Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Podcast

Jacob Pepper is a well-established part of life at Vallis Way. Right now he's nursing a shoulder injury that is keeping him away from the pitch, but he's as busy as ever coaching the 1871 Women's team. He updates us on his recovery, what he loves about the club, what to expect if he takes you back to his hometown club, and who his favourite partner on coach karaoke is. #BleedGreen Saturday 23 Nove...

It was a special training session this week with Ealing Trailfinders professionals Ollie Newman and Tyler Bocks coming down to Vallis Way to help pass their experience on to the squad. The pair tells us what they ran through in their sessions, as well as how life in the Championship and Premiership Cup is treating them this season. We also hear from head coach Phil 'Smudger' Smith, who looks back...

Richie Triple R is one of the club's new faces this season and has already made it a home away from home. The Welsh-born, Middlesex rep has already made his mark at Vallis Way, bringing his experience and quality to the field in the No.9 shirt. We chat about what brought him down to the club, what Ealing Trailfinders players Michael Strong and Cameron Terry taught them, and which song he belted ou...

Dave 'Brathers' Brathwaite is asking the lads one thing this October, get on the phone to your GP and book a PSA test. Prostate Cancer kills 12,000 men every year, there are 52,000 new diagnoses, and 475,000 men are living with or have had prostate cancer.  He's asking that you get yourself checked (a simple blood test) to rule out or receive an early diagnosis. Get it booked now.  We al...

Flynn Ward, a man whose blood is nothing but green, a man who took his first steps in rugby at Vallis Way, and is ready to make a belated, injury-affected start to the season.  He's aiming for the first weekend in November for his return and to help the team push on after a strong start to the season.  Flynn talks us through his injury prognosis, his positional switch, and where he disap...

Andrew Quick is a very busy boy, with more fingers in Ealing Trailfinders pies than Little Jack Horner. A community coach for the professional sides, the head coach of the 1871 women's team, an assistant coach for the men's teams, and occasionally a player. It's quite the full plate for someone who grew up wanting to play rugby league or lead the line for Everton, but he loves life at Vallis Way a...

He's back....hirsute hooker Luke Parry has returned to Vallis Way after a season living and playing and Kent, and he can't keep the smile off his face now that he's back in W13. We chat about where he's been, who he's been playing for, why he's returned, and all manner of science that only one of us understood. Luke also regales us with stories of his past as a (try-scoring) Cambridge Blue at Twic...

It was a summer of change as Ealing 1871, most notably at the coaching level where Phil 'Smudger' Smith came in as head coach. He has an impressive background in rugby, and he will pass on his experience as we chase another memorable season. We get to know Smudger, learn about his playing days, his transition to coaching, his hopes for 1871, and what it is like to have World Cup winner, Neil Back...

We are on the eve of the 2024-25 season and this Saturday, Ealing Trailfinders 1871 open the season at home to Cheshunt. It has been a summer of changes at Vallis Way, with a new coach, new players, and a new pitch, but with the same drive and desire to take the team to the top. To look ahead to another exciting season 1st XV captain Lewis Steadman brings us up to date on all the changes, and how...

Done and dusted, the 2023-24 is over, so what better way to look back over the previous season, than at the annual club dinner? Join Jez and guest host Toby as they mingle with the great and good of Ealing 1871 - women's and men's teams, the powerbrokers, and those who just want to bask in the reflected glory. We hear from the awards winners, the glory makers, and those who run our teams and ensur...

Zoe Cox, Ealing 1871 Women's hooker is chasing the international dream this summer, with the England Deaf Women's team. After Zoe discovered that she was profoundly deaf during Covid-19, she has progressed through the team and is in line to tour South Africa with England in August. Guest host Toby Holt is on hand with Jez to find out how she got to this point, who has inspired her along the way, w...

With the 2023-24 season over, who better to look back on the season just gone than 1st XV captain Lewis Steadman? We review a season that earned the 1st XV promotion from Herts/Middlesex Counites 2 to Herts/Middlesex Counties 1 and featured a run to the Papa John Cup quarterfinals. Lewis picks out which players stood out? How the new coaches fared? What the off-field highlights were? And which clu...

