Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Podcast

This is the saddest episode yet, one in which we bid farewell to our favourite Frenchman, Abdou Traore. He arrived at Vallis Way nine years ago, just a boy, and he leaves a man. He provided numerous highlights on the pitch, and many more off it. Abdou is a player who loves a broken field that he can exploit with his pace and power, but also a player who never shirked in defence. He returns home wi...

Josh Steadman is an elusive player, a tricky player, and someone hard to pin down on and off the pitch, but finally, we've got him. Player of the Season for the past two seasons, and a threat with the ball in hand whether in the centre, the wing or now, at full-back. Find out why he's been part of the club since first coming along as a six-year-old, what playing alongside his elder brother is like...

Bernadette Weeks is a long-term member of the club and queen of the stash. Bernadette is the one who ensures that Ealing 1871 players look as good off the field as they do on it. She's the one who orders it and the one players go to cap in hand to ensure they cut a dash post-match, but she is more than just the gear steward. Bernadette has been involved throughout the club for many years, so she h...

Steve Shingler, Ealing Trailfinders club captain, joins the podcast after he and fellow Championship player Craig Willis helped out at training to explain what he put the squad through and how they responded. He also talked about his coaching ambitions, the visit of Leicester Tigers in the Premiership Cup on 18 February, and how the Championship season is unfolding. We also hear from head coach Da...

Clayton Pochop is a long-term member of Ealing 1871, first as a player and now as a coach where he is passing on his huge knowledge of front row play. As a South African and a lover of the Springboks, he is counting down the days until the France 2023 final and a jaunt to Paris to take in the final against New Zealand. He explains the secret of what makes South Africa's prop forwards so fearsome,...

Reggie Elliott-Jones, English-born, New Zealand-raised and with Welsh blood coursing through his veins, but until he'd turned up at Vallis Way in 2022 he had barely played any rugby. Undeterred, he threw himself into life at Ealing 1871 and made himself an indispensable member of the first XV pack. Find out what kept him coming back and what he wants to achieve this season. Hosted on Acast. See ac...

Dick Craig, President of the Club and someone known to many, but what does his role entail? A man involved in all facets of the club from the men's and women's pros, through the amateur section and onto the minis and youths, for Dick the club has become a family affair. In this week's episode, he takes us into the rarified air of the presidential box, to explain how he became involved in the club,...

Izana 'Izzy' Maknus introduces us to the latest section of the Ealing 1871 family, the women's team. After two seasons Ealing 1871 Women are now firmly under the 1871 banner and making great strides. They've begun the season with two wins, and are growing as a team, welcoming new players of all ages and levels of experience. Izzy tells us about her time at Vallis Way, how the season has gone, what...

David Brathwaite and Eddie Beck, Ealing 1871's new dream-team double act running the show, and we also have Toby Holt along to reprise his club dinner role as co-host. When the club head coach position became vacant in the summer, these two stalwarts stepped up to fill the void and take on the challenge of guiding the three teams under their charge. Brathers and Eddie may sound like an 80s romanti...

It is the new season, and we're catching up with first team captain Lewis Steadman to find out what is new at the club and what to look forward to as we begin the 2023-24 season. Lewis talks new players, new coaches, and most importantly for the fashion-conscious out there, new kits. We'll be with the teams - all three men's and the new women's side - as they journey through the 2023-24 season. #b...

It is the end of the season and the time to reflect and celebrate another memorable season for the brave heroes in green and white. The 1871 men's and women's teams, their coaches, support staff and supporters met in the Olympic Pavillion to salute those given club caps, named as award winners and recognised for their efforts in making the club a success. We catch up with many of the key faces at...

Meet...Sunny Gujadhur and try not to get lost in the eyes. We catch up with him as the season draws to a close with only a couple of friendlies to go before he waves farewell to Ealing Trailfinders. There will be tears galore when he and his fiance head off to a new life in Australia, but before then he looks back on his time at Vallis Way and his highlights while wearing the green and white. #Ble...

