An interview with Phil Brown, host and creator of Beyond the Pitch, by Gerardo Tavarez. Full interview on Youtube and Spotify.
How long have you been involved in the world of football?
“From a broadcasting perspective, probably fourteen years now. We had a couple of iterations of podcasting before that, when it was still relatively new. Broadcasting on an old football show called “Where’s Soccer Daily” which was probably the first soccer radio station I’d heard, which was all on SiriusXM. In 2010, I started my own podcast [Beyond the Pitch.] To be honest, 14 years later, I had no idea it would still be going but it just evolved itself. That’s the thing about football, there’s always something to talk about."
What ignited your passion to start Beyond the Pitch and your passion for football?
“The podcast itself was a labor of love. There was an opportunity to do something I loved, which was talking about football. Just like what you’re trying to do, I wanted to hear different perspectives around the world about football fans, culture, why people support their teams, what makes them special. It was interesting for me to hear that from different perspectives. One thing about America is that its democracy is very diverse so you have people from different backgrounds. Sometimes in Europe we can be a bit sheltered but when I was growing up, pre-internet, we had to learn about fan culture from what we were shown on television. It was great for me to do that and it was an opportunity for me to talk to professional footballers and talk my way into situations that I never otherwise could have.”
How do you feel that has impacted you, as a person, in your life?
“Look, I’ve been very open about mental health. My own mental health battles. Some of my own struggles. It’s really important you have a positive outlet for your emotions, even if it’s doing a podcast by yourself, talking into the abyss, it’s almost therapeutic in a way. Some of the feedback I’ve gotten over the years, this would honestly be, in my opinion, the greatest accomplishment of the whole podcast, which is, how many people have reached out to me on a personal level, who have been battling issues. Who otherwise I wouldn’t have known that we got through together. Many of these people are doing exceptional things in the world of sport today. Talking about football is important but ultimately, like you mentioned, creating a community of like minded human beings that know it’s not just a place to talk about football, it’s a place I care for the listener beyond what they do for me statistically. Whether that’s an algorithmic boost, follower boost or download boost, when you don’t chase those things and you do it for the right reasons, it shows in everything that you do.”
Football is the biggest sport in the world and to some people it’s in their culture and blood. Growing up, what team did you support? Why?
“I was born in a place called Belfast, it’s within North Ireland. There was a war going on. Bombs and bullets going on everyday. A very dangerous environment. Like a lot of kids who grew up in violence, they gravitate towards sport. Football and boxing is huge in Ireland. Those are my two loves. When I was a child I was not in an opulent environment. Football was cheap to play, ‘here’s a ball, go play,’ for hours and for me that was my Xbox. I was out on the street, dreaming I was this player or that player. I fell in love with Manchester United when I was 5 years of age. My two older brothers were Liverpool fanatics and still are, who at that time, Liverpool were the dominant team in England. It’s funny because I like watching other teams but love is something different. I remember the first time I saw United as a kid on TV. I fell in love with their glamor. It wasn’t because they were successful, because they certainly weren’t back then. There was something glamorous about them. To me, they never lost that shine. It was obsessive. Looking back on it now, it was probably unhealthy but I was completely obsessed with United. It was a safe place for me mentally, away from all the violence that was going on around me. It was one of the few things that transcended the war in communities. There were people on both sides of the communities that loved Manchester United. When I was 15 I went to my first Manchester United game, against Arsenal, where they drew 1-1. There’s a bus in the middle of Belfast taking us to this game. It was one of the only areas where we got on that bus, and we weren’t Irish, British, Catholic, Protestant, Israeli or Palestinian. We were all Manchester United fans. United is massive in Ireland because of George Best, one of the great Irish players who played there. It’s always had a close relationship, as well as Liverpool, Arsenal and other clubs but United was my love since I was a child and it’s still that way.”
Can you share a memorable moment that solidified your love for your team?
“I’ve been really fortunate to support United in the 80s. During my 40 years of supporting United, I’ve gotten to watch them win multiple European Cups, 13 Premier League titles, FA Cups, etc. There are a few moments that stand out. In 1999, I remember how I felt 2 minutes before the end of the game [Bayern Munich vs Manchester United, European Cup Final]. I was on the verge of tears. I was thinking, ‘we’ll never win this thing.’ I wanted to win the European Cup so bad. It was probably the most difficult thing for United to win but at that stage they were already winning FA Cups, Premier Leagues, but the Champions League was the one. You think about 1958, United had this unbelievable young team that died in a plane crash. Defining the rules of the English Football Association to go and actually play in Europe. In many ways they were pioneers. 10 years later, they rebuilt the club from the ground up and won the European Cup. It was such a synonymous trophy. Fast forward to 1999, still in tears watching the European Cup final, 1-0 down, 90 seconds later, I’m in tears of joy.”
The beautiful thing about football is that it is incredibly difficult to describe the emotions one goes through unless you watch the game live. Can you describe the atmosphere and emotions when watching Manchester United in person?
“Luckily enough I grew up near there. United were pretty close to me. I have a lot of family in Manchester. It’s easy for me to get to, it’s a 35 minute plane ride away from Ireland. The first time I walked into Old Trafford was one of those moments I’ll never forget. I was a 15 year old kid. I walked up the steps, I saw the grass and I literally had my breath taken away. I stood there for a minute open-mouthed. The noise was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. We didn’t have stadiums like that in Belfast. Large events with a lot of people like that would’ve been dangerous. You can feel your brain rewiring. It was intoxicating to hear that type of noise, that type of support and to watch United score was one of those moments in life, that when you get to my age and look back you see that life doesn’t have many of those moments for you. There are a few things in life that will make you feel that way. Maybe the birth of a child. Certain accomplishments that you or your kids make. To have that kind of experience, I feel privileged. I alsoctook my oldest son over when he was also 15, for his first time, a couple of years ago at Old Trafford, and it was amazing.”
In one word, describe Manchester United.
“For me, it’s love. I’m in it for life. It’s one of the few things in my life that I trust. It’s given me unbelievable joy, madness, anger but I can’t imagine a life without that.”
If you had the chance to play for your club, and you scored, how would you celebrate?
“If you could imagine how I celebrate goals now, and I’m not a player, I couldn’t imagine how it would be if I was an actual player. I see some kids getting in the first team scoring their first goal and having a muted celebration, it might be a personality thing but for me it’d be different.”
Comments