Ealing 1871 Women's captain Sarah Taws is our guest this week to tell us all about the team and how their season has gone. After three years, the flyhalf has helped the team grow, develop and learn, while this season they have also benefitted from head coach Andrew 'Quicky' Quick and his team, including members of the Ealing Trailfinders Women's professional team. We talk about the season gone, ho...

Harry Vidler, may have had the 1st XV captaincy dropped on him, but once the surprise of seeing (C) next to his name on the teamsheet had dissipated, he led the team in supreme fashion. His assignment...lead the team to the sunny (and windy) Essex coast to beat Burnham on Crouch and progress to the next round of the Papa John's Trophy, and he responded by guiding the team to a 56-26 victory that s...

Liam McDonagh, a lifer at Ealing 1871, a boy who became a man, met his wife, married, and started a family while giving his all for the green and white shirt has something to tell you... Before then though, we look forward to our final league match of the season, the brotherhood of west London clubs, a potential cup run, and his Easter egg of choice. #BleedGreen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

Alex Kritikos, an Ealing man through and through, since he first rolled up to Vallis Way when barely out of nappies. After a few years living in Sydney, he's back and doing what he does best, handing out the boshes. It almost came to an end though, and he tells us how a collapsed lung threatened not just his ability to charge around a rugby field and hand out pain bombs, but his long-term health t...

Stan Clausen may be an ex-Royal Marine, but his military discipline is still being brought to bear for Ealing 1871. Tasked with ensuring players are signed up in time for matches and training, good luck to anyone who hasn't signed up as soon as they can. (Just to be sure, get signed up for next week now!!!!!). He also tells us about life as a Royal Marine, how he found a team sport of choice later...

Jack Hobbs has spent most of his life playing at Ealing Trailfinders, from rugby rats on the back paddock to running around for the 1871 firsts on the stadium pitch. Last Friday was a big night for Jack and the club as the first team secured their promotion to Counties 1 Herts/Middx , and he helps review a memorable evening. He also marks your card for Saturday 23 March when 1871 go head-to-head w...

Sometime-host Toby Holt returns by popular demand to share a convivial chat about all things Ealing 1871. The winger-turned-flanker, talks about his new-found fitness passion, his attempts to woo his local cafe into some sponsorship, and how he spent Valentine's Day. Toby also looks forward to the weekend's fixtures and the 1st XV's trip to Twyford Avenue to face local rivals Wasps. #BleedGreen Ho...

Harry Reed was new to Ealing 1871 this season, but it hasn't stopped him from grabbing a place in the first XV second row, where his height and energy have helped the team to the top of the table. Harry looks back on our defeat to Saracens that put the promotion party on ice, and talks about what brought him down to Vallis Way and what he loves about the club. We also chew over his time at the Uni...

It is potentially a red letter day for Ealing Trailfinders 1871 on Saturday when a five-point win at home to Saracens would guarantee promotion from Counties 2 Herts/Middx to Counties 1 Herts/Middx. With such a huge match coming up we catch up with 1st XV captain Lewis Steadman to look forward to what could be a memorable day for the club, what they expect from Saracens and what they will need to...

There is very little that Dave Steene hasn't seen since he joined the club nearly 40 years ago. He has taken on several roles, from player to administrator and now coach of the Colts, the U-18s, who are playing excellent rugby. Dave talks about his playing days, some of his favourite faces from down the years and how much he enjoys developing the next crop of players for Ealing 1871. #BleedGreen H...

It’s a happy New Year and welcome to 2024 from Ben Parkinson. The vice-captain might be out with injury, but he’s as involved as ever. He talks over the opening round of matches of 2024, how he spent his festive break and who led the way on the piste in France Parky also looks forward to this weekend’s matches when all three are in action. #BleedGreen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...

Connor Godfrey is one of the new heroes of Ealing 1871, returning to rugby when he joined the club in late 2021 aged 28. He's thrown himself into life at the club and is a fixture for the second and third teams, as well as helping out as a member of the social media team. It is impressive considering he's up early to for his job as a chef, and so we don't hold back getting his tips on what makes a...

Luke Beasley, front-row animal, social media whizz-kid, and, as we discover, neither a Scot nor a Chelsea fan. It took him a while to find his place in west London rugby, but he sure found it at Ealing 1871. He's 'full English' (aren't all front rowers?) and the man bleeds green, ready to give his all for whichever of the three teams wants him. #BleedGreen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...