The Academy Of Football Podcast
The Academy Of Football Podcast
5.0from 2 ratings
- 17
- Episodes
- 2
- Ratings
- Weekly
- Cadence
- 2026
- First episode
About The Academy Of Football Podcast
Welcome to The Academy Of Football Podcast, founded and hosted by Kevin Slade (co-founder of former West Ham United fan channel 'Sex Drugs & Charlton Cole') with Dave 'Lego Man' Kidd behind the camera. Not only is this the place where we discuss all things West Ham featuring a wide variety of guests, from ex-academy graduates, ex-players and coaches, through to celebrities, but also important topics such as men's mental health as well as a platform to showcase new musical talent.
- Publisher
- The Academy Of Football Podcast
- Category
- sports
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 4 Apr 2026
- Latest episode
- 12 Sept 2026
Latest episodes
17 episodes in the feed.
12 Sept 2026
Geo Mackie
In this episode TAOF Podcast's Kev chats to Geo Mackie, the legendary co-founder of the hugely popular West Ham United fan YouTube channel @HammersChat (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCJOj_yEU6n1gwZbunykWc-Q), who talks about how, despite being born and raised in Aberdeen, he became a lifelong Hammers fan and his early experiences of travelling up and down the country supporting them alongside his dad.Geo also talks about the origins of the Hammers Chat You Tube channel alongside his partner in crime Gonzo and also the highs and lows of being a content creator and the effects it's had on the pair of them over the years. He also candidly opens up to Kev regarding the challenges that arose for both himself and his wife (Mrs Geo) regarding the birth of their daughter and her subsequent health issues, whilst still having to earn a living and keeping the wolves at bay creating social media content at the same time.There's plenty more discussed as well, including his thoughts on the ownership merry-go-round that's currently happening at West Ham! Also we have a bonus performance at the end of the podcast by indie pop rockers 'The Displacements' (@the.displacements) who perform their latest single 'Bring Me Back', so check out them as well as our full and exclusive interview with Geo only here on @theaof_podcast (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wyO1jA3OrNop3vebXSmg) !CONNECT WITH US ON OUR SOCIAL LINKS HERE :-Twitter/ X : @theaof_podcastInstagram : @theaof_podcast#westham #westhamunited #hammerschat#geomackie#gonzo#amandastavely#danielkretinsky#davidsullivan#academyfootball #theacademyoffootball
30 Aug 2026
Dave 'Gnasher' Nash
In this episode TAOF Podcast's Kev chats to world renowned 'hyper real' spray can artist Dave Nash aka 'Gnasher' who, amongst other things has created some of the most iconic football murals over the years, including ones for West Ham such as the famous 'Long Live The Boleyn' and Billy Bonds / Sir Trevor Brooking murals in Upton Park, as well as more recently the ones featuring Carlton Cole, Julian Dicks, Phil Parkes and Luděk Mikloško outside The Carpenters Arms near The London Stadium. Other works of his include large scale murals for the likes of Marvel, Nokia, Microsoft, Channel 4 and many more. Essex born Gnasher talks about how he started getting into graffiti tagging and skateboarding whilst growing up in Harlow and regularly getting nicked as a result. After studying art and graphic design he tried a stint as a DJ before finally finding his groove in 2009, turning professional as a spray can artist. He also reveals how he became a West Ham United fan and shares his memories of his best and worst West Ham games over the years and his thoughts on how The Hammers will fare post relegation in The Championship. Check out his full interview here on @theaof_podcast ! CONNECT WITH US ON OUR SOCIAL LINKS HERE :- Twitter/ X : @theaof_podcast Instagram : @theaof_podcast #westham #westhamunited #gnasher #gnashermurals #murwalls #graffiti #footballmurals #streetart #spraypaintart #hyperrealistic #academyfootball #theacademyoffootball
21 Aug 2026
Mark Phillips
In this episode TAOF Podcast's Kev chats to West Ham United's former Academy coach and now Pathways & Development Manager Mark Phillips about his love for club, both as a die hard fan growing up in Camberwell and then eventually working for the club as a coach on the academy side of things for the last 20 years. Amongst many things, Mark details how he became involved with West Ham's famous Academy after an initial coaching stint at Arsenal and what it was like to oversee the development and witness both the career highs and lows of a number of Academy products, including Josh Cullen, Reece Oxford and of course Declan Rice, who was unceremoniously released by Chelsea at 14 years old and whom Mark predicted during his development that that not only would he become captain of West Ham United, but also of England. He's the man that even Mark Noble cites as being the real 'Mr West Ham'! Check out the full exclusive interview with Mark only here at @theaof_podcast ! CONNECT WITH US ON OUR SOCIAL LINKS HERE :- Twitter/ X : @theaof_podcast Instagram : @theaof_podcast
