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Will Moulton hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with GB Wheelchair Basketballer Sophie Carrigill. Ten years ago, at the age of 16, Sophie was involved in a car accident that changed her life forever. She initially struggled with the change to her identity but she has since transformed herself into a motivational, and inspirational, individual. Sophie is one of the stars of the British Wheelchair Basketball team and has played a key role in their rise, including a World Championship silver medal as well as their first ever Paralympic semi-final at Rio 2016.  But she also plays a key part off the court as a driver for greater accessibility, inclusion and opportunity for disabled people in sport and life.  She's also a passionate advocate for equality for female athletes. Her efforts have been recognised far and wide - her inclusion in the Forbes 30 under 30 list is just one example of that - and she was also among the first cohort of athletes in the Women's Sport Trust's Unlocked programme. Throughout it all she has show that anyone can follow their dream regardless of what stands in their way. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Image credits: With thanks to Sophie Carrigill Music: Otis McDonald

Sonny Pike was the wonderkid that had it all. He was the gifted young footballer destined to be a star, until it all came crashing down to earth. His reputation during the 1990s exploded and there was immeasurable hype that came with it. Dutch giants Ajax had swooped on him, he was touted as English football’s Diego Maradona and his legs were insured for £1million at the age of 11. Coca Cola, McDonald’s and Paul Smith all queued to sponsor him, and he appeared on TV shows like Fantasy Football and Blue Peter. But bubbles tend to burst. If his rise to fame was quick, then the speed with which it was all taken away was double time. It all unravelled to such a point where the footballing boy wonder was stood on top of a bridge – known locally as Suicide Bridge – contemplating ending it all aged 15. These days Sonny Pike is a London taxi driver living in Hertfordshire, and he runs his own football academy just off the M25. Sonny is the ultimate cautionary tale for child footballing prodigies and now he is telling his own side of the story in an explosive new book that was released on May 27. He exposes the reckless ambition, the broken promises, and the lost innocence that no one really saw when he was always in the media.  He also details the way it all fell apart, the spiral into depression and how he has built his life back up to where it is today. This is the story of the greatest footballer that never was. Sonny Pike: The Greatest Footballer That Never Was, published by Reach Sport, is on sale now. Save 25% from reachsportshop.com Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Image credits: With thanks to Reach Sport and Sonny Pike Music: Otis McDonald

Alasdair Hooper hosts the fifth and final Mental Health Awareness Week episode all about mental health and nature. Joining the podcast for the discussion are GB steeplechaser Iona Lake and Christina Colmer McHugh, the Director of Moodbeam. Considering the last year we have faced, with the ongoing Covid pandemic, many of us have spent more time indoors than ever before. It's no surprise, then, that this year the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week is nature. Listen to the podcast below Research from the Mental Health Foundation found that 45% of people had reported being in green spaces had been vital for their mental health and this is the topic we are tapping into on this episode - to find out just how vital the great outdoors is. Christina and Iona also share their own experiences and their own ways of helping to balance their mental health. If you are struggling with your mental health here are some organisations who can help Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141 Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression. Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal. Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. Helpline 0800 58 58 58 Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. You can find more information and support it here - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week Visit Moodbeam here - https://moodbeam.co.uk/personal Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Image credits: With thanks to the Mintridge Foundation and Christina Colmer McHugh Music: Otis McDonald

Alasdair Hooper hosts the fourth Mental Health Awareness Week episode all themed around mental health and sport in the LGBTQ community. Joining the podcast for the discussion are Karina Murray, of Sporting Pride Ireland, Assistant Editor at Goal, Emma Smith, and also Martin Stark, the CEO and founder of the World Gay Boxing Championships. Of course, being from the LGBTIQ+ community doesn't mean you will automatically have issues with your mental health. However, a recent Stonewall study found that over the previous year half of LGBTIQ+ people had experienced depression and three in five had experienced anxiety. One in eight LGBTIQ+ people aged 18-24 had attempted to end their life and almost half of trans people half thought about taking their life. Each one of our guests also has their own story to tell. For Mark, he didn't come out until the age of 27 and he came close to dying in 2017 from Addison's Disease, an experience that prompted him to take a self-defence class and then boxing that has made him the man he is today. Karina also struggled to find out who she was growing up, but it was the LGBT clubs in Ireland where she really came to understand and accept who she was. For Emma, she came out in 2019 as transgender and explains in this episode how she came to discover her own identity. This is an incredibly in-depth episode but by sharing their stories, and their advice, it will hopefully help someone who may find themselves in a difficult situation. If you are struggling with your mental health here are some organisations who can help Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141 Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression. Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal. Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. Helpline 0800 58 58 58 Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. You can find more information and support it here - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week Visit MindOut, the LGBTQ mental health service here - https://mindout.org.uk/ Visit Sporting Pride Ireland here - https://www.sportingpride.ie/ Find out more about the World Gay Boxing Championships here - https://www.worldgayboxingchampionships.org/ Follow Martin Stark here - https://www.instagram.com/gayboxingchamp/?hl=en Follow Emma Smith here - https://twitter.com/emmasmithjourno Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Image credits: With thanks to Martin Stark, Karina Murray and Emma Smith Music: Otis McDonald

