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The Socially Distant Sports Bar

256: Just Two Spanners & A Hammer Please Mate (Pt 1)

Ep. 514

🎙️ The Socially Distant Sports Bar – Episode 256

Elis James (Elis & John, Oh What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero return for another week of sporting chaos, niche nostalgia, and barely relevant tangents. This episode has everything—Welsh rugby battles, vintage cricket, a dash of karma, and an insight into the mind of James Milner.

"Like a sports podcast, if the sport was optional."

✨ What’s on This Week’s Episode?


🏃‍♂️ Colin Jackson: Resilience – Elis picks a documentary on the hurdles legend, charting his incredible career and missing out on Olympic Gold.

💥 Karma comes for the cocky – Mike presents a glorious example of instant sporting justice.

🏏 Cricket from the 1920s – Elis unearths some grainy footage of the game’s golden age, when men wore blazers, barely ran between the wickets, and no one smiled.


🎧 How to Get Even More of the Pod

💡 Join Patreon for Bonus Content

Want more clips, more chaos, and more laughs? Patreon is the best way to support the pod and get extra content every week:

🎙️ Bonus Episodes – 30 minutes of exclusive nonsense every week.

🎬 Hoffi Pod & Michael Owen’s Movie Club – Two of the best bonus pods around, included in your membership.

🎁 Gift Memberships – Treat a mate to some quality nonsense.

💰 Support the Pod – Every penny helps keep the show running (and funds Mike’s ever-growing collection of ‘70s leisurewear).

👉 Join the £8 or £10 Patreon tiers today and unlock it all.

🎥 Bonus Podcasts for Patreon Members

🍿 Michael Owen’s Movie Club – Reviewing sports films, whether they’re classics or crimes against cinema.

🎙️ Hoffi Pod – Elis and Steff dig into their favourite non-sports clips while Mike provides… enthusiastic commentary.

🚀 Why Wondery+?

Not into Patreon? Wondery+ gives you:

🔹 Early access – Listen every Tuesday before anyone else.

🔹 Ad-free episodes – Just the good stuff, no interruptions.

📌 THIS WEEK’S SHOW – Don’t Miss It!

PART 1 (OUT WEDNESDAY):

📺 Elis: Bridgend v Cardiff 1997 – Watch it here

📺 Steff: Stereotyping in women’s sports – Watch it here

📺 Mike: Karma is a bitch – Watch it here

PART 2 (OUT FRIDAY):

📺 Elis Documentary: Colin Jackson: Resilience Watch it here

📚 Steff Book: Ask A Footballer by James Milner – Get it here

PART 3 (PATREON EXCLUSIVE):

📺 Steff: Lauren Price – Watch here and here

📺 Elis: Cricket from the 1920s – Watch here

📺 Mike: Blair with THAT try – Watch here

📺 TV from Mike and Elis:

📌 Mike’s latest on Scrum V Top 5 – Watch here

📌 Mike’s Throwback Special – Watch on BBC iPlayer

📌 Elis’ Derwydd Special – Watch here

✨ Another week of sporting nostalgia, chaos, and top-tier nonsense – only at The Socially Distant Sports Bar! 🎉




🛍️ NEW MERCH ALERT

We’ve launched a brand new merch store — mugs, hoodies, prints and more!

If you fancy supporting the pod that way, head here 👇

🛒 sdsb2025.myshopify.com







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