Sins bins are coming to football. After recent trials the introduction of sin bins, initially in disability, grassroots and youth football, was approved in March and if successful we could see them introduced into the professional game within three years. Sin bins have proved successful in rugby union but will the concept transfer well to football? Brighton fan Russ Bravo and Andy Searles, chaplain of Orlando City in the MLS and Ipswich Town fan share their thoughts along with special guest Brian Irvine, the former Falkirk, Aberdeen and Scotland centre half. We also talk to Brian about his career, including being signed for Aberdeen by Sir Alex Ferguson and scoring the winning goal in the penalty shoot-out in the 1990 Scottish Cup final against Celtic.

Up In the Gantry

13 Apr: Sin bins and Former Aberdeen & Scotland defender Brian Irvine

Is video technology good for football? Next season it will be introduced in the Bundesliga and here in England the FA is set to trial it from the Third Round of the FA Cup. Is it better to get the big decisions right using this technology or will it slow down the game and perhaps reduce the impact of what fans love to call "the dodgy ref"? And following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri just nine months after leading Leicester City to the Premier League title we ask is there any room for sentiment in football today? Should Ranieri have stayed or is sentiment always trumped by the owners' need to retain Premier League status. Regular panellists Brighton and Hove Albion fan Russ Bravo and Andy Searles, Ipswich Town supporter and chaplain of Orlando City in the MLS share their thoughts and are joined by former Premier League referee Bob Hamer who is now a Match Observer for the Football League and FA, assessing the performances of the match day officials. Adrian Barnard hosts the discussion.

16 Mar: Video Technology & Is There Room For Sentiment In Football?

This time our panel comprises Liam Flint, co-founder of sports website Cross The Line and a Chelsea supporter and Andy Searles, an Ipswich Town fan living in Florida where he is chaplain to Major League Soccer side, Orlando City. The panel discusses three questions: What's gone wrong at Leicester City as last year's EPL Champions face a battle to avoid relegation; Will the FA Cup retain its integrity as top clubs often field second-string sides with their priorities for the season laying elsewhere; and in the shadow of multiple allegations of sexual abuse from football coaches we discuss what should be done to ensure a safe environment for young people looking to get into the game. Adrian Barnard is in the chair to keep order.

16 Feb: Leicester City Meltdown, FA Cup Integrity and Abuse in Football

Chelsea fan Liam Flint and Brighton optimist Russ Bravo discuss this month's three topics. We discuss the January transfer window - is it a distraction or a vital opportunity for clubs to bolster their squads mid season? Former Real Madrid, AC Milan and Brazil star Kaka, now at Orlando City in the MLS, tells us why he displayed his "I belong to Jesus" t-shirt as we consider identity in football and finally we look back on the panel's predictions last month ahead of the busy Christmas and New Year fixtures. Adrian Barnard hosts the podcast and attempts to keep the panel in order.

18 Jan 2017: Transfer Window, Identity in Football & Reviewing our Christmas Fixture Predictions

The panel of Brighton fan Russ Bravo, Chelsea fan Liam Flint and optimistic Ipswich Town fan and Orlando City chaplain Andy Searles discuss this month's three topics: Why is the England manager role described as "an impossible one", favourite footballing comebacks and how our clubs are celebrating Christmas and serving their communities. Chairman Adrian Barnard attempts to keep order.

14 Dec: England Manager Role, Great Football Comebacks & Christmas Cheer

Ollie Baines, Russ Bravo, Liam Flint and Andy Searles debate, discuss and disagree on a three football topics. The panel review their pre-season predictions for the title and relegation places, consider the starts made by three high-profile coaches with new teams this season - Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte - and share their thoughts on which player has impressed them most in the season so far. Chairman Adrian Barnard attempts to keep the team in check.

09 Nov: Reviewing Our Pre-Season Predictions, Comparing Pep, Jose and Conte and Best Player Of The Season So Far

Up In the Gantry is back as the panel discusses another three topics to get you involved. First, football is one of the 28 sports taking place at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio with Mexico defending their 2012 title in the men's competition and the USA defending the women's title. But does anyone care as the Premier League gets underway and arguably better quality football on offer elsewhere? Next we look at Paul Pogba's £89m transfer to Manchester United from Juventus and as is he a good buy or a big waste of money? And with the Championship already underway the team discusses whether it's the toughest professional division and the hardest league from which to gain promotion? The panel offer their thoughts and promotion predictions. Share your thoughts via the comments panel.

12 August: Olympics Football, Paul Pogba and Is The Championship The Toughest Division?

The Premier League transfer market has been busy ahead of the new season. We look at who's come in and who are the best acquistions? We discuss a new book called "Cross The Line" in which 20 top footballers including Kaka, Odion Ighalo and Victor Wanyama talk about the football careers and faith, and the team makes its predictions on who will win the Premier League title this year and who are the likely relegation candidates. The team this time is Adrian Barnard, Russ Bravo, Gabriel Ajala, Ollie Baines and Liam Flint.

15 Jul: Transfers, New Football Book & EPL Title/Relegation Predictions

In this first episode of our new podcast we share the joy and pain of success and failure in the race to win promotion to the Premier League. We hear from a happy Middlesbrough supporter and a disappointed Brighton fan. We ask, is Jose Mourinho the right manager for Manchester United and can he bring the Premier League title to Old Trafford within the three years of his contract? And finally we explore England's chances at Euro 2016. Can the Three Lions go all the way or will they fail to escape the Pool stages as in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil? Host Adrian Barnard is joined by Ollie Baines (Norwich fan), Liam Flint (Chelsea), Mark Blythe (Middlesbrough), Russ Bravo (Brighton & HA) and from the USA by Andy Searles, chaplain to MLS side Orlando City. "Up In The Gantry" is a joint Passion for Sport and Cross The Line production

Up In The Gantry, 13 Jun: Promotion, Jose Mourinho to Man Utd & England's Euro 2016 Chances

Fancy yourself as a football analyst? We do. Anything in football we can talk about. At length. For England. The issues we’re passionate about. Promotion. Relegation. Winning the Cup. Or not. The teams we’re passionate about. Local. National. The faith we’re passionate about. As football fans and followers of Jesus Christ. Up In The Gantry tackles the stories and topics in football we’re passionate about.

hubhopper

Up In the Gantry

hubhopper