Alasdair Hooper hosts the third Mental Health Awareness Week special episode with commentator Chris Murphy on addiction recovery, depression and Sporting Chance. Chris knows what it’s like to decide to make the unthinkable decision. At the heart of it was a crippling gambling addiction, after first placing a bet at the age of 17, as well as a battle with depression. For years the gambling and the depression consumed him and it eventually culminated in Chris deciding to take his own life. Thankfully that unsuccessful attempt sparked things into action and led to his road to recovery. But recovery is tough, really tough, and if there’s one key message Chris wants to get there you don’t just magically get better. There are relapses, those battles still linger, but considering where Chris is now he has made some inspiring progress. Chris is also the Gambling and Education Facilitator at Sporting Chance, the charity that was set up by former Arsenal Captain Tony Adams who himself battled with addiction. It provides services to professional sportspeople who are in need of mental health support, whether that is addiction related or anything else, and it has proved to be a vital lifeline for so many. This episode is a really powerful listen, as Chris goes into depth about what happened to him, but there is so much to take away by listening to his story. If you are struggling with your mental health here are some organisations who can help Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141 Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression. Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal. Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. Helpline 0800 58 58 58 Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. You can find more information and support it here - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week Visit Sporting Chance here - https://www.sportingchanceclinic.com/ Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Music: Otis McDonald

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host the second of our Mental Health Awareness Week episodes all about mental health in the media. Joining them are Ryan Conway, The Athletic's Derby County writer, Tommy Wathen, the Sport Social Media Editor for the Mirror, Express and Star, as well as Rebecca Myers of The Sunday Times. Working in journalism and the media comes with incredible opportunities. The days are fast-paced, you get to speak to remarkable people and you can make a difference with your voice or your words. But it also comes with significant struggles - the long hours, risk of burnout, stress and also social media abuse. Mental health in journalism isn't often talked about but - particularly in the pandemic - it's something that needs a spotlight shone onto it. It's one of the reasons why the website Newsbreak was created during the pandemic as a place for journalists to share their mental health stories. There hasn't been a proper conversation and, with most of us trading newsrooms for our homes, isolation has also been a battle. In this podcast episode we look to unpick some of the mental health issues in the media as we all try and share some practical advice for what has worked for us, as well as how we individually cope with social media, which can be toxic at times. Above all, even those days where you struggle, the chances are you are not along and journalists can help each other during these unprecedented times. If you are struggling with your mental health here are some organisations who can help Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141 Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression. Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal. Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. Helpline 0800 58 58 58 Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. You can find more information and support it here - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week Visit Newsbreak here - https://takeanewsbreak.com/ Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Music: Otis McDonald

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host the first episode of our Mental Health Awareness Week series on addiction with Russell Pearce and Patrick Foster. Addiction is a major problem in the UK and former Welsh boxer Russell, and former cricketer Patrick, know that better than most having suffered from alcohol and gambling addictions respectively. In Russell's case his addiction essentially cost him is gambling career while for Patrick, his gambling pushed him into almost doing the unthinkable. To sum up the state of the problem, in the first nine months of 2020 deaths from alcohol hit record levels in England and Wales - 5460.  That is a 16.4% increase on the same period in 2019. In July 2020, a House of Lords report titled 'Gambling Harm - Time for Action' found that half of adults in the UK gamble at least once a month. A third of a million UK citizens are 'problem' or 'disordered' gamblers and it is estimated that for every problem gambler, six other people are harmed by the breakup of families, crime, losing jobs, losing homes or a death. In this episode both Russell and Patrick will use their own experiences to help us understand some of the issues at play better.  They have incredibly powerful stories to tell but they both are also in a position where they can now help others - Russell currently helps recovering alcoholics with the charity Kaleidoscope while Patrick is the Director of Educational Programmes at EPIC Risk Management. If you are struggling with your mental health here are some organisations who can help Samaritans: Phone 116 123, 24 hours a day, or email jo@samaritans.org, in confidence Childline: Phone 0800 1111. Calls are free and won't show up on your bill PAPYRUS: A voluntary organisation supporting suicidal teens and young adults. Phone 0800 068 4141 Depression Alliance: A charity for people with depression. Students Against Depression: A website for students who are depressed, have low mood, or are suicidal. Bullying UK: A website for both children and adults affected by bullying. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): For young men who are feeling unhappy. Helpline 0800 58 58 58 Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation. You can find more information and support it here. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Image credits: With thanks to Russell Pearce and Patrick Foster Music: Otis McDonald

