Sport and Life

Keith's second appearance on the pod and a great listen for people interested in fitness: we talk about knee rehab, the pros and cons of running, rep range for building muscle and things to consider for those of us attempting to stay strong and fit into middle age.

Also consider sleep and how having babies in the house may have to change our exercise plans and out expectations of our capacity.

https://keithirvinept.co.uk

In February 2019, Gareth joined the podcast to discuss being a professional rugby union player with Gloucester. After that conversation Gareth’s life moved quickly - he signed for Ospreys and then Leicester Tigers before being forced to retire suddenly following a training-ground concussion in November 2021.

In early September 2025, Gareth sat down with me to discuss his new career as a Financial Advisor, based in Cheltenham. 

The idea of identity and career shift has fascinated me for years - particularly, as a sports journalist, the shift pro athletes have to make into a new life. Hope you enjoy this one - hope for all of us contemplating career change.

Also, towards the end of the conversation some great tips on pensions and financial management.

Old School Soccer Stories 9:

Kevin Phillips was rated too small to be a striker so played right back at Southampton. Then headed back to semi-pro football after being released as an 18 year-old. Nine years later he was European golden boot winner, aided in that achievement by his classic strike partnership with the towering veteran Niall Quinn.

The Quinn-Phillips partnership fired Sunderland to consecutive 7th place finishes and lives long in the memory of football fans - especially lifelong Sunderland fans like Sky Sports presenter Tom White. Tom talks us through those heady days for his club and why Sunderland didn’t quite kick on to be a Premier League contender.

On the 20th of February 1991, Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool played out on one of the all-time great football matches. The FA Cup replayed finished 4-4. Four times Liverpool took the lead, four times Everton equalised.

Tony Cottee watched the first 86 minutes from the subs bench. But then entered the frey to score two goals and send the tie to another replay.

Fantastic to have Tony’s crystal clear recollections of this epic night. My first experience of this was watching the highlights as a 9 year-old boy and the game has stuck with me ever since. 

It was also a significant time in English football history as two days later Sir Kenny Dalglish resigned as Liverpool manager and a near three-decade run of glory came to an end. 

On 26th May 1989 Arsenal pulled off the seemingly impossible task - beating Champions Liverpool at Anfield by two goals on the final day of the season to claim the title.

John Cross - now a football writer for the Daily Mirror, then a beat journalist in North London - explains why he believes it's the most dramatic game in the history of English football and the best ever ending to a league season.

John and Teddy also reflect on Liverpool's extraordinary success across different managerial reigns in the 60s, 70s, 80s and early 90s.

Manchester United historian and author Wayne Barton joins Teddy to talk about the strike partnership between Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes.

The players formed an unorthodox combination to secure United the inaugural Premier League season (92-93) and the club's first league title since 1967.

On September 25th 2025 Saul Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2) and Terence Crawford (41-0) meet with the WBC, IBF and WBO Super Middleweight titles on the line. 

Spencer Fearon -aka Master Knowledge - is a former fighter and works as a boxing trainer, manager and pundit. 

Spencer gives his thoughts on the fight and why Crawford is an all-time great.

Ash is the co-founder and editor of https://stroudtimes.com.

He has also, as a reporter and co-commentator followed Forest Green Rovers for many years.

In this conversation we talk about how FGR are shaping up under new manager Robbie Savage and also the hunger for 'hyper local' reporting.

In August 1994, Tottenham Hotspur people were having a tough time. A fine, a points deduction and a cup ban had put the club on the back foot. But manager Ossie Ardilles shifted to a front foot, all-out attack style as Spurs exploded into the new season at Hillsborough.

The crescendo of the game centred on a new striker, who stole the show with a goal and a celebration to last the ages.

The Famous Five was born. It didn't last long. But this swashbuckling team lives long in the memory. 

Football journalist Jon Palmer discusses Cameroon's historic and magical run to the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup, inspired by 38 year-old super sub Roger Milla.