MAN Magazine - Summer 2022

FREE SUMMER 2022

PODCASTS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

100

10

BEST

PERFORMANCE CARS EVER

GREATEST FOOTBALL GROUNDS IN BRITAIN

FREE

PLAYSTATION CLASSICS

SALAH

HE’S ALREADY A LIVERPOOL LEGEND – NOW MO THINKS HE’S THE BEST ON EARTH

S P O R T | FA S H I O N | C A R S | C O M E D Y | H E A LT H

HERE’S A STAT I BET YOU DIDN’T KN W… OVER HALF A MILLION SKY BET CUSTOMERS USE DEPOSIT LIMITS TO MANAGE THEIR BETTING BUDGET. THAT’S ENOUGH TO FILL: 6 WEMBLEYS. 201 ALLY PALLYS. OR 8 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DAYS. (THAT’S A LOT OF TWEED)

ALL GOOD BOOKMAKERS HAVE DEPOSIT LIMITS. SO WHOEVER YOU BET WITH, SET AN APPROPRIATE ONE FOR YOU AND THEN ENJOY THE SPORT.

DEPOSIT LIMITS THAT’S BETTING, BETTER.

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HOW

WE MAKE MAN MAGAZINE First, we cherry-pick the world’s best writers in the fields of sport, style, cars, music, comedy, health & fitness, travel, adventure, and more.

Then we let them write the stories they want to tell.

The stories that matter.

And finally, we give it all away for free. Because when it’s this good, every man deserves to read it.

The result is the world’s greatest magazine for men who want the best of everything.

WHY

WE MAKE MAN MAGAZINE This is the important bit. We know that being a man can be tough sometimes. Looking after your mental health, and helping your friends and family do the same, has never been more important.

That’s why we work with Mind and CALM, two of the UK’s leading mental health charities. We want to help end the stigma around mental health and ensure that every man gets the support he needs.

@MAN_magUK

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MAN MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2022

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CONTENTS

82 SPORT

Knockout advice from a heavyweight champ

10

84

27 podcasts that will change your life

10

Mo Salah... the best on Earth?

98

24

42

The man who golfed a country

GEAR

36

Tools to tackle problem gambling

93

The best wireless headphones money can buy

42

Britain’s 100 finest football grounds

How to support a friend in need

72

104

Graphic tees to rule the summer

BE A BETTER YOU

109

The 10 greatest performance cars of all-time

64

98

Uniting against suicide

72

How does John Robins cope?

119

Classic PlayStation games you can play for free

109 06

MAN MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2022

manmagazineuk.co.uk

WELCOME Welcome to the Summer 2022 issue of MAN.

I

’ve always said I’m going to do a marathon one day. It turns out they don’t dish out many medals for saying you’re going to do it, you actually have to go and run the thing. So that’s what I’m doing now. I got a charity place in this year’s London Marathon and have been training four times a week for the last few months.

You have to be 18 to run most marathons. I’m 38 now, which means I’ve been putting off something I knew I wanted to do for two decades.

It’s genuinely scary how quickly that time passes. I know a lot of you reading this will be younger than me. My advice, for whatever it’s worth, is to not put off until tomorrow what you can do today. There’s an old saying that goes: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

Whether it’s planting a tree, running a marathon, following your dreams, or just checking in with a mate, the little actions you take today are what make up the big results over the years, and you never know when tomorrow might be too late.

Enjoy the issue and enjoy your day, Rob P.S. I’m running the marathon to raise money for the Dogs Trust. If you are feeling generous enough to sponsor me, it’s JustGiving.com/DogsTrustRob

COVER CREDITS:

Sales Team:

Cover Photographer:

01959 543 650 sales@sevenstarmedia.co.uk

Nick Eagle Executive Editor:

Published by

Lee Gatland

SEVEN STAR MEDIA LTD 184 Main Road, Biggin Hill, Westerham, Kent Tel: 01959 543659 sevenstarmedia.co.uk

Art Director: Richard Hejsak Managing Editor: Rob McGarr rob@sevenstarmedia.co.uk

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Disclaimer: Man Magazine is published bi-annually (twice per annum) by Seven Star Media Ltd. No part of Man Magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted to any form without permission. Views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of Seven Star Media Ltd, and are included to provide advice only. No content is a substitute for professional medical advice. During printing, images may be subject to a 15% variation. © Copyright of content belongs to individual contributors with the magazine copyright belonging to Seven Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Please either keep this magazine for future reference, pass it on for somebody else to read, or recycle it.

MAN MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2022

07

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SPORT

AM I THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD? IN MY MIND,

YES

Mohamed Salah has become a Liverpool legend in less than five years at Anfield – but he’ll never tell you his appetite is sated. With more trophies to be won and personal accolades to aim for, the Ballon d’Or hopeful told FourFourTwo that he’s not satisfied just yet, and why remaining on Merseyside is in his heart.

WORDS CHRIS FLANAGAN | PORTRAITS NICK EAGLE

10

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SPORT

I

hope he’s got his slippers on...”Maybe greatness always starts with an enquiry about slip-ons – because it’s certainly how it all began for Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian was spending his very first morning at Liverpool in the summer of 2017, and he had to be dressed for the occasion. No slippers, no deal – at least if the waiting nurse had anything to do with it, her assertion couched with an authoritative tone that suggested this may not have been the first footballer’s medical she’d ever overseen. Perhaps all who aim for legendary status at Anfield must first don the comfortable footwear and win her seal of approval.

Thankfully, she was never going to get any trouble from Salah.

Liverpool’s new signing emerged from behind a door giggling like a

12

\\ I EXPECT GREAT THINGS OF MYSELF. I THINK POSITIVELY EVEN IF I DON’T ACHIEVE IT // schoolboy, ready for his MRI scan, wearing a pair of natty white slippers – the sort of freebies you get at a posh hotel spa – and a fetching hospital gown. “Oh, you look nice!” laughed the nurse. “You can’t take them home, though…” Spoilsport.

The video of this exchange still remains on Liverpool’s YouTube channel, charting the No.11’s first day as a Red, and seems ever more surreal in the context of the five years that have followed – five years that have turned Salah into one of the greatest players in the history of an already fabled club.

The nurse probably had no idea quite how significant the chuckling footballer stood in front of her was about to become – and she wouldn’t have been the only one.

MAN MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2022

“I come back to this video every year,” a Liverpool fan wrote online recently. “None of us knew that this was the day we signed the best player in the world.”

