Why We Love This Club
- Episodes
- 50
- Released
- several times a week
- Latest episode
- Oct 23, 2026
About the podcast
Why We Love This Club explores the remarkable football clubs, supporters and communities that make the world’s game special. Hosted by Chris Horwedel, each episode travels to a different corner of global soccer to tell the complete story of one unforgettable club.
Discover how each team was founded, what it represents to its community, and why its supporters developed such a deep connection to it. The show explores club history, legendary players, defining matches, stadiums, rivalries, traditions, supporter culture, famous triumphs, painful failures and the moments that shaped each team’s identity.
From historic European champions and emerging women’s teams to supporter-owned clubs, lower-league institutions and overlooked teams across Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas, Why We Love This Club celebrates football in all its forms.
Whether you love soccer history, football culture, passionate fanbases or discovering clubs beyond the biggest names, every episode offers a new reason to love the world’s game.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes 50
Wrexham AFC — Saved by the Town, Lifted by Hollywood
Wrexham AFC, Welsh football, supporter ownership, Hollywood investment, and one of the most remarkable revival stories in modern soccer are at the center of the Season 1 finale of Why We Love This Club.Chris …
Show notes
Wrexham AFC, Welsh football, supporter ownership, Hollywood investment, and one of the most remarkable revival stories in modern soccer are at the center of the Season 1 finale of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel traces Wrexham’s story from its 1864 founding at the Turf and its deep roots in the town through famous European nights, the 1992 FA Cup upset of Arsenal and decades of financial instability that eventually threatened both the club and the Racecourse Ground.
The heart of the episode comes in 2011, when supporters helped raise the money Wrexham needed simply to begin the season. The Supporters’ Trust later took control, stabilized the club and preserved it long enough for Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds to arrive in 2021.
The episode then follows the arrivals of Paul Mullin, Ben Tozer, Ollie Palmer, Elliot Lee and James McClean, three consecutive promotions, the women’s team’s historic rise and new protections securing football at the Racecourse for generations.
Hollywood helped Wrexham reach the world. But it was the town that was responsible for making sure there was still a club to find.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Centro Storico Lebowski — They Sang Anyway
Centro Storico Lebowski, supporter ownership, Italian lower-league football and one of Europe’s most unusual fan-built clubs are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel tells the …
Show notes
Centro Storico Lebowski, supporter ownership, Italian lower-league football and one of Europe’s most unusual fan-built clubs are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel tells the story of a group of teenagers in Florence who went looking for the worst team in the city, arrived late, watched it lose 3–0 and started singing anyway. What began as an almost absurd act of support eventually became something much bigger: when the original A.C. Lebowski disappeared, the supporters founded Centro Storico Lebowski themselves in 2010.
The episode follows the club’s climb through Italy’s amateur pyramid, its transition into a cooperative where members have an equal vote, and the growth of youth, girls’ and women’s football programs built around accessibility and community.
There’s also the wonderfully unlikely arrival of former Fiorentina and Inter midfielder Borja Valero, a 2,500-person regional cup final and the long search for a home of their own in Florence.
Centro Storico Lebowski’s story proves that calling something “our club” can mean more than simply supporting it. Sometimes it means actually building it.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Al-Wehdat SC — The Club Built from Temporary Housing
Al-Wehdat SC, Jordanian football, Palestinian identity and one of the Middle East’s most powerful community clubs are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel traces Al-Wehdat’s …
Show notes
Al-Wehdat SC, Jordanian football, Palestinian identity and one of the Middle East’s most powerful community clubs are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel traces Al-Wehdat’s story back to 1956, when a football club grew from a youth center inside New Amman Camp, a refugee settlement built for Palestinians displaced from their homes. The club’s name comes from the housing “units” that gave the camp its identity, turning something designed as temporary relief into one of Jordan’s most permanent institutions.
The episode explores Al-Wehdat’s rise into a 17-time Jordanian league champion, its complicated relationship with Palestinian identity in Jordan and the fierce Derby of Jordan against Al-Faisaly. That rivalry carries sporting, social and historical meaning far beyond the table.
There’s also Al-Wehdat’s continental journey, from three AFC Cup semifinal appearances to becoming the first Jordanian club to play—and win a match—in the AFC Champions League in 2021.
Al-Wehdat’s story is ultimately about permanence: a community built from temporary housing creating a club strong enough to outlast the structures around it.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Young Africans SC — The Club Built Before Tanzania
Young Africans SC, Tanzanian football, the Kariakoo Derby and one of East Africa’s most important sporting institutions are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel traces Yanga’s …
Show notes
Young Africans SC, Tanzanian football, the Kariakoo Derby and one of East Africa’s most important sporting institutions are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel traces Yanga’s story back to 1935, when African residents in colonial Dar es Salaam formed a team before Tanzania itself existed. The club’s identity developed alongside the country’s independence movement, eventually becoming one of Tanzania’s biggest cultural institutions and earning the nickname Wananchi — “the citizens.”
