Football has changed. The modern game is both richer and poorer than the one we grew up watching. You know the kind of thing we’re talking about: sandy pitches, exquisitely tight shorts, X-certificate tackles that occasionally merited a yellow card, Elton Welsby on ITV. It was almost a different sport.

As we spend half our life talking about the good old days, we decided to start a podcast talking about the good old days. Nessun Dorma is an unashamed celebration of football in the 1980s and 1990s. We build each pod around one main topic, with additional rotating features such as Legend of the Week, Journeyman of the Week, Underrated Player of the Week and Great Players You’ve Never Heard About.

It’s a bedroom operation, so we’re not set on winning awards for slickness. The focus is on telling interesting stories with knowledgeable guests. Think of it as a pub chat without the digressions into real life. If you like old football, you’ll enjoy it.

The podcast is hosted by Lee Calvert, an Oldham fan who has more reason than most to hark back to the good old days. The list of guests includes Guardian sport writers past and present – Scott Murray, Jacob Steinberg, Rob Bagchi, Gary Naylor, Carrie Dunn and Rob Smyth – and esteemed authors such as Adam Hurrey and Mike Gibbons.

You can subscribe on iTunes, listen on Acast, join our mailing list, follow us on Twitter, or just look for new episodes on the Guardian Sport Network. Come for the nostalgia, stay for the stories and some analysis as well. The pod has been running for a few months and we’ve just completed our first XI. These are some of the highlights:

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Jürgen Klinsmann dives in the Italia 90 final. Photograph: Mike King/The Observer

With a name like Nessun Dorma, there was only one place to start. Was Italia 90 really the stinker everyone remembers? Lee Calvert, Gary Naylor and Rob Smyth recall a World Cup full of memorable characters – Gazza, Roger Milla, Benjamin Massing – and great moments, if not always great games. Also: things we miss about old football and Jack Charlton offering to chin Frank Rijkaard.

The forgotten story of ... Danish Dynamite, the Denmark side of the mid-80s | Rob Smyth and Lars Eriksen Read more

Lee is joined by Rob Smyth and Mike Gibbons to discuss Sir Alex Ferguson’s difficult start at Old Trafford, four mostly miserable years that included the infamous 5-1 defeat at Manchester City. We also have a look at the 1996 PFA Team of the Year with some levels of astonishment (David James?!) and wonder just how Neil Ruddock, among others, was given an international cap.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Denmark players celebrate after winning Euro 92 in Gothenburg. Photograph: Allsport

Lee, Rob and Gary have a chat about Denmark’s miraculous win at Euro 1992. Why did Michael Laudrup leave the squad? Were they really all on the beach beforehand? And what exactly was the CIS? There’s also interesting players you have never have heard of (possibly) and some memories of the old Wembley, including Gazza and an unrelated urine-soaked flag.

Lee and Rob discuss players who looked great on the biggest stage and rubbish on a smaller one. They also have a chat about two games that were pivotal for different reasons; one for from Serie A in 1991, the other at Stamford Bridge in 1999.

Lee is joined by Mike Gibbons and Luton’s own Carrie Dunn to talk about the Hatters’ famous 1987-88 season, when they beat Arsenal in the greatest League Cup final of all time. They also look back at England’s last international trophy: Le Tournoi de France in 1997.

From the Vault: recalling how England won Le Tournoi de France in 1997 Read more

Lee is joined by Mike Gibbons and Scott Murray to talk about Liverpool under Kenny Dalglish, when astonishing football was mixed with unimaginable tragedy. We also have a chat about some of our favourite defunct competitions, not least the legendary Soccer Six.

Lee and Rob are joined by Adam Hurrey to talk about the backpass law and an underrated Arsenal cup win. We also dust off the great Barry v Motty debate and select our first Journeyman of the Week.

Lee, Gary and Rob (OK, mainly Gary, as he was there) pay tribute to Everton’s greatest side: the unstoppable force that won the title at a canter in 1984-85. We also discuss why Dennis Wise was underrated and make a luxury selection for Journeyman of the Week.

Lee and Rob and joined by Rob Bagchi to discuss Leeds under Howard Wilkinson, particularly the brilliant title-winning side of 1991-92. We also find time to reflect on another defunct competition from the 1980s and chat about a great goal you may not remember.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Liverpool players dress up for the FA Cup final in 1996. Photograph: Colorsport/Rex/Shutterstock

Lee, Rob and Scott Murray don their white suits to discuss Liverpool’s Spice Boys: the players, tactics, stories and whether those bloody Armani suits caused history to judge them too harshly. There’s also another Journeyman of the Week and we pick some of our favourite festive period matches, including an extremely good day for QPR fans.

Jacob Steinberg joins Lee and Rob to talk about West Ham’s rock-and-roll years under Harry Redknapp, a mixture of thrilling football and highly amusing controversy. We also remember the late, great, peanut-loving Cyrille Regis and pay tribute to our first Legend of the Week: Roberto Baggio.

• You can subscribe on iTunes, listen on Acast, join our mailing list, follow us on Twitter, or discover our forthcoming episodes on the Guardian Sport Network