12 Aug 2026
Russ Budden
In this episode TAOF's Kev chats with Russ Budden, founder of the YouTube channel West Ham Network and the 'button monkey' West Ham DJ for the last 25 years. Russ talks about how he became a West Ham United fan, how the West Ham Network You Tube channel came into being as well as all the furore and fall-out over his very recent controversial departure from the club as the former Boleyn Ground & London Stadium match-day DJ after 25 years of service that has caused a big stir across social media in the last couple of weeks. He also talks about his thoughts on West Ham's latest Academy prospects and who he thinks have a chance of some first team action now that West Ham are playing in the Championship, plus much more!Check out his full exclusive interview on @theaof_podcast!#westham#westhamunited#westhamnetwork#russbudden#talksport#thesun#championship#relegation#theacademyoffootball
1 Aug 2026
Nicky Hawkins
In this episode TAOF's Kev chats with Nicky Hawkins, another of West Ham Fan TV's co-founders and the OG of post football match chat, the renowned 'Post Match Pint'. Nicky shares his story of the birth of WHFTV's You Tube channel well over 10 years ago in a cafe in Wickford, with his concept that it should just be a no frills one camera vibe of being sat in the pub with himself, Ryan, Graham and Scott and chewing the fat after the games. Nicky also talks in depth about the ups and downs of being a prominent West Ham related content creator, from the highs of that famous night in Prague in 2023 to the lows of multiple death threats against him and his family, online abuse and trolling he's experienced along the way, but all of which he takes in his stride. He also shares his opinions on what he thinks will happen with West Ham following their relegation to The Championship, Nuno Espírito Santo and the first team squad ins and out, Sullivan, Kretinsky and Gold, and the future for both him, the WHFTV channel and much more aside. Watch his full exclusive interview on our YouTube channel @theaof_podcast! #westham #westhamunited #westhamfantv #whftv #nickyhawkins #championship #relegation #theacademyoffootball #mensmentalhealth
18 Jul 2026
Jo Jarvie
In this episode TAOF Podcast's Kev chats to award winning comedian, actress and lifelong die-hard West Ham United fan Jo Jarvie. No stone is left unturned in this episode, with Jo openly talking about all aspects of her life - what it was like growing up in South London, dealing with a mother suffering from psychosis, her own mental health battles along with a hugely impactful addiction to both drink and pharmaceutical / recreational drugs, post-natal depression and hyperemesis, multiple suicide attempts, being sectioned, experiencing the stillbirth of her son Henry being amongst many of her trials and tribulations. Jo also documents her rapid rise, fall and latter resurrection within the world of comedy, as well as her long and tough road to recovery and sobriety having now been clean of both drink and drugs for the last two years, plus how she became a West Ham fan despite growing up in another part of London, miles away from Upton Park. A lot has been packed into Jo's 35 years so far and her compelling story is a real exclusive for @theaof_podcast ! If you're struggling with any mental health issues, drug addiction or alcoholism never suffer alone, head to https://www.uok.org.uk/resource/mens-mental-health/ for links to lots of support groups and more. CONNECT WITH US ON OUR SOCIAL LINKS HERE :- Twitter/ X : @theaof_podcast Instagram : @theaof_podcast #westham #westhamunited #comedy #womencomedians #jojarvey #footballfans #addiction #alcoholism #drugaddiction #sobriety #hyperemesis #childbereavement #stillbirth #mentalhealth #mensmentalhealth
13 Jul 2026
The Crazy Ginger Cabbie (Aaron Courtnell)
