Femi And Jamal Are Doing Their Talking Off The Pitch, Too!

Boreham Wood duo Femi Ilesanmi and Jamal Fyfield aren’t just planning on letting their actions on the pitch do the talking - they’ve hit the airwaves too and it’s been a few years in the making.

The friends decided to bring BallerTalk to life after getting advice from some Premier League stars, and they’re up and running.

They certainly had a lot to chew on after a thrilling fightback on the opening day of the season at Gateshead was just one of a number of big stories.

But their show isn’t just about the Wood - they’re covering the level brilliantly and the Beyond the 92 production shines a light on life outside the EFL.

It’s certainly worth a listen with new guests every week and Femi explained how it came to be - and what makes it really stand out.

He talented full-back explained: “During Covid there was a lot of time to think and one of the thoughts that come to mind was to build a platform where players really had a voice.

“This was where Baller Talk was born. We sat down and had conversations with Premier League players on the ups and downs of football, and wanted to have a go ourselves.

“Myself and Jamal then decided this season that a space needs to be made where players in our division can speak on the game and the concept was Beyond the 92 was created.

“This is a show where we shine light on the National League, its players, the latest news and results from every matchday. We have both have played in this division for a number of years now and feel that we are uniquely qualified to create a space for fans players and everyone who has an interest in this level of football.

“We are also trying to bring awareness to the League for people that may not have much knowledge of the division.

“The National League has evolved so much since I joined the division, some will even say it’s an extension of League Two in the EFL. It’s starting to get real recognition, especially after last season which was one of the most exciting title races with Wrexham and Notts County going toe to toe, all the way down to the wire.

“A lot of players in this division also manage to get moves and go on to have great careers, there is so much talent here.”

So what can we expect and the double act chew the fat on the hot tops during what is sure to be a brilliant season.

Femi added: "I definitely feel that lower league players need a voice as they are professionals too. What they experience in football is the same as a Premier League or Championship player and in some cases may experience more but there hasn’t been a place for them to speak on these things.

“The fact that we are actively playing in this division is another factor, and we are trying to let people understand the game from our point of view. I feel like when a player speaks to another player, they tap deeper into the mind as we understand what we go through.

“I have always been a podcast fan because they help you understand people better. I am inspired by a lot of American podcasts like the Pivot and I Am Athlete because they have created a safe space where it’s OK for players to speak on their experiences good or bad.

“We are just trying to create the same space over here. We’re the ones that are ran into the ground and putting our bodies on the line, playing 50 games a season. I think we are entitled to speak on the game from time to time from our point of view.

“We feel like there is nothing like Beyond the 92 in this country and we want to bring fans closer to players.

“I believe players will start to raise their game because they know there is a show that highlights the division and its players. This is what we all want.”

To listen to their podcast, click here.