Former England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey joins After The Final Whistle for a raw and powerful conversation about the realities of life beyond football.

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Former Premier League footballer Marvin Sordell joins Alison Bender on After the Final Whistle to share his powerful and deeply personal story.

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Some of the hardest moments in football don’t happen on the pitch.

In my first episode of After The Final Whistle, former Premier League goalkeeper Chris Kirkland opens up about his battle with painkiller addiction, the moment he hit rock bottom, and the long road to recovery.

Chris speaks honestly about the pressures of professional football, playing through injury, and the culture of silence around mental health in the game. He shares what addiction really looked like behind the scenes, the reality of withdrawal, and how he rebuilt his life through routine, accountability, and asking for help.

This is a raw and powerful conversation about life after football, overcoming addiction, and why speaking out matters.

Series 1 of After The Final Whistle is proudly partnered with Johnstone’s Paint, a brand with a long-standing connection to football through the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and a strong commitment to community work.

I also have had the support and training from Samaritans. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can contact Samaritans (UK & ROI) on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org

Chapters:

00:00 Trailer

04:47 – Football, Silence & Mental Health
Why players struggle to speak up, stigma in the game,

07:46 – Isolation in Football
Loneliness, moving clubs, and hidden struggles even among teammates

10:56 – Opening Up & Reading the Signs
Why men find it hard to talk and how to recognise when someone isn’t okay

13:01 – Pressure, Contracts & PlayingThrough Pain
Financial pressure, injury clauses, and the reality for players outside the toplevel

15:04 – How Addiction Started
From injury to anxiety, and when use turned into dependence

17:22 – Living with Addiction
Lying, hiding pills, and the lengths addiction drives you to

19:20 – Rock Bottom Moment
The night that nearly killed him and forced change

21:24 – The Cycle & The Way Out
Failed attempts to quit, withdrawal, and why support is everything

23:45 – Why This Podcast Exists (Midroll)
Creating space for honest conversations + partnership with Johnstone’s Paint

24:25 – Rockbottom, isolation, on the balcony
0:26:32 –Turning point, calling for help
0:27:12 –Relapse, lockdown struggles and rehab decision
0:29:03 –Recovery progress
0:30:50 –Severity of addiction
0:31:10 –Cold turkey withdrawal
0:37:02 –Writing the book, purpose
0:38:02 –Relief through honesty, Public reaction, support
0:40:17 –Advice: talk & seek help
0:41:13 –Support lines (Samaritans)
0:42:19 –Therapy, opening up
0:45:37 –Life after football, routine
0:47:10 –Reflection, regret, career
0:48:09 –Moving forward, staying healthy
0:48:52 – Keytools: talk, exercise, accountability

Please share with someone who might need it.

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After The Final Whistle. A new Video Podcast. Everything footballers wanted to talk about whilst they were playing and couldn’t. ⚽️ Thanks to my guests for series 1:Chris Kirkland, Marvin Sordell, Danny Mills, Emile Heskey, Paul Canoville, Leanne Sanderson and thanks to @samaritans for providing me with training so I handle episodes relating to suicide and self harm with care and sensitivity#footballfans #podcast #footballpodcast #footballshow #premierleague #soccer #kirkland #MarvinSordell #Sordell #DannyMills #EmileHeskey #Heskey #Cannoville #lfc #chelseafc #manchestercity #lioness #arsenal

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What happens when football ends suddenly? When the lights go out and the crowds go home, what next? Having interviewed over a thousand Premier League footballers in my job as a Premier League pitchside reporter it's a question I have often wondered about and so I created After The Final Whistle. Real human conversations with ex footballers as I seek to discover The Truth About Life After Football. I'm grateful to have the support of Samaritans as we discuss topics including depression, anxiety, mental health, self harm and suicide, and they have given me training so I handle those conversations with care and responsibility. It's a podcast about reinvention and second careers with some incredible stories that you won't have heard before as I interview them through a different lens. I've been through my contacts book and I know you are going to love the guests I have coming up on the show. So follow and join me for After The Final Whistle. Alison Bender

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