The Guardian has won a double of podcast awards at the Football Supporters’ Association Awards, with Football Weekly and Women’s Football Weekly both taking honours at a ceremony in London.
The FSA Awards, in their 15th year, are decided by supporters, with hundreds of thousands of votes coming in each year. Women’s Football Weekly – hosted by Faye Carruthers alongside football writer Suzanne Wrack – won the first award of the night: women’s football media of the year, from a list described as “six of the best outlets providing fans in the women’s game with outstanding work”.
Later, Football Weekly, whose streak of three successive victories in the podcast of the year category was broken by Football Ramble in 2024, regained its crown from a list deemed “the best around for essential football audio”. After the announcement, Football Weekly host Max Rushden joked on X: “All is well with the world again.”
Hosted by Victoria Derbyshire at Nobu in central London, the ceremony featured 91 nominees across a host of categories that mix star power with acknowledgment of hard work done in the Football League and below. Declan Rice and Alessia Russo were named men’s and women’s player of the year respectively, Lucy Ward won TV/radio pundit of the year, and Peter Drury was named commentator of the year.
The Guardian’s Sophie Downey was recognised among the nominees for writer of the year, a category won by the Independent’s Miguel Delaney. The Guardian was recognised among the nominees for men’s football media of the year, won this year by the Athletic.
Non-League Day won the non-league award and Proud Baggies – a West Brom group “for all LGBTQ+ fans, their families, friends, and allies” – took honours in the fans for diversity category. Bristol City took the award for supporter engagement and Sunderland’s Chris Waters, the club’s fan liaison officer, won a category dedicated to supporter services.
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Arseblog won fan media of the year, Barrow-focused Give ‘Em Beans won fanzine of the year, while the climate action award – which celebrates anyone using football to fight the climate crisis across the UK – went to Sustaina-Bees and Brentford.
Newcastle-focused Pod on the Tyne won club podcast of the year, The Adam Clery Football Channel took the social media of the year honour and Sam Merson – son of Paul Merson – was awarded goal of the year for a stunning volley he scored for Hanworth Villa.
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Tom Greatrex, the FSA’s chair, said: “On and off the pitch we are proud to celebrate the best that football has to offer. It’s no surprise that Declan and Alessia won the popular vote for the player awards – they are both unbelievable talents who have been brilliant for club and country.
“The FSA Awards also highlight work across the pyramid at supporters’ groups, clubs, and in the media that might otherwise go unnoticed. There is so much good work going on out there and it’s a fantastic achievement to win or even be shortlisted.”
