Straight From The Off - With Sean Highdale

Straight From The Off welcomes Imad Ali to the podcast. Imad has created a phenomenon within Liverpool with his ‘World In One City’ tournament which showcases the talents of some amazing players and Countries from around the globe that now call Liverpool their home. With the help of his friends and family Imad has captured the spirit of the nations involved and brought a festival of football to those fortunate enough to play or watch. He tells us about his upbringing in Toxteth and his Yemeni roots which he is so proud of. He tells us how he got into management at a young age and the famous suit he used to wear to games. He tells us the idea behind World In One City and now being part of the Pineapple coaching staff. Episode 104 is brought to you by: 14 Bar & Grill which is a rooftop restaurant located in Bootle. Serving all home made delicious food that caters for everyone. You can book via their website www.14barandgrill.co.uk

Straight From The Off welcomes Dean Astbury to the Podcast. Dean was latecomer to organised football and didn’t play for a team until 16yrs of age. After beig asked by two of his mates to start playing he decided to have a go. What most people don’t know about Dean is that he had been his father’s full time carer from 16-17yrs old. Dean’s Dad Freddie was born with Thalidomide in the late 1950’s, so life was not easy groung up. Dean burst on the scene banging goals in for Sunday league title challengers The Western Approaches FC and later signed for their fierce rivals Oyster Martyrs where he won every trophy possible. He also played for Waterloo Dock, Marine and Skelmersdale. He talks about his favourite goals, games and all about the lads he shared a pitch with and played against throughout those times. Episode 103 is brought to you by: Impressions Health & Support rehabilition service based in West Derby, Liverpool.

Straight From The Off welcomes Howard Gayle to the Podcast. Howard goes down in history as Liverpool Football Clubs first black player, but there is much more to his story than that. From St Teresas in Norris Green to lifting the European Cup for his beloved Liverpool FC in Paris. Howie played for West Derby, East Villa and The Belmont playing in the amateur scene before getting a trial at LFC, which he initially turned down! He tells us about that famous night in Munich, also playing for Birmingham, Sunderland and Blackburn and and all about the lads he shared a pitch with and played against throughout those times. Episode 102 is brought to you by: The Mez Foundation Instagram: mez_foundation_16

Straight From The Off welcomes Dylan Williams to the podcast. Dylan has coached some of the finest talent that the City of Liverpool has ever seen whilst coaching and managing the Liverpool School Boys football team for many years. He gives us an insight into the process of selecting the teams and tells us how the landscape seemed to change once the profesional teams brought in the academy system. He tells us of the great success the teams have had over the years with National Cup wins at Highbury and the heartbreak of losing out. Dylan was also a P.E teacher at Archbishop Beck & Alsop High School’s and could play a bit himself. He tells us how he got into coaching and what he thinks makes a good coach. He even picks us a all time schoolboy XI that he coached! Episode 101 is brought to you by: Alex Duffin in memory of the legend that is Dave Wiggins.

Episode 100! Straight From The Off welcomes Francis Jeffers to the podcast. Franny is a Croxteth lad who realised his dream of playing for his beloved Everton FC in the Premier League. He started out playing for local teams in the Scotland road league before signing for local amateur legend Alan Egerton who managed Blessed Sacrement FC in the famous Walton & Kirkdale league. Franny already had a taste of the glory days as a schoolboy playing at Wembley for his primary school team St Swithens. Franny was a goal machine and it wasn’t long before the clubs came calling. He was invited in to Everton where he would remain into his professional career. Fran represented England at every level even scoring on his debut vs Australia. He held a goal scoring record for the under 21s with Alan Shearer that has only recently been broken. When Arsenal came calling looking for that ‘Fox in the box’ He tells us why he felt he had to leave Everton in an 8m pound move. But did he regret it!? He tells us all about the players he played with and against and throughout his career. Episode 100 is brought to you by: 4Corners combat Gym and 4Corners Cafe.

