Albion Roar

With February being LGBT History Month, we were delighted to welcome back Louise Englefield, campaign director of Football v Homophobia to talk about issues surrounding discrimination in football, and ways forward - including proud fans groups, and education. Tim Vince - aka Tim O'Tay on stage - and Justin Brentnall joined Al in the studio to mull over the West Ham game, including Izquierdo's piledriver. And Phil Shelley's Shirt of the Week is from Brazil - and Tim really didn't like it...

Russell Guiver, membership secretary of Seagulls Over London came by the Open Market to talk about who, what, when and where Albion supporters in the capital can listen to various club dignitaries at their regular meetings. Middlesbrough and Southampton - two (at best) mediocre performances, neither of which ended in defeat are up for discussion. Phil Shelley's Shirt of the Week is handsome - with  hint of contrition for the previous week's oversight... Enjoy.

Steve and Richie pine over the 4-0 defeat to Chelsea, while special guest Norman Cook talks us through trying to watch Brighton & Hove Albion when he is half way across the world. Find out also where Norman finds the bizarrest places to see an Albion shirt while on tour, and his emotions on 17 April 2017\. That, and much more...

Jason Thackeray, excellent scribe the behind 'Brighton - But Only At Home' blog joined Ady & Al in the Kemp Town studio for a discussion on the Chelsea match, Kazenga LuaLua, Schelotto and Jurgen Locadia, EuroPop and more besides... Former Albion full-back, now football agent Peter Smith talks about the Transfer Window, Albion's prospects and how Liam Brady had to get him off the sofa at University to sign him... Phil Shelley's Shirt of the Week would have been the 84,000th posted on the site. But it was too ugly, so we have something French instead.

This show was a treat for us. Former Kilmarnock, Rangers, Manchester City and Brighton midfielder Gordon Smith joined Ady & Al in our makeshift studio in Worthing for a chat about his time starting in Scotland, before heading south to Brighton. Oh, and we touched on some hitherto unknown incident at Wembley in 1983. After his playing career finished, Gordon became an administrator in Scottish and world football affairs, working alongside some of the great of the game. A true gentleman, articulate, funny and musical - Gordon was an absolute delight. This show was a total pleasure for the Roar boys. Phil Shelley's Shirt of the Week - is highly appropriate, and Gordon eventually got it...

Matt swung by the studio for the first time in a while to offer his pearls of wisdom on the Palace cup match, and on VAR. Meanwhile, PC Darren Balkham, Sussex Police Football Liaison Officer, came by earlier in the week to talk about policing Albion games - especially the Brighton v Palace Premier League game in November. And we look ahead to the Albion Women's FA Cup draw against Manchester City at Culver Road next month. And Phil Shelley's Shirt of the Week is horrible -  and unpronounceable.

Sussex Police Football Liaison Officer PC Darren Balkham was Al's guest for an interview on policing football at the Albion. Of special interest was policing at the Brighton v Crystal Palace Premier League match on 28 November last year. Darren explains various aspects of the day, and certain methods behind any decision-making. PC Balkham also described in general terms what sanctions can be taken in relation to football-related incidents, either by the club or the judiciary, and who can apply them.

Latest TV's Jamie Walker in the studio and former Albion stalwart Adam Virgo in Exeter join Ady & Al for a discussion on the Newcastle and Bournemouth games. Adam gives an excellent insight into the Albion's defending at corners, while the rest of us shudder every time one is taken by the opposition. Plus, with the upcoming FA Cup match with Crystal Palace - and the delightful prospect of another armchair referee having some say on the match - the foursome discuss the pitfalls and benefits of VAR. And we look back at the mark made by Jamie Murphy at the Amex as he leaves Brighton for his boyhood club, Rangers. Phil's Shirt of the Week is MASSIVE.

Richie and Steve are joined by former Australia ODI cricketer David Hussey (admit it - who knew David was a Brighton & Hove Albion fan?) The guys talk about David's Albion supporting history, plus a look back at the Christmas period for the club, and a look ahead to the Palace FA Cup match.

Roar regular Andy Bass joined Ady & Al for a review of 2017. From great days against Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday, through forgettable performances against Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest, to a sublime great free kick and, of course... April 17th 2017. And more besides. Plus Phil Shelley offers up a beauty of Shirt of the Year. WARNING: May contain traces of positivity.

