Episode 302: Andrew Crofts

Aged 20, Luke Williams suffered a catastrophic knee injury that crushed all hope of playing professionally. While living rent free in a plush Canary Wharf flat with Bobby Zamora, Williams "grafted away" in whatever job came his way as his friend forged a career in the Premier League.He stumbled into coaching and has never looked back; earning a reputation as a progressive coach with a variety of clubs before being appointed manager of Notts County in 2022. In his first season, promotion was secured to League Two through the play-offs after an enthralling and record-breaking title race against Wrexham.His move to Swansea in 2024 seemed a natural fit having previously coached at the club under former manager Russell Martin, and his possession-based philosophy aligned with the "Swansea way".Simon Davies sits in for Elis James.

Andrew Crofts is a rare breed - a former player who now admits to enjoy working more as a coach. Since September 2022, the 39-year-old has been first-team coach at Brighton, and explains how manager Roberto De Zerbi has ignited his love of coaching even further through his meticulous planning and charismatic personality.As a combative midfielder, Crofts played in all four top English divisions, including spells with Wrexham and Newport. He won 29 caps for Wales over a 12-year period that saw him work under John Toshack, Gary Speed and Chris Coleman. He tells Elis James and Iwan Roberts how he's taken inspiration from each one as he continues to evolve as a coach.

A no thrills team-bonding camping trip to Sweden, scoring from 68 yards and almost missing playing in the League Cup final after being stuck in traffic - some of the career highlights former Cardiff City captain and manager Mark Hudson shares with Elis James and Iwan Roberts.

In 2008, Neil Roberts was captain of the Wrexham side relegated from the Football League. His first spell with his hometown club a decade earlier was far more successful, playing in the third tier of English football. That's where Wrexham will be playing next season after the revival under owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds continues at great pace after a second successive promotion last Saturday. Roberts describes the "life changing" effect the famous duo have had on the lives of so many people, and the positive impact of the football club can be felt throughout the community. He also reveals what prompted him to leave his influential role at Manchester City and how he's been revitalised by his new enterprise in the heart of Wrexham.If you are affected by any of the issues in this podcast, you can find details of organisations that can help via the BBC Action Line. https://bbc.in/3UnR9ux

Barry Horne was 22-years-old when he first joined the professional ranks. A few months later, the chemistry graduate was the goal-scoring hero in arguably Wrexham's greatest result when they knocked Portuguese giants Porto out of the Uefa Cup Winners' Cup in 1984. Horne went on to play for Portsmouth and then alongside the likes of Alan Shearer and Matt Le Tissier at Southampton. A dream move followed to Everton, the club he supported as a boy growing up in Flintshire, scoring a crucial goal to avoid relegation in 1994 and then winning the FA Cup the following season. And with 59 caps for Wales, including being captain of the side that came agonisingly close to 1994 World Cup qualification, Horne certainly has no regrets about swapping the chemistry lab for the football field.

Carl Roberts and Iwan Roberts are joined by Wales' record goalscorer Helen Ward to preview new manager Rhian Wilkinson's first game in charge of Wales. Wales play Croatia at the Racecourse in their first Women's Euro 2025 qualifier on Friday. We also talk Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Wrexham.

Simon Davies is joined by former Wales internationals Danny Gabbidon and Iwan Roberts to pick the bones out of Wales' Euro 2024 play-off final penalty shootout loss to Poland. Also, reaction to the news that Wales manager Rob Page will remain in charge.

Ahead of Wales' Euro 2024 play-off final with Poland, Jonny Owen and former Wales captain Ashley Williams bring you a special preview with exclusive access to the Wales camp. First, we speak with defender Connor Roberts and forward Dan James, then we're joined by midfielder Harry Wilson and vice-captain Ben Davies, and finally, manager Rob Page.

Johnny Owen presents a special preview of Wales’ Euro 2024 play-off match against Finland with former Wales captain Ashley Williams. We hear from captain Aaron Ramsey, manager Rob Page and Ethan Ampadu who's set to win his 50th cap.

Former Cardiff and Swansea defender Steven Caulker joins Iwan Roberts and Simon Davies to look back at his south Wales derby memories, including scoring the winning goal in the fixture for the Bluebirds in 2013.The former England centre back also talks about his with struggles with drink and gambling and his recovery from addiction.