast of Chile – taking part in the Copa Chile as a special invitee and the unusual journey opponents Santiago Wanderers must take to reach them. Up next is Ecuador’s non-existent cup competition and the story of a team called Bonita Banana ('Beautiful Banana'), followed by some terrible pitches and hideously named players in Peru.With Sudan’s Al-Hilal set to join the Tanzanian Premier League to escape the conflict in their homeland, we look at teams playing in other country’s football leagues in Part 2, including the likes of Liechtenstein's FC Vaduz and their uniquely tough path to the Champions League. Finally, we have an update on The Sweeper’s competition in conjunction with Icarus, which will send one lucky fan to Bhutan to watch Thimphu City in action.To hear the bonus segment of this podcast, Sweeper Xtra, which is an extended Q&A session with Lee Wingate and Paul Watson touching on their best and worst football experiences, culinary treats, animal encounters and aspirations for the future, join us at patreon.com/sweeperpod.RUNNING ORDER:00:00 - Intro01:20 - The Juan Fernández Islands in the Copa Chile09:00 - The non-existent Copa Ecuador12:36 - Horrendous pitches & player names in Peru20:04 - Al-Hilal of Sudan to play in Tanzania23:43 - Clubs playing in leagues of other countries33:19 - Update on the Bhutan competition by Icarus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up on this episode of The Sweeper, we delve deeper into North Korea’s mysterious cancellation of their World Cup qualifier against Japan and look back at memorable moments in the hermit kingdom’s football history. Then we’re off to Georgia to hear about the nation’s maiden qualification for a major tournament, before we chat through Austria's Rangnick resurgence as they shape up to be EURO 2024 dark horses.After the break it’s time to show some love for groundhoppers and to hear some amazing stories from our patrons in pursuit of the joy of ticking off new stadiums. Then we announce an exciting new competition from Thimphu City and shirt manufacturer Icarus that will see someone win a trip of a lifetime to Bhutan, plus there's a San Marino shirt giveaway too!To hear the bonus segment of this podcast where we chat about Estonia’s U21 side playing a friendly against the wrong team, a Romanian player who was sacked for turning up to training drunk and then appointed sporting director, and a Bosnian giant in decline, join us at patreon.com/sweeperpod.RUNNING ORDER:00:00 Intro01:15 North Korea's mysterious no-show08:33 Georgia's EURO jubilation11:57 Austria's Rangnick resurgence16:22 Glorious groundhoppers33:25 Thimphu City/Icarus competition38:29 San Marino shirt giveawayBrowse the Icarus website: icarusfc.comRead the Thimphu City-Icarus competition details: icarusfc.com/pages/thimphu-city-sweepstakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh from his trip to San Marino, Paul reflects on the attempt by FIFA’s lowest ranked country to break a 20-year winless streak against Saint Kitts & Nevis, before Lee rounds up the other international news - from the Basque Country's draw with Uruguay to the 'End of the Alphabet Derby - and Producer Tom chips in with a live report as Austria break an all-time record.After the break, we hop on over to the USA to hear about New York City vs. Toronto at Yankee Stadium - there are few fixtures that could have been more Sweeper than two clubs from different countries meeting in a league match at a baseball stadium - and dissect some of the madness of the US Open Cup, including burrito-based heroics and a rare case of lacrosse stopping play.To hear the bonus segment of this podcast with the ex-Shanghai Shenhua president banging in goals in the Chinese cup aged 58, arguably the most disastrous debut in football history and the Channel Island of Alderney trying to break their 104-year losing run, join us over at patreon.com/sweeperpod.RUNNING ORDER00:00 - Intro01:05 - San Marino's double-header with St. Kitts15:17 - International round-up16:39 - The fastest-ever international goal21:39 - New York City FC vs. Toronto FC29:47 - US Open Cup madness33:20 - Patreon episode teaserEllis Platten's Away Days video in San Marino: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56buY8H9Bd0&t=445s&ab_channel=AwayDays Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of The Sweeper begins by looking at the Virgin Derby between the British Virgin Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands in 2026 World Cup qualification. Meanwhile, a non-FIFA team, the Basque Country face Uruguay and may harbour UEFA aspirations. The Danish Superligaen strikes a huge blow to the European Super League, which might now be forced to rebrand, a Romanian coach returns to the same club for a 10th spell int the dugout and we play a Sweeper version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?RUNNING