Elis James' Feast Of Football

BBC Radio Wales

<p>Elis James chews over the week's football with Iwan Roberts and guests</p>

  • 56 minutes 19 seconds
    Snoop in Swansea, County’s big win and Cardiff up by Easter?

    Carl Roberts, Iwan Roberts and Sam Vokes discuss Wrexham's FA cup game against Chelsea, Snoop Dogg in Swansea, Cardiff's promotion charge, Newport's big win and this weekend's games. We also discuss the Winter Olympics and favourite post-match food.

    19 February 2026, 7:28 pm
  • 52 minutes 40 seconds
    Are Swansea play-off contenders?

    Ten weeks ago, the general consensus was Swansea City were in a relegation battle. Thirteen games later, has new manager Vitor Matos transformed the team into Championship play-off contenders? A comfortable 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday leaves the Swans just five points adrift of the top six, but four games against team above them in the table await.

    Wrexham failed to give owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac a win to mark five years at the helm by slipping up at home to Millwall. Attention now turns to the fourth round of the FA Cup against Ipswich Town.

    No such problems for Cardiff City, who shrugged off the 20th-minute red card to Ryan Wintle to win 3-0 at Rotherham, a display described by Iwan as one of the best he can recall by a team with 10 men.

    11 February 2026, 4:52 pm
  • 55 minutes 6 seconds
    Parting shots

    Did Elliot Lee tarnish his relationship with Wrexham by saying his is happy to join a manager who "values" him after moving to Doncaster Rovers on loan? After three successful consecutive promotions with the Reds, Lee has found himself surplus to requirements by Phil Parkinson. Should he feel aggrieved? Or is this purely the reality of professional football, especially when playing for an ambitions club like Wrexham?

    Lee is one of 10 players to leave Wrexham in January, allowing Parkinson to recruit three more new faces he feels will strengthen their promotion hopes. Swansea's only significant piece of business was signing Finland midfielder Leo Walta. Manager Vitor Matos has certainly steadied the ship - are there now realistic hopes of overcoming the eight-point gap to reach the play-off places?

    Cardiff's lead at the top of League is down to just two points, but remains a healthy eight-point cushion inside the automatic play-off places. Newport's heavy defeat to relegation rivals Bristol Rovers exposed yet more defensive frailties, while the underdog story continues in the Welsh Cup as two lower league sides reach the semi-finals.

    5 February 2026, 9:34 am
  • 54 minutes 11 seconds
    Cardiff in cruise control &amp; Fuchs in denial

    Is Cardiff City's immediate return to the Championship an inevitability? The Bluebirds are now 10 points clear of the League One play-off places after a comfortable midweek win over Barnsley, prompting comparisons with Birmingham's march to the title last season.

    Life is far harder for Newport County, who failed to build on the feelgood factor of a rare win on Saturday by losing to fellow strugglers Accrington Stanley on Tuesday. Manager Christian Fuchs might insist his team are not in a relegation battle, but the coming games - starting with Bristol Rovers - could define their whole season.

    Wrexham showed their winning mentality with two added time goals to snatch a win at Queens Park Rangers that lifts them to the top six in the Championship for the first time this season. But an inexplicable handball and a missed open goal continued Swansea City's away woes.

    And Iwan and Sam share their Welsh Cup memories as the competition reaches the last eight - with several lower league clubs dreaming of lifting the cup and booking an unforgettable ticket to Europe.

    29 January 2026, 2:48 pm
  • 56 minutes 12 seconds
    Vipotnik, Salech or Moore?

    Iwan Roberts and Sam Vokes know more than most about scoring goals. They also know a prolific scorer can be worth his weight in gold. Swansea City's Zan Vipotnik is the Championship's top scorer with 13 goals, while Kieffer's Moore's 10 goals for Wrexham ensures they are well in touch of a play-off place. And in League One, Yousef Salach has caught the eye in Cardiff City's rise to the top of the table. But if they had to choose, which one would they say is the best?

