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.

Welcome to The Magic Roundabout, a podcast series taking listeners on the road, and behind-the-scenes, at Hemel Hempstead Town as they complete a 46-game season in the sixth tier of English football.

You may have heard Lionel Birnie and Simon Gill on The Cycling Podcast, riding to each of the Scottish League grounds in the Tour d'Écosse.

Now they are going on adventure, following the fortunes of their home town team – nicknamed The Tudors – as they challenge for glory in the National League South and FA Cup.

They'll travel home and away – visiting Farnborough and Farnham, Maidstone and Maidenhead, Truro and Torquay – telling the stories from the terraces, the dugout, the changing rooms and the boardroom along the way.

We'll meet a cast of characters who are the heartbeat of the club, from the charismatic owner and chairman Dave Boggins, manager Lee Bircham – who is Simon's mate from school – the rest of the back-room team and the players.

Along the way, we'll answer a host of questions, such as: What is the Magic Roundabout? Who runs the Racing Pigeon Club? And why is King Henry the Eighth on the club badge?

Coming soon: The Magic Roundabout. Tune in, or it's off with your head.