The LGBT Sport Podcast

‘The network is just the start’.

That’s the message from Katie Sadleir – the former Commonwealth Games swimmer and current CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation – on the day that the Federation launches the Commonwealth Sport Pride Network.

The group will champion LGBTQ+ inclusion across the Commonwealth sport movement, and aims to bring together LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches, organisers and allies to promote visibility and awareness.

But how easy is that to achieve – especially when LGBTQ+ people are still criminalised or marginalised in scores of countries that will be part of the Games in Birmingham next year?

We’re delighted that Katie is here on the podcast to tell us more about it – and she’s not here alone either, as Jamaican swimming star Michael Gunning returns to the podcast to tell us about his involvement in helping the network to come about.

It’s a fascinating, newsworthy conversation with two great guests – and we’re grateful they both took the time to join us for it.

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If you’ve enjoyed any of the content that Manchester City has put out over the past few years, there’s a good chance that Cameron Kirton is behind it in some way.

He’s a video producer with the club – so has a hand in creating bucketloads of the content that you’ll have seen everywhere from the club’s website to its YouTube channels.

Basically, he helps take us to the places where we just aren’t able to go – and it’s fair to say he absolutely loves his job!

So, it’s brilliant to be able to get Cameron onto the podcast to talk about his life and his story – including how he found himself in a role that so many people will be very, very jealous of.

This is a fascinating conversation – as Cameron talks about the unlikely way he was introduced to football; taking a punt on himself to pursue something he loves; adapting to the ever-changing media landscape; being a gay man in professional football; becoming a father and so much more.

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As a child, Sarah-Jane Perry played pretty much every sport going.

Rounders, tennis, athletics, hockey – they were all part of her life, but it was squash that she really fell in love with.

In 2011, just before finishing university, Sarah-Jane decided to turn professional – and what a decade it’s been in the ten years since then!

Ranked Number 6 in the world, she’s one of the world’s leading squash players – with a Commonwealth Games silver medal and a 2014 World Team Championship gold amongst her many, many accolades.

So, you can see why we were so delighted to have Sarah-Jane on the podcast – and this episode really delivers.

There’s all sorts of things that come up in this cracking conversation – how Sarah-Jane became a professional and the road to taking that decision; some of her remarkable sporting highs; her own personal journey and being inspired by the likes of Billie Jean King; why visibility is so important; and her aims for next year’s Commonwealth Games, which happen to be right on her doorstep!

We really loved this episode – and we think you will as well.

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Ian Pearson-Brown was brought up with Newcastle United in his blood.

He was there for the club’s remarkable rise up through the leagues - and has followed them, home and away, from the heyday of Kevin Keegan’s time in charge to the turbulence of the Mike Ashley era.

Like many LGBTQ+ people, he struggled with his sexuality – and in his own words, he became ‘the most homophobic gay man you’d ever meet’, as he hid the fact he was gay while sometimes even joining in with discriminatory chants on the terraces.

So, to say that a young Ian would have been surprised to see himself as co-chair of United with Pride – Newcastle United’s LGBTQ+ supporters group – would be a massive understatement!

And speaking of understatements, it's fair to say that neither Ian nor United with Pride have had the easiest of times since the Saudi Arabia-backed takeover of Newcastle United was confirmed last month.

So, there’s plenty for us to get into in this episode – from United with Pride’s decision to welcome and work with the new owners; what might make them reconsider that decision; the social media abuse they’ve received over the past few weeks; Ian’s own love of Newcastle United; his own personal journey; some of his most memorable moments as a fan; and so much more.

It’s all in an episode that's sure to get people talking – and we’re grateful that Ian has taken the time to join us for it.

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It was founded in 1989 by a group of clubs in Germany and the Netherlands.

And in the three decades that have passed since then, the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation has grown into a body that represents more than 22,000 members from right across the continent.

The goal is simple – to represent all athletes in Europe, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and to help administer the EuroGames event as well.