That summer, 10 players joined Premier League clubs for a fee of £40 million or more. Salah wasn’t one of them. Manchester United splashed out £75m on Romelu Lukaku and £40m on Nemanja Matic. Manchester City signed Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva. Chelsea recruited Alvaro Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko (plus a £35m Danny Drinkwater). Alexandre Lacazette moved to Arsenal, Davinson Sanchez to Spurs and Gylfi Sigurdsson to Everton. Elsewhere, Neymar switched to Paris Saint-Germain for £198m. Barcelona then shelled out £97m for Ousmane Dembele.

Liverpool paid a rather more reasonable £36.9m to lure Salah from Roma, and it bought them a man who would change the club’s modern history. Now, that man is sat in front of FourFourTwo. He smiles as he thinks back to that day when he walked into the city, patted the ‘This Is Anfield’ sign for good luck and officially became a Liverpool player.

The grin is because he knew exactly what was going to happen next, even if few others did. “I had a conversation with my friends the other day,” Salah tells us now. “I said, ‘Do you remember what I told you when I came – that we’re going to win the league and the Champions League?’

They laughed when I said that, because they’d supported Liverpool for a very long time. They told me, ‘Everybody comes and says the same’.

“But I always expect great things from myself. Even if you don’t achieve it, I always think positively.

When I arrived, I wanted to win the Premier League and I wanted to win the Champions League. I wanted to do something great for this club. In the past few years, I think we did something really good.”

That’s a pretty accurate assessment of his first five campaigns on Merseyside, as the undoubted star of Liverpool’s first side since the 1980s to claim both domestic and European glory. Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, Mo Salah – his name belongs in that sort of company now, and doesn’t end there. Move over, Lionel Messi: the Egyptian in the gown and slippers may well have become the finest footballer on Planet Earth.

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SPORT A DINK OF BEAUTY Ask Salah to choose his favourite Liverpool goals, and he doesn’t pick the ones you might immediately expect.

He’s already bagged 153 of them in just 240 appearances by the time he sits down to chat with FFT at his home, just hours after starting for Jurgen Klopp’s side in a lunchtime fixture against Watford at Anfield. The Reds won 2-0 and he’s arrived back to his family in a decidedly good mood, even though Manchester City return to the table’s summit, thanks to victory at Burnley, shortly before our interview begins. In January, though, Liverpool had been as many as 14 points behind the Sky Blues.

“We’re doing well,” he says. “Hopefully we’re going to finish the season with the title.”

Salah apologises as he briefly breaks off to ask his seven-year-old daughter, the elder of his two children, to be a little quieter in the background, so he can speak to us without distractions.

“Makka, please!” he says. “Sorry, two kids, big problem!” It’s a joke, of course – it’s obvious he adores them both.

He quickly turns back to our question, about the goals that mean most to him in the red of Liverpool. Asked for his three standouts, he doesn’t have an immediate answer. “Three?” he replies, with a tone that suggests he doesn’t even know where to begin, the choice is so vast.

What about one, then: is that easier to pinpoint? “One?! One is tough!” he says, breaking out into laughter. You get a sense that picking one of 153 is like choosing between his two daughters.

He thinks, though, and offers the two that come to mind. Maybe some might have anticipated that he’d immediately choose the goal that won him FIFA’s prestigious Puskas Award in 2018, a twist and a turn on the edge of the box at home to Everton, followed by a majestic curling effort into the far corner.

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SPORT Then there was the long-range thunderbolt he scored against Chelsea, as Liverpool battled Manchester City in the closing stages of the Premier League title race in 2019.

Or his mesmersing solo run against City at Anfield in October, when he befuddled an array of top-quality defenders in a way that only Salah can, earning him his sixth BBC Goal of the Month award – only Wayne Rooney has ever won more.

His answer, though, is none of the above. “Maybe Man City away in the Champions League – the way I scored was really good,” he says. “Then United at home [in January 2020], for sure. I can’t choose one!”

We’ll come back to the United goal a little later, but his first pick is instructive – particularly in choosing it over his 2021 strike against the same opposition, seen by many as far more spectacular. “That one was good, it wasn’t bad…” Salah smiles modestly. “But with the one in the Champions League, it was the way that I shot.”

14

Salah had dribbled the ball past Ederson at the Etihad Stadium in April 2018, but he was moving away from goal and the angle was tight. Nicolas Otamendi was standing in his way, before an exquisitely subtle dink floated the ball over the Argentine and into the net, almost in slow motion.

It was just one kick of the ball, from no more than 10 yards out, but this was a piece of art, usually delivered with a paint brush in-hand rather than a left foot. “No one expected I was going to shoot with someone on the line,” says the footballing Picasso. “In my mind, there was more joy for a goal like that.”

Not least because it was right in front of the Liverpool faithful, and he’d effectively secured a place in their first Champions League semi-final for a decade – it was a crucial away goal which sent them into a 4-1 aggregate lead, against a team that would accrue a record 100 Premier League points that season. If his popularity among Reds fans was already soaring, towards the end of a stellar first season at Anfield, then this

MAN MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2022

was the goal that cemented the bond, began to create a bona fide club legend and proved he was capable of delivering decisive moments in the very biggest of matches.

In Klopp’s first two seasons as Liverpool boss, the Reds had made clear progress, but finished eighth and fourth in the Premier League, also losing in the League Cup and Europa League finals.

With Salah in their team, absolutely anything had become possible – the player himself knew that, too. From the moment he arrived, he always did.

“When I had the conversation with the manager and he showed me the plan for the club, I was so excited by it,” he remembers. “I said, ‘Yeah, I think we have a team to win something.’ From the beginning, I thought we could do something special.”

That they reached the Champions League final in his debut campaign, despite losing Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona in January, said much about Salah’s significant impact. His talent wasn’t exactly a secret when he joined Liverpool – he’d scored 35 Serie A goals in two and a half seasons at Fiorentina and then Roma, not an inconsiderable sum against Italian defences – and the £36.9m price tag was actually a club record, despite being lower than many fees paid by other teams that summer.

But so much of the media focus initially remained on Coutinho, and whether the Reds could hang on to the player many regarded as their biggest asset.

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SPORT

\\ YOU’RE OUT OF THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE AND THE WORLD CUP. IT WAS THE WORST FEELING EVER //

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As it turned out, Liverpool didn’t miss the Brazilian at all. Salah was named PFA Player of the Year, scoring an extraordinary 44 goals in all competitions for the Reds that season – a tally surpassed just once in the club’s history,

by Ian Rush in 1983-84.

