Episode 109 | Alan Smith

Derek chats to one of Belfast's finest footballing exports, Danny Griffin. Danny’s in great form as he relives his time in the game from turning down his boyhood heroes Liverpool to sign for St Johnstone where he’d make his name.  We hear why he turned down Premier League football, why he moved to Dundee United, his stint at Stockport, as well as his time at Aberdeen, Dundee, Ross County, and his two promotion winning seasons with Livingston and Arbroath. And of course we talk Northern Ireland and coming up against some of the best players on the planet and he also tells us about the great work he’s doing now with the Saints Community Trust. Enjoy folks!

Derek chats to one of the most respected and decorated coaches in Scottish football, Eddie Wolecki Black. Eddie is in fine form as he tells us about his time banging in the goals for the likes of Montrose, Deveronvale and Huntly and his agony at missing out on a move to boyhood heroes Dundee United. He tells us about the success he had at Lochee United as a manager, being undermined at Montrose, guiding Glasgow City to untold success in the women’s game, his spell at Airdrie where he would suffer a brain haemorrhage and his recovery back to the dugout with Motherwell and Celtic Women and now Forfar Farmington. Enjoy folks!

Derek chats to one of Scottish football's much loved goalies, John Hillcoat for a fun look back at his time between the sticks. John has stories galore from his 15 different clubs with plenty of laughs throughout. He also tells us about his stint as a columnist for The Sunday Mail and what keeps him busy nowadays. Enjoy folks!

With the Premier League campaign kicking off on Friday, millions of us will be entering our fantasy football teams. Derek chats to Ethan James from the Fantasy Football Hub to give us the lowdown on what we should be doing to improve our ranking. He tells us what players we should be looking out for, best formations, do's and dont's and loads more in between. Enjoy folks!  

Derek crosses over the channel to chat to one of Scottish football's most loved characters - Ivo den Bieman. We hear about how his move to Scotland and Montrose came about, nights out in Aberdeen and winning promotion with the Gable Endies. He talks about his season at Dundee where he scored and played in that famous 4-3 win over Rangers and featured alongside the likes of Graham Rix, Kevin Ratcliffe, Morten Weighorst, Dusan Vrto and others. He tells us how the Dark Blues left him high and dry only for Dunfermline, another club where he’s adored, to come calling. There’s stories galore from his time at East End Park, a real golden time for the Pars, and he tells us about his short stint at Ross County and finishing his playing career at Falkirk. Enjoy folks!

Derek chats to one of the most talented coaches in English football, Steve Eyre. Steve is in great form as he recounts his time growing up in and around his beloved Manchester City.  He looks back fondly on his 21 years in City's youth setup where he helped bring through the likes of Phil Foden, Kieran Trippier, Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge. He also tells us about his stint as Rochdale boss, his time at Huddersfield and Chesterfield and working with Joey Barton at Fleetwood as well as loads more in between. Enjoy folks!

Derek chats to an absolute legend in the world of football physiotherapy - Alan Smith. Alan’s story in the game is truly fascinating, after injury curtailed his playing aspirations at an early age he embarked on a career as a top class physio. We hear about his time at Sheffield Wednesday where he’s fondly remembered during a golden time for the Owls, why he turned down Glasgow Rangers. And he tells us about his many years with England where he worked at several World Cups and European Championships, there’s stories galore on Euro 96, Gazza, France 98, Euro 2000, the 2002 World Cup and plenty more in between. Enjoy folks!

Derek chats to one of Scottish football’s most loved goalies, a hero at the likes of Dundee United, Dunfermline and Raith Rovers, it is of course Guido van de Kamp. Guido is in brilliant form as he relives his time coming through the ranks at Den Bosch, his Tannadice memories including that Scottish Cup final win over Rangers, the promotion winning season with the Pars, becoming a cult hero at Glentoran as well as his enjoyable spell at Starks Park and lots more in between. Enjoy folks!

Derek chats to one of Scottish football’s greatest characters, not only a legend at Dunfermline and Livingston but he’s also an MBE and the Lord Provost of the Kingdom of Fife, it is of course the one and only Jim Leishman. As you can expect, Jim’s in top form as he relives his playing and coaching career with plenty of brilliant stories, he also tells us about his trip down to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen and his move into politics. Enjoy folks!

Derek chats to former England Under 21 and Sheffield Wednesday defender Ian Knight. Ian’s story in the game is a fascinating one, he was one of the most promising defenders in British football when he burst on the scene at Hillsborough until a horrific challenge by Chester City’s Gary Bennett more or less curtailed his career. He tells us about that game, the aftermath, how he claimed damages as a result and how he kept positive to continue his time in the game by coaching which he still does over in Canada. We also hear about his time at Barnsley under Norman Hunter and Bobby Collins and dressing room tales from his years at the Owls. Enjoy folks!