Straight From The Off welcomes Jonjoe Kenny to the podcast. Jonjoe is a Kirkdake lad who realised his dream of playing for his beloved Everton FC in the Prenier League. He started out playing for local team Custy’s in the Scotland Road JFL and he was selected for Liverpool schoolboys alongside his good pal Jordan Rossiter. He was invited in to Everton where he would remain into his professional career. Jonjoe represted England at every level up to U21s, even winning the 2017 Under 20 World Cup. Jonjoe had loan spells at Wigan, Oxford, Shalke04 and Celtic whilst at Everton as he tried to impress each new manager. He tells us why he felt he had to leave Everton to help his career, and why Hertha Berlin where the club for him. He tells us all about the players he played with and against and throughout his career so far. Episode 99 is brought to you by: Alps Scaffolding

Straight From The Off welcomes Stephen Wright to the podcast. Stephen went from supporting Everton to playing for the Liverpool, and taking abuse off his friends and family that were blues! He represented Bootle Schoolboys where he gathered interest from local clubs in Everton and Liverpool. Ste was also capped for England at Under 21 level, playing in the same teams as John Terry etc. He tells is what it was like to be a youngster at Liverpool in the same age group as Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen and what it felt like to play in the champions league with the club. He tells us about the other teams he has played for in his career including Sunderland, Coventry and Brentford amongst others and all about the players he played with and against and throughout his career. Episode 98: is brought to by Fischer Crowne. Located in the heart of Liverpool on Castle Street. They are walking distance to Moorfields and James Street mainline train station. Suite 3, 34 Castle St, Liverpool L2 0NR 0151 363 9448

Straight From The Off welcomes Billy Kenny to the podcast. Billy was hailed as one of the best prospects in English football as a youngster playing for Everton. He was named man of the match in the merseyside derby at just 19 years of age and still on YTS forms. Billy went from supporting Everton to playing for the club, and that’s all he could think of as a kid playing footy on Burlington Street, just off Scotland Road. He played for local club Tichy FC and then the famous Four Swallows FC who conquered all. He represented Liverpool Schoolboys where he gathered interest from Premier League clubs in Everton, Liverpool and Man United. Billy was also capped for England at Under 21 level, playing in the same team as Steve McManaman, Andy Cole and Chris Sutton. Billy has had many struggles with addiction during his life and that plagued his short career in professional football, he tells us how hard it was to be him during those times. He tells us about playing for Oldham and then playing with his mates for the likes of The Sandon, Royal Seaforth and the Britannia Vets and tells us all about the players he played with and against and throughout his career. Episode 97: is brought to you by: Richtime watches and jewellery, based in Hale, Cheshire.

Straight From The Off welcomes Mark Hughes to the Podcast. Mark is the marksman for up and coming club Liverpool East who are current LCFA Junior cup holders. Their aim is gain promotion year on year to the Business Houses Premier League, and eventually feature in the FA Sunday Cup. He was integral in the rise of Lower Breck FC reserves who worked their up the Liverpool County Premier league, Mark was assistant and also manager for a spell before the side unfortunatley folded. He tells us how he was close to being unable to play football again as a teenager after breaking his femur. He tells us his favourite goals, games and all about the lads he shared a pitch with and played against throughout those times. Episode 96 is brought to you by: Montage Memorabilia

Straight From The Off welcomes Don Rimmer to the Podcast. Donnie is the chairman of North West Counties side Litherland REMYCA. Don has played for teams that include REMYCA, Kirkby Town, Olympic Macedonia (in Australia) amongst others. He tells us about being friends with Everton legend Colin Harvey as a child growing up in Fazakerley and even followed Colins brother Brian to Australia on his football journey playing at a good level whilst there. After returning to the UK Don signed for REMYCA and was part of the clubs most succesful spell in the early 90’s winning multiple trophies and since then has covered nearly every role within the club. He tells us his favourite goals, games and all about the lads he shared a pitch with and played against throughout those times. Episode 95 is brought to you by: REMYCA Vets FC