The Back Page

By BackPageSports

The Back Page episodes

March 17, 2016 Damien Duff: The Street Footballer
It was only fitting that we should meet Damien Duff at the Aviva Stadium - formerly Lansdowne Road - the ground where he won so many of his 100 caps for Republic of Ireland. His reflections on his fledgling international career - at the FIFA World Youth Championships in 1997 (in Malaysia, where Ireland finished third in the world) and 1999 (Nigeria) - gives us a remarkable insight into the extraordinary character and talent that would emerge in memorable spells at Blackburn, Chelsea, Newcastle and Fulham. From the genius of Brian Kerr to cleaning Tim Sherwood's boots as a youngster at Blackburn Rovers, poring over Mourinho's seven-page dossiers at Chelsea and eliminating Barcelona in an epic Champions League tie in 2005, Damien's insights are golden. Damien remains so in love with football that he recently hired an Astroturf park by himself to have a kickabout. That says it all about a remarkable football man. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com
1 hr 19 min
March 03, 2016 Frank McAvennie: The Boys of '86
It's 30 years since West Ham United's best-ever top-flight finish. That was Frank McAvennie's first season in English football and it was packed full of the most incredible stories. They're all here. The television black-out that made the summer signing from St Mirren almost anonymous in London despite leading the scoring charts; the team meeting that forged Frank's incredible partnership with Tony Cottee; the three-way fight for the title that would have gone down to the wire were it not for a certain Mr Dalglish; there are cameos from Terry Wogan and Denis Law; questions from Russell Brand; a special appreciation of a special man in John Lyall. And 30 years on, a sense of the impact those special seasons have on the footballers and fans who experience them.
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com
1 hr 31 min
February 18, 2016 Gary McAllister: When The Town Believes
Meeting Gary McAllister – in Leeds, no less – reminded me of the achievement of the championship team he played in at Elland Road. That midfield: two academy graduates, Gary Speed and David Batty, and two Scottish recruits, Gordon Strachan and Gary himself, is brilliantly explained by Gary here, as is the effect it had on the city of Leeds, and the moment they all knew something special was happening. There’s also insight into how a suspected prank phone call turned into one of the all-time great ‘Indian summer’ signings and a trophy treble with Liverpool. Scotland supporters, be warned: this podcast contains traces of Euro 96.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com
1 hr 24 min
February 04, 2016 Peter Beardsley: Three Passes Ahead
What a player he was, and what stories Peter Beardsley has to tell us. How a game against George Best led to a one-game Manchester United career; why Tino Asprilla was most certainly not the reason Newcastle United blew the title in 1996; how he ended up cooking for Kevin Keegan in a flat above Harrod's.... there's much, much more in this extra-long interview. I loved hearing Peter's stories - let me know what you think.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com
1 hr 45 min
January 21, 2016 David Provan: Tell me what I didn't see
David Provan is the best co-commentator in football. He's been promoted within the Sky team time and again despite having no real name in England from his playing days - it's all been done behind quick, insightful calls and a fierce commitment to this second career in media. Plenty here on life in the Premier League gantry - but also on his first career, as a talented and winning winger for Celtic and Scotland, and the illness that cut it short. All of you will recognise the voice, but only some will have known the player. It's all here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com
1 hr 16 min
January 07, 2016 Gaizka Mendieta: Practice makes perfect
How does an elite middle distance runner become an elite footballer? How does a guy who can't trap a ball become European Midfielder of the Year - twice? How does that player adapt his penalty technique to become - very nearly - perfect? Gaizka Mendieta says this: "My talent was learning. I wanted to learn." It's the bedrock of his story but this also includes The Doors and Lou Reed, maybe the best under-21 tournament ever, maybe the best goal ever, maybe the best cup run ever - and loads more. I hope you like it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com
1 hr 16 min
December 21, 2015 Alan Pardew: Pivotal Moments
In this one, Alan Pardew was brilliant on some very big moments in his career, the kind that can go either way and result in very different outcomes. Like, what if Steven Gerrard hadn't hit one of the all-time FA Cup final goals against Pardew's West Ham in 2006 (there's also great insight into how that goal happened)? Or how does the Newcastle United story pan out if Hatem Ben Arfa scores for 2-0 against Benfica in the Europa League quarter-final? There's also loads here about his origins in non-league, man-marking Gazza, the future for Crystal Palace and much more. Alan was a generous host at the Palace training ground, and gave us an open and insightful interview. I hope you like it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com
1 hr 10 min
December 07, 2015 Michael Carrick: Inside The Box
During a brilliant afternoon in the company of Michael Carrick, he took us inside some of the high-pressure situations elite footballers experience and the rest of us can only imagine. Like showing up for your first training sessions at Manchester United and taking on the Class of 92 in The Box, the make-or-break exercise where the ruling cabal at Old Trafford would test the mettle of the rest. Or the long yards between the centre circle and the penalty spot before you take a penalty in the Champions League final (I don't think I've ever heard a better description of that particular ordeal). Or the feeling when you've been hit and you're out of ammo and you're screaming for a fellow soldier to help you as the enemy approach and Sir Alex Ferguson is wondering what all the commotion is about. Honestly, it'll all make sense when you get there.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com
1 hr 7 min
December 04, 2015 The Little Big Interview with Graham Hunter: Gaizka Mendieta on Gary Neville
Graham met Gaizka Mendieta for a Big Interview the day after Gary Neville was named the new boss at the Mestalla, and it would've been remiss not to ask the Valencia legend what his thoughts on the new appointment were. In this exclusive snippet of an upcoming Big Interview, Gaizka discussed what Gary Neville will face in his new job.
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com
9 min
November 18, 2015 Terry Butcher: The Second Half
In part two Terry tackles the best player you never saw - and why he was only third in a sprint race between England's fastest footballers (what a great idea). There's also lots in here about his move to Rangers - Souness the salesman, full-contact training matches (featuring Souness of England) and another super-talented team-mate, Davie Cooper.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com
57 min