In this episode TAOF Podcast's Kev chats to Arsenal fan, comedian, London cab driver and lifelong friend Aaron Courtnell aka The Crazy Ginger Cabbie. Aaron speaks fondly about his time as a kid in Hainault alongside Kev and the football rivalry and banter that were a big part of growing up together. On the football side of things, he talks about all things Arsenal, Mikel Arteta's micro management style, how The Gunners have performed in the Premier League this season, why Declan Rice more often than not struggles to perform when he plays against West Ham United as well as the huge London derby game on Sunday between the two clubs that has a major impact at both ends of the Premier League table. On a personal front, Aaron also tells of how he became to be known as 'The Crazy Ginger Cabbie' across social media and the significant effect of losing his Mum had on his mental health and wellbeing. As to be expected, it's a fruity and lively debate between two passionate footie fans, only here at @theaof_podcast ! If you're struggling with any mental health issues, never suffer alone, head to https://www.uok.org.uk/resource/mens-mental-health/ for links to lots of support groups and more. CONNECT WITH US ON OUR SOCIAL LINKS HERE :- Twitter/ X : @theaof_podcast Instagram : @theaof_podcast #westham#westhamunited #londonderby #arsenal #arsenalfc #premierleague #football #footballfans #declanrice #mikelarteta #theacademyoffootball #mensmentalhealth #mensmentalhealthawareness
3 Jul 2026
The Check In - Episode 2
In this episode Kev chats to Dave about all things anti-depressants, with Dave talking in-depth about his experiences over the years being on and off of them, openly talking about the positive and negative aspects, as well as going into the realms of self-medication, be it via recreational or pharmaceutical means. #mentalhealth #mensmentalhealth #westham #westhamunited
3 Jun 2026
The Check In - Episode 1
Kicking off a new segment for The AOF Podcast, we have 'The Check In', where Kev Slade chats to the man behind the podcast's cameras and mics, Dave 'Legoman' Kidd about anything and everything in life.... basically checking in with each other. The primary aim is to openly discuss how they are feeling about day to day life, the past and the future, with a strong focus on mental health and wellbeing, especially from a man's perspective and sharing their experiences and views together in relation to that. Up for discussion in this episode are a number of topics, including their first experiences of anxiety and depression whilst growing up, the wider impact of trauma suffered by friends and close family members, as well as a smattering of more lighthearted elements along the way, with an occasional nod to West Ham United to! #mentalhealth #mensmentalhealth #westham #westhamunited
28 May 2026
George 'Hit Hard' Hillyard
In this episode of The Academy Of Football Podcast, Kev is joined by former footballer, professional boxer and now BKFC bare knuckle fighter George 'Hit Hard' Hillyard. George reveals all about his past, from when he was having trials at West Ham United at 13, eventually choosing boxing over football, turning professional and signing a 15 million pound deal with boxing promoter Barry Hearn, nearly beating Mike Tyson's record of the fastest ever pro debut knockout, his upcoming documentary and autobiography and much much more.On the flip side, George also talks candidly about the pitfalls and low points both in his domestic life and professional career that at one point saw him stray off the rails to seek solace in drink, all of which makes George's story a compelling watch from start to finish!Check out his full exclusive interview on @theaof_podcast!CONNECT WITH US ON OUR SOCIAL LINKS HERE :-Twitter/ X : @theaof_podcastInstagram : @theaof_podcast #teamhillyard #bareknuckle #bareknuckleboxing #bkfc #conormcgregor #westham #westhamunited #podcast #theacademyoffootball #footballacademy
12 May 2026
Rob Hall
Ex-West Ham United Academy graduate Rob Hall joins TAOF Podcast's Kev to talk about his time at the club, having joined at the age of 7 in 2001 and coming up through the ranks, finally to making his Premier League debut in February 2013 against Fulham. Rob spent his time as an academy player whilst under a wide scope of West Ham managers : Glenn Roeder, Alan Pardew, Alan Curbishley, Gianfranco Zola, Avram Grant and Sam Allardyce and goes into the details of his multiple heated clashes with Allardyce's assistant coach Neil McDonald, what it was like to train with and play alongside the troubled footballing genius that is Ravel Morrison and also his fond memories of fellow academy graduate Dylan Tombides, who sadly succumbed to testicular cancer in 2014. Check out his full exclusive interview on @theaof_podcast! If you or anyone else you know is affected by testicular cancer head over to www.dt38.org for lots of useful information. Please consider donating to DT38 via the link below to help raise awareness and support the fight against testicular cancer. Every contribution no matter how small makes a difference. https://gofund.me/03902f234 CONNECT WITH US ON OUR SOCIAL LINKS HERE :- Twitter/ X : @theaof_podcast Instagram : @theaof_podcast #westham #westhamunited #podcast #ravelmorrison #jermaindefoe #gianfrancozola #samallardyce #theacademyoffootball #footballacademy #dt38
4 May 2026
Ryan Archer
