Broadway To Brazil

The Egri Erbstein Tournament celebrated amateur and semi professional football, as well as the legacy of one of football's pioneering coaches, on the weekend of 23 and 24 July at the Corinthian-Casuals' home in Tolworth.  Along with the Casuals, visitors Sheffield FC, Hilltop FC, and Budapesti AK provided rich entertainment for the bumper attendances that came down to King George's.  Broadway to Brazil was there to capture the action and reaction. As well as reviewing what happened on the pitch, this episode also hears from some old and new friends: former Corinthian and media legend, Martin Tyler; newly appointed first team manager, Tony Reid; and a member of the touring party from Budapest, Peter Beko.  And we even end on a surprisingly musical note...  --- Hosted by Jarek Zaba Editing, Mixing, Production - Jarek Zaba Series co-producer - Dominic Bliss Title music - John Forrest

On the weekend of July 23rd and 24th, Corinthian-Casuals will be hosting the second edition of the Egri Erbstein Tournament. Celebrating one of football's great pioneering coaches, the tournament also brings together like minded amateur and semi-professional clubs from around the world.  In the third of our bonus episodes, we speak to Abdullah Mohammed, first team manager at Hilltop FC. Based in north London, Hilltop has its roots in the British-Somali community and has had a rapid rise since being founded in 2005.  This year they're preparing to play Step 5 football for the first time, having gained promotion to the Combined Counties Premier Division. They also happen to be the semi final opponents of Corinthian-Casuals at the Egri Erbstein Tournament.  Abdullah speaks about his excitement about the game, the history of Hilltop and its role in the local community, and some foreign adventuring of their own. Hosted by Jarek Zaba Editing, Mixing, Production - Jarek Zaba Series co-producer - Dominic Bliss Title music - John Forrest

On the weekend of July 23rd and 24th, Corinthian-Casuals will be hosting the second edition of the Egri Erbstein Tournament. Celebrating one of football's great pioneering coaches, the tournament also brings together like minded amateur and semi-professional clubs from around the world.  After a successful tournament in Budapest in 2019, it's now the turn of Corinthians to host. And in these Broadway to Brazil specials, we're speaking to some of the clubs involved.  In this episode, Jarek chats with Richard Tims, a man with the honour of being chairman of the world's first football club: Sheffield FC.  Richard talks about the rich history of the club, who are the only team other than Real Madrid to be bestowed with the FIFA Order of Merit. He also spoke about Sheffield's current position in the Northern Premier League Division One, travels to far flung places such as India and Brazil, and what he's most looking forward to at the Egri Erbstein Tournament. --- Presented by Jarek Zaba  Editing, Mixing, Production - Jarek Zaba Series co-producer - Dominic Bliss Title music - John Forrest

On the weekend of July 23rd and 24th, Corinthian-Casuals will be hosting the second edition of the Egri Erbstein Tournament.  As well as celebrating the achievements of one of football's great pioneering coaches, the tournament also brings together like minded amateur and semi-professional clubs from around the world.  Broadway to Brazil listeners may remember the Casuals travelling to Budapest in 2019, where the club lifted the trophy - a newly minted Corinthian Cup - in front of a loud and passionate travelling army of supporters.  Now it's the turn of the Corinthians to host. And in these special Broadway to Brazil bonus episodes, we'll be speaking to representatives from each of the competing clubs in the build up to the tournament. First up is Bertalan Molnar, President of Budapesti Atletikai Klub - or BAK for short. BAK were Egri Erbstein's first club, and the semi final opponents of Casuals back in 2019, eventually losing 3-0 in a hard fought encounter. Now they make the return journey, and will be facing the world's oldest club, Sheffield FC, in their semi final.  Here's what Bertalan had to say about the tournament, and what his team will be bringing to the table later this month.  -- Presented by Jarek Zaba  Editing, Mixing, Production - Jarek Zaba Series co-producer - Dominic Bliss Title music - John Forrest

