Disney+ Snags Gary Neville’s Hit Podcast ‘The Overlap’
Disney+ Scores Big with Football Podcast Deal: Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney Join the Streaming Team
What Happened?
Imagine two giant streaming services—Disney+ and Netflix—playing a friendly game of football. The score is now 1-1.
- Netflix scored first over the summer by teaming up with former England striker Gary Lineker for his popular podcast The Rest is Football (specifically the World Cup episodes).
- Disney+ just equalized by signing a major deal with former Manchester United captain Gary Neville and his media company, The Overlap.
This deal brings two huge football podcasts to Disney+, showing that streaming giants are seriously investing in shows hosted by former players.
The Two Shows Coming to Disney+
Disney+ has secured the rights to two flagship shows from The Overlap:
1. Stick to Football (The Big Flagship)
- What is it? A weekly chat show where football legends sit down with guests to talk about everything football.
- The Hosts (The "Gaffer’s Dream Team"):
- Gary Neville (Ex-Man Utd & England)
- Jamie Carragher (Ex-Liverpool & England)
- Jill Scott (Ex-England Lionesses star)
- Ian Wright (Ex-Arsenal & England)
- Roy Keane (Ex-Man Utd & Ireland – famous for his straight talk!)
- The Deal: 40 brand-new episodes coming to Disney+.
2. Stick to United (The Brand New Spin-off)
- What is it? A brand-new weekly show focused entirely on Manchester United.
- The Hosts:
- Wayne Rooney (Manchester United’s all-time record goalscorer, fresh off being a hit pundit at the World Cup).
- Mark Goldbridge (A passionate, sometimes "over-excited and exasperated" United super-fan who built a massive following on YouTube. His channels were bought by The Overlap in April).
- The Deal:
- 50 episodes of the main show.
- 6 exclusive, extra-long episodes with special guests (only on Disney+).
- 20 episodes will be exclusive to Disney+ for a limited time before going elsewhere.
How You Can Watch: The "Best of Both Worlds" Plan
Disney+ and The Overlap have designed this so nobody misses out. Here is the schedule:
| Show | Platforms | Launch Date (UK & Ireland) |
|---|---|---|
| Stick to United | Disney+ • Other Podcast Apps (Apple, Spotify, etc.) • The Overlap YouTube Channel | Starts Tuesday, August 18 (Weekly) |
| Stick to Football | Disney+ • Other Podcast Apps • The Overlap YouTube Channel | Starts Thursday, August 20 (Weekly) |
Important Callout: The "Limited Time Exclusive" Rule
- For Stick to United, 20 episodes will land on Disney+ first.
- After a "limited time," they will appear on YouTube and other podcast apps.
- The 6 extra-long specials with guests stay on Disney+ forever (permanent exclusives).
- Stick to Football episodes go everywhere at the same time.
- Disney+ is the "Headline Sponsor" for both shows during the 2026/27 season.
Why This Matters: The Big Picture
This isn’t just about two shows; it’s a shift in how sports media works.
- Player-Led Media is King: Fans trust former players (Neville, Rooney, Lineker, Keane) more than traditional TV pundits. They bring "locker room" authenticity.
- Video Podcasts are the New TV: These aren’t just audio; they are filmed in studios (video-led). Streamers want this visual content to keep you watching on your TV app, not just listening in your pocket.
- Global Reach for Local Passion: Stick to United starts as a UK/Ireland show, but Disney+ is global. A United fan in Singapore or New York can now watch the same analysis as a fan in Manchester.
- The "Global Studios" Backing: The Overlap isn’t a tiny startup anymore. In January 2026, Global (the UK’s biggest radio and audio company) bought a majority stake. This gives Neville’s team the muscle to produce high-quality shows at scale.
What the Bosses Say
Gary Neville (Co-Founder, The Overlap)
"It’s a unique partnership that feels right for everyone involved. What’s exciting is that we’re not changing who we are. Our community will continue to enjoy our content exactly the way they always have through YouTube, while at the same time Disney+’s incredible global streaming audience will now be able to discover and enjoy it too."
Sean Doyle (VP, Unscripted, Disney+ EMEA)
"As we move into a new era of sports entertainment on Disney+, we’re excited to be bringing one of the UK’s most popular and distinctive sports shows to the platform. What Gary and the team at The Overlap have created with Stick to Football—and now Stick to United with Wayne Rooney—is truly unique. Adding both shows broadens our local original content offering as we continue to expand into new sports formats, complementing our existing catalogue of drama, comedy, documentary, reality and ESPN on Disney+."
Mark Goldbridge (Host, Stick to United)
Called the show "an historic milestone for fan-led media." (He sold his channels to The Overlap in April to make this happen).
Summary: The Final Score
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Winner | Football Fans (More access, bigger budgets, global platform). |
| Disney+ Gets | 90+ episodes (40 Stick to Football + 50 Stick to United + 6 Specials). |
| You Get | Choice: Watch free on YouTube/Podcast apps OR watch early/exclusive on Disney+. |
| Key Dates | Stick to United: Aug 18 | Stick to Football: Aug 20 (UK/Ireland). |
| Backstory | Global (Radio giant) owns majority of The Overlap (since Jan 2026). |
| Netflix Counter | Has Gary Lineker’s The Rest is Football (World Cup editions). |
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. Do I need a Disney+ subscription to watch these?
No! That’s the best part. New episodes of Stick to Football go to YouTube and podcast apps (Spotify, Apple Podcasts) at the same time as Disney+. For Stick to United, most episodes go everywhere quickly, but 20 episodes arrive on Disney+ first (for a limited window), and 6 special long episodes stay on Disney+ only.
2. What is "The Overlap"?
It’s a media company co-founded by Gary Neville. Think of it as a modern sports TV station built for the internet (YouTube, podcasts, social media). It’s now backed by Global, the huge UK radio company (Capital, Heart, Classic FM).
3. Who is Mark Goldbridge?
He is a Manchester United super-fan who became famous on YouTube for his emotional, passionate reactions to United games ("The United Stand"). He isn’t an ex-pro, which is exactly why fans love him—he represents them. Neville’s company bought his channels, and now he co-hosts the official United show with Rooney.
4. Why is Disney+ doing this if they have ESPN?
Great question! Disney+ owns ESPN (in the US) and has sports rights globally. But Stick to Football isn’t live matches—it’s chat, analysis, and personality. It’s "Unscripted" entertainment (like a reality show or talk show). It fills the gaps between live games and keeps subscribers entertained all week.
5. Will this be available outside the UK and Ireland?
The press release specifies the weekly launch is for UK and Ireland. However, Sean Doyle (Disney+ EMEA VP) mentions "Disney+’s incredible global streaming audience." It is highly likely the shows will roll out to other Disney+ territories (Europe, Australia, etc.) shortly after, or be available globally on the podcast/YouTube feeds immediately.