The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast With Nick & Dom

Welcome to an EXTRA Episode This Week - Episode 38 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast - Our Bucket List German Footy Weekend.
By the time this episode is released, Nick, Dom & Nick's son, Rob will be at Manchester Airport awaiting a plane to Dusseldorf for what is now an annual German Footy Weekend.
As Borussia Dortmund fans we are looking forward to Nick & Rob's seventh & Dom's fourth visit to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday afternoon v Augsburg as the core of the weekend. But we are also taking in Borussia M?nchengladbach v St. Pauli at Borussia Park on Friday night too.
We cannot wait. Alcohol and Bratwurst may be taken - it is almost compulsory, but we thought we would share a few things about the overseas weekend - and particularly in Germany, so that any other football fans with a bucket list can get an insight into how easy it is to do this....
How did this all start?
What are the logistics?
Getting tickets - at face value prices
Getting around regional Germany
The weekend experience - particularly in Dortmund
Multiple matches
Things to look out for and where to take care
We would like to think that even if you have no ambitions for a bucket list trip, you will still enjoy this episode - just three match going footy fans enjoying a different match going experience for a weekend.
If this is on your bucket list - this is akin to a public service broadcast - ha ha.  Thanks also to Craig Solomon & the team at the Official Boro BVB Fan Club for all of your help too.
We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.
The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there.
Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond.
We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information.
This Episode is again brought to you in association with our EFL & National League Fan Welfare & Mental Health Partners huddleUp. If you have any influence in a club, in a supporter’s group, as a sponsor or in a commercial role - they want to hear from you.
To contact Adam Franklin or Conner Botterill at huddleUp, you can an email them at - sayhey@huddle-up.co.uk or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk
Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.

After an Exceptionally Bonkers Few Weeks of Clubs at Various Levels Making Stupid, Knee-Jerk Decisions, We Recorded Episode 37 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast With Nick & Dom and Entitled It:
"The Pressure for Success - Why Clubs Are Making Desperate Decisions & The Impact of Them"
We consider why when Brian Clough lasted 44 days at Leeds in the 1970's, it made headline news - front page, back page and internationally. Now, Eric Ramsey lasting exactly the same time at West Brom hardly causes a ripple.
We discuss what we think is the madness at the likes of:
West Brom (a club in crisis)
Leicester (Premier League Champions less than 10 years ago)
Spurs (not too good to go down)
West Ham (still looking for the West Ham way - whatever THAT is)
Nottingham Forest (4 permanent Managers in one season - so far)
Watford (it's Watford.....)
Celtic (MLS appointment from hell)
Are social media keyboard warriors (many of whom have never set foot in a stadium), making clubs nervous to give Managers & Coaches time?  Are the riches on offer so great as to make it unthinkable to go down or fail? And yet every season 3 go down and 3 go up from all top 4 English leagues - someone has to, and some will also miss out - it's just maths.
We also consider if the relative early success of Michael Carrick at Man Utd in his interim role has set unrealistic expectations elsewhere - expectations that are simply creating an itchy trigger finger in the Boardrooms of football - all looking for the mythical "New Manager Bounce".
Does this even exist?
On a other note we applaud a recent public statement about Phil Parkinson at Wrexham by the Hollywood owners, but we might still be a little cynical.....
Finally, we consider some idiotic perspectives from small groups of so-called fanbases on the likes of:
Daniel Farke (before a ball was even kicked this season)
Adoni Ireola (after a mid-season run without a win)
Chris Davis - (after losing three in a row at a newly promoted club)
Unai Emery (yes HIM, with Villa having a brilliant season on 3 fronts)
We also discuss why Gabby Agbonlahor is an idiot - but that doesn't take long obviously......
We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.
The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there.
Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond.
We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information.
This Episode is again brought to you in association with our EFL & National League Fan Welfare & Mental Health Partners huddleUp. If you have any influence in a club, in a supporter’s group, as a sponsor or in a commercial role - they want to hear from you.
To contact Adam Franklin or Conner Botterill at huddleUp, you can an email them at - sayhey@huddle-up.co.uk or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at - https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk
Thanks for your support with this and with our YouTube channel too.