Jo from Piglet's Pantry and Tam from Ridgeview Wines joined Ady and Al in the studio to discuss their two magnificent Sussex success stories (try saying that in a hurry…). As leaders in their field, Jo mixed and matched the best pie to go with the best wine on offer from Tam's Ditchling vineyard. Marcus Hancocks also dropped by to approve the high quality of savoury pastries and viniculture on offer - and talk about some footy too, especially the frustrating 0-0 draw with Burnley. We also talked of Boxing Days past involving the Albion, and Ady set up a Not-So-Secret Santa ahead of the Watford game. And Phil Shelley's Shirt of the Week was another psychedelic offering from the mid-1990s.

Leading Brighton 'Slice of Life' photographer JJ Waller joined Ady and Al in the Open Market studio to talk about his three 'Brighton' books, and his celebrated 'Brighton & Hove Albion' book - all four of which are up for grabs in our fabulous competition. Listen in to have a chance of winning... We chewed over the Huddersfield and Spurs matches with increasing levels of disdain, while Al met up with Kirsty Hulland, Albion Women's General Manager to talk about the club's successful bid for Tier One status in the Women's Super League. And, for once, Al guessed the club in Phil Shelley's 'Shirt of the Week'...

Ady, Al and Andy dissect the Liverpool routing from the previous weekend - paying tribute to the Reds' frontline attack - and the FA Cup draw with Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Ady talks to former Brighton and Huddersfield defender/midfielder Kieran O'Regan. Is 54 years old 'getting on a bit'...? Also, why Andy is offended by Phil Shelley's Shirt of the Week?

John and Neil from The Anfield Wrap came down from Liverpool to offer their take on life in the Premier League. Kieran Maguire, also working in Liverpool, talked about the possibilities of a Liverpool taker over, and a Blackpool FC buy-out. Plus there were discussions on Manchester United, Romelu Lukaku, Crystal Palace nil, and idiots storming the exit gates. Plus Phil Shelley's Shirt of the Week is a familiar club name.

Marcus 'Sir Rantsalot' Hancocks joined Ady & Al in the Coastway studio in Kemp Town for a 'Season So Far' debate. Naturally, the conversation turned to the Stoke City game (aka 'The Lee Mason Show'), THAT non-penalty, and the thickness and intensity of Glenn Murray's red mist. Also on the agenda was a look ahead to Manchester United and Crystal Palace, including a quick natter with Paul Reid, and we're asking you which is your favourite Albion-related commentary... Plus, of course, Hopalong Shelley's 'Shirt of the Week'.

Richie and Steve get together once again to discuss all things Albion from an antipodean exile perspective. Paul Reid shares his memories of Albion beating Palace at Selhurst in 2005, while the main guest is Brighton-born ex-Millwall and Palace winger Paul Ifill, now plying his trade for Tasman United in the New Zealand Football Championship. At the age of 38.

Bob Booker and Mark McGhee return for part two of their evening at Komedia we recorded back in September. Listen to Bob's time as a trainee upholsterer, and Mark's apprenticeship in an architect's office. There's more outrageous stories from the puerile (Bob's fart machine) to hero-worship (their collective love of The Who) through to the friendship between Booker and Joe Elliott of Def Leppard. Listen to how Peter Taylor's first training session with the Albion went, and Mark's attitudes to modern day agents, wages and professionalism. And their ongoing appreciation of Adam Virgo. Plus there's Freddie. You may need to wait for the TV show for fully appreciate it though...

How does the club unearth the next Lewis Dunk or the next Solly March? What is involved in getting kids to a level where they can make it as a professional? Listen to John Morling talking about the set-up at Lancing and across Sussex and Surrey, and how it interacts with the professional, senior side of the club. We also touch on the Swansea game, plus there's Uncle Phil's Shirt of the Week Down Under.

Former Albion manager Mark McGhee and assistant manager Bob Booker entertained an audience at Brighton's Komedia in early September regaling tales from Portakabin Central. Spend an hour re-living these tales from the 2003/04 promotion season - including Dick Knight's smoking habit, the coach roof, 'ice' in the beer - and Bob's 'favourite' restaurant.

Richard in New Zealand and Steve in Australia return for the second Albion Roar Down Under podcast. In this episode, Steve talks about the REMF match in Sydney between Brighton & Crystal Palace which took place recently. Former Albion player and REMF stalwart Paul Reid gives his impressions of the charity and the match. Plus we have John Moriarty, the first indigenous Australian to play football for his country. He talks about the 'John Moriarty Football', encouraging aboriginal players into the sport at junior and grass roots level. Richard Bayliss, executive producer and presenter at Optus Sports is the special guest. Richard talks about Optus' presentation of the Premier League in Australia, and his take on Albion's start to the season.