Royal Oak FC Showdown Ends With Tarot Cards
Game's Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast
48,159 views
D-Day arrives for the Royal Oak as Steve, Paul and Bob gather the team for a much-needed, clear-the-air meeting. But with many of the players AWOL, a tarot card reader in the pool room, and the players mutinous over an increase in subs, it's never going to be simple.
In this special episode, we see all the action as the air is cleared and the gloves come off: Carpet Dave makes a impassioned plea, Parksey is annoyed at Paul, Tommy bemoans the weight of the captain's armband and Wynney props up the bar.
Never one to waste an opportunity, Steve also funds a series of Tarot readings from the Oak's own version of Eileen Drewery, Spooky Susan, which reveal more about the deeper issues in the squad.
In wider footballing news, the lads also rip up the rulebook and discuss the contenders for the Ballon d'Or (Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Harry Kane) in another packed edition.
Watch the YouTube premiere of each episode every Thursday at 7pm with Bob and Steve in the live chat.
Send your questions and voice notes to steve@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp 0800 7831997
Marching on, together as one. Steve.
0:00 Coming Up
0:42 Poor Turnout For Oak Crisis Talks
4:48 Subs Increase
8:19 Whoever's Holding The Pork Scratchings Can Speak
9:04 Parksey And Paul Have It Out
12:30 Bob Wants More Help
13:50 Carpet Dave Plea To Re-Sign Wynney
15:10 Steve Announces Director of Football, Carpet Dave
17:28 First Signing Of The Season
18:10 Tommy Never Wanted To Be Captain?
19:04 Club Saviour, Bob the Bucket
20:37 Tarot Readings With Spooky Susan
34:00 New Rules That Would Improve Football
38:11 Who Should Win 2026 Ballon d'Or?
VAR. XG. Inverted wing backs. The game has well and truly gone. Via his very own podcast, Steve Bracknall, Sunday league assistant manager and viral sensation will bring it back.
Direct from the dressing room of his team, Royal Oak FC, Steve is joined by gaffer Paul Sampson and physio Bob the Bucket. Every episode, they make sense of all the week’s footballing news and bring you updates from the Oak…
Game’s Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast is written and performed by Chris McClure and is a Persephonica production for BBC Sounds
Background
Royal Oak FC was founded in 1997 in the back room of the Royal Oak pub by Steve Bracknall and Paul Sampson.
Despite decades of effort, the team still fights for survival in the fifth tier of the Sheffield Sunday Imperial League. When a viral clip catapulted Steve to fame in 2024, the BBC came calling - and Game’s Gone was born.
Meet The Hosts
Steve Bracknall
Assistant manager at Royal Oak FC, Steve Bracknall is to many the lifeblood of the club. Having agreed to front the club in terms of marketing and PR, Steve is the link between the fans and the club. No one cares about the Oak like Steve. Loving husband to Our Nikki and doting father to Our Olivia, come Sunday Steve is transformed into a passionate assistant who would literally die for the cause. He cites man management as his strong point.
Paul Sampson
First team manager and lifelong friend of Steve Bracknall. Paul originally formed the club with Steve. In recent years his commitment to the club has come under scrutiny especially after buying a timeshare in Tenerife and going on multiple golfing trips mid-season leaving Steve to hold the fort. He still has the final say over any tactical decisions that are made much to the annoyance of Steve.
Bob the Bucket
Club physio and general caretaker Bob the Bucket has been with the club for over ten years. No one really knows why and when he joined but he did. General job roles include putting up nets, filling water bottles alongside prevention and rehab of all Oak players.
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Royal Oak FC Showdown Ends With Tarot Cards
Game's Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast
48,159 views
D-Day arrives for the Royal Oak as Steve, Paul and Bob gather the team for a much-needed, clear-the-air meeting. But with many of the players AWOL, a tarot card reader in the pool room, and the players mutinous over an increase in subs, it's never going to be simple.
In this special episode, we see all the action as the air is cleared and the gloves come off: Carpet Dave makes a impassioned plea, Parksey is annoyed at Paul, Tommy bemoans the weight of the captain's armband and Wynney props up the bar.
Never one to waste an opportunity, Steve also funds a series of Tarot readings from the Oak's own version of Eileen Drewery, Spooky Susan, which reveal more about the deeper issues in the squad.
In wider footballing news, the lads also rip up the rulebook and discuss the contenders for the Ballon d'Or (Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Harry Kane) in another packed edition.
Watch the YouTube premiere of each episode every Thursday at 7pm with Bob and Steve in the live chat.
Send your questions and voice notes to steve@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp 0800 7831997
Marching on, together as one. Steve.
0:00 Coming Up
0:42 Poor Turnout For Oak Crisis Talks
4:48 Subs Increase
8:19 Whoever's Holding The Pork Scratchings Can Speak
9:04 Parksey And Paul Have It Out
12:30 Bob Wants More Help
13:50 Carpet Dave Plea To Re-Sign Wynney
15:10 Steve Announces Director of Football, Carpet Dave
17:28 First Signing Of The Season
18:10 Tommy Never Wanted To Be Captain?
19:04 Club Saviour, Bob the Bucket
20:37 Tarot Readings With Spooky Susan
34:00 New Rules That Would Improve Football
38:11 Who Should Win 2026 Ballon d'Or?
VAR. XG. Inverted wing backs. The game has well and truly gone. Via his very own podcast, Steve Bracknall, Sunday league assistant manager and viral sensation will bring it back.
Direct from the dressing room of his team, Royal Oak FC, Steve is joined by gaffer Paul Sampson and physio Bob the Bucket. Every episode, they make sense of all the week’s footballing news and bring you updates from the Oak…
Game’s Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast is written and performed by Chris McClure and is a Persephonica production for BBC Sounds
Background
Royal Oak FC was founded in 1997 in the back room of the Royal Oak pub by Steve Bracknall and Paul Sampson.
Despite decades of effort, the team still fights for survival in the fifth tier of the Sheffield Sunday Imperial League. When a viral clip catapulted Steve to fame in 2024, the BBC came calling - and Game’s Gone was born.
Meet The Hosts
Steve Bracknall
Assistant manager at Royal Oak FC, Steve Bracknall is to many the lifeblood of the club. Having agreed to front the club in terms of marketing and PR, Steve is the link between the fans and the club. No one cares about the Oak like Steve. Loving husband to Our Nikki and doting father to Our Olivia, come Sunday Steve is transformed into a passionate assistant who would literally die for the cause. He cites man management as his strong point.
Paul Sampson
First team manager and lifelong friend of Steve Bracknall. Paul originally formed the club with Steve. In recent years his commitment to the club has come under scrutiny especially after buying a timeshare in Tenerife and going on multiple golfing trips mid-season leaving Steve to hold the fort. He still has the final say over any tactical decisions that are made much to the annoyance of Steve.
Bob the Bucket
Club physio and general caretaker Bob the Bucket has been with the club for over ten years. No one really knows why and when he joined but he did. General job roles include putting up nets, filling water bottles alongside prevention and rehab of all Oak players.
You can also listen to us every Thursday morning. Right here on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0mh9lt6
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