Alasdair Hooper hosts this episode of SportSpiel with guest Emily Borthwick. The high jumper had quite the debut for Team GB as she starred at the European Indoor championships back in March this year. She recorded a four-centimetre personal best of 1.91 to qualify for the high jump final and finish eight in Europe. But at the heart of that insane result – combined with the hard work and the determination – was the mental side of the game. As Emily puts it in this episode it was the decision to just be good. Prior to her third attempt at the Indoors her coach Fuzz Caan told her to ‘change her emotion, not her technique.'  That emphasised just how much the performance was down to the mental side – and it all clicked into place. On this podcast Emily takes us through that performance, and how everything mentally is now clicking into gear after years of just missing out and 'holding herself back'.  She also tells us what her aims are for the future and also her role with Totally Runable, a vitally important project which helps schools close their Gender Sport Gap. From mental health, to body image, to social media image, there's a lot that goes into increasing the sport participation levels for young girls. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website - sportspielonline.com Find out more about Totally Runable - https://www.totallyrunable.com/ Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Image credit: Sam Barnes Music: Otis McDonald

Alasdair Hooper hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with 2018 MXGP World Champion Jeffrey Herlings. In this wide-ranging chat the motocross star takes us through his childhood and the horrifying crash that derailed his 2020 season. Herlings was the red-hot favourite for last year’s MXGP world championship title but it all changed in September when he was involved in that head-first crash in free practice at the Grand Prix of Citta di Faenza in Italy.   The impact was so powerful the Dutchman was unable to move, and he lay motionless on the track. In his words he thought that was going to be game over and that he might have been paralysed.   Thankfully – Herlings’ injuries were not as bad as first feared, he was incredibly lucky and he knows it. But that crash has changed his outlook on life, and his outlook on how he approaches racing for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team.   With the 2021 campaign scheduled to start in a couple of months all focus is now on winning the world championship again, but as Jeffrey explains in this episode it’s about enjoying things a lot more now rather than putting an intense amount of pressure back on his shoulders. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Watch Jeffrey Herlings' episode on Red Bull's MX World here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd6rW_9Twi0  Credits Images: Red Bull Content Pool Music: Otis McDonald

Will Moulton hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with Saracens and England star Zoe Harrison. In a wide-ranging interview with the Women's Six Nations now underway, Zoe discusses her experiences of playing rugby at school and getting one over the bullies in recent years. From her perspective one vital piece of advice is to not take any notice of those trying to put you down. Zoe also takes us through how much women's rugby has grown and also what it's like in England camps, including the odd bit of Xbox. She also talks about England in the Six Nations as well as the postponed Rugby World Cup, now set to be held in in 2022. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Images: With thanks to The Mintridge Foundation and Zoe Harrison Music: Otis McDonald

T38 sprinter Sophie Hahn has already achieved so much by the age of 24. Back in 2018 her gold medal in the T38 100m at the Commonwealth Games meant she became the first female track and field athlete to win the grand slam - namely holding gold medals in the same event from the Paralympics, World Championships, European Championships and also the Commonwealths. Her rise has been rapid, ever since she was first inspired to take up the sport off the back of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. From there Sophie quickly became one to watch, winning gold in the T38 100m World Championships in 2013. 2016 was arguably the year she announced herself to even more British sports fans with that gold at Rio 2016 in particular. Fast forward to now and she is the proud owner of a Paralympic gold, seven World golds, six European golds and also two world records to boot. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many would be happy enough to settle for just that but Sophie is not one of those individuals. This is an athlete driven to win time and time again, and to keep retaining those gold medals whenever she competes. That is exactly the mission looking ahead to Tokyo 2020 later this year, although Covid means no overseas fans will be allowed to travel to the games. But with just home fans, or no fans, Sophie Hahn will be determined to deliver and become even more of a role model than she already is. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Credits Music: Otis McDonald