    But this week's podcast starts with the disappointing news of Ben Davies' likely absence from World Cup play-offs with a broken ankle, while Jordan James gives manager Craig Bellamy another potential scare with a hamstring injury.

    22 January 2026, 3:52 pm
  • 49 minutes 52 seconds
    Rocking Racecourse | Swansea impress | Salech praise | Sam on 'huge' Newport visit

    Wrexham produced another memorable occasion at Y Cae Ras with a thrilling FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest on penalties, leading to a somewhat underwhelming fifth round tie against Ipswich Town. It was penalty pain for Swansea, though, despite showing more encouraging signs against struggling West Bromwich Albion.

    A superb solo effort from Yousef Salech secured a hard-earned point for Cardiff City, with a potentially pivotal period coming up against two promotion rivals.

    And Sam prepares for a "huge game" against Newport County after Iwan goes in "two footed" with the alarming decline in Gillingham's form.

    15 January 2026, 1:11 pm
  • 28 minutes 12 seconds
    Terry Yorath: A tribute to a 'Welsh great'

    Barry Horne and Iwan Roberts join Simon Davies to pay tribute to former Wales captain and manager Terry Yorath, who has died aged 75. Yorath made Horne his captain of the national side, which famously coming within a victory of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup, while Roberts won his first cap during his reign. Both remember him as an immensely talented footballer, with a humble and warm personality as a manager. "He was a father figure," they say. "Wales has lost a great man."

    9 January 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 58 minutes
    Wrexham's four wins ignites promotion push

    After a calamitous defeat to Swansea City before Christmas, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson could not have asked for a better response from his players. Four consecutive wins has lifted the Reds to ninth in the Championship, but crucially, within six points of second place. Are they now genuine contenders for automatic promotion? Iwan and Sam certainly think so.

    Swansea's steady progress under Vitor Matos continues, although Iwan believes some are "getting carried" away with the improvement, given they've yet to beat anyone above them in the table.

    Cardiff City remain top of League One, but their lead at the top remains three points despite a fruitful festive period. And Newport County are off the bottom of League Two, giving themselves some welcomed hope into the new year.

    6 January 2026, 11:46 am
  • 1 hour 5 minutes
    Rhian Wilkinson: My hardest year

    From the unprecedented high of a first appearance at major tournament, to the disheartening 12-game winless streak, the past 12 months have been a period of polar contradictions for Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson. "It's by far my least successful year," she tells Carl Roberts and former Wales international Nia Jones, "but I'm so proud."

    In an in-depth interview, Wilkinson reflects on the harsh lessons learned at the European Championship and the relief of ending the year with a victory over Switzerland. She reveals how her parents' influence have shaped her career, how she sees herself as manager and not a coach with Wales, and what role she hopes the retired Jess Fishlock will soon have in her backroom team.

    30 December 2025, 11:53 am
  • 50 minutes 18 seconds
    Swans win Welsh derby, Cardiff suffer setback and Newport lose again

    Carl Roberts and former Wales internationals Iwan Roberts and Sam Vokes reflect on the weekend’s results. Swansea came from behind to beat Wrexham 2-1 in their first league meeting for 22 years. Meanwhile, League One leaders Cardiff were beaten 2-1 away at promotion rivals Lincoln, and bottom-of-the-table Newport County suffered another League Two defeat after losing 4-1 away at Colchester.

    22 December 2025, 4:12 pm
  • 46 minutes 54 seconds
    Cardiff earn Chelsea respect, Welsh derby preview &amp; Newport's cash concern

    Carl Roberts, Iwan Roberts and Sam Vokes reflect on a good week for Cardiff City, despite a League Cup defeat to Chelsea. Swansea City and Wrexham prepare for a first league meeting for 22 years, and Newport's financial reality is laid bare as chairman Huw Jenkins faces the disgruntled fans.

    18 December 2025, 9:08 pm
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