🚀Ian Wright & Steph Houghton launch women's football podcast, Crossways

Launched today, Crossways is a brand-new podcast produced by former England international Steph Houghton and Ian Wright. Combining their expertise for this weekly women's football podcast are two football greats.

Every Friday, Crossways will set you up with everything you need to know about the Barclays WSL and beyond. It'll also bring you stories from girls’ grassroots football, as well as take a look behind the scenes of the women's game. 

Over the last seven years, the 'Lioness effect' has seen the number of women's and girls' football teams in England more than double. A Lioness icon herself, Steph Houghton retired in March this year with 100 caps for England. She captained Manchester City, the national team and Team GB squad at the 2012 and 2020 Olympics – and has been instrumental in the rise of women's football in the UK.

She says of the new podcast, "We both love football and with the women’s game we come at it from totally different perspectives, which is what makes Crossways unique. I'm really happy to be doing this show alongside Ian. His playing career speaks for itself, but he’s also been one of the most consistent voices around women’s football.

"It’s another new start for me. Now in my post-playing career, this is an an exciting opportunity to have real in-depth football conversations and connect with the wider women’s football community.” 

National treasure and Arsenal legend Ian Wright has been a driving force in women’s football, using his voice to drive progress at every level of the game.

He says, “I’m really excited for Crossways and that I get to do this with Steph, who I love and respect.

"She’s had such an incredible career at the very top level. She’s seen and experienced some of the most important stages in women’s football, so when we bumped into each other after her retirement, we got talking and instantly knew that we wanted to do something together. So I'm glad that the day has arrived.

It's going to be a big season with the next Women’s Euros in the summer – and there's loads to play for in the Barclays WSL.” 

Crossways is a Spotify podcast from The Ringer. It is available to watch and listen to on Spotify and YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Podwires readers receive journalism free of financial and political influence.

We set our own news agenda, which is always based on facts rather than billionaire ownership or political pressure.

Despite the financial challenges that our industry faces, we have decided to keep our reporting open to the public because we believe that everyone has the right to know the truth about the events that shape their world.

Thanks to the support of our readers, we can continue to provide free reporting. If you can, please choose to support The Podwires