Game's Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast

We're dropping this one early - a special full length preview episode looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup...
The lads have entered the Royal Oak sweepstake - but Steve's hopes of glory takes an immediate hit when he draws the mighty Uzbekistan. Bob and Paul go in on the eternal debate: what do we actually think about casual fans down the pub? And Steve has discovered a new passion in life - brisket barbecues.
We take a closer look at England's possible route to the final. Can Harry Kane's Three Lions battle through the heat in the United States, Canada and Mexico to go all the way? Steve, as ever, has absolutely no doubts. And will Scotland suprise a few people with their first appearance at the finals since 1998.
The boys also weigh in on who'll claim the Golden Boot, pick their dark horses for the tournament, and settle - once and for all - the greatest rivalry in football: Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo. Plus, Bob the Bucket is back with another quiz to sort the true fans from the also rans.
Join us every Thursday throughout the summer for World Cup-themed episodes and keep an eye out for bonus livestreams taking you right to the heart of the tournament.
Pelé, Erling Haaland, Diego Maradona, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Shakira and Peter Reid all feature in another packed edition of Games Gone.
VAR. XG. Inverted wing backs. The game has well and truly gone. Via his very own podcast, Steve Bracknall, Sunday league assistant manager and viral sensation will bring it back.
Send your questions and voice notes to steve@bbc.co.uk or via whatsapp at 0800 7831997
Marching on, together as one. Steve.
Game’s Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast is written and performed by Chris McClure and is a Persephonica production for BBC Sounds
Credits
Series Producer: Ad Ahmed
Video Producer/Editor: Janathan Portelli
Additional Editing and Artwork: Joe Whittaker and Lottie Steele
Photography: Rob Nicholson
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Commissioning Executive for the BBC: Stevie Middleton
Assistant Commissioner for the BBC: Steve Trenchard

Steve has a bombshell revelation - he's throwing caution (and his little remaining annual leave) to the wind and travelling to this summer's World Cup!
After some initial shock, Paul and Bob start to make plans for some very special episodes and livestreams which will take you to the heart of the action.
We also discuss Paul's return from Paris, how the Nags Head got on in their cup final, request a new club anthem and note all of the positive reaction to Tommy's video on social media this week.
To whet our appetites for the World Cup, we also took a trip to Manchester where we managed to talk to BBC Sport's Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, Steph Houghton and Kelly Cates.
Managerial changes at Liverpool, the fallout from Arsenal's loss in the Champions League, and Mick Jagger all feature in another packed edition of the podcast.
VAR. XG. Inverted wing backs. The game has well and truly gone. Via his very own podcast, Steve Bracknall, Sunday league assistant manager and viral sensation will bring it back.
Direct from the dressing room of his team, Royal Oak FC, Steve is joined by gaffer Paul Sampson and physio Bob the Bucket. Every episode, they’ll make sense of all the week’s footballing news and bring you updates from the Oak…
Send your questions and voice notes to steve@bbc.co.uk or via whatsapp 0800 7831997
Marching on, together as one. Steve.
Game’s Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast is written and performed by Chris McClure and is a Persephonica production for BBC Sounds
Credits
Series Producer: Ad Ahmed
Video Producer/Editor/Artwork: Matt Exton
Additional Editing: Janathan Portelli, Joe Whittaker and Jack Whiteside
Photography: Rob Nicholson
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Commissioning Executive for the BBC: Stevie Middleton
Assistant Commissioner for the BBC: Steve Trenchard

Paul Sampson has done it again. With the most important game of the season on the line, he's packed his bags for Paris. Typical.
Step forward Wynney - no longer of The Nags Head, and ready to fill the void as he slowly recovers. But can two arch rivals really set aside their history? In this episode Steve and Wynney attempt to clear the air - tackling Brian Marshall's player outreach, being barred from the Oak, providing intel on the Nags Head, and the lingering question on everyone's lips: is there a way back for Wynney?
Plus: a recap of the end of season livestream, emotional Premier League farewells, Hull's promotion to the big time, and calls for the Champions League final to be free-to-air.
Cole Palmer, Harry Maguire, Mo Salah and David Beckham all feature in another packed edition of your favourite footballing podcast.
VAR. XG. Inverted wing backs. The game has well and truly gone. Via his very own podcast, Steve Bracknall, Sunday league assistant manager and viral sensation will bring it back.
Direct from the dressing room of his team, Royal Oak FC, Steve is joined by gaffer Paul Sampson and physio Bob the Bucket. Every episode, they’ll make sense of all the week’s footballing news and bring you updates from the Oak…
Send your questions and voice notes to steve@bbc.co.uk or via whatsapp 0800 7831997
Marching on, together as one. Steve.
Game’s Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast is written and performed by Chris McClure and is a Persephonica production for BBC Sounds
Credits
Series Producer: Ad Ahmed
Video Producer/Editor/Artwork: Janathan Portelli
Additional Editing: Joe Whittaker and Jack Whiteside
Photography: Rob Nicholson
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Commissioning Executive for the BBC: Stevie Middleton
Assistant Commissioner for the BBC: Steve Trenchard

