The Maisie Adam/Suzi Ruffell football-based podcast Big Kick Energy has won a Broadcast Sports Award for Best Sports Podcast. 

MAISIE ADAM said, “We won a bloomin’ Broadcast Sport Award! Who knew a couple of idiots titting about and laughing at football counts as “broadcasting”. Next year we’ll enter the Sports Management Awards, I reckon that’ll be a doddle and all!”

SUZI RUFFELL said, “We have loved creating Big Kick Energy and celebrating all parts of women’s football from grassroots to the WSL to internationals. I’m over the moon to have won a Broadcast Sport Award, especially given I am such a new fan to the beautiful game. Pacey and Goosey 4 life!.”

Big Kick Energy  is a Vibrant Television production, and the Producers are Ish Kalia and Mobashir Dar.

Ish and Mob said, “We have enjoyed every minute of working with Maisie and Suzi on Big Kick Energy. They have poured so much hard work into every show and fully deserve this Broadcast Sport Award. We’re incredibly excited to continue this journey of elevating and celebrating women’s football with these two hugely talented comedians”.

Big Kick Energy is recorded in Brighton – Maisie and Suzi’s hometown - and remotely. 

In August it reached number 3 in Spotify’s UK Sports Podcast charts. This was followed by being selected to appear on Spotify billboards in London’s Leicester Square, Central Cardiff and Glasgow.

This podcast also received a review in the Financial Times, calling it ‘smart, informed, inclusive…and frequently funny’. 

Big Kick Energy is a podcast dedicated to the dynamic world of women's football. But you don’t have to be a football fan to enjoy it. This podcast champions an inclusive sports culture that elevates and celebrates the progressive spirit of the game.

Launched in August 2023 for the FIFA Women's World Cup, Big Kick Energy is hosted by comedians Maisie Adam and Suzi Ruffell and its purpose is simple: to offer entertaining, educational and inclusive reporting and discussion.

The podcast generated viral moments, including the crafting of chants for England goalkeeper Mary Earps, earned the duo the nicknames of Pacey and Goosey (Suzi paces when she nervously watches England games while Maisie gets goosebumps on her legs!) and highlighted Maisie's hilarious obsession with Lioness legend Jill Scott. 

Besides covering the tournament, Maisie and Suzi discuss issues impacting the sport, including the need for more funding, the record number of openly gay players, and the lack of football boots designed for women.

The idea was born out of Maisie being a huge football fan, but by no means an expert, pairing up with her comedy pal Suzi who knows very little about the women's game or football as a whole. 

It was designed to be two normal women talking openly and freely about the women's game with no judgement whatsoever, and this proved to be hugely relatable for their loyal listeners. 

And every episode was brought together as a fun and informative listen thanks to both Maisie and Suzi being comedians and friends. That authentic warmth, sincerity and humour particularly resonated with listeners.

Maisie and Suzi don't shy away from talking about the serious issues of lack of funding and equal pay in the women's game, the decision not to release Mary Earps jerseys or what it is to be part of the LGBTQ+ community in football - both as a player and a supporter. 

And equally, they celebrated wins beyond the final scores in games. Whether it was Morocco's Nouhaila Benzina becoming the first player to compete in a hijab at the Women's World Cup or Canadian midfielder Quinn becoming the first transgender and non-binary player at the World Cup. 

Particular stand-out moments include Maisie revealing she was flying to Australia for the WWC semi-finals and final. And also her getting to meet her footballing obsession, former Lioness Jill Scott in person. But the cherry on top was Maisie meeting Golden Glove winner England's Mary Earps on the pitch after England's semi-final win, and getting her to settle the 'argument', played out in earlier episodes of the podcast, as to whether Maisie or Suzi's chant about her was best. 

Listen to Big Kick Energy via all your usual podcast outlets.