Kavan Fitzpatrick returns to the podcast to look back on a fine Papa Johns National Cup quarterfinal win on the road over Woodbridge, and look forward to the semifinal against Chipstead in Surrey. The number 8/wing/fullback also talks about his new podcast and his newfound fame as the face of a well-known men's grooming range. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danny Ford is back on the pod to preview a huge weekend of rugby for Ealing 1871 Exiles and 1st XV. Danny will lead the Exiles in a second consecutive Middlesex Merit Table 4 playoff final, as they take on Belsize Park at Wasps, kickoff at midday. Meanwhile, the 1st XV head to Suffolk to take on Woodbridge in the national cup quarterfinals. Will their march to the finals day at the Stone X Arena c...

Meet...Nyall Wake. Vice-captain, second-row and Easter egg aficionado. The big man talks cup runs, cup finals and why he chose Ealing Trailfinders in the first place. He also tells us what type of Easter egg he hopes the Easter bunny will bring him this year. #BleedGreen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet...Harry Vidler, first-choice fly-half and a man with over 200 points this season (so far). The number 10 tells what has made his form so good this season, and hangs his head as he tells us what lay behind his two yellow cards. He also reveals all about how he joined the club and he dodged the tasty treats during a year playing in Italy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

Meet...Ben Parkinson, a first-team regular, ex-army officer and west London's favourite Ulsterman. Ben looks back on the league season in which 1871 finished third and looks forward to the national cup campaign. He also reveals how he celebrated Ireland's Six Nations grand slam and St Patrick's Day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet. Abdou Traore, west London's favourite Frenchman. From Lyon, France's culinary capital, he has been part of the set-up for nearly 10 years. Where's his favourite position? What does he think of Guinness? What does he think the differences between English and French rugby are? Then there's his love of Le Crunch and the time he and Toby Holt became social media sensations at a match between the...

Meet...Tim Hitchcock, academy graduate, scrum anchor, and sevens team manager. He has seen it all since joining the club aged six, but having gone from boy to man at Vallis Way, how much is he enjoying life in the 1871 set-up? Have a listen as he shares the ups and downs of life playing rugby in W13. . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Valentine's Day, so what better way to get in the mood than to share feelings of love? In this case, it's the love of our club. Hear from those involved as to why they love playing for Ealing 1871. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 February, the Trailfinders Olympic Pavillion became a mobile heart-screening clinic for people aged between 14 and 35, including members of the Ealing 1871 squad, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) is the charity that set up the clinic and it is supported by The Tom Clabburn Fund, which was founded after Tom died in his sleep aged 14 with an undetected heart problem, and he...

Meet...Toby Holt, the award-winning winger turned flanker. A man with a smile on his face and a welcome tackle for any opponent who runs down his channel. He's the beating, social heart of the club, but he's had problems in the past with his mental health and he speaks candidly about how being involved in rugby union has helped him through those tough times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Meet...David Niven. No not that one. This one is our favourite flaxen-haired, whirlwind, Scottish back-rower. A true highland terrier. He tells us what Ealing 1871's upcoming clash against London Scottish means to him, how the piper gets him pumped up for a match like nothing else, and what makes a good Burns' Night. Enjoy the show... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Harrison Slater, a long-time player at the club and academy graduate, multi-use back, and a man with a foot like a traction engine. He'll tell us all about his near-lifetime involvement at Vallis Way, from rugby rat to ball boy and now first-team regular. Harrison also tells us how becoming a rugby coach has helped his game, and his latest adventure coaching sports to children with special ne...

It's Christmas and the time to look back on a hugely successful 2022 for Ealing Trailfinders 1871. Captain Lewis Steadman joins us to review a year in which the side won promotion, made their mark in Herts/Middx 2, and bloodied a string of new faces in the famous green and white jersey. He also tells us about his plans for a Cornish Christmas, and the possibility of a guest appearance on Boxing Da...