The episode explores Yanga’s historic rivalry with Simba SC, a club that actually emerged from a split within Young Africans in 1936. Their Kariakoo Derby grew into one of African football’s great rivalries, dividing supporters across Tanzania while helping define the country’s football culture.
Yanga’s extraordinary domestic record includes generations of league dominance, regional success and two separate runs of five consecutive national championships. But the club’s greatest unfinished ambition remains continental glory. In 2023, Young Africans reached their first senior African final, defeating USM Alger in the second leg but losing the CAF Confederation Cup on away goals.
Young Africans matter because their story began before modern Tanzania did. The country changed around them, but the meaning of the name remained the same: Young Africans. Wananchi. The citizens.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sabah FK — Nine Years to the Champions League
Sabah FK, Azerbaijani football, the UEFA Champions League and one of Europe’s fastest-rising young clubs are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel traces Sabah’s remarkable rise …
Show notes
Sabah FK, Azerbaijani football, the UEFA Champions League and one of Europe’s fastest-rising young clubs are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel traces Sabah’s remarkable rise from its founding in 2017 to becoming a league champion, domestic cup winner and the youngest club ever to reach the Champions League league or group stage. Just nine years after being created, Sabah supporters were watching their team face Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The episode explores the club’s rapid development through private investment, academy building and a growing football identity in Masazır. Sabah’s youth system quickly produced national champions, while the first team broke through domestically and began making noise in Europe.
There are dramatic European nights too, including a wild penalty-shootout victory over Maccabi Haifa, a first major trophy against Qarabağ and the extraordinary Champions League qualifying run that ended with a 94th-minute rescue and extra-time victory over Hapoel Beer-Sheva.
Sabah’s story asks a fascinating question: how does a club build tradition when the history is still being written?
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
FC St. Pauli — Where Football Became Resistance
FC St. Pauli, German football, supporter ownership and one of the sport’s most distinctive political and cultural identities are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel traces St …
Show notes
FC St. Pauli, German football, supporter ownership and one of the sport’s most distinctive political and cultural identities are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel traces St. Pauli’s transformation from a struggling Hamburg football club into an internationally recognized symbol of supporter culture, anti-fascism and community control. The story includes the rise of punk and activist support around the Millerntor, the adoption of the famous skull-and-crossbones flag and the successful 1989 campaign that stopped plans to replace the stadium with a massive commercial Sports Dome.
The episode explores the club’s stance against racism, fascism, sexism and homophobia, while also examining how supporters have repeatedly challenged St. Pauli itself to live up to those principles. The Millerntor-Stadion became the physical center of that identity, filled with political banners, music, murals and one of German football’s most recognizable atmospheres.
There’s football too: the Hamburg derby with HSV, the famous 2002 victory over Bayern Munich, financial crises, unlikely cup runs and repeated fights for survival. More recently, St. Pauli supporters helped create a cooperative that raised millions while preserving democratic influence over the club and stadium.
St. Pauli’s story is ultimately about who gets to decide what a football club becomes—and what happens when supporters refuse to surrender that responsibility.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
SV Robinhood — The Club Between Two Football Worlds
SV Robinhood, Surinamese football, Caribbean competition and one of CONCACAF’s most persistent clubs are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel traces Robinhood from its 1945 …
Show notes
SV Robinhood, Surinamese football, Caribbean competition and one of CONCACAF’s most persistent clubs are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel traces Robinhood from its 1945 founding by rail-yard workers in Paramaribo to becoming Suriname’s record league champion and a club uniquely positioned between football worlds: South American by geography, Caribbean by competition and deeply connected to the Netherlands through language, migration and history.
The episode explores Robinhood’s golden era under Ronald Kolf, its fierce rivalry with SV Transvaal and an extraordinary continental record that included five CONCACAF Champions Cup final defeats between 1972 and 1983.
After relegation in 2014, Robinhood rebuilt. The revival culminated in the 2023 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup title, finally delivering a major regional crown 51 years after the club’s first continental final. Robinhood then returned to the Champions Cup and helped usher Surinamese football into a new professional era.
