Booked and Abandoned

From Valencia to Papatoetoe – Kim Beale Joins the Pod.Sir Alex might’ve bottled it, but we’ve upgraded the dugout with grassroots coaching royalty: Kim Beale. From leading Papatoetoe United to shaping young talent through Soccer Plus NZ and the Valencia Foundation Academy, Kim’s building more than just game plans, he’s building futures.We chat about taking kids to Spain for the football experience of a lifetime, running teams on heart not money, and why local legends show up when the global ones ghost us.

Neil Warnock ghosted us... so we found the Kiwi version – and he brought a lawnmower. Mark O'Donnell has coached half of NZ, managed everyone else, and tells stories like your uncle at the pub (but better). Expect: Ice baths, wild transfers, and tales that probably need a disclaimer. It’s grassroots gold – boots, beers, and all.

After a couple of weeks off (life, aye?), Booked and Abandoned returns with a cracker of an episode. This week, we’re joined by Stu Roberts - a proper New Zealand football journeyman with over 500 senior games, 100+ goals, and, yes, an appearance at Old Trafford. That Old Trafford. Eat your heart out, Beckham.While David ghosted us again (he’s probably off filming another documentary), Stu showed up and brought three decades’ worth of incredible stories from the heart of grassroots football.A cracking chat about Chatham Cup glories, Lining up against legends like Wynton Rufer and life as a proper club man.

We almost landed Jürgen Klopp this week… but instead got someone with more local flavour and he returned our calls.Daniel Eisenhut — new Oratia United head coach — joins us to chat grassroots footy, coaching chaos, and why Auckland rain builds character. Plus: the wildest pre-game ritual yet, risking death for the Warriors, and what we would've asked Klopp (had he not ghosted us).Tune in — the Spezi’s still cold.

When Paolo Maldini bailed, Stuart Greenaway stepped up – and honestly, we think we got the better deal. A former Northern Ireland U17 international, Stuart brings stories from the pitch, tackles that could split timelines (including one that left his groin with a Harry Potter like scar), and his current work coaching the future stars with Total Football Technique in Auckland.We talk grassroots glory, coaching philosophy, and the fine art of being a rock-solid left back – on and off the field. Maldini might've missed out, but we didn’t.

In a first for Booked and Abandoned, we welcome our youngest (and sassiest) guest yet—11-year-old Tiago! Join Andrew and his football-mad son for a school break special packed with fun footy chat, trophy issues, goalkeeping fun, and a little Portuguese flair. Perfect for car rides, rainy days, and young fans on holiday!

Episode 9 of Booked and Abandoned is here! After a week away we’re back at our home ground of Parrs Park, and our guest is none other than Mark Withers—a goal-scoring menace, a defender’s worst nightmare, and a man with stories to match. From local battles to two seasons at Northampton Town, we cover it all… including Big Dunc mysteriously ducking this one. Coincidence? We think not.

We aimed for a Liverpool legend, but—much like a certain slip—he didn’t show.So, we called in a true West Auckland battler: Robby Robinson! Tackles? Flying. Pitches? Dodgy. Ankles? Somehow still attached (just).No slips, no dives—just a rock-solid episode.

If you missed the first leg, well… good luck. This is part two, and context is everything.Diego Maradona was technically unavailable… mostly because we forgot he was no longer with us. Classic admin fail.But don’t worry—we’ve still got a living legend: Steve Cain! From Coventry City FC to top-level management, he’s done it all. Now, as Director of Football at Oratia United FC, he’s shaping NZ’s football future.In this second leg, we pick up where we left off—covering everything from rocket launchers to literally cutting up pitches with a knife. It’s football chaos at its finest. Buckle up!