We Welcome Your Teams - Football as seen by stadium announcers

Rich Hurst of West Brom and Alan Keegan of Man Utd speak to Manchester City stadium announcer Alex Kirkley who's been at the Etihad for 10 years!He announced THAT Sergio Aguero goal that won them the title in the dying minutes of the season. He tells us about his favourite moments, the clangers he's dropped and the time he went under the radar for a game at Old Trafford...little did we know, Alan Keegan has spent time on the Manchester City payroll - all is confessed!Also check out derby day special episode featuring Alan and Alex talking about announcing at Manchester derbies gone by.Music: DistrictFour - Kevin McLeodYou can text Rich and Alan with a question here

In this special episode, released ahead of the Manchester Derby, hear stories of announcing from Man Utd's Alan Keegan and Man City's Alex Kirkley.Host Rich Hurst gets them to talk specifically about their memories of announcing for Manchester derby, which down the years have seen some incredible drama.As they're both such big fans of their club, you can hear the passion as they describe fond memories and nightmare matches, all from the point of view of one of the most unique jobs in sport, the stadium announcer.We'll also be publishing a full episode with Alex, asking all about his time at the Etihad, so get subscribed!MUSIC: DistrictFour by Kevin McLeod You can text Rich and Alan with a question here

Mike Botto has been stadium announcer at Bournemouth for nearly 15 years.He told Rich Hurst of West Brom and Alan Keegan of Man Utd the fortunate way he landed the job and the opportunities it's brought with it.We get his thoughts on being allowed to work during lockdown and the perks that come with basing yourself in the chairman's box for the games.He's been there for some incredible moments in the Cherries' history, and missed out on a couple too, which he still hasn't forgiven himself for.We play another game of What's My Name with a rude surname to stumble around and get the lowdown on the 255 sequence before kick off.We also have Lance Cook at Bristol Rovers on whether announcers should be working at games and hear how Graeme White at Everton interrupts the BT Sport commentators.MUSIC: DistrictFour by Kevin McLeod.You can text Rich and Alan with a question here

Rod Allsworth has been at Fleetwood Town for 14 years and from day one, they've had the most unusual goal music you'll hear anywhere!The music the team walks out to is pretty obscure too, but that's all thanks to the chairman. Rod chats with Rich Hurst and Alan Keegan about biggest wins/defeats and the times we've had to orchestrate a marriage proposal on the pitch - Alan's tale from Man Utd is a corker!There's another edition of What's My Name with a great story of a player with tricky name causing Scott at Hearts a big problem.And as always we talk about our guest's highs and lows from their career and what their 255 moment sounds like.Check out our Spotify playlist Walk Out Music and our other episodes with announcers from around the UKMusic: DistrictFour by Kevin McLeodYou can text Rich and Alan with a question here

In this episode Matt Crawley who works at Luton Town tells us how he started out as the stadium announcer.He's part of a double act that has it's own crowd chants and effects to play from their booth to get the players going.He's called promotion parties and historic matches...plus has had to prove to many people in the pub that he is the stadium announcer, by reading out random subs.Rich Hurst of West Brom and Alan Keegan of Man Utd are putting the questions again.There's another game of What's My Name with a very cheeky Paraguayan left back to get their tongue around.Plus a look at announcers on social where York City have paid a special tribute to Bootham Crescent.MUSIC: DistrictFour by Kevin McLeodYou can text Rich and Alan with a question here

For the first episode of series 2, we welcome Paul Burrell to the podcast.Paul's been at Arsenal 29 years as the announcer, working at Highbury and the Emirates stadium along with a few special appearances at Wembley.He's done League Cup Finals, FA Cup Finals, UEFA Cup finals and the Champions League final with the Gunners and has loads of stories to tell.There's also the time he ended up in the papers for a turn of phrase one night...something that led Arsene Wenger himself to saying 'you're in the papers more than me!'As always, Rich Hurst of West Brom and Alan Keegan of Man Utd are back as hosts, and there's a few tales of Man Utd vs Arsenal games to cover from down the years.Contact us on twitter @announcerspod or instagram @wewelcomeyourteamspodEmail the host [email protected]: DistrictFour by Kevin McCleod.You can text Rich and Alan with a question here

Part 2 of our chat with George Sephton who's been stadium announcer at Liverpool FC for 50 years!Find out about taking control of the music then losing his USB stick up a hoover. Also the problems caused when trying to co-ordinate all that music with the players walking out and how his 255 moment works at Anfield.As always hosts Rich Hurst of West Brom and Alan Keegan of Man Utd are there to ask the questions.Email the host - [email protected]: District Four by Kevin McCleod.You can text Rich and Alan with a question here

