Explore every episode of the podcast EFL Unfiltered with David Prutton

It's the final instalment of the official EFL podcast for 2023/2024, and host David Prutton is taking a little look back at some of his favourite moments from the second half of this truly extraordinary season, along with the characters that have joined him along the way!

Another season comes to a close, and who better to chew over the fat than Messrs Prutton and Stowell. It's been quite the campaign across all 3 divisions, and David and David have had a ball, as is clearly evident from their fond footballing summary!

On this week's official EFL podcast, David Prutton and David Stowell are joined by no nonsense AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson! Johnnie wears his heart on his sleeve and is brutally honest in his assessment of his side's chances of promotion, and as he rightly says, if they don't quite get over the line this time, it won't be for a lack of effort or a want of trying! Elsewhere, Leeds United's Patrick Bamford takes on the fearsome 72 in 72!

It’s a busy one this week as Mark Clemmit welcomes Luton Town striker Harry Cornick into his virtual studio, to ask whether he thinks they really can keep pushing towards a dream return to the top flight from non league in just 8 seasons! Clem also catches up with Sunderland boss Alex Neil on the challenge ahead at the stadium of light after an impressive upturn in form of late, and CEO of The EFL Trust Mike Evans, describes some of the amazing projects happening right now during this year’s EFL Week of Action.

Building upon the success of the EFL's 'Day of Action' in previous years, where all 72 clubs take part in programmes and projects within their local community that offer support and services to those that need them most, this year the offering has been increased across the board as the initiative spans a week rather than just a single day. To find out a little more about what's been happening this year, Mark Clemmit sits down for a chat with three individuals from different parts of the country and very different walks of life, to hear their stories and how their lives have all been positively impacted by the work of their EFL clubs in the communities.

This weekend, Wembley Stadium plays host to the Papa John's Trophy Final 2022 between Rotherham United and Sutton United, and Mark Clemmit is joined by the two men who's sides will face each other, Rotherham's Paul Warne and Sutton's Matt Gray. The two have never met each in the flesh and Clem has the honour of introducing them both on this week's official EFL podcast. In addition to that, Clem is joined by new Barrow manager Phil Brown who talks about his new challenge with the Cumbrian League Two side, and provides some expert punditry as he previews this weekend's Skybet Championship fixtures which return after the international break.

He’s taken a slightly unorthodox route to Skybet League One management, but the skills he’s learnt in his coaching career in this country and beyond, have certainly equipped Liam Manning with the tools and the vision, to get MK Dons to where the club’s owner and the fans, want and expect them to be. 
Elsewhere, Clem catches up with two young strikers who’ve played for more than two dozen clubs between them before either has reached the ripe old age of 30, but who seem to have found the right fit this season in their respective squads. Jordan Hugill on loan from Norwich City and scoring regularly for Cardiff, and Newport born Aaron Collins crossing the Severn on a daily basis as top scorer for Bristol Rovers.

On this week's official EFL Podcast, Mark Clemmit chats to Ipswich Town's Christian Walton about his impressive stats between the sticks this season, that have contributed to a fine run of form for the tractor boys under Kieran McKenna, and Richie Wellens reflects on what he's learnt over the past few years in management, and how he's using that to good effect with new club Leyton Orient.

On this week's official EFL podcast, Mark Clemmit chats to Colchester United's owner and chairman Robbie Cowling, about his forthcoming fundraising game for Ukraine against Skybet League Two table toppers Forest Green Rovers. Elsewhere, Clem is joined by Nigel Adkins for a full and in-depth preview of this weekend's fixtures, and Carlisle United's Paul Simpson reflects on 3 wins out of 3 since returning to Brunton Park.

