EFL Unfiltered with David Prutton

There really is only one Gareth Ainsworth, as there's nobody in football that looks like him or acts like him! He's a total one off and a brilliant host, as David Prutton found out when he was kindly invited over to Gareth's gaff for the day, back in October of last year. Inside the house, Gareth's love of music takes centre stage, and his heroes are some of the biggest names in rock, but Gareth is also quite clearly a football man through and through. An exceptional player and a skilled and talented man manager, who's proud to have worked with and developed some of the most prolific players in the game today. This is a fascinating insight into the tightrope that everyone in football management needs to tread, and once the relaxed chat around the bar and the trophy room has concluded, Gareth has one final surprise for Prutts!

It's the penultimate episode in the series and David Prutton is in a pub in Nottingham, so no complaints from him on the choice of location! Prutts is there to meet Northampton Town manager Kevin Nolan, who's comfortably settled in Robin Hood Country, from his time in charge at nearby Notts County. The two look back fondly on a glittering playing career, that has so far transitioned into a very promising looking start in management, although Kevin is fully aware that it's early days and he's still learning his craft. Getting a bit too comfy in his pub surroundings, Prutts challenges Nolan to a game of darts, but it doesn't go well and it becomes clear very quickly, who'll be buying the first round of drinks as soon as the cameras stop rolling!

Undoubtedly one of football's greatest ever characters, there really is only one Barry Fry! From his first goal at Wembley in front of nearly 100,000 people and looking after a young George Best at Manchester United in the early 1960s, to his latest role at Peterborough United, a club that he's been married to for nearly 30 years! His beloved Posh have got a trip to Wembley to look forward to on Sunday, and this week Barry turned 80 years old, so it's a very good time for David Prutton to catch up with this gentleman of the game, who's got some of the best stories you'll ever hear! 

There are few people who can tell a story like McCarthy, and have the whole room bent double! David Prutton throughly enjoyed his day at Mick's house, talking about the early days at Barnsley to playing in the World Cup. Managing Ireland and his infamous fall out with Roy Keane, to talking to Steve Coogan about playing himself in the corresponding film, not to mention achieving the ultimate life goal of owning a fancy hot tap and what his favourite biscuit is! This is an episode that has it all, so sit down with a nice brew and possibly a packet of ginger nuts, and enjoy! 

Billy Sharp is a home town hero. A 'Roy of the Rovers' style striker in his native Sheffield and a blade through and through. On this episode, David Prutton travels to Billy's home turf to talk about a career that has not only seen him score more than 100 goals for his boyhood club, but also move away to the South Coast with Southampton and travel abroad to LA Galaxy, before returning closer to home with his current club Doncaster Rovers, who will always have a special place in his heart. This is a brilliant chat about what it means to be in the business of scoring goals, and understanding the feelings of the fans on the terraces.

On this week's episode, David Prutton takes himself off to the seaside, to spend some quality time in the company of Blackpool FC manager Steve Bruce. From sharing a dressing room with Cantona, Kanchelskis, Giggs and Hughes, to realising every Geordie's dream of managing Newcastle United, Steve has enjoyed a remarkable career over his 4 decades in the game. He's got lofty ambitions for his Seasiders and is very much enjoying his time at Bloomfield Road, so who's to say he couldn't clock up an incredible 50 years of doing what he loves best!

With more than 800 appearances under his belt, Phil Jagielka's superb career for club and country spanned more than 23 years! Out of the game now for a year or so, he's been working mainly on his golf handicap, but reflects with Prutts on the highs, the lows and some of the brilliant characters and stories he's enjoyed along the way, as he looks back on a playing career that he's quite rightly very proud of.

It's the first episode of a brand new podcast series, that sees David Prutton sit down for a proper chat with some of the biggest names in football. First up it's Coventry City manager Frank Lampard, to discuss his distinguished career and schooling in the game, the influence of the likes Jose Mourinho on his management style, and whether Uncle Harry and Aunty Sandra agree with him playing a back four! 

It's the final instalment of the official EFL podcast for 2023/2024, and host David Prutton is taking a little look back at some of his favourite moments from the second half of this truly extraordinary season, along with the characters that have joined him along the way!