Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Podcast

He's back, Phil 'Smudger' Smith joins us to look back over the 1st XVs' final league match of the season and reflect on the league season. Smudger brings us up to date on the goings on of the second and third XVs, and what action we can look forward to as the summer months kick in. There's a special shout out to a new fan, and the chance to stay up to date with the social calendar. Saturday 12 April Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nd XV v Hampstead 2nds (A) 15.00Sunday 13 AprilEaling Trailfinders 1871 Women v Staines (H) 14.00#BleedGreen

Friend of the pod Tim Hitchcock returns by popular demand to look forward to the business end of the season. First comes the final match of the season away to Cheshunt, and then come the summer socials that Tim will take a controlling hand in. We talk play-offs, student union bar prices, friendly cricket matches, and karaoke song choices. Saturday 5 AprilEaling Trailfinders 1871 1st XV v Cheshunt (A) - 15.00Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Women v Ampthill (A) - 13.15Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nd XV v Quintin (A) - 15.00Ealing Trailfinders 1871 3rd XV v Old Actonian (A) - 15.00#BleedGreen

Calum Jones can barely remember life away from Ealing Trailfinders, and while work keeps him away more than he likes, when he's available, he's all in. He's been coming to Vallis Way since he was six, and even while away at university, it was his first port of call when home. We hear what major government project is keeping him away, what the club means to him, and enjoy a brief cameo from coach Phil 'Smudger' Smith. Saturday 29 MarchEaling Trailfinders 1871 2nds v Hackney 2nds (H) 13.00Ealing Trailfinders 1871 3rd v Harrow 2nds 13.00#BleedGreen

Akeem Eubank Anderson, an Ealing lad and a product of the club. He's been and gone to see the rugby world but is now back to share his experiences at Vallis Way. A prop forward who loves his role so much that he wears his scrum cap after training, someone who has trained with a World Cup winner, and someone who starred down Welsh Valley rugby and gave as good as he gets. He tells us about his rugby story (so far), what Ealing Trailfinders means to him, and what the next few months could mean for the club. Saturday 23 MarchEaling 1871 1sts v Old StreetoniansEaling 1871 2nds v QuintinEaling 1871 3rds v IckenhamSunday 24 MarchEaling 1871 Women v Staines (A) 14.00#BleedGreen

It's back! Tinged golden from the sun of south and south-east Asia, and still flowing in the wind as its owner charges around the paddock. The mullet has returned. Harry Reed touched down two weeks ago after five and a half months exploring the world, and within a fortnight he was back in the 1st XV and helping the team to victory over Hitchin. We talk about his return and performance, wandering the highways and byways of Thailand, and most importantly what he has on his pancakes. Saturday 8 MarchEaling Trailfinders 1871 1st XV v Fullerians (H) 15.00Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nd XV v Grasshoppers (H) 15.00Ealing Trailfinders 1871 3rd XV v Thamesians (H) 14.00 Sunday 9 March Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Women v Tabard 15.00 (H)#BleedGreen

Harrison Slater, joined the club as a boy and now he's a 100-cap man, and didn't he do it in style!Having first worn the green and white at five years of age in the rugby rats section, and passed through the minis, youth and academy, he has now racked up 100 appearances for the men's section and has the tie to prove it. Harrison's 100th (officially) match ended perfectly with him kicking the winning penalty four minutes from time to give the second XV another win as they moved up the table. He tells us about the match, what the club means to him, and what we can expect as the season comes to a close.Saturday 1 MarchEaling Trailfinders 1871 1st XV v Hitchin (A) 15.00Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nd XV v Twickenham (A) 15.00Ealing Trailfinders 1871 3rd XV v UCS (A) 15.00#BleedGreen

Danny Ford, third team captain and long-time club servant, joins us to look at how the team has been going this season.We talk results, playing in the mud, the new wave of players, and how this season has become very much a family affair. #BleedgreenSaturday 22 FebruaryEaling Trailfinders 2nd XV v Finchley (H) 14.30 Sunday 23 February Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Women v Barnes (A) 14.00

When skipper Lewis Steadman was injured, Ryan Conyard stepped up and led the team to a 90-point win on a memorable day for the first-time captain. It continued the team's good run in January and ensured that for two straight weeks, the firsts and seconds enjoyed victories. We look back on those wins, talk about captaincy and how much Ryan likes life at inside-centre. #BleedGreenSaturday 8 FebruaryEaling 1871 1sts v Welyn (A) 14.30Ealing 1871 3rds v Finsbury Park (H) 13.00Sunday 9 FebruaryEaling 1871 Women v Aylesbury (H) 14.00

Luke Beasley has one of the most important roles at the club. As second XV captain, he is responsible for ensuring his players keep the first XV on their toes, making sure they are ready to step up, and bringing up players who have impressed for the third XV.It is onerous, but he's loving it, especially as the team are beginning to fulfil their potential after a slow start to the season. More recently they had the only win of the past weekend, and Luke looks back on that win, his anointment as second XV captain, his move to hooker, and forward to a weekend when all three teams head east.#BleedGreenSaturday 25 January1st XV v Old Streetonians (A) - 14.002nd XV v Hackney (A) - 14.003rd XV v Old Streetonians (A) - 14.00