Salah’s 32 league goals were also a record for a 38-game Premier League campaign – individually, the Egyptian scored more goals than West Brom, Swansea and Huddersfield managed from their entire squads.

“OH, S**T… IT’S TOO EARLY!” After helping Liverpool past Manchester City into the Champions League semi-finals, Salah struck twice more against his old club Roma in the last four, then travelled to Kyiv to face-off against Real Madrid in the final, hopeful it could be the happiest day of his career.

“It was my dream to win the Champions League when I was young – more than the Premier League,” he admits. “The Premier League was always the Liverpool dream, the dream of the city. But when I was young, I always watched the Champions League.”

Just when everything was going so well, it all came crashing down when he was forced off the field with a shoulder injury just 31 minutes into the showpiece, after tangling with Madrid captain Sergio Ramos. Salah couldn’t hold back the tears.

“That was the worst feeling of my life in football,” he explains now. “You’d had an unbelievable season, I scored more than 40 goals, you’re in the final of the Champions League and you feel like you’re very, very close.

The World Cup is also after that, in one month.

In that moment, everything comes to your head – you’re out of the Champions League, you’re injured; for the World Cup you’re injured too. It was not the best feeling. But with time, I managed to handle it.”

Salah made it to the World Cup but wasn’t at peak fitness, and missed Egypt’s opening defeat to Uruguay. He scored against both Russia and Saudi Arabia, but the Pharaohs lost all three games on their first appearance at the tournament finals since 1990.

He carried the disappointment of Kyiv with him, using that pain as a driving force for the following campaign. “Yes, it was in my mind,” he says. “It was like, ‘OK, I lost this year, but I’m going to go next year and do my best to help the team win it’.”

After signing a new long-term deal with the club, Salah brilliantly scored the goal that gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Napoli in their final Champions League group game of 2018-19, narrowly squeezing them through to the knockout stages.

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SPORT Concussion sustained in a league match at Newcastle meant he had to watch their famous semi-final second leg comeback against Barcelona from the sidelines. With Klopp’s side 3-0 down from the first leg at the Camp Nou, the Egyptian wore a T-shirt bearing the phrase ‘never give up’, hoping to impact his team-mates in another way that night instead. Back for the final against Spurs in Madrid, he was offered the chance to make a rather more direct impact within two minutes of kick-off – stepping up to face Hugo Lloris from the penalty spot, after Moussa Sissoko’s handball.

“I always prepare myself before the game, but in that moment we got a penalty and I thought, ‘Oh, s**t… it’s too early, it’s too early to have a penalty!’” he laughs now. “But I didn’t want to think negatively. I was just thinking, ‘You’re going to score, it’s going to be fine’, so I just scored and the match became easier after that. They were a tough team to play against, but we won.”

Salah will never forget that moment of victory, raising both arms aloft in sheer joy as the final whistle blew. “Finally, we won the Champions League – I think it was the first time for each one of us in the team,” he says. “It was an unbelievable moment. I’d always wanted to win it one day, so it was something special, especially because the year before you lost it.

“My career has always been like that.

I don’t want to say up and down, but there’s always something to challenge me – to lose the final, and I also came to the Premier League [with Chelsea] and didn’t play that much. I left, then came back to play here again. My life in football has always been like that.”

HALF AN INCH FROM HISTORY Even that season, the one in which he’d achieved his boyhood dream, there was an agonising moment that fuelled Salah for another year to come.

It came on his return to the Etihad and the setting for one of his favourite Liverpool goals, this time at the opposite end of the field. Liverpool topped the Premier League in early January 2019, seven points clear of City, when they travelled to face the reigning champions.

Eighteen minutes into the game, with the score 0-0, Salah neatly exchanged passes with Roberto Firmino, before playing Sadio

16

THE TOP 10 Salah has already joined Liverpool’s all-time leading scorers – with an even betterstrike rate than Merseyside deity Ian Rush

Goals

Games

Goals per game

Ian Rush

346

660

0.52

Roger Hunt

285

492

0.58

Gordon Hodgson

241

377

0.64

Billy Liddell

228

534

0.43

Steven Gerrard

186

710

0.26

Robbie Fowler

183

369

0.50

Kenny Dalglish

172

515

0.33

Michael Owen

158

297

0.53

Mo Salah

153

240

0.64

Harry Chambers

151

339

0.45

Mané in on goal. After the Senegalese forward’s shot struck the base of an upright, some slapstick defending led to John Stones booting his clearance straight into Ederson, sending the ball spinning towards goal. Just as Salah raced towards it to tap in if required, Stones hooked the ball off the line, somehow directing it through the Egyptian’s legs to safety. It looked to everyone like the ball had already crossed the line when Stones made his clearance, but the goal decision system showed it hadn’t – by 1.12 centimetres.

MAN MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2022

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“It was so close,” says Salah, still rewinding that moment in his mind for probably the millionth time. “I remember it well.

I passed to Sadio, he shot, then Stones cleared the ball – but I was sure it was in, because I was running, I was really close and didn’t put my foot in 100 per cent. I still put it in, but in my mind it was a goal.

“Then afterwards, I saw it was really, really tight,” he says, holding his thumb and index finger close together to illustrate the agony. “But it was what it was. We had to take it.”

Liverpool lost that game 2-1 – their only league defeat of the season – and missed out on the title to City by a point. Had Salah beaten Stones to that ball, or had Stones’ clearance ricocheted off him into the net, they’d have surely got the draw that secured them the club’s first league championship since 1990, as the new Invincibles. Instead, they’d lost out on their dream by the barest of margins, despite winning their last nine matches of the season and amassing 97 points – then the third-highest points total in Premier League history. How’s your luck?

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Salah responded in the way he always has – the next season, he went again, and didn’t stop until he’d extinguished any memory of that close call by helping Liverpool dominate the title race from the start.

This time when they faced a Manchester giant in January, they were 13 points clear, having won 20 and lost none of their opening 21 league matches – their only draw coming in a game Salah missed through injury. When Manchester United visited Anfield, Liverpool led 1-0 in front of a raucous crowd, before Salah raced clear in the final minute to seal victory, celebrating by ripping his shirt off to display his bare chest in front of the Kop (below). It was his first goal against United.

