The Magic Roundabout

Five days can be a long time in football. From the disappointment of the first defeat of the season on Tuesday night to the euphoria of an injury-time winner at Salisbury, The Tudors experienced both ends of the spectrum this week.
In this episode of The Magic Roundabout, Simon and Lionel collect their new advertising hoarding from the printers and find a place to put it up at Hemel Hempstead Town's ground. Let's hope it leaves a stronger impression on Tudors fans than the Fuji pitchside adverts at successive World Cups left on Lionel's memory.
Then they go on a mini tour of Hemel to investigate the significance of the town's tallest building (the 262nd tallest in Britain, apparently) and explore the connections to photography and film industry.
From there, it's a visit to Salisbury, home of the 123-metre tall cathedral spire, and a devastating event that rocked the city's sense of security in 2018.
Episode 4 of The Magic Roundabout by Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill was produced by Tom Whalley for Peloton Podcasts.

It’s Hemel Hempstead Town’s first away game of the season and, with Lionel on holiday, Simon Gill is flying solo.
Perhaps that’s appropriate because the destination is Farnborough, home of the famous air show.
Simon picks up the gaffer, Lee Bircham, and his younger brother Marc (who is still a terrace hero at QPR) for a memorable road trip.
On the way to Hampshire, they talk about anything but football - the eclipse and whether aliens have visited the earth… on the way home they discuss Hemel’s most striking landmark, the old Kodak building, and the rights and wrongs of ordering a curry from the Chinese takeaway.
In the middle of all that there’s the first away match and three well-earned points.
This episode of The Magic Roundabout is presented by Simon Gill. The producer is Jon Moonie for Peloton Podcasts.

This is The Magic Roundabout...
It's the opening day of the National League South season. A pair of inflatables of King Henry the Eighth beckon us towards the Focus Community Arena for Hemel Hempstead Town's first home game, against highly fancied Chelmsford City.
The sun is shining, the air crackles with excitement and the turnstiles clack to signal the start of the new campaign. Lionel's even got his new 'lucky' red socks on...
In this bumper episode, we tell the story of the opening day, from the terraces, the dugout and the dressing room. It turns out to be a dramatic day – with a Hemel player involved in a (thankfully minor) collision on the M1 and a grandstand finish that reminds us why football keeps dragging us back for more.
Join childhood friends Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill as they follow their home town team, nicknamed The Tudors, throughout the 2026-27 season.
Written and hosted by Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill. This episode was produced by Huw Owen for Peloton Podcasts.

This is The Magic Roundabout, a podcast about football, friendship and passing fifty...

Home and away with The Tudors. A season on the road with Hemel Hempstead Town FC.

Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill grew up two doors down from each other. As kids in the Eighties they played hours of football in the back garden, devised lengthy Subbuteo tournaments, and wore their Watford kits everywhere. In short, football was their life.
But if life was a football match, it's fair to say they are well into the second half now so they've decided to spend a season doing what they love most. Watching football, and telling stories.
Join them as they follow their home town team through the ups and downs of a season in English football's sixth tier, the National League South. Simon's school mate Lee Bircham has returned to the club for a second spell as manager.
In this opening episode, we meet the key characters at the club, from owner Dave Boggins, whose garden gate opens into the football ground, to the gaffer 'Birchy' and his backroom team.
After one of Hemel's best seasons ended in play-off heartbreak, expectations are high for the remodelled squad. Pre-season is over, now the serious business is about to begin.
Written and hosted by Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill. Produced by Tom Whalley for Peloton Podcasts.

Welcome to The Magic Roundabout, a podcast series taking listeners on the road, and behind-the-scenes, at Hemel Hempstead Town as they complete a 46-game season in the sixth tier of English football.
You may have heard Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill on The Cycling Podcast, riding to each of the Scottish League grounds in the Tour d'Écosse.
Now they are going on adventure, following the fortunes of their home town team – nicknamed The Tudors – as they challenge for glory in the National League South and FA Cup.
They'll travel home and away – visiting Farnborough and Farnham, Maidstone and Maidenhead, Truro and Torquay – telling the stories from the terraces, the dugout, the changing rooms and the boardroom along the way.
We'll meet a cast of characters who are the heartbeat of the club, from the charismatic owner and chairman Dave Boggins, manager Lee Bircham – who is Simon's mate from school – the rest of the back-room team and the players.
Along the way, we'll answer a host of questions, such as: What is the Magic Roundabout? Who runs the Racing Pigeon Club? And why is King Henry the Eighth on the club badge?
Coming soon: The Magic Roundabout. Tune in, or it's off with your head.