Straight From The Off

Straight From The Off welcomes Tony Gray to the Podcast. Tony is a striker that has a real eye for goal and has always delivered, with a ratio of 1 in 2 throughout his career. Tony has played for teams that include South Sefton, Newton, Bangor City, Burscough, Southport, Droylsden, Chester & Warrington amongst others. He scored goals for fun with Ormskirk & District league side the NAC which was when i first came across him. He tells us about being removed from the FA Sunday Cup final whilst playing for A3 Canada and how it all came about. He tells us how he won a pair of Adidas predator from Zidane & Beckham for a free kick he once scored and he talks about his favourite goals, games and all about the lads he shared a pitch with and played against throughout those times.

Episode 54 is brought to you by: The Warbreck Pub, Orrell Park.

Straight From The Off welcomes Kevin Townson to the Podcast. Kevin has played professional football for Rochdale and Macclesfield as well as playing for teams like Northwich Victoria and Droylsden. Scoring two goals against Premier League League side Fulham in a League Cup tie as a teenager for Rochdale being one of his career highlights. Kevin represented England under 19s with famous players such as Glen Johnson, Dean Ashton, Darren Bent & Carlton Cole amongst others. He tells us how good Paddy McCourt was and an interesting tale of him being desperate for the toilet in Lee McEvilly’s house! Kevin tells us about a chance to play in Australia for Melbourne Knights and returning back to England and playing amateur football with his pals for Fazakerley FC winning a double double under Mick Laffey and Ste Jennings.

He tells us about his best goals, games and all about the lads he shared a pitch with and played against throughout those times.

Episode 53 is brought to you by: Heaven2resin

Straight From The Off welcomes Paul Mooney to the Podcast. Paul is renowned as having one of the best left pegs in the semi pro and amateur scene, once scoring a hat-trick of free kicks in a Premier Cup semi final. He was integral in the rise of Lower Breck FC who have worked their way from a youth team to winning the Liverpool County Premier league and every cup in sight, completing a memorable quadruple and finishing the season undefeated. Paul has won the Business Houses Premier league and the LCFA Premier Cup 2 years on the bounce. Released by Everton as a youngster he almost quit football but thankfully got back at it, represting Knowsley in the Dallas cup. He tells us his favourite goals, games and all about the lads he shared a pitch with and played against throughout those times.

Episode 52 is brought to you by: GMS Electrical

Straight From The Off welcomes John Miles to the Podcast. John was one of the stand out players i had the pleasure to play against as a youngster in the Walton & Kirkdale JFL. Even though John was playing an age group up from his own age he still stood out, which lead him to be signed by Everton, and then Liverpool were he would turn Pro. John tells us what it was like to train every day with the likes of Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard. He tells us how he had to move on from LFC to sustain his career as a professional footballer and what it was like in the lower leagues. John played for clubs like Stoke, Crewe, Accrington, Macclesfield, MK Dons and Fleetwood amongst others. He now plays in the Liverpool Vets league with legendary side Britannia. John talks about his favourite goals, games and all about the lads he shared a pitch with and played against throughout those times.

Episode 51 is brought to you by: The Bus Yard, Cains Brewery site at the Baltic quarter, Liverpool.

Straight From The Off welcomes Darren Hilditch to the Podcast. Darren was one of the stand out players i had watched play as a teenager during a fantastic match between Fantail & Britannia. It was the game that set the standard in my head for the top level of amateur football in the city. Darren was a very skillful player with an eye for the spectacular. He played for teams such as Manfast, Fantail, Sandon, Britannia & Melling Vics of a Sunday and also running out for Lucas Sports, Prescot Cables, TFI, Bangor & Conway of a Saturday. He tells us about his desire to get into coaching and talks about his favourite goals, games and all about the lads he shared a pitch with and played against throughout those times.

Episode 49 is brought to you by: The Lundon Williams Trophy, 17th July @ Admiral St.

Straight From The Off welcomes Paul Moran to the podcast. As a youngster Paul played for teams such as Buckley Villa, Koters, Formby Dons & Waterloo GSOB amongst others. He also appeared a number of times for Liverpool FC ‘B’ team in the late 70’s whilst training at Melwood twice a week. Paul is the son of Liverpool FC legend Ronnie Moran, so was in and around the club for the majority of his younger years. After hanging up his boots Paul took up photography of the game and will be seen at as many local games as he can attend, capturing some excellent images of the semi pro and amateur scene in the area. He shares with us his favourite games, goals and tells us all the players he played with and against and throughout those times.

Episode 48: is brought to you by The LundonWillaims Trophy football tournament which is to be held at Target Football, Admiral St, Toxteth on Sat 17th July.

Straight From The Off welcomes Jamie Fahey to the podcast. Jamie is the production editor for The Guardian newspaper and also a published author who has recently released ‘Futsal: The Story Of An Indoor Football Revolution’ but before all that he was an amateur and semi pro footballer in the city playing for teams that include Bourne FC, East Villa, Maghull, Prescot Cables, St Helens, Horwich RMI (who became Leigh RMI) and Vauxhall Motors amongst others. He even had a trial at Watford marking the legendary Luther Blisset. He tells us tales of how he fell in love with Football and later on Futsal and why it is important that it’s available for everyone to take part. He tells us how he got his big break in journalism interviewing the likes of Tony Kelly and Alan Stubbs. He shares with us his favourite games, goals and tells us all the players he played with and against and throughout those times.

Episode 47: is brought to you by The Warbreck Pub, Orrell Park.

Straight From The Off welcomes Gary Martindale to the podcast. Gary went from playing footy on Finch Lane to playing at Wembley. After scoring goals for fun at Dovecote Labour and St Dominic's he made the move to Burscough and his knack of scoring goals got him a big move to Bolton Wanderers as a professional. He was the golden boot winner at Notts County and built up a great relationship with a young Steve Finnan. He tells us tales about his play off final heartbreak at Wembley and one of his finest moments during his playing career, notching the Two goals that helped Burscough lift the FA Trophy at Villa Park in 2003. He tells us the tales of his career in non league, professional and amateur football and all the players he played with and against and throughout those times.

Episode 46: is brought to you by: AV Fitness Studio. Instagram: @avfitness_studio

Straight From The Off welcomes Wayne Wardle to the Podcast. Wayne has done nearly every role possible within amateur football, he has even worked at the County FA trying develope grassroots football within the City. Wayne played for teams that include Town Green, Nalgo Old Boys, Bootle, Penlake, Newton & Waterloo Dock and his main Sunday side Canada who he has served for a number of years. He tells us about being selected for the Knowsley squad that went to Dallas and what that experience was like for a teenager. He tells us about going back to Dallas but this time as a coach with all that entails. He talks about his heartbreak at losing in the FA Sunday Cup final for Canada, but looks back fondly on the great run. He tells us his favourite goals, games and all about the lads he shared a pitch with and played against throughout those times.

Episode 45 is brought to you by: Rise Self Development check them out in Instagram: @rise_selfdevelopment