ORDER00:00 - Intro01:15 - The Virgin Derby10:36 - Basque Country v Uruguay17:17 - Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?28:30 - Danish Superliga strikes a blow33:57 - Coach in Romania returns for 10th time40:04 - Preview of upcoming Sweeper trips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest episode of The Sweeper kicks off with a tour of Oceania and the incredible story of two French journalists with an American (Samoan) Dream, before moving on to Pacific neighbours Micronesia & Nauru and their new coaches. David Johnson & Charlie Pomroy, who both partly credit the pod for their appointments, have sent us voice notes from their respective islands.Sticking with the island theme but moving back over to Europe, Part 2 starts in the Scilly Isles: the British archipelago is famed for having the smallest league in the world, but rarely is the title race as close as it is this season. In Sweden, meanwhile, a group of Ultras have managed to smuggle a kayak into a cup tie - but it's by no means the strangest item ever to end up in the stands at a football match…To hear the bonus segment of this podcast about Africa’s hottest derbies, chaos in Cambodian football and a player on the run from his club in the Dominican Republic, join us at patreon.com/sweeperpod. Sign up before Wednesday 20 March to enter our competition for the Pago Pago Youth shirt courtesy of Stingz ProWear!RUNNING ORDER:00:00 - Intro00:56 - The American (Samoan) Dream10:12 - Pago Youth shirt giveaway12:50 - Micronesia's new coach David Johnson18:40 - Nauru's new boss Charlie Pomroy25:25 - The Scilly Isles showdown31:22 - Smuggled kayaks in Sweden37:10 - Old Boys vs. Young Boys38:52 - Bonus segment teaserVideosSwedish kayak video: https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1b65lc2/daniel_kristoffersson_aik_supporters_somehow_got/Italian moped video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Nu6HKVSmk&ab_channel=RuthlessReviews Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of The Sweeper, we discuss our trip to Prague along with Patreon competition winner Joe McTaggart to watch the derby between Slavia and Sparta in the Czech Cup and enjoy a 24-hour whirlwind of Ultra-brewed beer, pyro and tifos. VAR controversies have rocked Croatia, where the head of referees Bruno Maric has resigned, derbies both real and mock have excited Argentina and there’s a strange case in Mongolia of a club who changed identity halfway through the season.To hear the bonus segment of this podcast about a derby in Lithuania dubbed ‘El Logistico’ and take a trip around the world to find clubs who have either been living up to or failing to live up to their names, join us at patreon.com/sweeperpod.RUNNING ORDER00:00 - Intro00:52 - The Prague Derby17:25 - A word from our competition winner21:35 - Match-worn Slavia shirt giveaway23:04 - Argentina's mock derby in the park29:08 - A VAR scandal in Croatia33:52 - A mid-season takeover in MongoliaApologies for the expletives in this episode: we chose to include them as they were actual restaurant and football club names! We have marked the episode as 'Explicit content' accordingly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Premier League and the rest of Europe’s top five divisions totally dominate the football headlines, but have you ever wondered what other interesting news and stories the rest of European football and world football have to offer? If so, The Sweeper is the football podcast for you!On this episode, Turkish footballer Emirhan Delibaş is sacked by his club Beşiktaş for his profile on the dating app Bumble and Irishman Dylan Connolly receives a Facebook invitation to play in the OFC Champions League preliminary round in Tonga, where he meets the Queen at church.Elsewhere, the draw for this summer’s CONIFA World Football Cup in Kurdistan – a tournament for unrecognised nations, states and peoples – has thrown up some interesting groups and the Seychelles have mysteriously been ruled out of AFCON 2025 ahead of the start of qualifying in March.To hear the bonus segment of this podcast all about our live experience at the 342nd Vienna Derby, the octogenarian Italian superfan who went viral and the Uzbek club that could soon be put out of business by former player Rivaldo, join us at patreon.com/sweeperpod.RUNNING ORDER:00:00 - Intro01:24 - Beşiktaş dismiss Emirhan Delibaş for Bumble profile04:55 - Funny footballer sackings08:15 - Dylan Connolly invited to play in OFC Champions League via Facebook13:10 - Round-up of the preliminary round action in Tonga16:35 - The draw for the CONIFA World Football Cup in Kurdistan24:22 - Eritrea & Seychelles already out of AFCON 202527:28 - Paul accused of butchering the Icelandic language28:50 - Football groundhop recommendations across Europe32:24 - Bonus pod teaser Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.