For the final episode of season 1, Rich Hurst of West Bromwich Albion and Alan Keegan from Manchester United speak to George Sephton of Liverpool, who's now in his 50th season as stadium announcer.There are stories galore, from a man who's seen and heard it all, and had the ultimate compliment from Jurgen Klopp. He was there the last time Liverpool won the league and talks about how very different a lot of things are now, not just because of Covid.His voice is unmistakable, even if he does have to remind the odd new face on the Anfield security staff by spontaneously saying 'there will be two minutes added time' to get past.Rate and review us please!Email the host [email protected]: District Four by Kevin McCleodYou can text Rich and Alan with a question here

Join Rich Hurst of West Brom and Alan Keegan of Man Utd as they chat to Liam Brown from Wigan Athletic He carries a couple of great stories around with him...he was there when the Latics beat Man City in the FA Cup at the DW Stadium and played an Oasis song at the final whistle...he was also there, standing in at AFC Fylde, when he was victim of one of the most notorious fake car number plate pranks in football history.We chat to Liam about those moments and more from being the announcer at his beloved hometown club. There's the one about his favourite manager's disco dancing, the one about taking on his opposite number from Man Utd and the one about stopping the players walking out the tunnel at the wrong moment.Plus we look ahead to George Sephton of Liverpool talking to us in episode 10.Music: District Four - Kevin McCleod.You can text Rich and Alan with a question here

Burnley's stadium announcer Dom Walker answers questions from Rich Hurst of West Brom and Alan Keegan from Man Utd about the job of stadium announcer at Turf Moor.Find out how he ended up doing the voiceover on the FIFA computer game and the little gems he recorded that they left in the game.Reviews and previews of other episodes including Wigan's Liam Brown and Liverpool's George Sephton.Email the host [email protected] - District Four by Kevin McLeodYou can text Rich and Alan with a question here

Rich Hurst from West Brom and Alan Keegan from Man Utd chat with Birmingham City announcer Richard Goulding.He talks bout being ditched by a famous blues player for his big moment at Wembley, getting a fast food meal from one of his blues heroes and how it came to be that the team almost walked out to the Spice Girls.Also find out which juggernaut of announcing we've secured for episode 10 and look ahead to our chat with Burnley's Dominic Walker about leaving hidden jokes on FIFA 18.Email [email protected] to contact the host.MUSIC: District Four by Kevin McLeodYou can text Rich and Alan with a question here

Rich Hurst and Alan Keegan chat to Lance Cook about being the stadium announcer at Bristol Rovers where he's even had his Dad as his matchday assistant!He had some big shoes to fill, a chap called Nick Day who set the bar pretty high.Lance talks about curating the matchday playlist and the buzz of welcoming the teams....and the time his equipment let him down at the worst possible moment.Our spotify playlist is now live with every guests' walk out music.Listen out for how to get in touch with the podcast too.Email the host [email protected] if you want to get in touch.Music - District Four by Kevin Mcleod.You can text Rich and Alan with a question here

Richard 'Dicky' Dodds talks to Rich and Alan about being pitchside announcer at Wolverhampton Wanderers.He's new to the job but has already fallen in love with welcoming the teams, even though he's had pronunciation slips, substitution cock ups and thought long and hard about what to play when they lose!This week's social announcements come from Lance Cook at Bristol Rovers and there's news about the new walkout playlist.MUSIC: District-Four by Kevin McLeodYou can text Rich and Alan with a question here

Rich Hurst and Alan Keegan ask Graeme White what it's like to be the stadium announcer at Everton.He's been at the club since 1995 and has loved every minute...apart from when he ended up in the Liverpool Echo for a European gaffe.Hear about how quickly he accepted the job, why he loves it so much and how he could've been lining up for the Toffees in alternate universe.Music: District Four - Kevin McLoedYou can text Rich and Alan with a question here

Matt James has been stadium announcing at West Bromwich Albion since 1985. He's seen promotion, relegation, play-offs and great escapes...plus a few other things worth talking about.Baggies fans will recognise his dry sense of humour but might not know how far he commutes from for each home game (a few thousand miles!)Music: District Four by Kevin McleodYou can text Rich and Alan with a question here

When Colin Carter saw the fourth official show four minutes of added time in Carlisle Utd's game against Plymouth, he knew they'd be the most important four minutes in the club's history...so he said it over the tannoy...and then, their goalkeeper scored.We chat to Colin about his time at Brunton Park as the stadium announcer and he recalls that day in May 1999.A great chat about just why he loves that job and why that day still means so much.TITLE MUSIC - District Four by Kevin McLoedYou can text Rich and Alan with a question here

Rich Hurst speaks to his counterpart at Manchester United, Alan Keegan, who's been the voice of Old Trafford for over 20 years.They speak about how he got the job, the perks of working for one of the biggest clubs in the world and the times he's let his emotions get the better of him whilst being the stadium announcer.Also find out about upcoming episodes with Colin Carter from Carlisle United and Matt James who works with Rich at West Bromwich Albion.TITLE MUSIC - District Four by Kevin McLoedYou can text Rich and Alan with a question here