Booked and Abandoned

No Zidane this week… so we’ve gone with real football.Dion Hansen joins us to talk the grind, Manurewa to Ellerslie, earning it the hard way. No shortcuts, just consistency.Part One: the journey, the work, and sticking it out.Brought to you by Elyte Hydration.

This week we’re joined by Katherine Patmore, a women’s football legend who’s come full circle.From school footy to social teams at Oratia & Waitemata, to the competitive grind with West Coast Rangers… and now back where it all began.We get into the real side of the game, the football, the drinks, the hangovers, and the friendships that keep you coming back.And of course… how much does your game actually resemble Sam Kerr after a couple?

Bob Lenarduzzi ghosted us… so we went global anyway.So instead we have Brad Aylwin, from football to ice hockey to pro downhill skiing (yeah, seriously)… and somehow back to football again.A few scars, plenty of stories, and proof the game never really lets you go.

No retired legends this week… and Alisson Becker still hasn’t returned our calls.So we’ve gone young, still gets asked for ID young, this week’s guest is Callum Roberson, just 19 and already playing men’s first team football for Ellerslie AFC, after senior minutes with Franklin United, Mosgiel AFC and Matamata, and as a bonus he is another goal keeper!

This week Marcos Aranda joins the pod, stepping in for the mysteriously unavailable Carles Puyol. From youth football in Scotland with Harmony Row to playing for nearly every senior side at Oratia United, Marcos has done the miles in the game.A two-time Oratia United Coach of the Year, he’s the definition of a proper club man and football lifer. Expect stories of stoaters getting walloped, teams getting gubbed, the odd bit of mince football, and plenty of muddy pitch sclarft along the way, if you did not understand that you might need a Scottish Translator!Big thanks to Elyte Hydration for keeping the pod going.

Part One set the scene. Part Two goes global.We dive deeper into Michael Utting’s journey with the All Whites and his time at clubs like SuperSport and the Football Kingz, the big games, big crowds, and what it truly means to pull on the fern.From local pitches to the world stage, this is the side of the story every aspiring footballer needs to hear.

Gordon Banks was busy. So we went and got ourselves our own international goalkeeper. We sit down with former All White goalkeeper Michael Utting for Part 1 of a two-part special. From lining up against Brazil, facing Thierry Henry, to the pressure, chaos and personal battles behind the gloves, Utting opens up and shares an honest account of his life.It’s raw. It’s honest. It’s properly funny in places. Join us as we talk International football from the inside.

Once again, a world-class footballer couldn’t make it. This week? Jack Grealish. (Scott’s DMs remain unanswered.) So we went properly local.Dan Evanson joins us to talk open men’s graft, Oratia roots, setbacks, health scares, and what it really means to just get back on the pitch.If you’ve played open men’s in Auckland, this one’s for you.

No Bruce Grobbelaar, No Scott either, but we have Eddie Trubshoe the 100+ games legend for both Melville and Te Atatu, talking about football done the hard way!