Robinhood’s motto says it best: No Struggle, No Crown.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pohang Steelers — The Club Forged in a Steel City
Pohang Steelers, South Korean football, K League history and one of Asia’s great club traditions are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel traces Pohang’s story from its 1973 …
Show notes
Pohang Steelers, South Korean football, K League history and one of Asia’s great club traditions are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel traces Pohang’s story from its 1973 creation by steel giant POSCO to becoming one of the defining institutions of Korean football. Built alongside the rise of the industrial city itself, the club evolved from a company team into a true civic symbol, with red-and-black stripes, the famous Steel Yard and generations of supporters making Pohang their own.
The episode explores Pohang’s remarkable record of player development, from Choi Soon-ho and Hong Myung-bo to Lee Dong-gook and Hwang Hee-chan, plus the academy structure that made producing talent part of the club’s identity.
It also covers Pohang’s three Asian championships, including the dramatic 2009 AFC Champions League run, and the unforgettable 2013 domestic double completed with Kim Won-il’s 95th-minute title-winning goal against Ulsan. That moment became one of the defining chapters in the fierce East Coast Derby.
Pohang Steelers are a story of corporate origins becoming community identity: the company built the team, but the city gave it a life.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Al-Hilal SC — The Champion Without a Home
Al-Hilal SC, Sudanese football, the Omdurman derby and one of African football’s most extraordinary stories of survival are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel traces Al-Hilal …
Show notes
Al-Hilal SC, Sudanese football, the Omdurman derby and one of African football’s most extraordinary stories of survival are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel traces Al-Hilal from its 1930 founding under colonial rule to becoming Sudan’s most successful league club, with 31 national championships, a famous blue-and-white identity and generations of supporters centered around the Blue Jewel in Omdurman.
The episode explores legendary figures like Ali Gagarin and Haitham Mustafa, the fierce rivalry with Al-Merrikh, and Al-Hilal’s repeated pursuit of the African Champions League after reaching the continental final twice.
But the heart of the story begins after war erupted in Sudan in 2023. Forced from Omdurman, Al-Hilal became a club in exile—training, living and competing across Africa while players dealt with displacement, separation and loss. They later entered the Mauritanian league, reached the Champions League quarterfinals and then won the 2026 Rwandan championship, despite remaining officially affiliated with Sudan.
Al-Hilal’s story is about more than trophies. It is about an institution carrying Omdurman with it, even when home is temporarily out of reach.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tibetan National Teams: The Clubs That Carry a People
Tibet’s men’s and women’s national football teams, the Tibetan diaspora and football beyond FIFA are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel explores how Tibetan football has …
Show notes
Tibet’s men’s and women’s national football teams, the Tibetan diaspora and football beyond FIFA are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel explores how Tibetan football has become a way for a dispersed community to preserve identity, create gathering places and represent itself on an international stage. Based largely in Dharamshala, India, Tibet’s teams are not FIFA members and instead compete through independent tournaments and organizations such as CONIFA.
The story traces the men’s representative team from the Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup to the landmark 2001 match against Greenland in Copenhagen, where Lobsang Norbu scored Tibet’s first widely documented international goal. It also follows later appearances at the FIFI Wild Cup and CONIFA World Football Cup.
The episode then turns to the growth of Tibetan women’s football, from early girls’ programs and Tibet Women’s Soccer to the 2022 CONIFA Women’s World Football Cup in India. Captain Jamyang Chotso’s remarkable journey and Ngawang Oetso’s historic goal highlight a program built despite limited resources, travel restrictions and few regular fixtures.
More than results, Tibet’s teams are about belonging. School grounds, settlement pitches and borrowed stadiums become temporary homes where players and supporters can gather around a shared identity.
Football cannot resolve exile or politics—but it can give scattered people a team to recognize and a place to say their name out loud.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Raja Club Athletic — The Club That Made Hope Loud
Raja Club Athletic, Casablanca football, African club history and one of the world’s most passionate supporter cultures are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel tells the story …
Show notes
Raja Club Athletic, Casablanca football, African club history and one of the world’s most passionate supporter cultures are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel tells the story of Raja Casablanca, founded in 1949 in the working-class district of Derb Sultan during Morocco’s struggle against colonial rule. The club’s name means hope, and Raja grew into the “People’s Club,” known for green and white, expressive attacking football and the tradition supporters call L’école Raja.
The episode traces Raja’s rise into an African powerhouse, including three continental championships, legendary players such as Abdelmajid Dolmy and the unforgettable 2013 FIFA Club World Cup run. Raja defeated Auckland City, Monterrey and Ronaldinho’s Atlético Mineiro before reaching the final against Bayern Munich.
Chris also explores the extraordinary Casablanca Derby against Wydad, the Curva Sud Magana, Raja’s politically and socially expressive supporter culture and the club’s modern struggle to balance investment, stability and its identity as a mass public institution.
