This is The Magic Roundabout, a podcast about football, friendship and passing fifty...

Home and away with The Tudors. A season on the road with Hemel Hempstead Town FC.

Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill grew up two doors down from each other. As kids in the Eighties they played hours of football in the back garden, devised lengthy Subbuteo tournaments, and wore their Watford kits everywhere. In short, football was their life.

But if life was a football match, it's fair to say they are well into the second half now so they've decided to spend a season doing what they love most. Watching football, and telling stories.

Join them as they follow their home town team through the ups and downs of a season in English football's sixth tier, the National League South. Simon's school mate Lee Bircham has returned to the club for a second spell as manager.

In this opening episode, we meet the key characters at the club, from owner Dave Boggins, whose garden gate opens into the football ground, to the gaffer 'Birchy' and his backroom team.

After one of Hemel's best seasons ended in play-off heartbreak, expectations are high for the remodelled squad. Pre-season is over, now the serious business is about to begin.

Written and hosted by Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill. Produced by Tom Whalley for Peloton Podcasts.