Well, what do you know — we’ve made it to the finals of the Northwest Football Awards for the fourth year in a row. It’s starting to feel like a bit of a tradition now, and while we’ve not taken home the trophy yet, just being nominated again is something we’re incredibly proud of.

The first year we were up for the award, we lost out to Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park Alert System. The second year, it was CityExtra who took the win. Last year, The Redmen claimed the top spot. So we’ve been in good company, and we’ve had a decent run. We’re not going to pretend we’re desperate to win — but of course, we’d love to. We’ve been part of this for a few years now, and this year, we genuinely feel we’ve got a strong chance, even though the competition is tougher than ever.

We’re up against some big names. The United Stand, led by Mark Goldbridge, has a staggering 2.7 million followers on X. The Redmen are back again with around 800,000 followers, and City Extra also returns with a similar following. Turf Cast, the Burnley podcast, has a more modest 15,000 followers — but still significantly more than us. We’re sitting at 5,700 followers on X, which might seem small in comparison, but the beauty of the Northwest Football Awards is that it’s not just about numbers. It’s about your contribution to football in the region, your connection to your club, and the impact you have on your community. And on that front, we think we’ve got a really strong case.

This year has been a big one for us. We’ve expanded the team, grown our Patreon membership, and significantly increased the amount of content we’re putting out. We’ve doubled — and in some cases tripled — our podcast output. We have our main live show every Wednesday, a review pod that drops early Monday morning (recorded Sunday night), and a preview pod that we try to get out whenever we can line up guests from the opposition. That’s not always easy, as everyone involved is a volunteer and people have busy lives, but we do our best to keep it consistent.

Beyond the podcasts, we’ve been active in the community too. We’ve held events at the Nursery and at the Armoury — which is probably our favourite venue — and also at the club itself. The club has been incredibly generous, allowing us to use their rooms free of charge, and we’re genuinely grateful for that kind of support.

But for me, the standout moment this year was being invited by the Stockport County Community Trust to speak at the 90 Minute Club — a weekly gathering for over-60s that takes place on Wednesdays. It was a real honour. Previous guests included celebrities and former players like Kevin Francis, and then they asked me to come along and talk about the podcast. That meant a lot. To be recognised in that way, and to be part of something that brings people together through football, was a really special experience.

It’s things like that — the community moments, the connections, the conversations — that drive us forward. That’s what makes all the effort worthwhile. And so, as we look ahead to Monday, November 3rd, when the winners are announced, we’re hopeful. But we’re also realistic. If we don’t win, we won’t be too disappointed. Just being nominated alongside such esteemed creators — many of whom are paid professionals — is an achievement in itself. We’re all volunteers. We do this because we love it.

So thank you. To everyone who listens, chats with us, supports us, and joins our Patreon — you make this possible. You make it worthwhile. We’re heading to the Northwest Football Awards, and being award-nominated is more than enough.

Thanks for reading, thanks for listening, and thanks for being part of it.

Cheers – Russ