In this episode TAOF's Kev has a chat with West Ham Fan TV's co-founder Ryan Archer, where he reveals the origins of WHFTV's You Tube channel, the story behind his unwarranted stadium ban by West Ham United, the subsequent police prosecution that was thrown out of court and the effect all that had on him, plus his cameo as a detective in the upcoming cinema release 'Rise Of The Foot Soldier: Ibiza' and his aspirations to make more appearances on the big screen and much more in-between! Check out his full exclusive interview on @theaof_podcast! If you're struggling with any mental health issues, never suffer alone, head to https://www.uok.org.uk/resource/mens-mental-health/ for links to lots of support groups and more. #westham #westhamunited #westhamfantv #whftv #ryanarcher #londonstadium #riseofthefootsoldier #riseofthefootsolider2 #riseofthefootsoldieribiza #greenstreet #theacademyoffootball #mensmentalhealth
29 Apr 2026
Ricky Rayment
Ex-TOWIE star Ricky Rayment chats to The Academy Of Football Podcast's Kev about his obessesion with all things West Ham United, the highs and lows of the 2006 FA Cup & 2023 UEFA Conference League cup finals, the buzz of coming up with the Taty Castellanos terrace chant, what it was like to suffer alopecia, losing four close family members within the space of a couple of years along with his breakup with Katie McGlynn and much more. Check out his full exclusive interview on @theaof_podcast! If you're struggling with any mental health issues, never suffer alone, head to https://www.uok.org.uk/resource/mens-mental-health/ for links to lots of support groups and more. CONNECT WITH US ON OUR SOCIAL LINKS HERE :- Twitter/ X : @theaof_podcast Instagram : @theaof_podcast #rickyrayment #towie #westham #westhamunited #footballsongs #tatycastellanos #alopecia #bereavementsupport #theacademyoffootball #mensmentalhealth #dt38
18 Apr 2026
Joseph J Jones
This time round TAOF's Kev chats to musician Joseph J. Jones about his latest single 'You'll Never Take The East End', which he says is less of an anthem and more of a love letter to West Ham United. Joseph also shares his story of being a West Ham fan and how much the club means to him, whether the club will survive relegation from the Premier League to the Sky Bet Championship at the end of the 25-26 season, as well as his aims to help promote the DT38 Foundation who themselves are raising awareness and championing the fight against testicular cancer. Joseph also performs an exclusive live version of 'You Never Take The East End' for The Academy Of Football Podcast which you can't miss! Please consider donating to DT38 via the link below to help raise awareness and support the fight against testicular cancer. Every contribution no matter how small makes a difference. https://gofund.me/03902f234 Check out Joseph's website here - https://josephjjonesmusic.com/ #westham #westhamunited #mensmentalhealth #academyfootball #footballpodcast #soccerpodcast #football #soccer Please follow all of our socials for more content: YOUTUBE : @theaof_podcast INSTAGRAM: @theaof_podcast X: @theaof_podcast
11 Apr 2026
Tracy Tombides
In this episode Kevin is joined by Tracy Tombides to talk about her West Ham Academy star son, Dylan. Tracy speaks from the heart about many subjects she holds so close to her, including Dylan’s courage and zest for life he showed during his battle with Testicular cancer, his love for the game, her journey towards spirituality, and her passion & new purpose; spreading awareness for testicular cancer through the charity her and Taylor (Dylan's brother) founded - The DT38 foundation. #westham #westhamunited #DT38 #footballpodcast #soccerpodcast #testicularcancer Please follow all of our socials for more content: YOUTUBE : @theaof_podcast INSTAGRAM: @theaof_podcast X: @theaof_podcast
5 Apr 2026
Darren Blewitt - Part Two
Part 2 of Darren Blewitt’s explosive story! Released by West Ham, struggling to come to terms with life after Mark Noble’s testimonial, Addiction, Suicide attempts, suicide notes, and his long road to recovery! #westham #westhamunited #mensmentalhealth #academyfootball #footballpodcast #soccerpodcast #football #soccer Please follow all of our socials for more content: YOUTUBE : @theaof_podcast INSTAGRAM: @theaof_podcast X: @theaof_podcast
4 Apr 2026
Darren Blewitt - Part One
Part one of an exclusive two part episode, TOAF Podcast's Kevin Slade chats in depth with ex-West Ham United Academy graduate Darren Blewitt about his childhood, signing for the club and living the dream as a life long West Ham fan, his mental health and drug/alcohol addiction battles, and much much more! #westham #westhamunited #mensmentalhealth #academyfootball #footballpodcast #soccerpodcast #football #soccer Please follow all of our socials for more content: YOUTUBE : @theaof_podcast INSTAGRAM: @theaof_podcast X: @theaof_podcast
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