“That United game when I scored the second goal, that was my favourite moment that season,” he says. “That

\\ IN MY MIND, I ALWAYS PICK MYSELF AS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD NO ONE ELSE // year we had the confidence that, OK, the year before we’d done everything that was possible to win it.

We lost only one game, so everybody was confident that we could go again and we could do it, because we’d got 97 points. We’d done a really good job to finish that season and try to win it, but we couldn’t, so the year after we were more confident we could do it. And we did.”

This time, Liverpool got 99 points.

Having also lifted the Super Cup and their first ever Club World Cup, longawaited Premier League glory was confirmed when Manchester City lost at Chelsea, with a month of the season still remaining. The squad famously gathered in front of a giant screen at Formby Hall to watch the historic moment together.

“I think I was the only one who didn’t want City to lose!” Salah laughs now. “I wanted us to win it in a game ourselves, because there were still a few left. I wanted us to win the game and then celebrate. But it was a great moment anyway – everybody was so happy.”

“I WAS NEVER LAZY AT CHELSEA” If 2020-21 went far from ideally for Liverpool – a major injury crisis ended their hopes of retaining the title early on – Salah himself scored 31 times in all competitions, his best tally since that stellar 44-goal debut season.

This season he stepped it up again, netting 15 goals in his first 12 appearances, including that stunning solo effort against Manchester City, plus a hat-trick in Liverpool’s 5-0 triumph at Manchester United.

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SPORT

\\ THE FANS KNOW WHAT I WANT - THE CONTRACT ISN’T ALL ABOUT MONEY // 18

MAN MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2022

That afternoon, Salah became the first Reds player ever to score in 10 successive games, and the first opposition player to bag a Premier League treble at Old Trafford. The last person to achieve that feat in any competition was his boyhood idol Ronaldo, for Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2003. The Brazilian himself has joined the long list of Salah admirers in recent times, declaring: “I love him, he’s an incredible player.” Those words meant something to Salah.

“Of course… I’m a big fan of his!” he beams, emphasising that last word, and still wide-eyed that the 2002 World Cup winner enjoys his own brand of stardust.

“He was one of the players who really made me love football – he was magic, one of the best ever. I met him once, we didn’t talk much, but he’s unbelievable.

“For me to score a hat-trick at Old Trafford was unbelievable, too.

To be the first player in the Premier League to score a hat-trick there was something special because Liverpool and Manchester United are always like this…” he adds, banging his fists together to indicate fierce rivalry.

Salah’s use of that word ‘unbelievable’ says much about the dream he’s been living for five years now – a dream so good that it’s been hard to take it all in sometimes, even if he insisted at the start of this interview that he foresaw many of the great things that have happened since he joined the club.

His time as a Liverpool player couldn’t have been more of a contrast with that unhappy spell at Chelsea earlier in his career, when a move to the Premier League from Swiss side Basel didn’t work out. Salah was signed during Jose Mourinho’s time in charge, but barely used by the Portuguese boss – he started just six league games for the Blues, one of them ironically being the 2-0 victory at Anfield when Steven Gerrard’s slip went a long way to denying Liverpool the title under Brendan Rodgers in 2014.

Did Salah almost need the setback of his time at Chelsea to make him the player he is today? “I think so,” he says, after briefly pondering the question. “I mean, when I look back, I was young and I learned a lot.

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SPORT That was one of the most important periods of my life – I saw what I needed to do to improve myself, what I needed to do to compete with everyone at that level. I didn’t play that much and I was disappointed, very disappointed – I’m a player who wants to play and be on the pitch all the time.

“I didn’t regret anything, any decision, and you can ask anyone there – I was always there before training in the gym, after training doing shooting and stuff like that. I was never being lazy or something, but it took a lot of thinking at that time, about what I could do to improve, what I could do to be at that level. That’s why I decided I needed to leave England at that moment, so I left for two and a half years.

Then I came back...”

Salah returned to the Premier League a different player, and a different man.

Every time he takes to the field, he has no doubts about his talent. “I’m confident,” he insists.

“I love playing football – this is the thing I do and I enjoy it. There’s always pressure, but that’s normal because you play at the top level and you want to win things, both for the team and individually.

There is pressure, but with time you can handle that more.”

Salah is relentless in his expectations of himself. You don’t deliver as consistently as he has over the last five years without having that kind of mentality.

“During my career, I’ve learned a lot of things – about how to be more in the game, mentally and physically,” he says. “For me, every single game is very important – nothing changes from big game to small game. All of them are big for me, because in all of them you have to win the three points, or if you’re playing in the Champions League, you have to qualify. I prepare myself very well for every game. That helps me a lot.”

THE QUEST FOR THE BALLON D’OR By early April this season, that mentality had brought him 28 goals, already topping his tally from the campaigns that delivered Champions League and Premier League glory. His 20 league goals had put him head and shoulders above everyone else in the division’s scoring charts, making him the hottest of hot favourites to win the PFA Player of the Year prize for a second time. This season more than ever, many have started to view him as the best player in the world.

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“WATCHING SALAH EVERY WEEK IS A PRIVILEGE” Matt Ladson from This Is Anfield explains what the Egyptian King means to Liverpool lovers who watch him every week…

“Liverpool fans have been privileged to watch some of the finest footballers in the world grace the Anfield turf but, arguably for the first time in history, the best player on the planet now plays for the Reds.

For exactly that reason, watching Mo Salah has been an honour for Kopites – we know that this player and these times are a luxury to be enjoyed. Just like we appreciated some of the greats of the game playing for the opposition, now we know how much it means to have this opportunity in front of our eyes each week.

When Salah is truly on his game, twisting and turning the opposition left-back, you can feel the appreciation and anticipation from the Anfield stands. When he collects the ball in that pocket just on the edge of the box and starts another jinking dribble in the area, the mind instantly gives flashbacks to similar

goals, of which there are now plenty, most notably against Manchester City, Spurs, Everton and Arsenal.

When he collects the ball a bit deeper and starts running at backtracking defenders, darting into space down the wing, you recall such Champions League nights as Roma and City away – and his celebration, both arms outstretched, after his dinked goal at the Etihad in 2018, now immortalised as part of a mural of Salah on Anfield Road.

Salah might not be remembered as the Reds’ greatest ever player – that debate will probably always be between King Kenny and Steven Gerrard – but in terms of consistency and contribution to the club, he should be at the very top of the conversation.

Perhaps only once he leaves can his legacy be truly evaluated and put into perspective. We’re witness a true football great here.”