 

Welcome to a very special Episode 36 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom.
This week, we launch our new relationship with a brilliant organisation, huddleUp who are targeting predominantly Championship, EFL & National League Clubs to offer a brilliant resource, supporting the wellness, wellbeing and mental health of football fans up, down and around the country.
With a football club being at the heart of a community, and supporters as a collective, broadly fitting the demographic of many who struggle with or struggle to access resources to reduce or better manage their day-to-day mental wellbeing and mental health pressures & challenges, huddleUp has big plans to offer access to local services, run by local professionals, who understand some of the local issues like socio-economic challenges that can quickly spiral.....
Our two podcast guests Adam Franklin & Conner Botterill of huddleUp share how things have already started - how and why 11 clubs are already on board, how the service(s) are both delivered and accessed locally - and how YOU can get involved with YOUR club if this resonates with you or someone close to you.
This is more than a tick box on mental health - it is by the fans, for the fans at THEIR clubs and we at The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast are delighted to be on side with this excellent service.
So, if you are involved in, or connected to a Championship, EFL or National League Club as:
A Supporter Liaison Contact
A Commercial Manager or Officer
A Sponsorship Liaison Contact
A Fan Forum Leader
An Active Club Fan
A Matchday Sponsor - at Whatever Level
A Local Mental Health First Aider……
....... please get in touch to support huddleUp at YOUR club.
Mental health seems to go from "I have no mental health issues, I am okay" to "I am suicidal or near suicidal" but there are literally thousands in this middle ground that need help - and your football club might just be catalyst for accessing the support needed.
To contact Adam or Conner at huddleUp, you an email them at;
sayhey@huddle-up.co.uk or if you are a business or representing a business on LinkedIn, you can connect and follow the business at;
https://www.linkedin.com/company/huddle-up-uk  
There really are no downsides.......
A Quick Overview to Help
Most wellbeing support looks good on paper but… it rarely gets used. Apps sit unopened. EAPs gather dust. Resources aren’t communicated very well. Meanwhile, real people are still struggling.
That’s why huddleUp is here.
A human-first wellbeing partner that actually gets used, because it’s simple, relatable, and built around conversations, not click-through rates.
huddleUp supports people inside and outside of work, helping them through whatever life throws at them:
Confidential triage service (real humans, not bots)
Guidance for managers who don’t want to “get it wrong”
A wellbeing calendar tackling real issues (grief, addiction, burnout, parenting, neurodiversity + more)
Return-to-work wraparound support
Access to therapy & counselling at discounted rates
This is probably our most important Podcast Episode to date and we thank you for watching, listening and hopefully sharing and supporting.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
We hope that this episode will inspire you.
The podcast, as ever is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there.
Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond.
We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information.
Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.
 

Welcome to Episode 35 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom.
This week, as a result of a lot of recent media discussions on whether people are, or have fallen out of love with football (particularly at Premier League level apparently), we discuss a number of issues that lead us to ask whether the lack of genuine "world class" players is one aspect that could be devaluing the experience we have always come to know and love.
Covering areas such as:
Are Fan Expectations Now Just Unrealistic?
The Disconnect Between Fans, Clubs & Players
The Financial Rip Off We Have to Endure
Taking Fans for Granted
Taking a No Risk Approach to the Game - Is It Killing It?
The Lack of Personalities & Mavericks
Cheating, Diving, Time-Wasting & Other Annoyances
But.......
The biggest discussion is around the QUALITY of what we are seeing (or not seeing), week in week out.
We covered Mavericks on Episode 27 and Whether Football Was Better 10 - 15 Years Ago on Episodes 14 & 19, but this is about the PLAYERS & the overused term, "WORLD CLASS".....
We share our definition, and why this means many of the players currently, and too regularly described as such are simply good players on the world stage, but far from world class.
Oh, and be prepared to spit out your coffee or swerve into a ditch when you hear who TalkSPORT Presenter, Darren Bent actually described as world class, live on air this week - mental!
Lots to get stuck into - let us know if you agree, disagree or just want to get involved - we would love to hear what you think.
We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.
The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there.
Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond.
We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information.
Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.