As a player, he won just about everything with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea, and having been out of management for just over three years since leaving Southampton at the end of 2018, Mark Hughes felt the time was right for a new challenge when he was unveiled as the new manager of Bradford City a week ago. He chats to Clem about the hunger he has to bring success to Valley Parade and how he’s enjoying getting to know his new club and players. 30 miles south in Barnsley, Carlton Morris has been winning admirers for his recent performances in front of goal, and explains how 3 wins from their last 4 and a positive atmosphere in the dressing room, has given him and the team a genuine belief that they may just avoid the drop, and pull off what looked impossible only a few weeks ago.

This week it’s all about the Carabao Cup Final, as Mark Clemmit previews Sunday’s showpiece event as Chelsea take on Liverpool at Wembley. Clem is joined by Garry Monk who reminisces about his own day at Wembley in February 2013, when he lifted the trophy as club captain of Swansea City. Elsewhere, Clem catches up with Cheltenham Town boss Michael Duff on life in Skybet League One and that 5-5 game of the season last weekend against Wycombe, and new Walsall manager Mike Flynn assesses the task ahead at the Bescot, as he looks to quickly improve the fortunes of the Saddlers.

It’s a bumper packed edition of the podcast this week, as Mark Clemmit lays out the red carpet for 3 top guests representing the Skybet Championship, League One and league Two. First up, Ryan Lowe on that difficult move away from Plymouth, coupled with the ambition and challenges ahead with new club Preston North End. League One legend, Doncaster Rovers head of player development and now published author James Coppinger, drops buy to talk about life beyond his playing days, and how he’s using his vast knowledge to help the next generation, and Exeter City captain Matt Jay, describes the pride of leading out his boyhood club and shares some tips for dealing with the delivery and installation of white goods! It could only be the official EFL podcast!

It’s EFL Youth Development Week, and in order to shine a light on the brilliant work done in our EFL club academies up and down the country, Mark Clemmit speaks to Steve Avory who’s worked in Charlton Athletic’s academy for more than  20 years and now runs the operation. Steve and his team have produced the likes of Jonjoe Shelvey, Ademola Lookman, Joe Gomes and Ezri Konsa to name but a few, and are one of the most admired academy set ups in the country. Elsewhere, a recent head injury forced Wycombe Wanderers legend Matt Bloomfield to call time on a long and illustrious career, and he’s keen to make people aware of his experiences, and Clem also speaks to Newport County's goal machine Dom Telford, about staying on top of the goalscorers chart, in the rough and tumble world of Skybet League Two!

On this week's official EFL podcast, David Prutton and Juliette Ferrington welcome Neil Harris onto the pod to talk about his recent homecoming to The Den, and to explain his own notion of Millwallness! Prutts also catches up with the EFL's head of youth development Darren Wassall, to talk about the importance of nurturing the next generation, while Jules casts her expert eye over all this weekend's fixtures in Skybet Leagues 1 and 2, with no Championship action because of the international break.

He’s only been at Bournemouth for a couple of days, but already Todd Cantwell has lofty ambitions for himself and his high flying Bournemouth team mates. A return to the promised land of the premier league is what Cantwell has set his sights on, and with Scott Parker steering the next part of the young midfielder’s career, he’s confident he can do just that. Elsewhere, Clem sits down for a fascinating chat with Stevenage manager Paul Tisdale, who’s knowledge of the game has been crafted through many years of studious man management.

He’s been in the game a long time and is vastly experienced, but Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson understands only too well how much pressure you have to absorb when you’re living life on a knife edge, as he explains perfectly during a fascinating chat with Clem. Elsewhere, homegrown Oxford United striker Matty Taylor has seen his career come full circle, having been released by his boyhood club as a teenager, he fought back through non league and graduated up the football ladder, to not only come back to Oxford as a polished striker, but one who has now entered the club’s history books!

This week, Clem is joined by David Artell, who has been at the helm of Crewe Alexandra for the past 5 years, and Jon Brady, who swapped Newcastle in Australia for the lovely weather of Northampton Town! 