Katie Milner is one determined racing driver making waves in motorsport. She is the first female to be on the McLaren Driver Development Program, was the first female Junior Saloon Car Champion in 2016 and she also won the inaugural British Women Racing Drivers gold star driver award. But, as she has moved up through the motorsport ranks, questions about being a women in motorsport inevitably come along. But that isn't something that phases her. In Katie's view,'we all look the same, we've got our helmet and overalls on, so we should all be classed as racing drivers'. In this episode of SportSpiel the racer joins the podcast in an exciting week, where it was announced she would be racing for Team Rocket RJN in the British GT Championship. It's the perfect way to get 2021 up and running after the disruption of 2020 caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It's been a long wait to finally get back out on the track, but that looks to finally be coming to an end soon. She also explains in this episode just how much an idol her dad - Jonny Milner - is to her thanks to his own successful career in rallying. If there's one main thing he's taught her over the years, it's to never give up. That lesson has definitely come in useful at various stages, particularly with a disruptive pandemic ongoing. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Visit Katie Milner's website - https://www.katiemilner.com/ Credits Image credit: With thanks to McLaren Music: Otis McDonald

Deaf footballer Fil Kamps has had quite the career. He’s competed for Great Britain at the World Cup, the Deaflympics and he is also a British Deaf Football Cup, English Deaf Football Cup and English Deaf Football League winner. That’s a lot of success to enjoy, and to be proud of, for the now 27-year-old. Turning out for his country in particular – a dream he had held ever since he was a boy - is a particular highlight. But the journey to realising your dream is never a straight one, and for Fil it was no different. There are always plenty of bumps and plenty of setbacks along the way. For Fil, one particular moment stands out strongly to this day as he was one of the final players cut from the GB squad ahead of the European Championships in 2015. It was a gut-wrenching moment, it broke him and felt like he had let others down. But that setback arguably fuelled the comeback – as he went on to work even harder, desperate to achieve his dream and turn out to play football for his country. With that hard work and relentlessness he eventually achieved it. But, at the age of just 24, Fil was forced to retire from football due to injury - an abrupt end to a career that had given him so much until that point.  Three years on he admits he is still struggling to fill that void left behind by the absence of football.  He does keep himself busy, as an ambassador for The Mintridge Foundation as well as roles with Kent County Council, the Kent Disability League and also as chairman of Fulham's deaf team. But, in terms of finding something that provides the same electric passion as playing football, there is still some management to go. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Find out about our partners The Mintridge Foundation - https://www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk/ Visit Fil Kamps' website - https://www.filkamps.com/ Sign up to the podcast workshop here - https://schoolofjournalism.co.uk/free-journalism-masterclasses/ Credits Image credit: With thanks to Fil Kamps Music: Otis McDonald

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host a special episode of SportSpiel all about Time to Talk Day. Joining the show to mark the day - held on February 4 - are British Olympic trap shooter Georgina Roberts as well as England and Northampton Saints rugby star George Furbank. Brought to you in association with The Mintridge Foundation and the Royal Agricultural University, also joining the show for this episode is Lewis Bebb, RAU's Student Union President, and Charlie McMenemy, the SU's Campaigns and Welfare Officer. During this episode our guests will explore the importance of Time to Talk Day as well as pick apart the issues of mental health awareness, particularly during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. With so many of us having our lives completely changed, lockdown has had a huge mental health impact on everybody in one way or another. But ultimately throughout the conversation one point remains absolutely clear - it is always good to talk. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Credits Image credit: With thanks to The Mintridge Foundation Music: Otis McDonald Extended thanks go to The Mintridge Foundation and The Royal Agricultural University

Alasdair Hooper hosts the first SportSpiel episode of 2021 with Northampton Saints and England full-back George Furbank. The last 12 months have been quite the ride for the 24-year-old. Just under a year ago - January 20, 2020 to be exact – he received his first call up to the England squad for the Six Nations before making his debut against France for Eddie Jones’ side. After that rapid rise to the international setup he has become one of the players to watch – but of course this last year has been anything but smooth thanks to a certain global pandemic. To sum that up, the day we recorded this episode George was on his final day of self-isolation after a positive covid test – one of many positives that led to Northampton Saints temporarily having to close things down. That’s just one of a number of frustrations that many of us are finding ourselves living with now that we’re back in the third national lockdown. On this episode of the podcast George tells what it’s been like having to juggle sport with all things pandemic – but he also tells about his own development as a player, from starting out initially to that whirlwind call up to the England team. And, as an ambassador for the Mintridge Foundation, he is someone who knows all too well what the power of sport can do. With kids across the country now facing home schooling again – physical exercise can’t be pushed to the side as a result of that. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Credits Image credit: With thanks to The Mintridge Foundation Music: Otis McDonald