 

Welcome to Episode 34 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom.....
We have recently recorded 2 back-to-back episodes on some recent observations on the season to date after a busy January and like last week, we had so much we still had on our "to discuss" list that we have extended the subject with some different observations into this episode too.
Whilst these episodes are amongst our most popular and are the DNA of our Podcast ambitions, we will still be choosing specialist subjects, special guests etc to mix things up for the audience going forward.
So, whilst we might be positive, negative and potentially explosive - we cover a lot in this last of this type of episode for a little while.......
Watch this space for some future brilliant content on all sorts of things that fellow football fans talk about, but on this episode we cover......
Patrick Bamford's first ever red card for an embarrassing dive
Watford - the club that keeps on giving
Do bogey teams and bogey grounds really exist & why?
Who are your bogey teams and bogey grounds?
Conversely, who do you have the hex over - let us know?
Last minute winners, limbs & scenes
What are your best memories?
The mysterious end of transfer window "injury" curse
Why Piers Morgan is guilty of recency bias & should know better
IFAB - Just do better.........
Lots to get stuck into - let us know if you agree, disagree or just want to get involved - we would love to hear what you think.
We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.
The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there.
Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond.
We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information.
Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 33 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom.....
We did an Episode last week on some recent observations on the season to date after a busy January and we had so much we still had on our "to discuss" list that we have extended the subject with some different observations into this episode too.
These episodes are amongst our most popular and are the DNA of our Podcast ambitions. Positive, negative and potentially explosive - we cover a lot in this podcast with more to come on Episode 34 next week - so much to cover.......
We start with a apology, but to whom?
The Champions League Round 8 threw up some brilliant moments
What does the PL domination of the CL mean for the knockout phase?
What does BRILLIANT football form look like statistically?
We discover an abomination of a tattoo....
Why the FA are a disgrace - quoting rules to get away with it
The curse of the Interim Manager / Coach being permanently appointed
What does this mean for Michael Carrick at Man Utd?
Why appointing Coaches from the MLS is just wrong
Villa's goals from outside the box
Why we think Pep should just bugger off
And more......
Lots to get stuck into - let us know if you agree, disagree or just want to get involved - we would love to hear what you think.
We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.
The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there.
Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond.
We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information.
Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 32 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom....
After a hectic post-Christmas run of fixtures, back-to-back games coming thick and fast including a variety of midweek fixtures, the conclusion of AFCON and the return of European Club Football in the shape of the Champion's League, the Europa League & Europa Conference we have a lot to discuss.
So, we have another of our "Observations on the Season to Date" Specials. These episodes are amongst our most popular and are the DNA of our Podcast ambitions.
Positive, negative and potentially explosive - we cover a lot in this first half of a double podcast with more to come on Episode 33 next week - so much to cover.......
Celebrating Super Fans
Genuine & Appalling Half & Half Scarf Spotting
Are Fans Entitled to a Refund for a Poor Performance?
Treating Villa Fans Like Cattle (or Criminals) in Istanbul
Flip Flopping Spurs Fans
How Can Man City Sign Semenyo & Guehi?
TV Scheduling Treating Fans Like Dirt – AGAIN
Why Players Only Get Cramp in Certain Match Situations
We Cannot Ignore the AFCON Final
Take a PROPER Penalty You Muppet
And More.....
We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there.
Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond.
We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information.
Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to the latest Managerial Merry-Go-Round on this new Episode 31 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom.
As we recorded this in mid-season, early January, and the transfer window is open, we are also in another managerial silly season.
Recent events at Man Utd and Celtic in particular mean we have no option but to give this our attention - the Managerial Merry-Go-Round is the gift that keeps giving and there is a lot to cover.....
We covered the principle of this in Episode 9 on 31st August towards the end of the summer transfer window, so this is not only a look forward with a crystal ball on what might happen in the second half of the season, but a (smuggish) look back on how accurate our discussions were in August too.
Covering the likes of:
How Did We Do With Our August Managerial Predictions?
Who Do We Give a BIG Apology To & Why?
Man Utd - Culture & Succession Planning
Interim & Temporary Managers
Who Might Be In The Frame For The Next Knee-Jerk Appointment
Is Liam Rosenior Already Under Pressure at Chelsea?