There are some over the years who have criticised the FA cup for not being the competition it once was. Weakened teams, lesser crowds and altogether not the competition it was apparently, yet last weekend’s third round was an absolute belter! Huge goals, huge shocks and some magnificent performances from lower league teams to knock out top flight opposition. Mark Clemmit catches up with the man who grabbed all of the headlines, Cambridge United’s Joe Ironside, who’s goal despatched one of the world’s richest clubs, Newcastle United.

Elsewhere, Huddersfield Town’s league and cup form has been impressive of late and Clem speaks to their 29 year old Liverpool born keeper Lee Nicholls, to find out what it is that has just clicked under Carlos Corberan, and sticking with the theme of good management, Micky Mellon shares some of his leadership skills, that have seen his Tranmere Rovers side go on a run of 6 unbeaten games in the league, and have also attracted the attentions of multinational corporations, who want to tap into his Micky Mellon management methodology.

They do say it’s a funny old game, but the Christmas and New Year fixture schedule has created a very different type of challenge for many managers this year. Rather than the relentless schedule of match after match in a short period of time, this year covid and injuries have resulted in many being postponed, and then the challenge is keeping the players sharp and on form as Sheffield United’s Paul Heckingbottom explains to Mark Clemmit. Elsewhere at Mansfield Town, Nigel Clough had cause to be fearful of the sack only a couple of months ago after a torrid run of form, before a total turnaround saw his side go on a blistering run of 10 wins in 11 games which have hauled his stags right up the table in Skybet League Two! Cloughie sits down with Clem to explain exactly what happened!

It’s been quite an eventful season so far and we’re only at the halfway point! To celebrate some of the brilliant interviews that Clem has done with the biggest names in the Skybet Championship, League One and League Two over the past 5 months, here’s a festive little best of the guests so far this season, on the official EFL podcast!

As we all get ready for the festive season, (covid permitting) Clem is joined by his old mate David Prutton, to mull over the season so far and where we find ourselves at the back end of 2021. There’s plenty to discuss, and if you’ve ever heard Clem and Prutts before, you’ll know that they’ve normally got plenty to say!

It’s a jam packed, bumper edition of the official EFL podcast this week, as Mark Clemmit sits down with 3 big hitters. Tony Mowbray’s high flying Blackburn Rovers have been on a roll of late, but now is the time for some big management decisions, as he has to keep his squad together and fit to face the pressures of the Christmas and New Year fixture list. Morecambe’s goalscoring hotshot Cole Stockton has been in the best form of his life, although he takes it all in his stride and remains extremely grounded, despite the David Beckham comparisons following that 60 yard worldie against Fleetwood Town! And Clem has a chance to chat to one of the EFL’s most exciting young managers, Matt Taylor from Exeter City, not to be confused with Matthew Taylor at Walsall, even though he often is! Matt is honest, open and pragmatic when it comes to his Exeter City side, and knows that they punch well above their weight when it comes to holding their own in Skybet League Two.

This week Mark Clemmit sits down for a chat with Tom Cairney, to find out what the mood is like inside high flying Fulham’s training ground, and Clem is joined by David McArdle from the EFL, to reflect on this week’s first ever Rainbow Laces fans forum, which was broadcast live from London on Monday night.

On this week’s podcast, Mark Clemmit sits down with Reading’s charismatic manager Veljko Paunovic, to discuss the struggles of season two, and EFL Chairman Rick Parry and Accrington Stanley’s owner Andy Holt weigh up the fall out from last week’s eagerly awaited Fan Led Review. 

On this week’s official EFL podcast it’s a 3 Davids special, as David Prutton and David Stowell welcome along David Artell for a chat about life at Grimsby Town. Brutally honest and brilliantly insightful, David Artell is always great value, and this is a captivating listen. On top of that, Messers Prutton and Stowell preview all this weekend’s EFL action across all 3 divisions, and a certain Jobi McAnuff tries his luck on the fearsome 72 in 72!