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SPORT Asked what the secret has been to his goalscoring form this term, though, and he’s adamant it’s nothing specific.

“There’s no secret!” he chuckles. “I think I’ve been the team’s top scorer for the last five years, and I’m always trying to help us win – not only with my goals, but also my number of assists are really high, compared with anyone else in my position in the Premier League,” he makes a point of adding. On the day we talk, only Trent Alexander-Arnold can boast more than the Egyptian’s 10 Premier League assists this season.

But Salah doesn’t shy away from his ambition to do something no player from an Arab country has ever done: win the Ballon d’Or. “Yeah,” he says. “Of course it means a lot to win it. One of my purposes in life is to change the people, especially in my country, an Arab country – so that they can achieve what they want to achieve. Those things give them more belief in themselves, that they can do whatever they want.”

So far, Salah is yet to top his fifth-placed finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings following Champions League glory in 2019 – many were surprised that he finished just seventh in the voting in 2021. This year, he’s been vying with Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski for top spot – Lionel Messi’s underwhelming goals tally for Paris Saint-Germain makes him unlikely to retain the award, and France Football’s decision to hold this year’s gala before the World Cup, only including events up to and including July, means there’s likely to be a greater emphasis on club football.

Asked whether he currently views himself as the best player in the world, Salah doesn’t need long to think.

“In my mind, yes, I’m always saying that,” he admits. “I will never say, ‘Yeah, I’m better than this person or I’m better than that guy,’ no, but in my own mind I’m always choosing myself as the best – I don’t choose anybody other than me. It’s always opinion, though.

I respect all other players.” He’s full of respect, too, for the legends who have gone before him at Liverpool, even if he’s been putting their records under threat.

In September, Salah became the fastest ever to reach 100 top-flight goals for the club, achieving the feat in only 151 appearances, beating a mark previously set by the late Roger Hunt. “The records mean something special to me,” admits

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Salah. “Since I came here, I’ve always been trying to win games for the team, win trophies, and of course, score goals.

Every record you break, I feel good. I put a lot of work into it for that. It’s something I’m proud of.”

This season the Egyptian has also moved into Liverpool’s top 10 scorers of all time. “That feels great, and hopefully before I go, I will be the first one,” he says with a smile. It’s quite a target, given he’s on 153 as we talk today, and Ian Rush’s record stands at an incredible 346. That’s a lot of goals...

“Yeah, it is!” he laughs. “I don’t know how many games they used to play at that time, but how many goals he used to score… more than 300, it’s quite tough to get. But let’s see.”

Salah turns 30 in June, but the days of that milestone being the start of a footballer’s decline are long gone. The previous four Ballon d’Or winners have been Cristiano Ronaldo at 32, Luka Modric at 33, then Messi at 32 and 34.

\\ YOU’VE GOT TO BE GREEDY, IN A GOOD WAY. YOU WANT TO WIN A TROPHY, LIKE THIS IS YOUR RIGHT //

MAN MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2022

Lewandowski is still going as strong as ever at 33; a 40-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic has still been netting in Serie A. “I didn’t think about the fact I’m going to turn 30,” smiles Salah. “I ask some players and they say it’s a different feeling when you turn 30, but I don’t know, I’m feeling fine. I’m enjoying life, I’m enjoying football – it doesn’t matter how old you are now.

“Now you can see that with players – all of them extend their careers. You can see the top, top players always after 32, 33, you can see a lot of them – Lewandowski, Benzema, Messi, Ronaldo, Zlatan, a lot of players; also [Edin] Dzeko in Italy, [Olivier] Giroud.

“All of them perform really well after 30, so I’m not concerned about that.”

PARROT FAN CLUB Salah has been in negotiations with Liverpool for some time now over an extension to his existing contract, scheduled to expire at the end of next season. PSG, Real Madrid and Barcelona have all been linked, in case an agreement to stay at Anfield isn’t reached. As we talk in early April, there’s still no news on a resolution.

His ambition to chase down Ian Rush’s Liverpool goalscoring record makes it clear to everyone where his heart lies – that he wants to stay at the club for as long as possible. As good as he is, even

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SPORT Salah is unlikely to score nearly 200 goals in the next 13 months.

But asked whether he’s confident he will indeed stay at Liverpool for a few years yet, he’s unable to give us a definitive answer.

“I don’t know, I have one year left,” he says. “I think the fans know what I want, but in the contract it’s not everything about the money at all. So I don’t know, I can’t tell you exactly. I have one year left and the fans know what I want.”

As he’s said publicly before, he reiterates that, in an ideal world, his ambition has always been to stay. “Yeah,” he says. “This club means a lot to me – I’ve enjoyed my football here more than anywhere, I gave the club everything and everybody saw that. I’m always trying to help the team, I’ve had a lot of unbelievable moments here winning trophies, individual goals, individual trophies. I feel it’s like a family here.”

He insists he’s never been worried either, about the possibility of going into the last year of his deal with his future unresolved. “I’m not worried, I don’t let myself worry about something,” he says.

“The season hasn’t finished yet, so let’s finish the season in the best possible way – that’s the most important thing.

Then in the final year we’re going to see what’s going to happen. But I don’t know, I don’t think about that a lot. I’m just trying to enjoy the football, trying to enjoy the season and that’s it.”

During the myriad newspaper articles that have been written during these contract negotiations, speculation even circulated that other clubs might try to make a move for him this summer. Given that he’s always had a contract for the 2022-23 campaign, new deal or not, he’s always been fully expecting to be with Liverpool next term.

“Yeah. Er, I think so?” he says, sounding surprised that it had even been speculated about. “But if they want me to go, that’s something different!” he says, with a laugh that suggests he’s not entirely serious. Just like Salah has always wanted to remain at Liverpool, the club have long since made it clear they want to keep him – after everything he’s achieved, that’s no surprise to anyone.

The bond between Salah and Liverpool has become so strong that whenever the Egyptian does depart Anfield – potentially a moment that’s still many years away – he already knows

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he’ll feel deeply sad to leave.

“Yeah, of course,” he says. “To play in that atmosphere and see the fans always behind me – I have banners in the stadium, two or three, and they’re always singing my song, so it’s going to be a really sad moment.”

