Sport and Life

Jon Palmer has followed Cheltenham Town Football Club since boyhood. He's reported on them professionally for more than two decades for The Gloucestershire Echo and Glos Live.

So if Palmer tells you the 25/26 season was special, you take notice.

In this conversation we reflect on the remarkable story of Steve Cotterill's comeback. The man who lead the Robins into the football league for the first time in 1999 returned to save them in 2026.

Jon underscores the value of a beat reporter - his knowledge and passion for local sport is unparalleled. Hope you enjoy this.

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For more in-depth feature interviews like this please visit and subscribe to the Sport and Life website: https://sportandlife.co.uk

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

'Aaron Downes and Harry Pell on making their friendship a winning partnership with The Bulls, the challenge of managing semi-pro players, and the respect they hold for Cheltenham boss Steve Cotterill. '

Aaron Downes met Harry Pell when they were players together at Cheltenham Town FC more than a decade ago. They became fast friends.

And so in the spring of 2026 when phoenix club Hereford FC offered Downes his first shot at football management, who else to be his assistant than his best mate?

It's a captivating story so far - let's hope it's just the start.

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Enjoyed this free-wheeling conversation with Ex Sun, current Mirror and Racing TV tipster Steve Jones.

Steve tells us why racing is getting safer and safer, why the Cheltenham Festival could do with being more competitive and how journalism has changed in the digital age. 

Intriguing to hear what goes into predicting a race and the rush of calling it correctly.

Also discuss his family's lineage and how his grandad starred as as a jockey at The Cheltenham Festival in the 1940s.

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For more in-depth feature interviews like this please visit the Sport and Life website: https://sportandlife.co.uk

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

Very open conversation with Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage about his life and his career in football and the media.

We discuss:

** Dealing with a public perception of him that is outdated.

** The challenges of being a manager.

** His friendship with FGR owner Dale Vince.

** How insight into the life of a manager has made him a more considered analyst in the media.

** Moving away from his family home in Manchester to Cheltenham in order to give FGR his best.

** How he expects expectations to rise next season.

For more in-depth feature interviews like this please visit and subscribe to the Sport and Life website: https://sportandlife.co.uk

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

Uplifting conversation with the 2010 Downhill World

Champion and three-time Enduro Champion Tracey Moseley, from Malvern.

** Talk about e-mountain-biking as a competitive sport and how they could boost health and longevity in the population.

** The importance of getting kids off of screens and moving outdoors.

** Managing risk and selecting appropriate challenges for our ability.

** Tracey's new film 7 Stanes in 7 Days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p63u5h5iDsM

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Partner Information

Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

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Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

An open and thought-provoking conversation with Frances Trussell, who runs retreats enlightening people through mindfulness, non duality and zen training.

Before entering this area of work she was a broadcast journalist.

She has appeared on ITV’s Sugar Free Farm as a Mindfulness Coach, has worked as a Clinical Hypnotherapist and has worked with a diverse range of clients from Olympic athletes to homeless people. 

We explore:

** The concept of flow - and is this something we can achieved in everyday life.

** What is NonDuality

** The importance of knowing ourselves

** The value of a tech detox

For more in-depth feature interviews like this please visit and subscribe to the Sport and Life website: https://sportandlife.co.uk

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

Chat about school, rugby and more with Gloucester fly-half Charlie Atkinson.

I enjoyed this conversation which includes Charlie taking up football and rugby early in childhood and how football maybe lead to him zeroing in on the fly-half position.

Also discuss the sadness of Charlie's first club Wasps going to the wall and Charlie's teenage conflict over whether to become a pro player or continue his studies at university.

Charlie is a lovely guy and I'm glad that while it's been a difficult

season for Gloucester, it's been one where he's strengthened his claim on the 10 shirt.

We also discuss Charlie's debut for England in the USA.

To follow Charlie on Instagram: @charlieatkinson_

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

I walked into a world of nostalgia recently. Fitszoo in Regent Arcade, Cheltenham is a store devoted to vintage fashion and, of particular excitement for me, old football shirts.

I was surrounded by the shirts of my youth with the legends of the time blazoned on the back.

I got chatting to Max Brown, the founder that day and was gutted to learn the store is soon shuttering - Max is relocating to London and planning open a Fitszoo there.

But the shirts are still available online to Gloucestershire folk (and everyone) online so Max and I recorded a podcast conversation .

Given that Max is 22 is knowledge and passion for 90s and 00s football is sensational. I enjoyed this conversation and I hope you do too.

We covered:

** Why Max started collecting vintage shirts (and clothes generally)

** How it started in his dorm at boarding school

** Why Park Ji-sung is his favourite player

** Why short-sleeve David Beckham shirts are way less valuable than the long-sleeve ones

** Max's dream shirt

** Why modern shirts are a poorer quality than those made pre 2010.

Find out more about Fitszoo: https://fitszoo.com

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

Mark Alleyne is a warm and personable man. He also knows a heck of a lot about cricket!

Twenty one years a player with Gloucestershire, he tells me, with a smile on his face, that he's now been a coach for longer.

In this wide-ranging conversation we cover:

* The importance of alerting people to the fact first-class cricket is played in Gloucestershire.

* How clubs need to help schools in giving opportunities for kids to play cricket.

* How 'baz ball' is a media invention that created a inhibition and nervousness in England's players in the Ashes this past winter.

* The magic of The Cheltenham Cricket Festival and how it often determines the type of season the club has.

* Fears England selectors overlook Gloucestershire players when selecting squads.

* Mark's joy at his son Max making his Premier League debut for Manchester City.

I hope you enjoy this one. And I hope you're enjoying the spring sun.

Best,

Teddy

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected] 

An interview with Texas-born defender Jonathan Tomkinson on how he came to be a professional footballer in his father's homeland of England. Lots of ground covered including a take on the differences in football (soccer) culture between the UK and US and the importance of a "if you don't ask, you don't get" attitude. JT also talks about living in Cheltenham and having a Great Dane dog.

Let me know if you enjoy this one - I did.

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Chief Sponsor: Bang & Olufsen Cheltenham: https://stores.bang-olufsen.com/en/united-kingdom/cheltenham/unit-15-the-courtyard-montpellier-street

For 30% off Cytoplan supplements for your first purchase at https://www.cytoplan.co.uk and a 10% discount ongoing: Check out the intro to the podcast.

Info on Sponsor Offerings: For 15% off Herring Shoes enter the code SPORTANDLIFE at checkout at - https://www.herringshoes.co.uk

For a 10% discount with GHS Cheltenham Clinics’ Health Checks - https://ghsclinics.health, contact me: [email protected]