There's a positive twist in the Oak's relegation crisis as Paul shares the good news that the club's points deduction has been reduced. They're now only one point away from safety, thanks to a successful call with the Imperial League's Mick Merchant.
You know what this means... Presentation Night is back on! Spoiler alert if you're an Oak player, as they reveal the winners of the illustrious trophies Paul has sourced - it's practically the Ballon d'Or.
And there's further good news, Wynney looks poised to make a full recovery after a recent accident. Could this be the beginning of a long road back for him and Steve?
In a bumper week for the Premier League, two thirds of the Royal Oak management congratulate Arsenal on their title win and with Pep Guardiola set to leave Manchester City, Steve admits that maybe Pep's actually quite good at what he does...
They also cover Celtic's dramatic victory over Hearts as Martin O'Neill's side secured the Scottish Premiership title, Man City's FA Cup triumph over Chelsea at Wembley and Ian Beale look-a-like Bob the Bucket shares his favourite soaps.
Tune in to a live Premier League watchalong of the final day of the season, exclusively on the Game's Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast YouTube channel - Join Steve, Paul and Bob from 4pm BST on the 24th May as they react to all the action as it unfolds.
VAR. XG. Inverted wing backs. The game has well and truly gone. Via his very own podcast, Steve Bracknall, Sunday league assistant manager and viral sensation will bring it back.
Direct from the dressing room of his team, Royal Oak FC, Steve is joined by gaffer Paul Sampson and physio Bob the Bucket. Every episode, they’ll make sense of all the week’s footballing news and bring you updates from the Oak…
Send your questions and voice notes to steve@bbc.co.uk or via whatsapp 0800 7831997
Marching on, together as one. Steve.
Game’s Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast is written and performed by Chris McClure and is a Persephonica production for BBC Sounds
Credits
Producer: Ad Ahmed
Video Producer/Editor/Artwork: Matt Exton
Additional Editing: Joe Whittaker and Jack Whiteside
Photography: Rob Nicholson
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Commissioning Executive for the BBC: Stevie Middleton
Assistant Commissioner for the BBC: Steve Trenchard

The relegation battle is reaching breaking point - and Paul has just made the most unpopular executive decision of the season: cancelling the Oak's end of season Presentation Night. Steve and Bob are devastated as their very own Met Gala is postponed...
Across town at the Nags Head, Wynney picks up a suspension for the final, and Parksey has been getting highly creative in the tattooist's chair.
In the wider world of football we dig into the chaos surrounding that VAR call in West Ham vs Arsenal and Southampton's alleged spying on Middlesborough. We also give Rochdale the flowers they deserve, and look at all the goings-on between Barcelona and Real Madrid with the rumoured return of the special one for a second tenure - not Paul Sampson, but Jose Mourinho.
Harry Kane, John Terry, Marcus Rashford and Roy Keane all feature in another packed edition of your favourite footballing podcast.
VAR. XG. Inverted wing backs. The game has well and truly gone. Via his very own podcast, Steve Bracknall, Sunday league assistant manager and viral sensation will bring it back.
Direct from the dressing room of his team, Royal Oak FC, Steve is joined by gaffer Paul Sampson and physio Bob the Bucket. Every episode, they’ll make sense of all the week’s footballing news and bring you updates from the Oak…
Send your questions and voice notes to steve@bbc.co.uk or via whatsapp 0800 7831997
Marching on, together as one. Steve.
Game’s Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast is written and performed by Chris McClure and is a Persephonica production for BBC Sounds
Credits
Series Producer: Ad Ahmed
Video Producer/Editor/Artwork: Matt Exton
Additional Editing: Joe Whittaker and Jack Whiteside
Photography: Rob Nicholson
Executive Producer: Dino Sofos
Commissioning Executive for the BBC: Stevie Middleton
Assistant Commissioner for the BBC: Steve Trenchard