From Derb Sultan to a world final, Raja turned hope into history—and made sure the world could hear it.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Colo-Colo Femenino — Chile Has Two Libertadores
Colo-Colo Femenino, Chilean women’s football and the Copa Libertadores Femenina are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel tells the story of the women’s side of Colo-Colo, from …
Show notes
Colo-Colo Femenino, Chilean women’s football and the Copa Libertadores Femenina are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel tells the story of the women’s side of Colo-Colo, from its launch in 2007 to becoming the dominant force in Chile. Las Albas won ten consecutive domestic championships beginning in 2010, establishing a standard few clubs in South America could match.
The centerpiece is the 2012 Copa Libertadores Femenina, when 21-year-old goalkeeper Christiane Endler helped Colo-Colo defeat Brazil’s Foz Cataratas on penalties and become the first club from outside Brazil to win the competition. That victory also made Colo-Colo one of the rare South American institutions to win the continent’s biggest club competition in both men’s and women’s football.
The episode also explores Colo-Colo’s continued domestic success, the rise of rivals such as Universidad de Chile and Santiago Morning, the professionalization of women’s football in Chile and the campaign to ensure the women’s 2012 Libertadores is remembered alongside the men’s famous 1991 triumph.
Chile has two Libertadores. Colo-Colo’s women won one of them.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tromsø IL — The Club at the Edge of the Football Map
Tromsø IL, Norwegian football, the Arctic Circle and one of Europe’s most extraordinary football environments are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel tells the story of Tromsø …
Show notes
Tromsø IL, Norwegian football, the Arctic Circle and one of Europe’s most extraordinary football environments are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel tells the story of Tromsø IL, the northern Norwegian club that turned geography, brutal weather and decades of exclusion into a defining identity. From being shut out of Norway’s national competitions to finally reaching the top division, Tromsø built itself into one of the country’s most distinctive football institutions.
The episode revisits Tromsø’s stunning 1986 Norwegian Cup triumph, the dramatic 1996 final against fierce northern rivals Bodø/Glimt, and famous European nights including the snow-covered 3-2 victory over Chelsea in 1997 and the UEFA Cup upset of Galatasaray.
Chris also explores life at Romssa Arena, the Battle of Northern Norway rivalry and the club’s decision to incorporate Northern Sámi language and culture into its stadium identity.
At nearly 70 degrees north, Tromsø IL did not simply overcome its location. It made the Arctic part of what the club means.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Antigua Barracuda FC — The Team That Never Came Home
Antigua Barracuda FC, Caribbean football, USL Pro, and Antigua and Barbuda’s remarkable World Cup qualifying run are at the heart of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel tells the extraordinary …
Show notes
Antigua Barracuda FC, Caribbean football, USL Pro, and Antigua and Barbuda’s remarkable World Cup qualifying run are at the heart of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel tells the extraordinary story of a professional club founded in 2010 to strengthen the Antigua and Barbuda national team by giving the country’s best players regular professional competition together. Barracuda entered USL Pro in 2011, played at Antigua’s converted Sticky Wicket cricket ground and helped provide the foundation for the Benna Boys’ historic run into the semifinal round of 2014 World Cup qualifying.
But the project quickly became unsustainable. Declining crowds, expensive travel and the collapse of the league’s Caribbean footprint eventually forced Barracuda to relocate to the United States for the entire 2013 season.
What followed became one of football’s strangest campaigns: 26 matches, 26 defeats and zero home games. Players lived in hotels, trained wherever space was available, endured unpaid wages and traveled enormous distances just to complete the schedule.
This is the story behind the infamous zero-point season—and why Antigua Barracuda FC deserves to be remembered for far more than the league table.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Al Ahly SC — The Club of the Nation
Al Ahly SC, Egyptian football, the Cairo Derby, and Africa’s most successful club are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel explores how Al Ahly grew from a meeting place for …
Show notes
Al Ahly SC, Egyptian football, the Cairo Derby, and Africa’s most successful club are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel explores how Al Ahly grew from a meeting place for young Egyptians in 1907 into a sporting institution with 45 Egyptian league titles and a record 12 CAF Champions League trophies. The episode traces the club’s nationalist roots, its rivalry with Zamalek, the importance of Cairo International Stadium and the meaning behind Al Ahly’s identity as the “Club of the Nation.”
The story also follows legendary figures including Mahmoud El Khatib, Mohamed Aboutrika, Manuel José and Pitso Mosimane, along with unforgettable continental triumphs in 1982, 2006 and the historic 2020 Champions League final against Zamalek.
Chris also examines the rise of Ultras Ahlawy, their role in Egypt’s 2011 uprising and the devastating Port Said disaster, where 74 people were killed.