A little under a year ago in December 2020, Sol Bamba was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and the prospect of his own personal fight against cancer in the early part of 2021. Having been through an extraordinary journey, he catches up with Mark Clemmit about life at the Riverside with new club Middlesbrough, who Clem has more than a little soft spot for as well! Elsewhere, it’s time for some pure punditry perfection from Jobi McAnuff, who’s adjusting to life after football, and the very different pressures of being an in-demand media commentator!

Two managers this week in two very different situations. Michael O’Neill’s Stoke City sit 5th in The Championship after an impressive start, and have surely got the playoffs in their sights as they look to keep pace with the pack. Elsewhere, the EFL’s bottom club Scunthorpe United remain rooted to the foot of Skybet League Two, but have a new man at the helm, and he’s a man with a point to prove. Keith Hill’s CV stacks up with the best of them and there’s not many people that know more about League Two than him. He’s got a challenge on his hands to keep them in the EFL, but it’s a challenge he’s relishing and he’s certainly going to give it a good go! 

It's a jam packed edition of the official EFL podcast this week as Mark Clemmit welcomes 3 guests onto his virtual sofa! Mark Robins joins him to talk about his Coventry side's impressive form of late, we learn about a new programme set to improve the fitness of fans, and Clem has a fascinating catch up with Glenn Murray, 6 months after hanging up his boots. 

This week Neil Warnock took charge of his 1602nd match as a manager, breaking an all time record held by Dario Gradi. It’s a remarkable achievement from one of the great characters of the game, and Mark Clemmit is joined by Michael Brown who knows Warnock only too well, having played for him at Sheffield United and Leeds United, and former referee Mark Halsey, who had a few runs ins with him over the years, as did most match officials!
Elsewhere, Ryan Lowe’s high flying Plymouth side have had a fantastic start to the season, as he joins Clem for a catch up on life in the sunny south west, and how there’s an exiled Scousers mini league emerging in Skybet League One!

Scott Parker agrees that Bournemouth seem a perfect fit for him, but he’s cautious about getting carried away, as he sits down and explains his thinking to Mark Clemmit. His table topping Bournemouth side will have tough tests throughout the season, he has no doubts, but for now they’re flying high and he’s enjoying his time on the south coast. Further afield but equally close to the beach, Owen Coyle is live from Goa, as he’s based over there as the boss of Jamshedspur FC in the Indian Super League. He may be nearly 5000 miles away, but his knowledge of the daily goings on at every level within the EFL is encyclopaedic, as he proves once again with Clem, as the two dissect all the latest news this week!

To celebrate Black History Month, Mark Clemmit sits down for a one on one chat with one of the greatest players in the history of English football, and a legend for club and country. As the first black footballer to appear in a full international for England in 1978, Viv Anderson's life and career is a remarkable one, which Clem is privileged enough to hear about first hand, from the man himself.

As we shine a light on this week’s ‘world mental health day’, Mark Clemmit is joined by two men who have played football at the highest level, but have also suffered years of struggle and torment dealing with their own mental health issues. Darren Eadie and Chris Kirkland bravely discuss all they have been through, and offer advice to those who have struggled, or may still be battling their own demons. In an age where statistically it seems to be more and more common, especially amongst young men, this is an episode that everyone should take the time to listen to.

As we find ourselves in the second International break of the season, it would seem a perfect time to get away from the weekly ups and downs of results and league table positions, and focus on the men who sit in the hot seat at 3 of our EFL clubs, in each of the 3 Skybet league divisions. On the panel this week are Swansea City's head coach Russell Martin, Rotherham United's long serving and highly experienced manager Paul Warne, and the man charged with getting Stevenage up the divisions, Alex Revell. The holy trinity of grafting gaffers share a laugh over common ground and shared experiences, and mull over the rollercoaster world that they find themselves in, as Mark Clemmit takes us on in-depth journey into the anatomy of a manager!

One of the biggest names in the game, Charlie Austin joins Mark Clemmit to talk about his life and career, what he’s learnt along the way, and what he can bring back with him to QPR, the club that just seems to be a perfect fit, time and time again. Elsewhere, this weekend sees the only fixture that will ever put Paul Cook and John Coleman’s lifelong friendship on hold (until 5pm Saturday) as Paul’s Ipswich travel to John’s Accrington, and if it’s anything like as entertaining as Clem’s chat with these two this week, the crowd at the Crown ground are in for a cracker!

