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© 2024 Ball Handlers
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The Ball Handlers Podcast is a British, sport - related podcast that doesn't promote any one shaped ball over another. Host Benjamin Draycott will bring you a light - hearted, weekly discussion with professional athletes and fans alike from the fields of Rugby Union, Cricket, Hockey and Football.
31 Episodes
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This week it was a pleasure to be joined by old uni mate Ollie Drew, a lifelong City fan who took great pleasure in locking horns with Nobey on a variety of City Vs Liverpool debates. As well as talking about the good old days before the financial takeover, we also discuss the popular debate of Klopp or Pep, whether Pep is planning to stick around for much longer, and who gets left at home out of Maddison, Mount, Grealish and Foden if the Euros gets off the ground this summer...
This week it was a pleasure to be joined by Yorkshire Diamond seamer, Phoebe Graham. Phoebe has always had an undying love for the game, however following a family bereavement, Phoebe decided it was best to take a sabbatical and work for Sky. Following a live watch of the nail-biting Women's World Cup final against India and a quick appearance in a charity match, Phoebe decided it was time to return to the game in what some may describe as the twilight years of her career...
An absolute pleasure to be joined this week by a member of the formidable Exeter Chiefs forward pack, Sam Skinner. Sam is a south west boy who adores playing his Rugby down in Devon, so much so that his stellar form earned him a Scotland call up in 2018, where Sam has continued to tear up trees on the international stage. Sam & I talk about what life is like as a Chief, and how far they have come since the Championship days almost a decade ago; Sam largely puts the success down to the likes of player-turned-coach, Gareth Steenson & speaks of the bitter/sweet feeling of winning the Champions Cup in Steeno's final season albeit in an empty stadium...
This week I was delighted to be joined by the inspirational Jamie Bhatti; loose-head prop for Scotland and Bath Rugby.Jamie's rise to the top is somewhat unconventional - having stared homelessness in the face as a youngster, the now international front rower secured his first job in a slaughterhouse from the age of 16. Two years later, Bhatti secured his doorman's license and managed a mere two hours sleep between shifts in his car before eventually signing his first professional contract with Glasgow Warriors at 20 years old. As Bhatti really began to take hold of his Rugby career, starting week in, week out for club and country - Glasgow suddenly took the decision not to renew his contract. Forcing Bhatti's hand into a move to arch rivals Edinburgh, where one day during the hot summer of 2020, things started to take a turn...
This week it was my pleasure to record the long awaited Chelsea Tiki-Taka Talks, joined by dear friend and fellow Chelsea chum, Joe Webb. Having also attended Newcastle University, Joe is on superb terms with Nobey as well having shared many a pint watching Chelsea & Liverpool games alike in the north east of England. Over the course of the episode, we discuss the trials and tribulations of being a Chelsea fan in recent years and how numerous meetings with Liverpool have soured the fixture for fans like Nobey, seeing the likes of Fernando Torres head down to London and 32 year old Joe Cole in the other direction. Once again, the helluva teamsheet section threw up some interesting talking points as we discussed a starting 11 with the combined crops from the current Liverpool and Chelsea squads...
This week it was a pleasure to be joined by the current England opening test batsman, Dom Sibley, aka 'The Fridge'. Dom has burst onto the test scene with aplomb, opening the batting with fellow Old Whitgiftian, Rory Burns. He became the first English batsman to score a century at Newlands in over a decade last year, scoring a remarkable 133* against South Africa, an innings that lasted over eight hours in total. As well as discussing what it's like to face the likes of Stokes & Archer in net sessions, Sibley also talks about the time his Grandfather placed an audacious bet when young Dom was only 15 years of age that his grandson would end up playing for England...
