• Who Were The Busby Babes?
    Feb 7 2025

    Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast.


    Following Gary Neville’s tribute to the triumph and tragedy of the Busby Babes on the anniversary week of the Munich Air Disaster, we begin a three-part series on how the tragedy shaped the future of Manchester United.


    In Part One, co-hosts Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper explore who the Busby Babes were, how the term came to be, and how Sir Matt Busby built his legendary team. They discuss the club’s pioneering youth system, Bobby Charlton’s journey to becoming a United supporter, and the importance of developing young talent. Among them was Duncan Edwards, regarded as one of England’s greatest footballers at the time, whose life was tragically cut short in 1958.


    The episode closes with the team’s final match before the fateful Munich Air Disaster.


    Next week, It Was What It Was presents a special episode focusing on the Munich Air Disaster, its immediate aftermath, and how Matt Busby’s rebuilt side laid the foundation for the Manchester United we know today.


    If you're enjoying It Was What It Was, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode, and consider leaving us a five-star review to help others discover the show. Thank you for listening!


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

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    52 mins
  • Gary Neville: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Busby Babes
    Feb 4 2025

    Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast.


    This week former Manchester United captain Gary Neville joins us to look back on one of the most momentous and tragic events in football history: The Munich air disaster of 1958.


    Neville discusses the lasting significance of the tragedy - and how Sir Matt Busby rebuilt the club, leading them to European Cup glory just a decade after its darkest day.


    Gary shares stories with Jonathan and Rob - including how he was raised to honour the Busby Babes as a young fan and as a player - and how their legacy helped shape the modern Manchester United.


    Later this week, we’ll bring you the first instalment of our mini-series on the disaster, exploring who the Busby Babes were before that fateful night.


    If you're enjoying It Was What It Was, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode, and consider leaving us a five-star review to help others discover the show. Thank you for listening!


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

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    43 mins
  • The Mystery of Matthias Sindelar, Part Two
    Jan 31 2025

    Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast.


    Austrian footballer Matthias Sindelar was one of the greats of the game but his mysterious death in 1939 at the age of just 35 became a hugely contested issue in the darkest era of Austrian history. Was he murdered because he objected to the Nazis? Did he chose to end his life unable to countenance living under Hitler? Or was he the victim of a tragic accident? And what role had his girlfriend Camilla Castagnola, found dead alongside him, played?


    Join Jonathan and Rob in the second and final part as they separate fact from fiction in the life of a lesser known great….



    If you're enjoying It Was What It Was, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode, and consider leaving us a five-star review to help others discover the show. Thank you for listening!


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

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    54 mins
  • The Mystery of Matthias Sindelar, Part One
    Jan 28 2025

    Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast.


    Austrian footballer Matthias Sindelar was one of the greats of the game but his mysterious death in 1939 at the age of just 35 became a hugely contested issue in the darkest era of Austrian history. Was he murdered because he objected to the Nazis? Did he chose to end his life unable to countenance living under Hitler? Or was he the victim of a tragic accident? And what role had his girlfriend Camilla Castagnola, found dead alongside him, played?


    Join Jonathan and Rob as they separate fact from fiction in the life of a lesser known great….


    Our finale is out on Friday!


    If you're enjoying the It Was What It Was, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode, and consider leaving us a five-star review to help others discover the show. Thank you for listening!


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

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    50 mins
  • The Brilliance of Bill Nicholson - Part Four
    Jan 24 2025

    Welcome back to It Was What It Was.


    Jonathan and Rob continue exploring the extraordinary legacy of Bill Nicholson’s push and run game at Spurs and its relationship with Cruyff, Ajax, Barça and Total Football.


    In Part 4, Nicholson guides Spurs to the first league and cup double of the 20th century and Spurs become the first British club to win a European trophy.


    Don't forget to go back and listen to the rest of this series. Parts one and two feature Spurs royalty Steve Perryman!


    If you’re enjoying It Was What It Was, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode, and consider leaving us a five-star review to help others discover the show. Thank you for listening!


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

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    46 mins
  • The Brilliance of Bill Nicholson - Part Three
    Jan 21 2025

    Welcome back to It Was What It Was.


    Jonathan and Rob continue their dive into the career of Tottenham's legendary manager and one of the founding fathers of modern football: Bill Nicholson.


    Don't forget to go back and listen to parts one and two with special guest and Spurs royalty Steve Perryman!


    If you’re enjoying the It Was What It Was, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode, and consider leaving us a five-star review to help others discover the show. Thank you for listening!


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

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    48 mins
  • The Brilliance of Bill Nicholson - Part Two With Steve Perryman
    Jan 17 2025

    Welcome back to It Was What It Was.


    It's time for part two of Jonathan and Rob's chat with Spurs legend Steve Perryman about the club's legendary manager and one of the founding fathers of modern football: Bill Nicholson.


    Hear more from Steve as he tells us backstage stories and insights on Nicholson from the training ground, the dressing room and White Hart Lane.


    Don't forget to go back and listen to part one first if you missed it.


    If you’re enjoying the It Was What It Was, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode, and consider leaving us a five-star review to help others discover the show. Thank you for listening!


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

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    39 mins
  • The Brilliance of Bill Nicholson - Part One With Steve Perryman
    Jan 14 2025

    Welcome back to It Was What It Was.


    This week, Jonathan and Rob are joined by Steve Perryman, Tottenham Hotspur’s record appearance holder, to talk about legendary Spurs manager Bill Nicholson.


    From transforming Spurs into serial winners - to hilarious changing room stories - Steve takes us behind the scenes of one of the most successful sides of the 20th century.


    Join us on Friday for Part Two!


    If you’re enjoying the It Was What It Was, please hit subscribe to never miss an episode, and consider leaving us a five-star review to help others discover the show. Thank you for listening!


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

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    33 mins