THE Northern Echo has teamed up with sports reporters on our sister papers to launch a World Cup video podcast.

Scott Wilson, Simon Parker and Jon Colman will be giving their thoughts, analysis and match predictions with a unique northern bias.

Scott has worked at The Northern Echo for 18 years where he has covered Newcastle United, Sunderland and Middlesbrough. He has also reported from the European Championships and covered the last four World Cups.

Simon has reported on Bradford City for 22 years for the Telegraph & Argus, covering the club in all four divisions. He also went to the 1998 World Cup in France following Jamaica in an earlier journalistic life!

Jon has covered Carlisle United for the News & Star for 17 years and has been named regional sports journalist of the year eight times at the Sports Journalists' Association British Sports Journalism awards.

Voices of the North: World Cup podcast will be broadcast before and after England matches via the T&A Facebook page.

The first one previewing the tournament goes out on The Northern Echo’s main Facebook and Twitter pages at 9.30am on Friday morning – and will also be available on The Northern Echo’s YouTube channel.