It must be very odd for a lad from Stoke on Trent to be suddenly representing your mum’s home nation of Chile, especially when you don’t speak Spanish, but that’s exactly what’s happened to Blackburn Rovers Ben Brereton Diaz in the last 12 months, who recently lined up against the likes of Messi and Neymar in the Copa America!
A little closer to home, recently retired Doncaster Rovers legend, and now a key member of Richie Wellens coaching staff, James Coppinger gives Clem his expert opinion on all the week’s EFL news, but unfortunately they don’t agree on everything!

On this week's official EFL podcast, David Prutton and Juliette Ferrington are joined by Cheltenham Town boss Darrell Clarke, who's enjoying the very real challenge of trying to keep the robins in Skybet League One this season. Elsewhere, Prutts and Jules look at all the big stories and preview the big games this weekend in all 3 divisions, and in the fearsome 72 in 72, Wycombe Wanderers Matt Butcher pits his wits!

Billy Sharp is Sheffield United through and through, and in his third spell with his boyhood club, the 35 year old goalscoring captain shows no sign of stopping any time soon, and is targeting another impressive haul this season and hopefully a new contract with the blades. Elsewhere, Clem catches up with Ian Evatt, who’s had a short but very impressive spell in management thus far. First with Barrow and now with Bolton Wanderers, who he picked up in Skybet League Two, has got them into League One at the first attempt, and now has his sights set firmly on the Championship as his next big goal for the club.

He spent 12 years at Vicarage Road, which is enough to cement and secure a very special place in Troy Deeney’s heart, but when his boyhood club came knocking, at the age of 33 he couldn’t possibly turn them down. Arguably the biggest story of the recent EFL transfer window, Mark Clemmit catches up with his old mate, to find out what it feels like to be finally coming home! And when it comes to unparalleled knowledge of players, management, stats and stories from one end of the pyramid to the other, there are few finer than Owen Coyle! Always entertaining and informative in fairly equal measure, it’s a pleasure to hear Owen and Clem look forward to what’s in store for the next few weeks!

Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Covolan joined Port Vale this summer at the age of 30, after a 15 year journey through the lower leagues in his homeland, in Spain and in this country where his heroics for Torquay United in their playoff final in June, secured him a move away to Vale Park and a chance to play league football under Darrell Clarke. His is a remarkable story and serves as an inspiration to us all about the importance of keeping going in search of those goals and ambitions, even when the going gets ever so slightly tough! Elsewhere, Clem catches up with Wigan manager Leam Richardson, who’s also had a tough couple of years for different reasons, but is now relishing life in the gaffer’s office at the DW Stadium, and football commentator extraordinaire Paul Walker, gives us his in depth thoughts on the first 4 weeks in the Skybet Championship, with his customary style and punditry perfection!

This week Clem caught up with Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy to chat about his legendary career over pie & mash and as Sutton United prepare for their first ever league game, we caught up with their manager, Matt Gray to find out a bit more about the league's newcomers. 

When we think of owners of football clubs, we don’t normally have an image of them with a Flying V electric guitar in hand rocking out in front of a full house, but that’s exactly what Charlton Athletic’s Danish owner Thomas Sandgaard was doing last weekend, ahead of their home game against Sheffield Wednesday at The Valley! He’s certainly one of the more interesting and colourful characters in the game, and Mark Clemmit catches up with him to find out how the last year has been and what his plans are for the league one club in the years to come. Elsewhere in Skybet league two, Forest Green Rovers new boss Rob Edwards has made a perfect start to his club’s campaign, and sits down with Clem to talk about his vision for the future and the vegan powered philosophy that’s going to get them there! 