From political symbolism and supporter culture to continental dominance and Al Ahly’s expanding global profile, this is the story of a club whose meaning reaches far beyond the trophies.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
B-67 Nuuk: The Championship That Fits Inside One Week
B-67 Nuuk, Greenlandic football, Arctic travel and one of the world’s most unusual national championships are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel explores the story of …
Show notes
B-67 Nuuk, Greenlandic football, Arctic travel and one of the world’s most unusual national championships are at the center of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel explores the story of Greenland’s record men’s champion, a club based in Nuuk where football operates under conditions unlike almost anywhere else in the world. With no roads connecting Greenland’s towns, domestic competition requires flights, boats and a national championship tournament compressed into roughly one week.
The episode traces B-67’s rise from its 1967 founding to 16 national titles, including a record run of five consecutive championships, while exploring its rivalry with N-48 of Ilulissat, the dramatic 2022 final featured in No Place for Football and the challenges facing amateur players balancing football with everyday life.
Chris also looks at Nuuk Stadium, youth development, B-67’s partnership with FC Copenhagen, Greenland’s national football structure and the country’s unsuccessful efforts to join UEFA and CONCACAF.
It is a story about geography, community and a football culture that continues to thrive despite extraordinary logistical and international barriers.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Corinthian-Casuals FC — The Amateur Club That Gave Its Name to a Giant
Corinthian-Casuals FC, São Paulo, Corinthians Paulista, and the origins of modern football culture are at the heart of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Chris Horwedel explores the remarkable story of an …
Show notes
Corinthian-Casuals FC, São Paulo, Corinthians Paulista, and the origins of modern football culture are at the heart of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Chris Horwedel explores the remarkable story of an English amateur club whose influence stretches far beyond its current ninth-tier home in Tolworth. The episode traces the history of Corinthian Football Club and Casuals FC, their 1939 merger, their commitment to amateurism and the ideals of sportsmanship that helped define “Corinthian spirit.”
The story also reaches across the Atlantic to Brazil, where Corinthian’s 1910 tour inspired the creation of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, now one of the biggest clubs in South America. That relationship later produced unforgettable reunions involving legends including Sócrates and Rivelino.
Along the way, the episode covers Corinthian’s role in early England teams, historic victories over Manchester United and other giants, the impact of two World Wars, the club’s long search for a permanent home and the volunteer-built ground at King George’s Field.
It is a story about influence without wealth, tradition without professional status, and how a tiny English club helped leave a permanent mark on world football.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Qarabağ FK — The Club That Carried a City Away From Home
Qarabağ FK, Ağdam, Azerbaijan, and one of football’s most extraordinary stories of exile and survival are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club.Founded in Ağdam in 1951, Qarabağ were forced from …
Show notes
Qarabağ FK, Ağdam, Azerbaijan, and one of football’s most extraordinary stories of exile and survival are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club.
Founded in Ağdam in 1951, Qarabağ were forced from their home during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War and played their final match at the old İmarət Stadium in 1993. Chris Horwedel traces how a club that lost its ground and its city continued playing, eventually becoming the dominant force in Azerbaijani football and a regular presence in European competition.
The episode explores Qarabağ’s identity as the “refugee club,” the rise of longtime manager Gurban Gurbanov, domestic dominance, and landmark European nights against clubs including Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Braga and Copenhagen.
It also examines the more complicated history surrounding the club’s connection to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including displacement on both sides and the responsibilities that come with turning football into a symbol of national memory.
With plans underway for a rebuilt stadium in Ağdam, Qarabağ’s story remains unfinished: a club that carried the idea of home for more than three decades while waiting for the possibility of returning to it.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chivas — The Club That Made a Nation Its Transfer Policy
Chivas, Club Deportivo Guadalajara, Liga MX, and the club’s famous Mexican-only player policy are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how one of Mexico’s biggest football institutions …
Show notes
Chivas, Club Deportivo Guadalajara, Liga MX, and the club’s famous Mexican-only player policy are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how one of Mexico’s biggest football institutions turned a self-imposed restriction into the foundation of its identity.
Founded in Guadalajara in 1906, Chivas grew from an internationally assembled team into a club that eventually committed itself to using only Mexican players. Chris Horwedel traces how that decision shaped everything from recruitment and academy development to transfer prices, supporter expectations and the club’s national significance.
The episode follows the rise of the legendary Campeonísimo teams, the rivalries with Atlas and Club América, major continental runs against clubs including Boca Juniors, and generations of stars such as Salvador Reyes, Omar Bravo, Oswaldo Sánchez and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández.
It also explores Estadio Akron, Chivas Femenil, the influence of the Vergara family, and the continuing debate over dual nationals and what it means to qualify for the shirt.
