Sport and Life

I’ve been a sports journalist for more than 20 years. But until the past few weeks I had no clue about croquet! England star James Death certainly helped me get a grasp of the basics and I hope you’ll find this educational too. I had a tryout on the courts with James recently and great to pick his brains again here. Fantastic to discover the Croquet England office - where James works - is located...

Merry Christmas! I hope you and your’s have had a good holiday season! I believe this will be a warming, nostalgic conversation to entertain you in this downtime. Martin Middleton, a racing car fanatic has lived a remarkable life working on race cars as a mechanic and a remarkable spell as companion/translator to Formula One Legend Juan Manuel Fangio.  I hope you enjoy this one.  Go well and keep...

JP joins the show once more to update on Cheltenham Football Club's rejuvenated season, look ahead to a big FA Cup showdown with Leicester plus reflects on his soft spot for Cameroon with AFCON upon us.

A compelling conversation with Jack Bannister - a Cruiserweight boxer from Gloucester who won the Southern Area title in November 2025. Jack talks about falling in love with the sport, his frustration at trying to find opponents and his ambitions for the future. Jack's sparred some big names and talks about the challenge of going into another fighter's camp. Also discuss his day job as an...

I hope you enjoy this uplifting conversation with Ash Loveridge as much as I did. Ash is a seasoned sports journalist who is approaching the 5th year of running the independent website https://stroudtimes.com In this episode we talk about how former Premier League footballer and Wales international Robbie Savage has helped lift Forest Green Rovers on and off the pitch. We also talk about the conti...

Dr Laura O'Loghlen is a GP and private doctor in Cheltenham - co-founding Montpellier Medical in the heart of the town (https://www.montpelliermedical.co.uk) In this conversation we covered some key areas of how to stay healthy in winter including: * Modifying our physical output if fatigued/sleepy in the dark days of mid winter. * Sleep (and screens) * Alcohol * Vitamin D * Vitamin B12 * Rela...

Mark Weir is not far off 60, but you’d never guess it! A UFC pioneer and Gloucestershire legend , 'The Wizard' recorded a 10-second KO win in the inaugural UFC in London in 2002 - he still trains, eats and sleeps like a Champion and is a bundle of energy and enthusiasm.  In this conversation we discuss a coming-of-age year for his charge Christian Leroy Duncan who recorded three victories...

Andy Tucker is a football legend where I live in Cheltenham - an ex player for Cheltenham Town FC and Gloucester City, he created soccer schools that are famous in the this part of the world. And through his national franchise supa strikers Tuxs is helping kids as young as two learn the ropes of the beautiful game. Great to talk football and business with this passionate man. If you’re looking to...

I met Claire Richardson recently at a networking event and was seriously impressed with her passion and vision - and overwhelming conviction that we can enjoy a healthy second half of life.  I’m in my forties and I’m often saddened by the limiting beliefs of many of my peers. “I’m too old to exercise.” Or “it’s time to maintain what I’ve got.” To be honest, I first noticed comments like this in my...

Powerful conversation with ex Antiguan and Barbudan international Craig Heskey on his role steering young players through the highs and lows of trying to make it as professional players at Liverpool Football Club. Craig over the past six or seven years - at Leyton Orient and Millwall previously - has been a pioneer in this new, and, I think, vital role. Craig and others' work is big from the c...

I’ve been to watch horse racing lots of times - most often here in the town I live in at the iconic Cheltenham Racecourse. And I know a fair bit about training - from a degree in sports science to qualifying as a personal trainer. But I don’t know too much about the training of horses. Turns out they’re not all that different to humans.  It was illuminating then to chat with Max Kendrick - an ex j...

I’ve recently begun hosting a podcast called  The Blindside  for Gloucester Rugby. Rhys was a fascinating guest on that show, so it was a treat to get him on  Sport and Life  for a thorough conversation on health and fitness from a physio’s perspective. Ground covered 1) Rhys’ sporting background, being deemed too small to be an elite goalkeeper. 2) Training in physiotherapy  3) Working at Sheffie...