Sarah Townsend and Hugh Torrance are the co-presidents of the EGLSF, and are two cracking guests to have on the show to tell us all about the Federation's work.

We chat about their respective journeys in sport; how they got involved with the EGLSF ; running EuroGames; keeping going during COVID; the work being done by EGLSF; and so much more.

Two brilliant guests on one superb episode – and we think you’re really going to like it.

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Helen and Kate Richardson-Walsh are British sporting superstars.

They're both double Olympic medal-winning hockey players, taking bronze at London 2012 and then gold in a penalty shootout with the Netherlands at the 2016 Olympics in Rio in one of the most iconic moments of the Games.

Kate captained the side for thirteen years – and we really don’t have the space to fully document two careers that spanned four Olympic Games, alongside bundles of medals at both a European and Commonwealth level as well!

Now, they’ve written a fascinating book called ‘Winning Together’, which gives the inside story of what it takes to build high-performing teams.

The book, and this conversation, is a fascinating insight into the drive, sacrifice and effort that it takes to win an Olympic gold medal – and is gritty, frank and, at times, very emotional. We also talk about the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility, their own personal journeys – and the awkwardness of trying your hand at stand-up comedy!

This is a fascinating chat with two bona fide British sporting legends – and we’re grateful to Helen and Kate for making the time to join us.

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Max Lindsay went to his first Southampton game when he was just three years old.

It was at The Dell – and he missed Saints’ last-minute equaliser because he needed the loo!

But in spite of that, the experience got Max hooked on football – and now, he’s one of the co-founders of the club’s ‘Rainbow Saints’ inclusive supporters group.

It started earlier this year – and, since Max’s day-job happened to put him in Cornwall, we thought it was only right to get us in the podcast to talk about how it all came about.

This is a brilliant conversation, looking at everything from developing a love of football to handling abuse on the terraces to taking a leap and starting something new – and we really think you’re going to like it.

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Helen Hardy’s obsession with football started at the same time as Euro ’96 – and continued throughout her childhood, as she’d go along to St James’ Park to watch Newcastle United in action.

She played at primary school and intended to keep going until – as for so many girls – the game was taken away from her at secondary school, and just staying involved with football became so much harder, for no reason whatsoever.

Her determination to get back into football – and to allow other women to do the same – is what led Helen to found Manchester Laces – the city’s first-ever inclusive women’s and non-binary football club.

And honestly, this conversation is an absolute joy with someone who lives and breathes the beautiful game. From Helen’s own experiences growing up to the ethos behind the Laces, just sit back and listen to a fantastic guest with a brilliant, brilliant story to tell.

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It’s hard to remember a time when football wasn’t in David Gough’s life.

We’re talking GAA – which David first started playing when he was just a child in Ireland. Soon, he got into refereeing – and since then, he hasn’t looked back.

As one of the top officials in Gaelic football, he’s done everything there is to do in the sport – and he also made headlines when he opened up about the fact he’s gay.

We’ve wanted to have David on the podcast for a long time – and this episode really delivers with a truly brilliant guest.

There’s so much we talk about – finding sport as a youngster; David’s refereeing journey; the pressures that come with elite officiating; deciding to open up about his sexuality and what happened afterwards; and how he switches off.

Honestly, this is a cracker – and we’re so glad David took the time to join us.

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If you’re a football fan, you’re going to have read something brilliant by Adam Crafton.

Formerly of the Daily Mail, he’s now a reporter at The Athletic, where he’s written powerfully about everything from UEFA’s relationship with Eastern European governments to a moving look of the life of Justin Fashanu.

So if you love the beautiful game, you’re in for a treat with this episode – as Adam joins us to talk about how he broke into journalism; some of the top stories he’s covered; his experiences of being a gay man in football; his time at the Athletic; journalism in the pandemic; and so, so much more.

This one is an absolute pleasure to do, as Adam is a brilliant guest – and we think you’ll like hearing it as much as we liked doing it.

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