At its core, Chivas is a story about football and identity: a club that voluntarily narrowed its options and made that limitation part of what millions of supporters believe makes it special.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
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Clapton Community FC — The Supporters Who Built Their Own Club
Clapton Community FC, the Old Spotted Dog and supporter-owned football in East London are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, telling the story of fans who decided that preserving a football …
Show notes
Clapton Community FC, the Old Spotted Dog and supporter-owned football in East London are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, telling the story of fans who decided that preserving a football identity meant building a new club themselves.
Formed in 2018 by supporters connected to historic Clapton FC, Clapton Community was created around open membership, democratic control, published finances and equal voting rights. Chris Horwedel traces the boycott that preceded the club’s formation, the dispute over the future of the Old Spotted Dog Ground, and the supporters’ eventual purchase and restoration of London’s oldest senior football venue.
The episode also explores CCFC’s distinctive culture, from its internationally famous Spanish Civil War-inspired away shirt to its cooperative structure, community programs and commitment to keeping football affordable and accessible.
Along the way, the story touches on Walter Tull, East London football history, the Charity Commission investigation into the previous ground structure and the club’s rise through the non-league pyramid.
At its core, Clapton Community FC is a story about what happens when supporters stop asking who owns their club and decide to become the answer themselves.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
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Derry City FC — The Club That Crossed a Border to Survive
Derry City FC, the League of Ireland, the Troubles and the Brandywell are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, telling the extraordinary story of a Northern Irish club that crossed a national …
Show notes
Derry City FC, the League of Ireland, the Troubles and the Brandywell are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, telling the extraordinary story of a Northern Irish club that crossed a national border simply to keep playing football.
Founded in 1928, Derry City became Irish League champions and European competitors before political violence and security restrictions during the Troubles made playing at the Brandywell increasingly difficult. In 1972, after other clubs rejected Derry’s return to its own stadium, the club withdrew from senior football entirely.
Chris traces the 13-year wilderness that followed, Derry’s remarkable admission into the League of Ireland in 1985, and the rapid rise that produced the historic 1988–89 domestic treble under Jim McLaughlin.
The episode also explores the Northwest Derby with Finn Harps, European nights against IFK Göteborg, Gretna and Paris Saint-Germain, financial collapse and rebirth in 2009, and the lasting importance of figures including John Hume, Liam Coyle, Stephen Kenny, Ryan McBride and Mark Farren.
At its heart, Derry City’s story is about home: a club that survived by crossing a border without ever abandoning the city or stadium that defined it.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Club The Strongest — The Club That Had to Become Its Name
The Strongest, Bolivian football, La Paz, and the 1969 Viloco air disaster are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how one of Bolivia’s oldest institutions repeatedly turned survival …
Show notes
The Strongest, Bolivian football, La Paz, and the 1969 Viloco air disaster are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how one of Bolivia’s oldest institutions repeatedly turned survival into identity.
Founded in 1908, Club The Strongest became a defining force in La Paz football, winning early championships, helping establish the Estadio Hernando Siles and later becoming a major presence in the Copa Libertadores. Chris traces the club’s connection to the Chaco War, its rivalry with Bolívar in the Clásico Paceño, and generations of important figures including Rafael Mendoza Castellón, Pablo Escobar, and Alejandro Chumacero.
At the heart of the episode is the September 1969 plane crash near Viloco, which killed 17 players along with the club’s coach, staff and delegate. Chris follows the extraordinary rebuilding effort that came afterward, including support from rival clubs and Boca Juniors, the creation of the “Strongest Símbolo” team, and a rapid return to championship football.
It’s a story about altitude, rivalry, memory, and a club whose name became less a boast than a responsibility: strength meant continuing after the worst day imaginable.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Enyimba F.C. — The Elephant That Broke Nigeria’s Curse
Enyimba FC, Nigerian football, the CAF Champions League and the rise of the People’s Elephant in Aba are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, tracing how a once-relegated state-owned club became …
Show notes
Enyimba FC, Nigerian football, the CAF Champions League and the rise of the People’s Elephant in Aba are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, tracing how a once-relegated state-owned club became the first Nigerian team to conquer Africa.
Founded in Aba, Abia State, Enyimba spent years outside Nigeria’s traditional elite before chairman Felix Anyansi-Agwu helped transform the club around the turn of the century. Chris follows Enyimba’s domestic breakthrough and the teams led by Kadiri Ikhana and Okey Emordi that changed Nigerian football history.
The episode revisits Enyimba’s landmark 2003 CAF Champions League victory over Ismaily, followed by the dramatic 2004 final against Étoile du Sahel, when goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba replaced Nigerian star Vincent Enyeama for the decisive penalty shootout.
