“If you’d have told me ten years ago I’d be emigrating to Australia, I wouldn’t have believed you!’ Max Rushden tells me.
Yet here we are. Englishman Rushden, afresh from completing his 14 day hotel quarantine, made his Stan Sport Champions League debut alongside Australian football legends Mark Bosnich and Craig Foster as their coverage kicked off on Wednesday morning.
The 42 year old is best known to UK audiences for his work on Soccer AM, TalkSport and fronting the award winning Guardian Football Weekly podcast since 2017.
Rushden’s wife Jamie hails from Australia so the broadcaster had begun to have one eye on a move in recent times. The couple are expecting their first child in March.
“To be honest there were only two jobs I could have left the UK to Australia for – hosting the Premier League or the Champions League,” Rushden said.
“I just don’t have a good enough knowledge of the A-League and you can’t bluff football fans, they’re an unforgiving bunch!’
“The timing of the move was almost serendipity, I’d already dipped my toe in with a little bit of work for other organisations, but it was a real meeting of minds with Stan.
“It was clear from the outset we agreed on how football should be covered- in a relaxed, intelligent and hopefully entertaining way.
“If fans are getting up at 4am, we don’t want to be filling their heads with tactics. Obviously we will be aiming to give good analysis and I hope we can strike the right balance.”
Joining Rushden on the Stan Sport team are former Socceroos Bosnich and Foster and Grace Gill, who won two W-League Championships with Canberra United.
Foster was a staple of SBS football coverage alongside Les Murray but is now noted as much for his human rights work as his football punditry.
“He’s an inspiration,” Rushden says. “I haven’t had much chance yet to have a deep conversation with him, but I feel we are similarly politically aligned.
“I’ve huge respect for the work he’s done and I’m looking forward to getting to know him better.”
When quizzed about who will take out this seasons Champions League, Rushden admits it’s a tough call.
“There’s a real randomness to it, to be honest,” he said.
“I’ve a sneaky feeling for Bayern this year [the Germans kicked off with a 3-0 win over Barcelona] and I’ll be interested as to how the Spanish sides do – it’s weird Barcelona being seen as one of the underdogs this time!
“I’m sure the English sides will be there or thereabouts too, although I think with Guardiola saying he’s only doing one more season with City after this one, that might put an extra bit of pressure on them.
“Once you get to the knockouts though its hard to predict- you could be the better team for a leg and a half and still lose- look at the Liverpool-Barca semi final from a couple of years ago for instance.”
And what of Australia’s most notable Football export at this point in time- Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou? Rushden admits he’s a big fan.
“I’ve always been a big Ange disciple when I was in the UK, he’s done a great job where ever he has been,” said Rushden.
“I think its probably harder for him to be accepted, as he doesn’t come from a ‘traditional’ footballing country – but to say you can’t be a good footballer or coach because of where you’re from, that’s just ludicrous.”
Stan Sport’s UCL coverage kicked off Wednesday and on Thursday the main focus is on Liverpool taking on Italian giants AC Milan.
Watch football’s biggest superstars in the UEFA Champions League with every match streaming ad-free, live and on-demand only on Stan Sport from Wednesday 15 September.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Its Fozza now? When has Craig Foster ever been funny. Bozza was cranky in recent A-league seasons. If they had Zella instead of Bozza and it was on at a decent hour then I might be bothered.
Blood Dragon
Roar Rookie
I do but I'm also a Union fan plus I only pay for the Sport Add on as the Stan Account is my brothers and I had no Issues with the Barcelona VS Bayern Game and am looking forward to Rennais VS Spurs Tomorrow just a shame its on at the same time as Lokomotiv VS Marseille Overall I think its a good service but $20 a month is a little high just for UEFA Club competitions
Winter
Guest
Really compared to bozza or slater? She just reads out the stats or says complete generalities that almost anyone with a vague understanding of the game can see. I want to tune to a meeting of deep footballing minds. You can't position someone as the expert analyst in their mid twenties to late twenties. Most people are just getting into the peak of their football career not commentating. Milligan is a robot with no inflexion in tone of voice or facial expression. Not sure who the others are as the host doesn't say much besides treating it as a hosting role which is fine. But adam ot tara would host and do a PRE GAME at an ffa cup game as well. They would talk about the food and the club etc. Not tune in, start the game and listen to commentators who aren't at the game looking at the screen through the one camera. If Paramount had 3 months to prepare from the announcements, you would think they had time to buy 2x HD cameras. You can take those two cameras to other games. It's actually an investment for a broadcaster :laughing: . This just goes to show that Footballing people are not running the show at Paramount. All this was talked about endlessly in the last couple seasons of the Foxtel broadcast on here. So nothing has been learned?