It’s not only Reds fans who sing Salah’s song – head over to YouTube and you’ll find Liverpool-supporting parrots singing it, too. “Mo Salah, Mo Salah, Mo Salah, running down the wing, Salaaaaaaaaaaaaah, the Egyptian king,” the exotic bird chirps, to the tune of Sit Down by indie band James, who clearly have quite the psittacine following.

Salah has already delivered five trophies to the parrots and the people of Liverpool – after the Premier League, Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup, he tasted victory in his first Wembley final in February when helping Klopp’s side defeat Chelsea to lift the League Cup. At least? “At least!” he laughs, jokingly doubling down on his assessment that winning only the League Cup, league title and a second European crown wouldn’t be his idea of the perfect season, but it would probably have to do. It gives you an insight into the mentality of the man, and the reason he’s progressed to become arguably the best player on the planet. Winning the Premier League and Champions League once was already pretty impressive. Winning them again, whenever that might be, would cement his greatness. Salah is determined to make it happen, this year if possible.

“Yeah, winning them both again would make me win the Ballon d’Or, so…” he says, before that beaming smile breaks out, and he interrupts himself mid-sentence with a laugh.

No matter how much success Salah has already had, it will never be enough. “It’s a hunger,” he explains. “I want to win them two, three, four times. Why not? It’s a dream for everybody, you can dream whatever you want to, and you can achieve whatever you want to achieve.

It’s my dream to win the Premier League three or four times because a football player’s career is short, between 15 and 20 years maybe, some players less.

“You just need to achieve everything, you have to be greedy – I mean greedy in a good way, like you want to win that trophy, like this is your right. It depends what you want to achieve, what you decide. I always decide in my mind that I want to win the Premier League and the Champions League again and again, as it’s an unbelievable feeling. Winning both is unbelievable.”

There’s that word again. Yet Salah believed from day one at Liverpool that he could win those trophies – he promised his friends as much, then made it a reality. Since he walked back into English football five years ago with a point to prove and a pair of slippers on his feet, Salah has had no shortage of Cinderella moments. If he gets his wish, this fairytale has plenty more chapters ahead.

\\ I’M ALWAYS TRYING TO HELP THE TEAM, I’VE HAD A LOT OF UNBELIEVABLE MOMENTS HERE // MAN MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2022

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250,000 GOLF SHOTS 1,100 MILES 74 DAYS

1 G AL The incredible story of one golfer who hit a ball from John O’Groats to Land’s End… and trained 30,000 people in lifesaving CPR on the way WORDS MICHAEL CATLING | IMAGES FRED SULLIVAN

D

avid Sullivan is remarkably upbeat for a man who has lost 942 golf balls and accidentally left his 7-iron at Canary Wharf.

He has just spent the last 10 weeks walking from John O’Groats to Land’s End and reckons he has hit an estimated 250,000 putts and 7-irons in that time. He half-jokingly refers to it as the world’s longest golf hole, but is deadly serious when he says he made history by becoming the first man to hit a

golf shot over Stonehenge, and through York Minster and Lincoln Cathedral.

How he managed to make it there on foot is perhaps even more impressive. He had to hit balls on beaches, over rivers and cattle, and even down the side of a motorway. It sounds utterly absurd, but walking the length of Great Britain while hitting golf shots was only one half of the challenge. The other part was raising money for charity while using dummies and defibrillators to give lessons in lifesaving to thousands of people he met along the way.

SPORT It’s a cause which has been particularly close to David’s heart ever since he lost four close friends to a cardiac arrest because there were no defibrillators nearby to save their lives. All of them left behind wives and young families.

“It affected me immensely because I’m older than all of them,” says David, who has a wife and four children. “They were all under the age of 46 when they had a cardiac arrest. That’s what really worried me because it can happen to anyone.

\\ TO LEARN HOW TO DO CPR ISN’T THE MOST IMPORTANT 15 MINUTES OF YOUR LIFE, BUT IT COULD BE FOR SOMEONE ELSE //

Luckily, David knew what to do and gave CPR for 17 minutes until the man was treated with a defibrillator.

“It was thanks to my training, and a defibrillator being nearby, that I was able to help save the man, who luckily made a full recovery. When something like that happens right in front of you, it makes you realise how precious life is and how important it is to know what to do in that kind of emergency. Now it’s my mission to create an army of life savers all over the country.”

Following the life-changing incident, David founded Creating Lifesavers – a non-profit organisation – its aim being to provide CPR and defibrillator training courses across the UK. “What we do is give people the training and confidence to give CPR and to use a defibrillator,” explains David, who works as a roofer. “We went to When someone has Wildernesse Golf Club after a cardiac arrest, a man’s life was saved by every minute a defibrillator. We trained without CPR and 200 members across two defibrillation evenings, but we’ve got to reduces their chances of survival do that before an incident by at least 7-10%. occurs.”

Although unbeknown to him at the time, David began his challenge on the same day Danish footballer Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 in June.

After driving 14 hours from his home in Surrey to the start line, David spent the next three weeks walking up to 30 miles each day, before stopping off at a golf club or city centre to teach CPR to as many people as possible.

“We lose hundreds of people to cardiac arrests on golf courses every year. How would you feel if one of your loved ones fell down around people and no one had the ability to help? To learn how to do CPR isn’t the most important 15 minutes of your life, but it could be for someone else.”

David, a former armed forces trainer, speaks from experience, and while he wasn’t present when his golfing partner died at Prince’s Golf Club in 2014, he was when another young man collapsed two years later at Hever Castle Golf Club.

“Initially, I thought he had been hit by a golf ball because he was bleeding profusely,” he recalls, “but then I realised he had actually gone into cardiac arrest and fell down and smacked his face...”

7-10%

RIGHT: Making a quick pit stop at London’s Royal Air Force Museum.

ABOVE: David became the first person to play golf inside HMS Ocelot at the Historic Dockyard Chatham, Kent.

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SPORT

THE ROUTE 250,000+ GOLF SHOTS HIT ONE 7-IRON LOST (IN CANARY WHARF) 30,000 PEOPLE TRAINED IN CPR £60,000 FUNDRAISING TARGET 74 DAYS SPENT WALKING FROM JOHN O’GROATS TO LAND’S END 942 GOLF BALLS LOST

John O’Groats

7%

Every year there are around 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK. Only 7% survive, compared to 25% in Norway.

Brora

Inverness Aviemore

As well as being given a horseback tour of Roman ruins in Yorkshire, he visited several historical sites on foot, including Corfe Castle in Dorset.

