After nearly 6 years (on and off), over 200 podcasts, video interviews, blogs, twitter jokes and even a little award win, I’ve decided to hang up my microphone and depart Wolves Fancast at the end of the season.
It wasn’t an easy decision to make. It’s something I have mulled over for some time but I felt that the right moment had come for me to pass on the mantle and let someone or a group of people continue this journey.
Wolves Fancast originally began in 2007 when Adam Thompson, Vinny Banks and I came together to form the ‘Wolves Football Fancast Show’ whilst at University. It was a podcast for the football blogging website ‘Football Fancast’. We chronicled the highs and lows of Wolves’ 2007-08 season where a place in the playoffs was lost on the last day of the season by a single goal.
After a two year break, Adam and I reformed in 2010 (like any good boyband). From that day the podcast continued to grow and expanded into blogs, videos and interviews whilst continuing to deliver our unusual brand of football analysis and fun.
Wolves Fancast was created to give a unique view of following the Gold and Black Army from a fan’s point of view and through a medium which was not being used.
I wanted to create a digital fanzine, whether this was through the podcast, blogs, social media or video, which could show that with enough hardwork you can create something that will engage fans, create debate and challenge the content produced from existing print and online media.
Coming out of University with a media degree, the competition for jobs in the industry was and still is so high. At the time, blogging websites were in their infancy. I didn’t see many opportunities for aspiring young media folk and writers to showcase what they could do.
Following this experience ,I wanted the Fancast to give a chance to those up and coming people to develop and showcase their work, giving them a platform to show others what they can do. I’m happy that, so far, the Fancast has given some of our writers a chance to write for the Express and Star, Birmingham Mail and FourFourTwo Magazine.
The Fancast has grown and achieved more than I ever imagined. Winning the ‘Best Football Podcast Judges Award’ at the Football Blogging Awards 2014 was a career highlight which celebrated the hard work everyone involved with the Fancast has achieved and put in.
Now, you’re probably wondering what this means for the future of the Fancast?
Wolves Fancast will continue next season in some form.
Podcast wise, it is a bit up in the air. Over the next few weeks, I’m hoping to find someone or a group of people, whether this is someone already within our team or someone new, to take over the hosting and general running of the podcast.
I’m delighted to say that Fancast’s own Richard Hobbs will be taking over next season from a blogging and social media perspective. Richard has been fantastic since joining at the start of this season and he was even nominated for ‘Best New Football Blogger’ at the Football Blogging Awards 2014.
I’m confident Richard and the team will continue to promote new writers, engage opinion and interact with fellow fans with our unique sense of humour.
There are many people I need to thank for helping to make Wolves Fancast look good and fun to run. This is something I will go into further at the end of the season.
If you feel like you have what it takes to host the podcast, produce or be part of running Wolves Fancast – whether as a content editor, blogger or creator of funny meme’s from next season – then click on ‘Contact Us’ and tell us more about yourself.
Being part of Wolves Fancast has been fantastic. It’s all done for the love of my team, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.
Now, 7 games left. Let’s break into those playoffs!
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