Russell Milton has had a near 30-year relationship with ( couple of short spells away) Cheltenham Town as player, coach, head of recruitment and caretaker manager. I was loosely familiar with that. But loved hearing about ‘Milts’ beginnings as a Kent boy who didn't start playing organised football until the age of 10. He played for Arsenal and, when released by the Gunners, spent a chunk of ti...

This is a little bit different. I qualified as a personal trainer a few years back, but alongside my sports broadcasting career have developed a slightly different training service for clients in Cheltenham: The Triple Tonic is based on three health pillars: movement, fresh air and conversation.  My sister-in-law Kerry Halloran in this conversation has kindly offered to (gently) quiz about the evi...

Sporting a black eye today after a football injury, but very much feeling good after chatting to author Wayne Barton about two of my favourite topics: football history and Manchester United.  I’ve just finished reading Wayne’s book  Football Taught by Matt Busby’  and great to elucidate his findings on the quintessential style of United. It’s hard to define - Wayne found it to be from and related...

Hi Team,  Slightly different podcast. Thought it might be useful to give you the details of three books I’ve been reading and a podcast I’ve found to entertaining and helpful. Let me know if indeed you do find this useful: Books: Football Taught by Matt Busb y https://reachsportshop.com/book/football-taught-by-matt-busby/ Nigel Benn  autobiography: https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/nigel...

Pro boxing is a tough business starting out. You have to punch opponents, avoid being punched and you have to sell tickets - often while working a day job. I found this a fascinating insight into this world - Louis Bacon currently has a record of 2-0 and is still working three days a week as. landscape gardener.  I hope Louis has a bright, healthy and successful future in the ring ahead. But signi...

I love speaking to people who are passionate, particularly those who are passionate about sport. Steve Kitchen is one of the most passionate people I’ve met when it comes to sport - especially sport in Gloucestershire.  Steve is sports editor at the BBC’s local radio station and loves his job and the local teams - he’s been covering them for 30 years, but he was a fan way before that.  We discuss...

Andy Tucker is a football legend where I live in Cheltenham - an ex player for Cheltenham Town FC and Gloucester City, he created soccer schools that are famous in the this part of the world. And through his national franchise supa strikers Tuxs is helping kids as young as two learn the ropes of the beautiful game across the UK. Great to talk football and business with this passionate man. If you’...

I’ve known Alex Payne for well over a decade. We worked together covering rugby at Sky Sports and have both presented Sky Sports News. But this a man who wears many hats and seems to do very well whichever one he’s sporting that moment.  Alex still does ad hoc rugby presenting on TV - most recently The Lions tour of Australia for Sky - but is arguably better known for hosting the hugely successful...

Old School Soccer Story 13 James is a good pal and a fitness professional who I hold in the highest esteem when it comes to training and health information. But that’s nothing compared to what he knows about Queens Park Rangers in the 1990s!  Based in the Cotswolds now James was a West London lad who remembers all the swashbuckling players who lifted The Rs to a 5th placed finish in 92/93.  Follow...

A very uplifting and practical conversation with the effervescent Shane Duff. Shane’s pro football career was prematurely ended through a freak injury, but he’s rebuilt himself as a successful property developer in Cheltenham. ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/🔸shane-duff-🔸-5ab59139/ ) Shane skilfully articulates why an abundance mindset isn’t reckless or fanciful and why optimism is generally more...

I found this conversation with Ben, an Osteopath at Origin Health Clinic - https://originhealthgroup.com - a fascinating thought-provoker. Ben talks about his dramatic night earlier this year when he unexpectedly came close to his lights going out and how he approaches life with that palpable sense of mortality. With a baby at home we also discuss how the experience has affected his outlook on wor...

Jon Palmer has followed Cheltenham Town FC for decades, man and boy, personally and professionally. So great to get his take on the big story in my hometown - the return of Steve Cotterill 23 years on from his historic first stint at the club. Cotterill lead Cheltenham into the football league as a young manager and JP explains why he believes a successful second era could be upon us.  JP continue...

I’ve always enjoyed interviewing Chris during his rise as a respected but, in retrospect, underrated boxer who upset big names to become world champion. Spectacular nights followed in his hometown of Bournemouth.  Then came defeat in 2024 to Gilberto Ramirez. But Chris’ hunger for the sport remains ravenous. He’s very candid though about the sense of internal conflict he feels being away from his...