Perth

Edinburgh

1,100 MILES WALKED

50%

Sullivan sold his Rolex watch for £12,000 to help fund the trip, and drove 14 hours from his home in Surrey to get to the start-line. Soon after he lost a golf ball in an oyster bed...

CPR alone increases the chance of survival by around 9%, whereas CPR combined with early defibrillation increases the chance of survival by over 50%.

Newcastle Durham

York Doncaster Lincoln

David achieved a number of firsts along the way, including becoming the first man in history to hit a golf ball over Stonehenge.

Apart from one round at East Sussex National, this was as close as David got to playing on an actual golf course during his challenge.

Peterborough

Cambridge

Hertfordshire G&CC Canary Wharf

Dover

Dorchester Bournemouth

Penzance Plymouth Land’s End

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Falmouth

Sandwich

Brighton He even attempted to play a few shots left-handed on the cliffs at Beachy Head. No wonder he lost 942 balls!

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8%

“There was so much interest in what we were doing for the first couple of weeks especially,” he says. “It was hard work, but I was with my son, Fred, who was basically my caddie and would ride ahead on his bike to map out my route every day.

That was the best three weeks of my life, even if I did have to sleep in a pop-up tent.

“The funniest moment was when we tried to catch a ferry across to another island. All I had to do was putt the ball onto the ferry. It was only five metres away and I missed. But I was losing balls on beaches, in Roman ruins, down the drain – you name it, I did it. At one point I was hitting balls down the A9 at 2.30am.

“To save me walking an extra 14 miles, I had to carry one shot 260 yards over a river and onto another island. I can’t remember how many shots I took before I eventually managed to pitch it on the sand. But soon after that we had to fly back to England to attend my father’s funeral. Then Fred ended up catching Covid, which meant I had to take a plane back to Edinburgh on my own two days later to complete the challenge.”

With the help of volunteers, including the Scots Guards, David still managed to reach all 68 stops on his route despite nursing a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

“You wouldn’t believe some of the places I visited,” says David, who plays off two.

If oxygen does not reach the brain within six minutes, brain cells begin to die and the rate of damage is 8% per minute thereafter.

It is possible to play golf through York Minster, Lincoln Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral (pictured) – but only with a tennis ball.

HOW A DEFIBRILLATOR SAVED MY LIFE

BY BERNARD GALLACHER Three-time Ryder Cup captain and Golf Care ambassador I was making a speech at the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen (in 2013) when I just collapsed on stage. I was lucky because there was a nurse in the audience, and she started performing CPR on me. The hotel had a defibrillator, and the funny thing is, one of the guys attending the event had actually installed it. He ran off to get it and it took three shocks for me to come round. I was then taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where they put me in an induced coma. I woke up a week later. My wife was told that I wasn’t going to survive so it was a scary time for my family.

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What happened is almost unexplainable because there are never any symptoms related to a sudden cardiac arrest. It transcends all ages as well. I’m only here because of the defibrillator. That’s the only thing that can save you. When I came out of hospital, my wife said we need to get more defibrillators out there and into golf clubs. We launched a campaign with the PGA and wrote to every golf club in the UK and Ireland to see if they could install a defibrillator. It was only supposed to be a

MAN MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2022

one-year campaign but it lasted two, and it was very successful. We’ve helped to save a number of lives. But what happened to Christian Eriksen should remind people that we do need more defibrillators, not just in golf clubs but on the high street.

The good news is that a lot of golf clubs do have defibrillators now, but there can always be more.

What David has done countrywide is a big help because we need to keep raising awareness and keep getting that message out there.

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HOW TO SAVE A LIFE...

IN FIVE STEPS

David was helped along the way by many volunteers, including The Royal Engineers at Dover Castle.

DR ABC is the acronym for the steps in the primary survey procedure that every first aider must complete to establish what level of first aid you need to administer and if you need to call the emergency services...

\\ WE’VE DEFINITELY SAVED LIVES BY DOING THIS. MY AMBITION IS TO MAKE EVERY GOLF CLUB ‘HEART SAFE’ //

DANGER On the first step of DR ABC, it’s vital that a first aider assesses the overall danger of the situation, and whether it is safe for them or any other person to take action.

For example, this could be stopping any oncoming traffic, looking out for live electricity, looking out for any places you could fall or trip over. Once you can confirm there is no potential danger, you can begin to assess the casualty.

more than 1,110 miles after numerous detours and equipped an estimated 30,000 people with life-saving CPR skills.

“I’ve destroyed my legs, lost a golf ball in a seal sanctuary and got tricked into sleeping on a dogging site. But you know what, it was so worth it because I know we’ve definitely saved lives by doing this.

“But I don’t want it to stop there.

My ambition is to make every golf club ‘heart safe’. Just imagine how “I hit one ball over Stonehenge and many lives could be saved if we had actually played through a submarine an army of four million golfers with and a pub called The Plough. I did the ability and courage to step in and have some rotten lies along the way, give CPR wherever they are...” though. One time I had to move David, 58, had hoped to raise a ball off a jelly fish in £60,000 for the British Scotland.

Heart Foundation and “Another time I Creating Lifesavers, had to play over which could pay a herd of sheep. for life-saving According to the I was on this defibrillators to Resuscitation stretch of land Council (UK), only 3% be installed at 60 of cardiac arrests which was only locations across happen within the about 10 yards the UK. But at just recommended wide. There was under £10,000, he retrieval distance of a river on one still has a long way a defibrillator. side and a canal to go. on the other so you “I’m imploring can imagine how many individuals and businesses attempts that took me! all over the country to support “Through towns, I was having to this endeavour. Being treated with use a lot of tennis balls for health and a defibrillator can literally mean the safety reasons. Luckily there were difference between life and death. no dangerous incidents, other than We’re now asking as many golf clubs the time I let one young lad hit a ball as possible to donate a tee time, so which flew into a shop! we can auction them off and get By the time he arrived at Land’s more defibrillators out to places End on August 22, David had walked which need them.”

3%

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RESPONSE Next, you need to get some response from the casualty so they can provide information about their condition. To do this, use the AVPU scale, which will help you scale the level of response...

Alert – Check to see if the casualty is alert and conscious. If they are not talking or moving, proceed to V. Voice – Speak to the casualty loudly and clearly to see if they respond to speech. If you get no response, proceed to P. Place – Place your hand on the collarbone of the casualty and carefully but firmly shake them. Continue to speak to the casualty, making them aware of who you are.

