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Learn English Through Football Podcast:
In this football language podcast we talk about a phrase originally from farming used in football: to shepherd. We also look forward to this weekend’s football in our predictions competition, including the Manchester Derby and a west London derby. You can read the transcript for this podcast below, and you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com.
Hello
You’re listening to languagecaster’s Learning English Through Football Podcast. Hello everyone. Welcome to the show. My name’s Damon and I live in Tokyo, Japan, which at the moment is cold but sunny: perfect winter weather. What’s the weather like were you are?
As a Liverpool fan, I enjoyed the European football action this week, which saw my team win 1-0 away at Girona and stay top of the new Champions League league. How did the team you support do? I’m sure Damian, the other member of the languagecaster team, was not too happy with Spurs’ draw in the Europa League against Rangers, although they did come from behind.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (Everton fan, Nori)
Nori, thank you for that message. Arigatou gozaimashita. I hope you are looking forward to the rescheduled Merseyside derby. Of course, I will be hoping for a Liverpool win! And we’ll be listening to more messages in different languages throughout the show. Send in your message introducing your self, and the message ‘you are listening to languagecaster.com’ or the team you support in your language. The email address is admin@languagecaster.com.
Today’s Show
OK, on today’s show we are looking at a phrase that comes from farming. That’s right, a football phrase using the language of farming, which is ‘to shepherd‘. We then will hear from Damian who will give his predictions for this weekend’s big games in the Premier League.
To Shepherd
OK, the word we are looking at today is the verb ‘to shepherd‘. Now, in farming this means to look after sheep. A person who looks after sheep is called a shepherd and their work is shepherding sheep, caring for them, protecting them, etc.
A shepherd shepherding sheep
If we add an object and a direction the meaning is to guide something to a specific place, so to shepherd a sheep into a field; to move a sheep into a field.
In football, the object is usually the ball or a player and the direction is often out of play or wide or away from goal.
Examples
DB: Here are some examples. First, “Palmer was played through again minutes later, running onto a pass from Rice, but the attacker was shepherded wide of the target by the onrushing Valdimarsson.” (Englandfootball.com)
So Palmer, an attacking player was pushed wide, shepherded wide, away from the goal by the defender.
And this example, “A run out wide from Bowman saw him latch onto a Kenneh pass with just three minutes on the clock and his centre had to be shepherded behind by Lavelle.” (Carlisle United homepage)
In this example the centre, the cross, was shepherded behind, so out of play across the byline. We could say Lavelle shepherded the ball over the byline. This means the defender didn’t touch the ball, as that would give a corner away, the defender instead put his body in the way of an opposing player as the ball rolled over the line. He protected the ball without touching it.
And finally, “the first chance fell to Dundee as Zach Robinson went through on goal, but the Falkirk defence shepherded him wide and his effort was held by Nicky Hogarth.” (Falkirck FC homepage)
Again, this is a player being moved, forced wide of the goal, so that the attacker’s shot is weak or less dangerous.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Persian)
So, to shepherd is used with a ball or player and usually involves a defender protecting the ball as it rolls out of play or a defender forcing an attacker away from goal, or wide of the goal.
To Hook, To Pen In
DB: And before we finish this section, there are other words from farming sheep used in football, the verbs to hook and to pen in. Come along to our site to check these out – just search for hook, pen in, and languagecaster and you’ll find a link to the post and podcast.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Mongolian)
Glossary
DB: As well as those phrases, you can find out more about hundreds more words and phrases used in football, including cliches by coming along to our football-language glossary. If there is a word you think we should add, let us know!
Right, next we’re going to hear from Damian, who is based in London. I wonder how he is and how the weather is over there.
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Norwegian)
Predictions
DF: Hi everyone, yes, this Damian from a very cold London. Right, let’s take a look at this week’s predictions in which our main focus will be on the Premier League. Let’s start with a big derby between Manchester United and Manchester City; two teams that are not in the best of form – they are out of form, in fact. City will look to bounce back after a bad defeat away at Juventus in the Champions League this week, while United will be hoping to put their home defeat to Nottingham Forest last weekend behind them. I think City will have too much for their city rivals: I’m going for a 2-0 Manchester City win.
West London Derby
Another derby – this time in west London – sees Chelsea take on Brentford. Chelsea are in great form having won their last four league matches, while as we mentioned in this week’s football expression, Brentford have an amazing home record but really struggle away. So, on paper this should be a home win – a home banker – But I think Brentford could cause an upset and surprise Chelsea – 1-0 to the Bees (that’s the nickname of Brentford, of course).
The Seagulls vs The Eagles
Another game filled with rivalry also takes place on Sunday when Brighton face Crystal Palace and although Palace have improved recently, I think Brighton will win this one. A home win – 2-1. I also think there will be another home win in the game which features Arsenal and Everton – the Toffees (that’s Everton) are not so strong on the road and Arsenal seem to be hitting form – maybe 3 or 4 nil to the Gunners.
And finally Damon’s favourite side Liverpool host Fulham on Saturday. Liverpool have just won their sixth Champions League game in a row to top the Champions League standings and will be favourites to defeat Fulham. But the west London side have hit form and will be a tricky opponent – they might scrape a draw here: 1-1 (sorry Damon!). What about you? What do you think will happen in this week’s games?
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Spanish)
Contact
DF: Right, just before we go, remember if you have any questions about the language of football or comments on the podcast, you can contact us via email at admin@languagecaster.com. Also, don’t forget our football-language forum where you can ask and answer any questions you have on the language of football. And we also have a massive glossary of football vocabulary, just come along to our site and take a look.
Now, one more new thing that might be able to help learners of English is that we now have transcripts appearing on our player. So, if you access our podcasts on Apple then they now have an automatic transcript, while on our new player you can also read along while listening to the show. Let us know if you use the transcript for your teaching or learning. And finally, if you like what we do, consider telling a friend, follow us on social media, like our podcasts because your support for us is very important!
Stinger: You are listening to languagecaster.com (in Uzbek)
Goodbye
DB: Thank you for that final message which was in Uzbek. We also had messages in Persian, Mongolian, Norwegian, and Spanish. Today we looked at how farming is connected with football with the phrase to shepherd. remember to also check out our podcast on to pen in and to hook.
Let us know if you hear these expressions, in any language, during this week’s football. Enjoy all the football this weekend and we’ll be back early next week with our weekly football language expression. Ta-ra!