This week, Mark Clemmit is joined by a bumper crop of guests representing all 3 divisions in the EFL. A very calm, focused and pragmatic Nathan Jones, explains his long term plans for Luton Town. Hartlepool United are back in the football league and manager Dave Challinor talks to Clem about life at The Victoria Ground, while battling one of the worst colds we've ever heard on the podcast, and in the middle of all of of that, what a week for Morecambe! An opening day 2-2 draw away at Portman Road last Saturday and a midweek win away at local rivals Blackburn to knock them out of the Carabao Cup! No wonder the fans, the players, and the chairman are bouncing!

It’s the first day back for Mark Clemmit as he looks forward to a brand new season in the EFL. It’s been quite a year for many people, including Shrewsbury boss Steve Cotterill, who spent a large part of last season in hospital fighting Covid, and considers himself lucky to be on the road to recovery now thanks to the treatment he received from the NHS. Steve explains the living nightmare he went through, and how the whole experience has made him totally re-evaluate everything.

Plus, it wouldn’t be a season opener without a Prutts Preview, so Clem is joined by his old mate David Prutton, to take a look at the runners and riders across all three divisions, as we look forward to the opening weekend’s fixtures of the EFL’s 2021/2022 Season! 

In the final episode of this four-part mini-series looking at the inner workings and functions of The EFL, Mark Clemmit chats to the EFL’s Legal and Governance Director Nick Craig, who explains all the things we never knew about ownership criteria, the rules and regulations designed to create, maintain and protect fair competition, and the EFL’s overall role and responsibility as the league’s governing body.

In the third episode of this four-part mini-series looking at the inner workings and functions of The EFL, Mark Clemmit chats to EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch to reflect on the challenges faced by EFL Clubs over the past 16 months and to understand more about the EFL’s proposals for financial reform to provide sustainability for Clubs, who are the beating heart of communities across England and Wales. This episode was recorded remotely. 

In the second episode of this four-part mini-series looking at the inner workings and functions of The EFL, Mark Clemmit chats to Ben Wright, Chief Commercial Officer and Paul Snellgrove, Competitions Manager to learn more about how EFL fixtures are compiled and how that process links to the EFL’s broadcast and streaming arrangements following a year of football being played behind closed doors.

On this week's official EFL podcast, David Prutton and David Stowell are enjoying some samba style in the city of Norwich, as they sit down and chat to the canaries' first ever Brazilian player, Gabriel Sara. Apart from the less than perfect weather, Gabriel is loving his time in East Anglia and says it's a dream come true to play in England. Elsewhere, the two Davids preview all of this weekend's EFL action, and Callum O'Dowda takes on the return of the fearsome 72 in 72!

In the first episode of this four-part mini-series looking at the inner workings and functions of The EFL, Mark Clemmit chats to Dave Wetherall, Head of Youth Development and Alex Richards, Head of Safeguarding to learn more about how the system works, and the responsibility that the EFL has to educate, protect and nurture the next generation of footballing talent.

t’s the final episode of the official EFL podcast for the 2020/2021 season, and we thought we had to end with a best of! Now that everything has been concluded and the close season is upon us, Mark Clemmit takes a fond look back at some of the best interviews that we’ve been lucky enough to share with you over the last 9 months, so sit back, relax and enjoy, as Clem brings you the very best of the guests part two!

Who better to join Mark Clemmit and cast an expert eye over this extraordinary season, than the former Wimbledon, West Ham, Cardiff City, Crystal Palace, Watford, Reading, Stevenage and Leyton Orient legend that is Jobi McAnuff! Jobi recently announced his retirement from professional football, and now looks forward to spending more time with his wife and kids and concentrating on life beyond a 20 year playing career. Clem and Jobi discuss his own personal achievements over the last two decades, as well as the playoff champions from last weekend and have a look ahead to the Euros which are just around the corner. McAnuff is enough when it comes to this penultimate episode of the official EFL podcast, and it’s a joy to hear these two expertly dissect everything and everything EFL related, as we enter the close season.