Sheffield FC: World's oldest club stars in new BBC podcast

The world's oldest football club, caught between a Qatari-backed firm and a rock star chairman, opens its doors for a new podcast.

Sheffield Utd

team

View profile →

What happened. A new six-part BBC podcast, Mud, Sweat and Cheers: Trouble at the Bottom – Sheffield FC, goes behind the scenes at the world's oldest football club during its 2025-26 season. Hosted by Sheffield singer-songwriter Self Esteem, it covers a campaign in which the club was caught between a Qatari-backed venture capital firm and a rock star.

• Jon McClure, lead singer of Reverend and the Makers, became club chairman in March
• Yorkshire AI Labs, backed by Middle East money, said it planned a 15,000-seat stadium and football museum
• Sheffield FC, founded in 1857, has never played in the Football League

“This is not Wrexham. I'm not Ryan Reynolds”

— Jon McClure

The podcast shines a light on the tug-of-war over the historic club's future and its extraordinary season.

In this story

Sheffield Utd

More to read

Daily Mail Football

Man City's forgotten man Kalvin Phillips is set for ANOTHER loan move after being left out of Man City squad for Asia tour - with injured Jack Grealish also absent

The Guardian

‘We miss her the same every day’: Olivia Cusack on her late footballer sister Maddy

Sky Sports

Stoke net stunning winner in comeback to sink Sheff Utd

Sky Sports

Horror own goal sees Fleetwood shock Sheff Utd and book Arsenal tie