Football is a sentimental culture. Where do you draw the line between heritage and progress? And when you represent a club that has chosen to set itself apart, with its own respected ethos, how do you move with the times and maintain your unique identity? These are the questions that have faced custodians of the Corinthian-Casuals legacy from the 1880s through to the 2020s.  So how have things changed over the course of those 14 decades? In our final episode, we set out to answer the overarching question behind this entire series: What does it mean to be a Corinthian? To help explore this topic, Dominic and Jarek are joined by committee member John Forrest, and we hear from a wide range of club voices, past and present, including players, management, fans, and a range of the club's custodians over its distinguished history.  — Written, produced and presented by Jarek Zaba and Dominic Bliss.  Editing: Jarek Zaba; Audio engineering: Brent Davies; Title music: John Forrest; Artwork: Matt Alabaster; Website: Chris Kelly.

The footballing paths trodden by the Corinthian-Casuals side are long and varied. From as far afield as Australia and Belgium, and featuring clubs right at the very top of the English game, the players have often seen it all before they walk through the gates at King George's Field. But they all have one thing in common – they've all fallen in love with this famous old club hidden away off a slip road on the A3. These are the stories of the men who make up the team today, told through four voices in the present day first team dressing room: Robert Paratore, Ben Cheklit, Danny Bracken and Kieron Cadogan. Dominic and Jarek are also joined by club volunteer Stuart Tree, who knows the first team well through his involvement as club photographer and programme editor.  — Written, produced and presented by Jarek Zaba and Dominic Bliss.  Editing: Jarek Zaba; Audio engineering: Brent Davies; Title music: John Forrest; Artwork: Matt Alabaster; Website: Chris Kelly.

The list of international teams that the Corinthian-Casuals have visited is long, weird and wonderful. But perhaps one of the most unusual ties in the club's history features them as hosts rather than visitors.  In 1991 a squad of the Soviet Union's greatest former player came to Tolworth. As if this wasn't weird enough, their home country was all but being dissolved at this precise moment.  We've delved deep into this remarkable fixture, speaking to Steve Bangs, the first time manager at the time who played in the Veterans game; Gary Brigden, at the time the club's first time goalkeeper but a spectator for this tie; and Manuel Veth, a Soviet football historian who places this bizarre tour into context.  — Written, produced and presented by Jarek Zaba and Dominic Bliss.  Editing: Jarek Zaba; Audio engineering: Brent Davies; Title music: John Forrest; Artwork: Matt Alabaster; Website: Chris Kelly.

In 1898, the Corinthians broke their own code and agreed to compete for silverware for the first time. They did so in a showpiece game played between the best amateur and the best professional team in the country. The winner took the mountainous Sheriff of London Shield, an oak leviathan too big for any captain to lift in celebration. But since the club were forced to sell the Shield in 1996, its whereabouts have been unknown to Corinthians and football historians alike. We set out to track it down, speaking to a Andy Gray, who competed in the last Sheriff of London Shield game in 1983; Brian Wakefield and David Harrison, two Corinthian-Casuals committee members who oversaw the sale of the Shield; and Massimo Ferragamo, the present day owner of the trophy.  — Written, produced and presented by Jarek Zaba and Dominic Bliss.  Editing: Jarek Zaba; Audio engineering: Brent Davies; Title music: John Forrest; Artwork: Matt Alabaster; Website: Chris Kelly. Additional archive audio in this episode courtesy of Gillian Townsend. 

Socrates is one of the icons of Brazilian football. His effortless grace on the pitch, and his political activism off it, made him an unmistakable symbol for a generation of Brazilians.  Lesser known is the 17 minutes he spent playing for the Corinthian-Casuals. Having just scored for the opposition, he swapped his number 8 shirt and took his place alongside his Spartan League teammates.  This is the story of this iconic moment in 1988, when the Corinthians travelled to Brazil for the first time in 75 years for a showpiece friendly against their brothers in football, Corinthians Paulista.  To help tell the tale, Jarek and Dominic are joined by the club's Community Liaison Officer, John Forrest. We also hear from biographer of Socrates, Andrew Downie; dedicated Corinthians Paulista fan, Dilva Bandeira; and the Casuals goalkeeper who was on the receiving end of some Socrates magic, John Metcalfe.   --- Written, produced and presented by Jarek Zaba and Dominic Bliss.  Editing: Jarek Zaba; Audio engineering: Brent Davies; Title music: John Forrest; Artwork: Matt Alabaster; Website: Chris Kelly