Chris also explores Enyimba International Stadium, the Abia derby with Abia Warriors, the Oriental Derby against Rangers International, and the challenges that come with government ownership.
With nine Nigerian league championships and consecutive African titles, Enyimba proved that Nigeria’s long wait for continental supremacy could end—and then showed it was no accident.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
FC Barcelona Femení — The Team That Outgrew Permission
FC Barcelona Femení, Liga F, the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the rise of women’s football in Spain are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, tracing how a team once denied Barça’s shirt …
Show notes
FC Barcelona Femení, Liga F, the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the rise of women’s football in Spain are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, tracing how a team once denied Barça’s shirt became one of football’s dominant institutions.
The story begins in 1970, when Immaculada Cabecerán recruited players through a magazine advertisement and a women’s side played at Camp Nou without permission to use the club’s name or colors. Chris follows the long road from those white shirts to formal incorporation into FC Barcelona in 2002 and full professionalization in 2015.
The episode explores defining figures including Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí, Caroline Graham Hansen, Patri Guijarro, Salma Paralluelo and Ewa Pajor, along with Barcelona’s transformation after the painful 2019 Champions League final against Lyon.
Chris also revisits the club’s European titles, domestic dominance, record crowds of more than 91,000 at Camp Nou, and the importance of Estadi Johan Cruyff.
It’s a story about access, identity and a women’s team that stopped waiting for permission and eventually helped redefine what FC Barcelona itself could be.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Atlético Nacional — The Night a Final Became Something Bigger
Atlético Nacional, the Copa Libertadores, Medellín football, and the 2016 Chapecoense tragedy are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how Colombia’s most decorated club showed that …
Show notes
Atlético Nacional, the Copa Libertadores, Medellín football, and the 2016 Chapecoense tragedy are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how Colombia’s most decorated club showed that greatness can mean more than winning trophies.
Founded in 1947, Atlético Nacional grew from a regional project into the Rey de Copas, winning 18 Colombian league titles and two Copa Libertadores championships. Chris traces the club’s rise through figures including Francisco Maturana, René Higuita, Andrés Escobar, Leonel Álvarez, Miguel Ángel Borja and Reinaldo Rueda, while also confronting the violence and cartel influence surrounding Colombian football in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The episode explores Nacional’s home at Estadio Atanasio Girardot, the Clásico Paisa rivalry with Independiente Medellín, and the historic 1989 and 2016 Libertadores triumphs.
At the heart of the story is November 2016, when Chapecoense’s plane crashed en route to the Copa Sudamericana final. Atlético Nacional asked CONMEBOL to award the trophy to Chapecoense, while more than 40,000 supporters filled the stadium in white to mourn the victims.
It’s a story of success, tragedy, solidarity and one of football’s most powerful acts of sportsmanship.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Deportivo Saprissa — The Monster Costa Rica Built
Deportivo Saprissa, Costa Rican football, Liga Promerica and the Clásico Nacional with Alajuelense are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how the Purple Monster became the most …
Show notes
Deportivo Saprissa, Costa Rican football, Liga Promerica and the Clásico Nacional with Alajuelense are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how the Purple Monster became the most decorated club in Costa Rica.
Founded in 1935 as a youth project by Roberto Fernández with support from Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, Saprissa built its identity around player development long before becoming a national powerhouse. Chris traces the club’s remarkable 1959 round-the-world tour, its famous home at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa — La Cueva, and the historic run of six consecutive league titles from 1972 through 1977.
The episode explores legends including Evaristo Coronado, Christian Bolaños, Álvaro Saborío and Rónald Gómez, alongside Saprissa’s deep connection to the Costa Rica national team.
Chris also revisits the club’s three CONCACAF Champions Cup titles, the unforgettable 2005 victory over Pumas UNAM, and Saprissa’s third-place finish at the FIFA Club World Championship.
With 40 national championships, a renowned academy, and one of Central America’s fiercest atmospheres, Saprissa’s story is about development, ambition and generations of Costa Rican players inheriting an extraordinary standard.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brunei DPMM FC — The Club That Needed Three Countries to Find a League
Brunei DPMM FC, the Malaysia Super League, Singapore football and Brunei’s cross-border football story are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring a club that has needed three countries to …
Show notes
Brunei DPMM FC, the Malaysia Super League, Singapore football and Brunei’s cross-border football story are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring a club that has needed three countries to find the right competition.
Founded in 1994 and closely connected to Brunei’s royal family, DPMM quickly outgrew the domestic game. Chris traces the club’s moves from the Brunei Premier League into Malaysia and then Singapore, where administrative chaos, FIFA sanctions and even a global pandemic repeatedly disrupted their place in the football pyramid.
