In news that is bound to shock many soccer podcast listeners, the hosts of The Beautiful Game Podcast
have decided to pack it in after publishing their final episode released on August 6, 2007.

According to TBG host Chris Slegg who broke the sad news on Facebook, “Unfortunately we’re going to be unable to continue producing The Beautiful Game Podcast this season, but we just wanted to say a big thankyou to everyone for their support over the last 18 months. We’re especially grateful to those of you who got in touch with your football stories, voicemails and photos. We’ve really enjoyed making the show and hope you’ve enjoyed listening. Have a great 2007/08 season.”

I had the pleasure of meeting Chris last November outside the Emirates Stadium where I interviewed him (and he interviewed me). He’s as pleasant and knowledge about his football as he sounds on the podcast. What many people don’t realize is that quite a few of TBG staffers have experience in broadcasting and journalism, hence the top notch quality of their podcasts and professionalism which is rarely heard on other shows.

Of course, the news regarding the end of The Beautiful Game Podcast comes as a shock to me as well as you. I’m going to request an interview with one of the blokes from the show for an episode of an upcoming EPL Talk Podcast, so if you have any questions you’d like to ask, please post them here under the comments section or email them to thegaffer[at]epltalk[dot]com. If your question is read on-air, your name will be mentioned in the podcast interview with TBG.

As an admirer of the work that The Beautiful Game Podcast has done, I’d like to thank Chris, Alex R, Noel and Alex K for their groundbreaking work as trailblazers in soccer podcast history. It will not be forgotten.