Alasdair Hooper and Will Moulton host SportSpiel's Review of the Year 2020. The past 12 months have proven to be a year like no other - as major sporting events were cancelled and our lives were completely altered - but one constant has been the enjoyment of sport in our lives. For many of us it has kept us going and there have still been some fantastic highlights to look back on this year, despite the pandemic's unpredictability. In this episode Alasdair and Will look back on the year in sport as they talk through their nominees and winners in four categories - best sporting moment (10:25), most inspiring moment (27:03), team of the year (41:25) and athlete of the year (56:23). From the fantastic England Rugby performances, to Lewis Hamilton, to football coming back, these are SportSpiel's highlights of a truly unique year. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Find out more about The Bear - https://www.thebear.live/ Credits Music: Otis McDonald

Will Moulton hosts the latest episode of SportSpiel with GB Hockey stars Emily Defroand and Tess Howard. Like many athletes both Emily and Tess were gearing up towards Tokyo 2020, along with the rest of the GB Hockey team - a competition that would be the pinnacle of their careers. Of course, the global pandemic had other ideas with the Olympic Games postponed until next year. But rather than let that delay disillusion them, the GB squad have turned that into a huge positive. It means they will have another year to prepare to fight for a medal at consecutive Games. On this episode both Emily and Tess explain how they have used the time to educate themselves on social injustices and explore other passions outside of the playing field.  Both of them are part of the Women's Sport Trust's #UNLOCKED campaign and they have also each launched exciting individual projects - Tess' Freesolo Hockey, and Emily's popular Cuppa N Natter podcast. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Credits Images: With thanks to GB Hockey Music: Otis McDonald

Changing Lives FC are a football team with a story.   Every training session, and during every game, you can hear around a dozen different languages – that’s because each member of the squad is a migrant, refugee or asylum seeker.   All of them have fled war, terror or they are in desperate search for a better life. They are all young men who would be extremely vulnerable if left to fend for themselves.   Joining us on this podcast is their manager David Simmons, a PE teacher living in Harlow, in Essex, who is also the founder of Changing Lives Community Services – a project dedicated to keeping vulnerable youngsters out of the hands of gangs and violence.   David is no stranger to extraordinary journeys – he was once threatened by a six-year-old with a knife, which is partly what motivated him to step up and make a difference.   But this football team has been a challenge like no other. Getting a group of players who don’t all speak the same language is difficult enough in itself but that’s made all the more harder by the discrimination that swirls them.   According to David, the team have been plagued by incidents of racist abuse and further discrimination from some opponents – he has even had to invest in a video camera he feels he needs to protect his players.    As David says – racism is still happening every Sunday, and it’s something that needs kicking out of the game. *** NOTE *** SportSpiel also approached the Harlow and District Football League for a response but received it after episode production had concluded. You can find the response below: League secretary, Alvyn Charles, said: "I am deeply saddened to hear that Mr Simmons has made these comments about the racism his team has experienced.  "The two incidents that have been brought to my attention by Mr Simmons were deemed on both occasions to not be of a racist content. As HDFL is a multi-cultural league, if there were any forms of racism we instruct all teams that if/when it occurs we have procedures in place and always have informed the Essex FA who themselves would conduct their own investigation." Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Credits Images: With thanks to Changing Lives FC Music: Otis McDonald

Will Moulton hosts this episode of SportSpiel with We are Girls in Sport founders Caroline Kings and Jo Wimble-Groves. The pair have an identical vision on the importance of sport to girls and that was how We are Girls in Sport was born in early 2020. The global movement looks to share the stories and remarkable achievements of girls and women in every sport you could possibly imagine. Put simply, you have to seem them to be them and through that ethos We are Girls in Sport are looking to increase the participation and retention of females in sport.  There has been such a growth in women's sport recently - now is the time to keep pushing it more than ever. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Credits Music: Otis McDonald

Will Moulton hosts this latest episode of The Women's Football Diary with Leicester City midfielder Remi Allen. In her third appearance on the podcast Remi reflects on the last few months as she returned to Leicester City 10 years after leaving the club where she first came through. Much has changed since then as Leicester are now a full-time professional outfit after being taken over by King Power and coming under the same banner as the men. In this episode she takes us through the move back to her old team as well as leaving Reading without being able to say a proper goodbye. Messages Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SportSpielPod?lang=en Like us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SportSpielPod/ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sportspielpod/ Join the conversation on social media using #WomensFootballDiary Get in touch: sportspielpod@gmail.com Visit our website: sportspielonline.com Credits Image credit: With thanks to Remi Allen Music: Dan Henig