The Celtic "S*it Show & Why They Deserve It
Up & Coming Managers & Coaches
Who Should Stay Put & Build Something?
Current Vacancies & Name Drops
Who Is Under Pressure & Might Not Survive?
Why Some of This is MADNESS
And More......
This is a really juicy subject that we really get stuck into, so why not comment, get involved and expand the debate. After all, this is and always has been a game of opinions.
We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there.
Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond.
We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information.
Thanks for your support with this YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Episode 30 of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom.
We recorded this on the Friday morning of a (ridiculous) 4 day FA Cup 3rd Round Weekend, before the giant killing heroics of Macclesfield, Mansfield & Wigan and great games at Wrexham, Newcastle & Grimsby to name but a few……
But in the spirit of the podcast DNA it would seem natural for us to discuss "What's Wrong with The FA Cup in 2025/26".
Your Hosts are both of a certain age where we still love the FA Cup - it's history, it's heritage, it's legacy and the memories it has created that are seared into the brain of any football fan of a similar vintage.  Hell, we can both still list EVERY FA Cup winner since 1970 in Nick's case and 1978 in Dom's case.......
But, it is fair to say that over recent years, it seems to be dying the death by a thousand cuts - some of which we cover in this episode.
A Four Day 3rd Round Schedule
No Replays / Straight to Penalties
A Terrible TV Schedule
Matches Chosen for TV
Teams Playing Weakened Teams
Same Division Fixtures
Semi-Finals at Wembley
Why the Final Was ALWAYS Appointment to View Watching
Why Palace Winning it Last Season Was Great News for the Competition
Snow Covered Pitches & Orange Balls
And More.......
This is a real discussion podcast - so what is your view, and what is your age that supports that view?
Are we just looking at things with the benefit of hindsight through rose-tinted glasses, and are we just curmudgeonly old buggers - or should the FA Cup be resurrected in the hearts and minds of genuine football fans?
A clue - we think the latter!
We hope that you will enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. 
Why not comment, get involved and expand the debate. After all, this is and always has been a game of opinions.  We hope that you will enjoy these episodes as much as we enjoyed recording them.
The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there.
Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond.
We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information.
Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.

Welcome to Part 2 of our DOUBLE Episode Special of "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom".
Released simultaneously, covering; “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” in our review of football in 2025. 
This DOUBLE Episode Special is a wide ranging review of the wider football landscape and neither Boro or Everton heavy or a concentration on the usual Premier League suspects.
So, whoever you support or follow, whether you are a match going fan or an armchair supporter, we think we have something for you across the 2 x episodes.
After covering the GOOD stuff in Episode 28, this Episode 29 concentrates on what we consider some of the BAD & UGLY aspects of football across the year - and there are some brilliant rants and discussions to get your teeth into, including.
Why Some Clubs Never Seem to Get Penalties
Own Goals v Former Clubs
The Birmingham City New Year's Day Curse
Celtic - Enough Said
Crap Owners
Mo Salah
Alexander Isaak
Alejandro Garnancho
John Terry
The National League Promotion & Playoff Picture
Crap Managers
FIFA
Ticket Pricing
VAR
Refereeing Standards
And Much More.......
It's a pretty packed episode, indicating that there are many things that get proper football fans riled.......
Do you agree with us in either or both special episodes? 
Have we missed some obvious scenarios and content?
Why not comment, get involved and expand the debate. After all, this is and always has been a game of opinions.
We hope that you will enjoy these episodes as much as we enjoyed recording them.
The podcast is available on all major podcast platforms - just search: "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast with Nick & Dom" on whichever platform you normally listen to your podcasts on and we will be there.
Don't forget to give us a nice 5 star rating and a like, and please subscribe and share from your favourite podcast platform too - to help us to grow our audience and also to automatically get your fix of The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast every week as we progress through the 2025/26 season, and hopefully beyond.
We also have an open Group on LinkedIn with over 200 members and rising - just search "The Half & Half Scarf Football Podcast" on LinkedIn Groups and join for additional content and background information.
Thanks for your support with our YouTube channel too.