140 years ago - after Scotland hammered England 6-1 to record what remains their record away win in football's oldest international rivalry - the Scottish captain decided to move south of the border to help an English club side master the passing game. He was one of the best players of his era. His impact on the game has been likened by some football historians to Pele. He was also the first black international footballer, and in 1882 he joined the Corinthians. This is the remarkable story of Andrew Watson, told through the voices of three experts who have researched his life and football career extensively. Llew Walker is author of the biography A Straggling Life, Andrew Watson; Ged O'Brien is a historian of Scottish football and the influence of 'Scotch Professors' like Watson; and Malik Al Nasir is a descendant of Andrew Watson who has researched his family extensively.  Dominic and Jarek then bring the story of race, football and the Corinthians up to date by talking to two more modern day players: Tony Finnigan of the Corinthian-Casuals side of the 1980s; and Kieron Cadogan of the present day squad.  Written, produced and presented by Jarek Zaba and Dominic Bliss.  Editing: Jarek Zaba; Audio engineering: Brent Davies; Title music: John Forrest; Artwork: Matt Alabaster; Website: Chris Kelly

For three years in the early 1980s, Billy Smith transformed the fortunes of Corinthian-Casuals.  When he took over as manager, the team had finished bottom of the league for three straight seasons. By the end of his time at the club, they had reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for only the second time in their history, with future stars like Alan Pardew, Andy Gray and Tony Finnigan among their ranks. This is the story of how they did it, with Jarek and Dominic once again joined by sports writer and non league specialist Tony Banks.  The story of Billy's Heroes is told through the voices of Pardew, Gray and Finnigan, who each reflect on how Corinthian-Casuals played a huge role in their rise to the professional ranks. They look back on the successful no nonsense approach of Billy Smith, explain how they balanced football with work commitments as box packers and glaziers, and relive the moment the Casuals took on Bristol City in the FA Cup First Round.  Written, produced and presented by Jarek Zaba and Dominic Bliss.  Editing: Jarek Zaba Audio engineering: Brent Davies Title music: John Forrest Artwork: Matt Alabaster Website: Chris Kelly

Since the first season of Broadway to Brazil, the Corinthian-Casuals have continued punching above their weight. Surviving in the Isthmian Premier League, the club went on to win silverware in Budapest in 2019 at the Egri Erbstein Tournament.  But like everyone else at this level, they have been left frustrated by lockdowns and league cancellations over the last year and a half. Yet the club still serves as a beacon to its local community, and was even able to squeeze a bit of FA Cup drama into 'The Season That Wasn't'. Recorded on the eve of the 2021/22 season, the opening episode of Series 2 of Broadway to Brazil sees Dom and Jarek joined by seasoned sports writer Tony Banks. They reflect on last year's Covid-effected campaign, which was ultimately cut short by lockdown but also featured a great deal of excitement crammed into a breathless couple of months.  We hear from Club Secretary, Hanna Newton, who discusses how the club played an important community role in the challenging early months of the pandemic; captain Danny Bracken, who provides a player perspective of living without football; club volunteer Lucy Symons, who talks about her path to becoming the PA announcer at the Casuals; and FA Cup hero Ben Cheklit, whose wondergoal against Dulwich Hamlet marked the most iconic moment of the Casuals' aborted 2020/21 campaign.  Written, produced and presented by Jarek Zaba and Dominic Bliss.  Editing: Jarek Zaba Audio engineering: Brent Davies Title music: John Forrest Artwork: Matt Alabaster Website: Chris Kelly

Broadway to Brazil is back for a second series and we couldn't be more excited.  After delving into the history of Corinthian-Casuals and covering their promotion campaign in Series 1, Jarek Zaba and Dominic Bliss return for more incredible stories of this unique non league club.  With original plans to cover the 2020/21 season scuppered by Covid, attention was turned to some of the lesser told – but no less fascinating – Corinthian stories. We've spoken to FA Cup heroes from the 1980s, such as Alan Pardew, explored the fascinating story of the first black international footballer, Andrew Watson, and relived the iconic moment when Brazil legend Socrates put on the chocolate and pink shirt of the Casuals.  The second series of Broadway to Brazil is being released every Tuesday from 7 September. Find it on all podcast apps or at www.broadwaytobrazil.com.

