Arsenal FC fan launches Spotify podcast during lockdown with guests such as Liverpool FC coach Thomas Gronnermark
10:45, 07 April 2021
updated: 10:52, 07 April 2021
A carer who started a podcast after he left his job during lockdown has seen it go from "strength-to-strength."
Thomas Pheby, of Old Park Road in Dover, gave up his role at the Applecroft Care Home in Temple Ewell to look after his three children at the height of the pandemic.
The 61-year-old said: "It was a turbulent time for everyone but my wife Abbie is a teacher and key worker, so it was obvious that it would make more sense for me to be the one to stay at home.
"I missed my colleagues and work place but it was extremely necessary under the circumstances."
In an effort to distract himself from the mundane life of lockdown, Thomas launched the 'It's an Arsenal Thing' podcast.
He has since seen it attract a number of high profile names such as actor, writer and broadcaster Tom Watt, SKY news correspondent Glen Oglaza, Liverpool throw-in coach Thomas Gronnermark and football legends Neville Southall and Alan Hudson.
Even though his footballing loyalties lie with the North London club, Thomas describes the show as something that "combines fun, football and conversation" which "isn't just for Arsenal fans."
He works on the writing, editing and hosting of the show on a weekly part-time basis whilst caring for his daughter Georgina, six, and two sons Harry, four, and seven-month-old Henry.
Thomas added: "I was originally approached by an American company to host an Arsenal podcast, but I was already blogging for a site with my friend, and now partner in the project Soham De.
"I just said to him 'why aren't we doing a podcast?'
"He said he didn't know and we had our first one out by the end of the week.
"Lockdown created all sorts of problems because of the volume of matches and it was difficult to get the show out because of family commitments but the audience stuck by us."
Since then, Thomas and the team behind the podcast which includes co-host Jay Walls, US host Isaiah Schwerin and behind the scenes contributor 'Silent Dave' have racked up around 350 listeners a month.
"It's amazing to see how well it's done because we didn't know if anyone would be interested," he added.
"There are thousands of Arsenal podcasts out there, many of which have been established for years.
"The hope is that we will eventually produce video podcasts but that's some way off yet, we still have lots of work to do on the audio podcast. I want to get that right first."
You can listen to the podcast on Spotify.