This week, it was a pleasure to be joined by the 6ft 7 blonde bombshell, Josh McNally. As well as punching holes in premiership defences on his weekends, McNally is also an Weapons Technician in the Royal Air Force. His rise to prominence was completely unexpected for Josh and his family, and before he knew it, London Welsh had offered the second rower a contract to play Premiership Rugby. After a turbulent few seasons with Welsh both on and off the pitch, McNally was picked up by London Irish where he eventually became captain. Prior to his breakthrough move to Bath, McNally tells the story of the time he was driving back from a fixture against Saracens and began to feel extremely unwell...
This week it was a pleasure to be joined by the Rugby Swiss - Army Knife himself, Ruaridh McConnochie. Unlike most players, Ruaridh's rise to the top has been somewhat unconventional. Initially starting as a sevens player at University, Ruaridh then quickly became a Team GB Olympian, winning silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016. This was swiftly followed up with the rare offer of transitioning into the Gallagher Premiership in the form of Bath Rugby, to begin a new chapter as a fifteens player. After some impressive performances, Ruaridh was selected as a 'bolter' for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, 2019. The humble winger insists that both of these feats were an enormous surprise to him as he begins to take shape as one of the most lethal finishers in the country...
This week it was a pleasure to be joined by the English Cricketing extraordinaire, Lauren Winfield-Hill. Lauren has represented her country across all formats of the game, including the T20 World Cup in 2017, lifting the trophy on home soil.Captain of the Yorkshire Diamonds, opener for the Brisbane Heat, AND the Northern Superchargers skipper to be?! Need I say more...? During her time in Brisbane, Lauren sparked a relationship with team-mate, Courtney Hill. In time, the pair both decided to return to the UK together and kick on with Cricket, only to discover this wouldn't be an option for Courtney due to Visa issues. Instead of returning to Aus, Courtney simply found a sport that would take her in the form of Rugby League's Leeds Rhinos, where incredibly, the Aussie whizz is now Captain...
This week it was a delight to be joined by Nobey's old school mate and lifelong Evertonian, Danny Owen. Despite living in Sydney, Danny is keeping up with Everton's best start to a Premier League season in some time, and is thoroughly enjoying what he has seen so far since the appointment of one of the best managers in the business - Italian legend, Carlo Ancelotti. As well as Ancelotti, Everton have also recruited shrewdly on the pitch and it is no coincidence that this combination has resulted in Everton sitting in pole position after five games. Is this their year...? (Standby for a heated 'helluva team-sheet' in which we pick a combined Liverpool & Everton XI from the current squads...)
This week, it was my pleasure to be joined by Grayson Hart, the now retired scrum half - who came from humble beginnings to make quite the name for himself, both on and off the field.Once a workman on the Auckland Docks, Grayson had only dreamt of playing for the All Blacks, until one day, he was picked up by Pat Lam - the then coach of the Auckland Blues, and despite being called up to represent the U20 All Blacks after hardly any time at all, something still didn't feel quite right for Grayson. After a quick stint working as Groundsman in Sydney and playing for the NSW Waratahs, Grayson decided to have another crack at international Rugby, this time in the northern hemisphere as Hart was eligible to play for the Scots through his Grandmother.During his time playing for BOTH Edinburgh & Glasgow, Hart and his teammate uncovered a golden opportunity which lead to the launch of 'Pure Sport CBD' - a now booming business that is used by athletes all around the world...
Jack Leach, AKA 'The Nut' - hero of the 2019 Ashes at Headingley, joins me for a spectacular chinwag on this weeks episode. He & Ben Stokes teamed up to pull off what seemed a completely impossible task and possibly the most iconic comeback in Ashes history. As well as Headingley, the Somerset spinner has become well known for his batting after scoring a spectacular 92 against Ireland as Nightwatchman and has rapidly stolen the hearts of many Cricket fans up and down the country. Away from Cricket, Leachy is also a long term sufferer of Crohn's Disease and in more recent times, contracted Sepsis whilst touring New Zealand with England. We discuss the highs and lows of Test Cricket, how you are never far from being down when you are up, and vice versa, and how taxing it can all become...