In June 2019 the Corinthian-Casuals were given a special opportunity to travel to Hungary to participate in the inaugural Egri Erbstein Tournament and compete for the new Corinthian Cup. Broadway to Budapest travelled with the club, telling the story of the tournament's origins with one of football's forgotten pioneers, and covering the action as James Bracken aims to win his first ever Corinthian-Casuals trophy.

The final episode of Broadway to Brazil sees the team explore the rich tradition of overseas travel that defines the ongoing legacy of Corinthian FC and and the present day spirit of the Corinthian-Casuals.  From South Africa to Japan, via a hugely significant stop in Brazil, these tales more than any other underline just why the Casuals are such a unique entity in English non league football. After Jarek recounts how Corinth's original journeys led to the birth of a São Paulo club who became champions of the world, Dominic catches up with former players who had the fortune of touring far flung corners of the globe while representing the pink and brown. To conclude the series we hear from a wide range of Brazilian voices who express their joy of visiting a small ground just around the corner from Tolworth Broadway. 

After following the fortunes of the Corinthian-Casuals for the entire 2017/18 season, the Broadway to Brazil team are there to chronicle its thrilling conclusion. James Bracken's side are aiming for promotion to the Bostik Premier Division following heartbreak in the previous two years. To help tell the tale Jarek gets to know a fanbase that has grown significantly since it was once just one man and his infant son behind the goal. 

Having looked at the on-field success yielded by the club's players and management, Episode 04 of Broadway to Brazil explores the Corinthian-Casuals' tight knit community of volunteers, whose behind-the-scenes devotion ensures the club's survival week in week out.  From beanie hats to pitch maintenance via cheesy chips and stadium construction, this bumper length episode is a tribute to the unsung heroes of non league football whose incredible efforts keep clubs like the Casuals alive across the country. 

Episode 03 sees the Broadway to Brazil team step away from the fascinating history of the Corinthian-Casuals, and peer into the no less interesting plight of the current squad. For in recent years the first team - led by charismatic manager James Bracken - have been defying the odds and vying for promotion from the Bostik South Division, despite the fact that they do not a penny to their players, unlike almost all of their peers. As well as charting the short yet success-ridden coaching career of Bracken thus far, including two recent heartbreaking seasons at the Casuals, B2B speaks to players past and present to try and establish just what it is that has enabled the young coach to propel the team up the league. Meanwhile former England international and Premier League footballer Stan Collymore makes an appearance and offers his thoughts on these amateur achievements, as the Casuals vie for that elusive promotion in 2017/18 after two hugely unlucky recent attempts.

In episode 02 of Broadway To Brazil, the team connect the dots between the Victorian era, where the original Corinthian FC were almost the Harlem Globetrotters of their time, to the present day, which has seen Corinthian-Casuals continuously struggle to secure its own future.  Why does the history of both Corinthian FC and Casuals FC dictate a modern day refusal to pay their players, unlike all of their peers at the same level? How did they compete in the era of 'shamateurism' - which saw the widespread practice of illicitly paying players under the table? How do they compete in the present day, where they remain the highest ranked amateur team in the English football league system?  Among others father and son cricketing legends Alec and Micky Stewart and Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler - all of whom have lined up in the pink and brown of Corinthian-Casuals - help to paint a picture of proud amateurs playing for the love of a game in a world increasingly dominated by professionalism and commerce. 

In our opening episode, the Broadway to Brazil team set the scene for the journey ahead. Host Jarek Zaba wanders the streets of Tolworth Broadway to find out just how much the man and woman on the street know about their local football side, Corinthian-Casuals FC; we catch up with Sao Paulo resident Rafael Pedroso to discover just why he felt the compulsion to visit this anonymous suburban area when he first landed in London in the summer; and we speak to the club's manager James Bracken to find out more about the challenges of running an entirely amateur football side in a largely semi professional league.