There has never been a better time to start a top-quality sports podcast, with more and more big-name sporting stars trying their luck in one of the fastest-growing media markets.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also given all of us more listening time than we might have anticipated at the start of year. Why not put all that extra free time to good use by trialling some of the best new sports podcasts streaming right now?
Former professionals, pundits, and influencers have created hours and hours of different content for us to enjoy while the world tries to get back to normality.
Here are our top picks as we round up the best sports podcasts we’ve listened to in 2020…
Best Sports Podcasts To Listen To Right Now
Football, tennis, cricket – whatever sport takes your fancy, there’s probably a podcast out there for your listening pleasure. Here’s our look at some of the best…
Zonal Marking
Hosts: Michael Cox & Ali Maxwell
If you enjoy the tactical side of the football, this might just be the podcast for you.
Journalists Michael Cox and Ali Maxwell of The Athletic look at the technical details of the beautiful game, both past & present, focusing on a different subject each episode.
The fact that the focus is mainly on tactics may sound overwhelming to many, but the hosts make it easy to understand while remaining very informative.
It’s a very unique podcast, and it is sure to make you look at certain teams and players differently.
Eddie Hearn: No Passion, No Point
Eddie Hearn has established himself as something of a national hero to the British public, and his podcast shows exactly why.
It’s far from a polished production but honest guests and some cracking humour make it an engaging listen.
The likes of Virgil van Dijk, Mike Tyson, and Frank Lampard have all featured.
Tailenders
Hosts: Greg James, Jimmy Anderson & Felix White
Even those who don’t like cricket will find this podcast entertaining.
Greg James, Jimmy Anderson and Felix White provide a weekly alternative look on cricket, with a hilarious podcast produced by the BBC.
The hosts’ natural chemistry makes it seem like friends chatting down the pub, which is always the sign of a show at the top of its game.
It will make you laugh, cry, and cringe with plenty of characters and stories to keep you thoroughly entertained.
That Peter Crouch Podcast
Hosts: Peter Crouch, Tom Fordyce and Chris Stark
Most football fans would have heard of this podcast by now, given its relentless promotion across various BBC platforms. However, if you still haven’t got around to listening, it more than lives up to the hype.
Crouchy is a breath of fresh air and that rarest of things: a former footballer who doesn’t take himself too seriously. He and his co-hosts bounce off each other perfectly, with some excellent guests and stories guaranteed to leave you laughing each week.
The Ornstein and Chapman Podcast
Hosts: David Ornstein and Mark Chapman
If you need to catch up on the week’s events in the footballing world, this podcast is perfect.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein shares his probing insights with the legendary Mark Chapman as they explore the latest burning issues from the beautiful game.
A must for the more informed football fan.
The Nat Coombs Show
This is the perfect way to keep up with everything NFL.
It’s an informative, yet humorous look at a sport that is growing quickly in the UK, and a brilliant place to start if you know nothing about American football.
Coombs regularly serves up both great guests and fascinating insight, all pitched in a humorous style.
The True Geordie Podcast
Host: Brian Davis and Lawrence McKenna
Brian Davis is a passionate guy, and this reflects in his podcasts which he co-hosts with Lawrence McKenna.
Some of the guests that have appeared on the show are massive in the sporting world, including the likes of Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Tyson Fury and many more.
Shows vary each week with the content of the podcast driven with the demand by his loyal viewers.
Hosts: Various
Exactly what it says on the tin.
A daily chat about football is what everybody wants right? Credit to these guys for churning out content six times a week, with a revolving presenter panel keeping things fresh.
Current rotating Ramblers include Marcus Speller, Jim Campbell, Luke Moore, Pete Donaldson, Andy Brassell, Kate Mason, Jules Breach, Vithushan Ehantharajah and Dotun Adebayo. That interchangeable line-up means you’ll need to keep listening, as in-jokes between the panellists are very much a feature of this light-hearted pod.
They’ve racked up over 70 million downloads and more than 500,000 people now listen every week.
The Tennis Podcast
Hosts: David Law and Catherine Whitaker
A must for any real tennis fan. Insightful analysis, top class interviews and questionable predictions.
The hosts are very passionate about tennis, and it reflects in their excellent shows.
Some of the biggest names in tennis feature, enabling fans to learn about their favourite players and what goes on in their daily lives.
The Marathonbet Podcast
Hosts: Danny Kelly and Simon Jordan
And finally, it would be remiss of us not to give a little plug to our very own podcast.
Hosted by talkSPORT duo Danny Kelly and Simon Jordan in their own inimitable styles, the Marathonbet Podcast takes a deep dive into the world of football, exploring what actually happens away from the cameras.
In Series 1, ‘From Boot Room to Board Room’, Simon shares his experiences of running a football club as Danny asks the questions every fan has always wanted to ask. Football’s darker side is tackled head on in Series 2 as the pair investigate gluttony, greed and the rest of ‘Football’s Deadly Sins’.
BEST SPORTS PODCASTS | Top 10
- Eddie Hearn: No Passion, No Point
- Football Ramble Daily
- Marathonbet Podcast
- Tailenders
- That Peter Crouch Podcast
- The Nat Coombs Show
- The Ornstein and Chapman Podcast
- The Tennis Podcast
- The True Geordie Podcast
- Zonal Marking
