Why We Love This Club

Club Atlético Atlanta, Argentina’s Primera Nacional, Villa Crespo, and Buenos Aires football culture are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how a historic neighborhood institution survived bankruptcy and rebuilt itself through its members.

Founded in 1904, Atlanta became deeply connected to Villa Crespo and its large Jewish immigrant community, developing an identity that extends far beyond football. Chris explores the club’s famous Clásico de Villa Crespo rivalry with Chacarita Juniors, its home at Estadio Don León Kolbowski, and the antisemitism Atlanta supporters have faced because of that cultural connection.

The episode also traces Atlanta’s greatest sporting era, including the 1960 Copa Suecia, and figures such as Luis Artime, Hugo Gatti, Carlos Timoteo Griguol, Osvaldo Zubeldía and José Luis Brown.

At the heart of the story is Atlanta’s 1991 bankruptcy, the supporter campaign that kept the football team alive, and the eventual recovery of the club’s community facilities.

Today, former Atlanta player Cristian Pellerano leads another promotion push as Los Bohemios chase a return to Argentina’s top flight after more than four decades away.
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If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.

The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
The Underdog Football Show

Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Glasgow City FC, the Scottish Women’s Premier League, Rangers, Celtic and the rise of women’s football in Scotland are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how an independent women’s club became Scotland’s most successful.

Founded in 1998 by Laura Montgomery and Carol Anne Stewart, Glasgow City built an elite program without the financial backing of a major men’s club. Chris traces the extraordinary run of 14 consecutive league titles, 16 championships overall, domestic trebles and historic UEFA Women’s Champions League quarterfinal appearances.

The episode explores club legends including Leanne Ross, Suzanne Lappin, Jo Love, Hayley Lauder and Lee Gibson, plus Glasgow City’s role in developing stars such as Erin Cuthbert, Lisa Evans, Jane Ross and Denise O’Sullivan.

Chris also examines the rivalry with Hibernian, the growing challenge from Rangers and Celtic, the emotional legacy of Kat Lindner, life at Petershill Park, and Lauren Davidson’s dramatic 2023 title-winning goal at Ibrox.

It’s the story of how Glasgow City helped build Scottish women’s football — and how an independent club continues competing against institutions with vastly greater resources.
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If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.

The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
The Underdog Football Show

Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melbourne Knights FC, Australian soccer, Croatian identity and the National Soccer League are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how Melbourne Croatia became a national champion despite being forced to change its name.

Founded by Croatian immigrants in 1953, Melbourne Knights became one of Australia’s strongest clubs, winning back-to-back NSL championships in 1995 and 1996 and developing generations of internationals. Chris traces the rise of stars including Mark Viduka, Josip Biškic, Andrew Marth, Joe Šimunić, Danny Tiatto and Ljubo Miličević, along with the club’s fierce rivalry with South Melbourne.

The episode examines Football Australia’s controversial 1993 policy removing ethnic names, the transformation from Melbourne Croatia to Melbourne Knights, and supporters’ determination to preserve the club’s Croatian colors, symbols and culture.

Chris also explores Somers Street, the collapse of the NSL, exclusion from the A-League, Melbourne’s 2023 Australia Cup semifinal run and the current push under Michael Calandrella to return to NPL Victoria.

It’s a story of migration, football identity, national success and a community that refused to let assimilation erase its history.
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If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.

The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
The Underdog Football Show

Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, the CAF Women’s Champions League and South African women’s football are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how Banyana Ba Style became Africa’s defining women’s club dynasty.

Founded in 2009 under Mamelodi Sundowns owner Patrice Motsepe, the team has won eight South African championships and captured the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021 and 2023. Chris traces the rise built under longtime coach Jerry Tshabalala, including the inaugural continental title, extraordinary domestic scoring records and the development of an elite football environment at the club’s Chloorkop training complex.

The episode features key figures including Andile Dlamini, Bambanani Mbane, Boitumelo Rabale, Refilwe Tholakele, Noxolo Cesane and Nthabiseng Majiya, while examining Sundowns’ growing rivalry with Morocco’s AS FAR.

Chris also explores the competitive advantages created by Sundowns’ resources, the rapid professionalization of African women’s football, their influence on Banyana Banyana, and the challenge of maintaining dominance as clubs across Africa raise their standards.

It’s the story of how Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies helped make excellence in African women’s club football feel normal.
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If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.

The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
The Underdog Football Show

Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the Kolkata Derby, Indian football history and the 1911 IFA Shield are the focus of this episode of Why We Love This Club, exploring how one of Asia’s oldest clubs became a symbol of sporting and national identity.

Founded in 1889, Mohun Bagan built its legend in 1911 when the largely barefoot Immortal Eleven defeated the East Yorkshire Regiment to win the IFA Shield under British rule. Chris traces that historic victory through stars including Shibdas Bhaduri, Abhilash Ghosh, Gostha Pal, Sailen Manna and Chuni Goswami.
The episode also explores the fierce Kolkata Derby with East Bengal, the club’s roots around the Maidan, major matches at Salt Lake Stadium, and legendary figures including José Ramírez Barreto.

Chris examines Mohun Bagan’s transition into the Indian Super League, the controversial ATK Mohun Bagan era, supporter protests, RPSG investment and the modern Mohun Bagan Super Giant identity.

Current names including Vishal Kaith, Subhasish Bose, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco and Sahal Abdul Samad connect more than 135 years of history to the present.

It’s a story of football, colonialism, rivalry, identity and why Mohun Bagan remain one of Indian sport’s defining institutions.

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If you enjoyed this show, you may like these other soccer podcasts by Chris.

The Beautiful Game: Unfiltered
The Underdog Football Show

Thanks for listening!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.