Hello and welcome to the game football podcast from The Times and Sunday Times.

This is our EFL extra show with me, Tom Clark, and the former Football League legend, Gregor Robertson,

and we are back to talk about the EFL playoff finals.

Gregor, I honestly didn't think this show would ever come around. I've been promising

listeners all week. We've done two extra shows already, as well as the regular shows. We've had

the busiest week of football news that I can ever remember in my career, but we've got three

huge games to come. Just before we get there, I mentioned this on Thursday's show and I read out

your intro, just how special was it for you to be there with your adopted son, John McGinn, to watch him

lift that Europa League trophy? That was a great moment for McGinn and for Aston Villa.

And, you know, to tie it back to the Football League, which is what you're here to talk about. McGinn memorably scored

what turned out to be the winning goal for Aston Villa, which is only seven years ago in the

playoff final. And yeah, he just sort of represents Villa's rise and he's been there, the big game

player and the big moments throughout their rise,

and he was there again and lifted the trophy.

So a great moment for John McGinn,

whose journey in English football started in the championship.

Yeah, lovely link, mate, lovely, beautiful stuff.

Of course, the championship playoff final is Middlesbrough against Hall City,

but it's been completely

overshadowed until this very moment by the madness of Spigate.

We discussed this as well on Thursday's show with Alison and the guys, but just your very

quick reaction before we talk about the actual football.

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