The episode explores DPMM’s 2009 Singapore League Cup win, the bizarre season in which their league results were erased, and championship teams led by figures including Steve Kean, Wardun Yussof, Azwan Ali Rahman, Rafael Ramazotti, Adrian Pennock and Andrei Varankou.
Chris also examines DPMM’s rivalry with Tampines Rovers and Albirex Niigata Singapore, life at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, and the unusual financial and travel arrangements required for their current return to Malaysia.
It’s a story about geography, identity, and a Bruneian club determined to find meaningful competition beyond its own borders.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Club Atlético Atlanta — The Neighborhood Club That Refused to Disappear
Club Atlético Atlanta, Argentina’s Primera Nacional, Villa Crespo, and Buenos Aires football culture are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how a historic neighborhood institution …
Show notes
Club Atlético Atlanta, Argentina’s Primera Nacional, Villa Crespo, and Buenos Aires football culture are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how a historic neighborhood institution survived bankruptcy and rebuilt itself through its members.
Founded in 1904, Atlanta became deeply connected to Villa Crespo and its large Jewish immigrant community, developing an identity that extends far beyond football. Chris explores the club’s famous Clásico de Villa Crespo rivalry with Chacarita Juniors, its home at Estadio Don León Kolbowski, and the antisemitism Atlanta supporters have faced because of that cultural connection.
The episode also traces Atlanta’s greatest sporting era, including the 1960 Copa Suecia, and figures such as Luis Artime, Hugo Gatti, Carlos Timoteo Griguol, Osvaldo Zubeldía and José Luis Brown.
At the heart of the story is Atlanta’s 1991 bankruptcy, the supporter campaign that kept the football team alive, and the eventual recovery of the club’s community facilities.
Today, former Atlanta player Cristian Pellerano leads another promotion push as Los Bohemios chase a return to Argentina’s top flight after more than four decades away.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Glasgow City FC — The Independent Club That Built Scotland’s Women’s Game
Glasgow City FC, the Scottish Women’s Premier League, Rangers, Celtic and the rise of women’s football in Scotland are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how an independent women’s …
Show notes
Glasgow City FC, the Scottish Women’s Premier League, Rangers, Celtic and the rise of women’s football in Scotland are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how an independent women’s club became Scotland’s most successful.
Founded in 1998 by Laura Montgomery and Carol Anne Stewart, Glasgow City built an elite program without the financial backing of a major men’s club. Chris traces the extraordinary run of 14 consecutive league titles, 16 championships overall, domestic trebles and historic UEFA Women’s Champions League quarterfinal appearances.
The episode explores club legends including Leanne Ross, Suzanne Lappin, Jo Love, Hayley Lauder and Lee Gibson, plus Glasgow City’s role in developing stars such as Erin Cuthbert, Lisa Evans, Jane Ross and Denise O’Sullivan.
Chris also examines the rivalry with Hibernian, the growing challenge from Rangers and Celtic, the emotional legacy of Kat Lindner, life at Petershill Park, and Lauren Davidson’s dramatic 2023 title-winning goal at Ibrox.
It’s the story of how Glasgow City helped build Scottish women’s football — and how an independent club continues competing against institutions with vastly greater resources.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Melbourne Knights FC — The Club Australia Tried to Rename
Melbourne Knights FC, Australian soccer, Croatian identity and the National Soccer League are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how Melbourne Croatia became a national champion …
Show notes
Melbourne Knights FC, Australian soccer, Croatian identity and the National Soccer League are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how Melbourne Croatia became a national champion despite being forced to change its name.
Founded by Croatian immigrants in 1953, Melbourne Knights became one of Australia’s strongest clubs, winning back-to-back NSL championships in 1995 and 1996 and developing generations of internationals. Chris traces the rise of stars including Mark Viduka, Josip Biškic, Andrew Marth, Joe Šimunić, Danny Tiatto and Ljubo Miličević, along with the club’s fierce rivalry with South Melbourne.
The episode examines Football Australia’s controversial 1993 policy removing ethnic names, the transformation from Melbourne Croatia to Melbourne Knights, and supporters’ determination to preserve the club’s Croatian colors, symbols and culture.
Chris also explores Somers Street, the collapse of the NSL, exclusion from the A-League, Melbourne’s 2023 Australia Cup semifinal run and the current push under Michael Calandrella to return to NPL Victoria.
It’s a story of migration, football identity, national success and a community that refused to let assimilation erase its history.
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Check out the show's website for an interactive map with all current teams, and suggest a club.
If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.
The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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