This week, Ollie & I are joined by lifelong gunner, Conor Giebus, a dear friend from back home in Bristol. We grill 'Geeb' on the new look Arsenal under Arteta and whether or not he is the man for the job. Additionally we discuss the Emirates Vs. Highbury and the recent evolution of Arsenal Fan TV. As well as the consistent 'helluva team-sheet' section, the three of us have a crack at predicting the relegated three and top ten come the end of the season.
Introducing a very special guest this week; Dr Simi Pam, is in the HOUSE. Simi first picked up a Rugby ball at the age of 23 and following an individual demolition job of her opponents in her first ever competitive rugby match at Bristol University, (scoring four 2nd half tries), it wasn't long before coaches were talking. Moreover, Simi qualified as a Doctor in July 2019 and for the most part, has been fighting Covid19 on the frontline ever since. Simi admits it has been a tricky introduction into the medical world and even discusses the effects that the virus has had on one of her close NHS colleagues...
This week I am delighted to be joined by ex England centre half, Russell Osman. As well as his international honours, Russell is most well known for his defensive partnership with Terry Butcher in Ipswich Town's glory days. As well as a stellar playing career, Russell also tried his hand at management (Cardiff City & Bristol City) as well as acting, featuring in the 1981 classic 'Escape to Victory' - the cast also boasting the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine & Pele. In more recent times, Osman, with the help of his son, scouted out the raw but talented centre half, Tyrone Mings who now represents both Aston Villa & England...
Introducing one of the now most prolific forwards in world hockey, Sam Ward, who didn't get his first professional contract until the age of 23, following five years as a car salesman in Loughborough. Sam suffered a freak injury in 2019 after a Team GB teammate smashed an almost point blanc ranged shot directly at Sam's skull. Sam was later informed that he would have impaired vision in his left eye for the rest of his life. Sam takes us through the injury itself and the journey that he & his family have faced since...
This week it's back to a Tiki-Taka Talks episode, this time focusing specifically on North East giant, Newcastle United. It's been a turbulent few years for the Magpies; not helped by notorious owner, and public enemy No.1, Mike Ashley. However with overseas investors beginning to circle above St James' Park, could their fortunes be turning? It gives me great pleasure to announce that joining me this week alongside diehard Newcastle fan and University friend, Remi Stowesand, a new co-host will be joining for all future Tiki-Taka episodes...
This week I am joined for bitesized discussion with current Bristol Bears centre & utility back, Piers O'Conor. Piers had played more minutes than any other premiership player this season prior to lockdown commencing, and thus we discuss the role Piers now plays under Pat Lam, and how recent singings in the shape of Semi Radradra & Siva Ratu Naulago will provide the young centre with some healthy competition. Piers joined from Championship side Ealing as Bristol returned to the Premiership, and whilst others coming from similar situations have all moved on, Piers remains a favourite among the coaching staff and the Bristol Bears faithful...
This week I am joined by the utter gent that is Alex Davis, Alex plays centre for the England Rugby Sevens team and is well known for his electric pace and unrelenting energy levels, whilst also being a formidable defender. Alex unfortunately lost his father prior to the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, where Rugby Sevens was debuting for the first time on the world stage. After months of hardship and intense graft, Alex ruptured the tendons in his ankle following a gym exercise two days before Team GB's first game. Upon returning to the UK, Alex speaks of how he felt the need to bottle everything up - until one day, four years later, everything came pouring out and it was a feeling like no other...
This week I had the pleasure of talking to a man who requires no introduction...At the tender age of 11 years old, Daniel and his single mother found themselves living on the notorious Skid Row in Los Angeles, renowned for drug abuse, poverty and neglect. After a minor disagreement between Daniel and his mother, she chose to abandon Daniel at a bus stop, leaving the then 12 year old boy to fend for himself in one of the country's most dangerous districts. Daniel was rejected from various shelters before finding the Police, who put him into foster care, where Daniel found Basketball - the game came naturally to young Edozie and in time he was offered a scholarship at Iowa State University before eventually getting contracted with the Bristol Flyers, where he is now the captain whilst simultaneously playing for England...
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