At work
Roar Rookie
From what I've seen so far, Georgia has provided the best insight and punditry compared to the others on the panel. I'd never heard of her before, but as long as she offers great knowledge on the game and tactical analysis then I'm all for her. Plus she and the other guys will grow in confidence in front of the camera.
Winter
Guest
Don't understand everyone's infatuation for Simon Hill. He is great for international games but not for ffa cup. He didnt live in the areas and understand the stories. Buying stan and going champions league as tired of getting my hopes up and seeing the same old same old. If boz and foz are on stan than I am in.
Winter
Guest
Georgia Yeoman-Dale is 27 years old? And she is the expert analyst for the Paramount commentary team? Ummmm....most people play till their latest 30s and then coach and become expert analysts in their 50s. Foxtel had a tremendously better commentary team. Stan nailed their commentary team. Even SBS had a better commentary team. Was expecting pre game for the ffa cup games. Still using the one SD camera. Waiting on what Paramount is actaully going to do differently than before...
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
That's all Australian Football has missing this whole time - another British accent to listen to.
Rosario FC
Guest
My remarks aside, does anyone have Stan Sport? How did they go this morning with the coverage? i.e. with Bozza, Rushden, & Foster?
Rosario FC
Guest
I had no idea of this Chris. That's one thing I like about us oz fans- we know who our detractors are, & we can see right through them.
Gashead
Roar Rookie
Can't remember who the commentator (but he was good) was but Nick Meredith was special comments and did a great job. Showed good knowledge of the Qld NPL and gave some insight, rather than just restating what you are watch on TV, which is what I could do myself!
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
id assume he still does (looking like a flamboyant bikie lol), his annoying wife is part of that left wing show on 10, the project
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
why would you want to watch man utd, real madrid or barcelona? there is nothing relatable for australians with teams like that when you can watch edge hill vs gold coast tonight in the FFA Cup on 10 play? featuring players who work regular jobs and play football for the love of the game :)
chris
Guest
Does he still wear that silly red bandana? The story with Fitzsimons goes back to the 2006 wc. He was anti football before then as well, but he jumped on the band wagon when we qualified in Germany. Apparently he turns up in some bar in Germany and was promptly abused for being there "supporting" the socceroos after years of sticking the boot in. I would say he hasn't gotten over that?
Winter
Guest
Nailed the commentary team. Paramount seems like a long way off. Not sure who did the ffa cup last night. Milligan is a robot. Hopefully it improves.
Rosario FC
Guest
Well said AdelaideAndy. Also love this comment "9 also employ people on other programs who are blatantly anti football". Ain't that the bloody truth- Fitzsimmons, Hadley, Beachley. I saw Foster a few weeks back on 9, & Fitzsimmons just had endless snide remarks about football. For a bloke that acts like a "moral compass" I find him infammatory. I am happy that of all the commercial free-to-air stations, local football landed on 10. Still a bit undecided on that Scott Mackinnon- think we can tell he's not a natural with football. I'll give him & 10/Paramount time.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
it's your money, at the end of the day you can do what you want with it. Several subscriptions is just silly though lol kayo + optus + stan will cost you $40-$60 a month to watch epl, bundesliga, serie a, la liga, ligue 1, champions league, europa league, euro qualifiers, south american qualifiers as opposed to illegal streams that are free i'd rather my money goes towards the good of the game here in australia - EG grass roots, NPL & a league stan is not for the good of the game IMO, especially at the price point they are charging, :)
chris
Guest
Thanks for the tips : ) Unfortunately for us football fans, the platforms and media players is so fragmented, you need about 6 (and counting) subscriptions to cover the lot lol. We are spoiled for content for sure.
Adam Cattell
Roar Pro
Joined the APL as director of content a few weeks back
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Welcome to Max Rushden, a great addition for us.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
where's Rich Bayliss going?