York City supporters’ podcast, York Hospital Ball, is set to reach a major milestone early in the new year with the release of its one hundredth episode.
This marks six years since the fan-led project launched in 2019, which has now become a recognised voice within the club’s supporter community.
The landmark episode, due out in early January, features an interview with former York City record signing Dipo Akinyemi, makes it a century of episodes across fifteen series since the podcast began.
It started out as a small hospital radio project created by volunteers who wanted to explore the club’s history through in-depth conversations.
York Hospital Ball found a wider audience during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when downloads increased sharply as supporters looked for connection and familiar voices at a time when attending matches was impossible. This helped the podcast establish itself as a regular part of many fans’ routines.
That steady growth has translated into wider recognition within the UK podcast sector, with York Hospital Ball ranked as the twelfth highest-rated football podcast in the United Kingdom in July this year and subsequently nominated for several awards, including the Football Content Awards.
The podcast has also developed an international audience, recording more than sixty thousand total downloads across 99 countries, reflecting the global reach of York City supporters and the appeal of long-form interviews focused on personal stories rather than match analysis alone.
Alongside its on-air success, York Hospital Ball has continued to make an impact away from football, raising over £6000 for York Hospital Radio through listener donations, sponsorship, live events and fundraising initiatives.
Host Dan Tait said: “It’s crazy to think I’ve now recorded one hundred episodes and just how much the podcast has grown. To know so many people enjoy the episodes is incredibly humbling,” while also thanking fellow hospital radio volunteers for their continued support.
Jim Calverley from York City Supporters Trust acknowledged the podcast as “an incredible resource for football fans, especially York City supporters,” adding that it has captured many special and iconic moments.