Unresponsive – If none of the above yields a positive result, you can assume the casualty is unresponsive. Proceed to the ABC steps as outlined below...

AIRWAY Now you need to investigate why the casualty is unresponsive by checking their airway. Place the casualty on their back and tilt their head back gently. With your fingertips on their chin, lift their mouth open to access the airway.

BREATHING When the airway is open, spend 10 seconds checking for signs of normal breathing. If the casualty looks to be breathing abnormally, infrequently or not at all, proceed to the final step. If the casualty is unconscious, but breathing normally, put them in the recovery position (when it is safe to do so).

CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION If the casualty is not breathing, it’s time to call 999. Never start CPR until someone has called the emergency services. Use your speakerphone to make the call if you are on your own. Also, instruct those around you to fetch a defibrillator while you speak to the emergency services and administer CPR.

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SPORT

WHAT THE STATS SAY WHAT THE STATS SAY Every 60 SECONDS without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to 10%

TT

here are more than 30,000 outof-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK every year. Even more here are more 30,000 out-ofworryingly, the golfthan course is one cardiac arrests the UK of the hospital most common placesinfor every year. Even more worryingly, them to happen, and yet only a the golf course is one of the most third of golf clubscommon in the UK currently have a places for them to happen, registered defibrillator a crucial kit UK and yet only a–third of golfpiece clubs of in the a registered defibrillator which can currently save a lifehave – on site. Today’s Golfer – a crucial piece of kit which can save a life – believe every club has a duty of care to its on site. We believe every club has a duty of members and which and is why they’ve carevisitors, to its members visitors, which is teamed upwhy withwe’ve Motocaddy – with whose electric – teamed up Motocaddy whose electric trolleys and app can trolleys and app can pinpoint defibrillator defibrillator – to launch locations –pinpoint to launch Drive for locations Defibs, and Drive for Defibs, and make every club in make everythe club in the UK heart safe.

UK heart safe.

7,600,000 People in the UK living with heart and circulatory diseases

THE AIM OF THEOUR AIM OFCAMPAIGN OUR CAMPAIGN

We will provide andwith golfers We will provide clubs and clubs golfers thewith the tools, support and CPRto training to help tools, support and CPR training help build build an army of lifesavers on the golf an army ofcourse. lifesavers thestop golfuntil course.

We on won’t everyWe golf club won’t stopin until every club in the UK has at the UK hasgolf installed and registered least one defibrillator installed and registered at leastwith oneThe Circuit, a national database which connects defibrillatornew with The Circuit, a new national defibrillators to NHS ambulance services database which connects defibrillators to NHS in case of emergencies. We are committed ambulancetoservices case of emergencies. makingin golf courses as safe as they We are committed to making courses as can be, which is why golf we will have content every to help youwe andwill your club safe as theyincan be,issue which is why have join our campaign – and content in every issue to help youpotentially and your save lives. For more information on how you club join our campaign – and potentially save can make a difference, visit lives. For more information on how you can www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/drive-for-defibs make a difference, visit todaysgolfer.co.uk/ drive-for-defibs

CPR and AEDs used within five minutes increases the chance of survival from 6% to 74% Cardiac arrests are most likely to occur between 6AM-11AM, which is also prime time for most golfers 38% of UK adults have never undertaken any form of CPR training

30,000+ out-ofhospital cardiac arrests occur in the UK each year, with a survival rate of less than ONE IN 10 ONE IN NINE men will experience a sudden cardiac arrest before the age of 70, compared to about ONE IN 30 women The average ambulance response time for a cardiac arrest is SEVEN MINUTES in urban areas. This increases to 11 MINUTES in rural areas

WHY THIS WHY THIS CAMPAIGN IS CAMPAIGN SO IMPORTANT IS SO IMPORTANT 84 IS SUE 424 TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK

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Having easy access to a It’s vital that these you’re allowing ambulance defibrillator is critical to give defibrillators are visible to the services to see where the Having easy who access to aa cardiac defibrillator ambulance is at golf clubs defibrillator anyone suffers service so they canto register nearesttheir defibrillator is in criticalarrest to give anyone who on The Circuit (thecircuit.uk).

By ensuring the best chance of suffers abe used when they are needed the event of a cardiac arrest survival. delighted that of survival. most. We’re urging helping to save lives. cardiac arrestWe’re the best chance yourpeople defibrillator isand registered, you’re Golferthat is campaigning who look after defibrillators at We’reToday’s delighted Today’s Golfer is allowing ambulance services to see where to get a defibrillator into every golf clubs to register their defibrillator EstelleisStephenson, campaigning to get a defibrillator into the nearest in the event of a golf club in the UK. However, defibrillator on The Circuit Survival Programme every simply golf club in the aUK. However, simply arrest and Lead helping toBritish save lives. purchasing (thecircuit.uk). cardiac By ensuring at the purchasing a defibrillator is just the start. defibrillator is just the start. your defibrillator is registered, Heart Foundation It’s vital that these defibrillators are visible Estelle Stephenson, to the ambulance service so they can be Survival Programme used when they are needed most. We’re Lead at the British urging people who look after defibrillators Heart Foundation

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‘MY PLAYING PARTNERS SAVED MY LIFE’

S

teve Ross would not be here today had it not been for the quick thinking of friends and strangers at Cleethorpes Golf Club in Lincolnshire last summer. One moment he was searching for his ball in the rough, the next he was lying on his back and fighting for his life after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.

“At first, I think my playing partner, Paul (Gorman), thought I was mucking about,” says Steve. “I mean, I hit the deck big time. I’m a big guy, an ex-rugby player, so there was a lot of clatter as I took my clubs down with me. But when he saw my face was going a bit blue, that’s when I think he realised I was probably in a bit of trouble.”

While Paul and his wife, Judith, took turns administering CPR to the tune of Stayin’ Alive, another group of golfers playing behind rushed to retrieve a defibrillator from the clubhouse wall.

“It only took one quick jolt and I was back in the room as they say. But between my playing partners Stuart (Aitken), Paul and Judith, they undoubtedly saved my life. Paul broke three of my ribs giving CPR but that was a small price to pay.”

Despite being told by doctors that he had ‘cheated death’, Steve. 62, was back on the course within a month of having two stents fitted and has even joined

Steve Ross nearly died on the golf course after suffering a cardiac arrest midway through his round Cleethorpes Golf Club as a member.

“You wouldn’t believe the amount of people who come up to me now saying, ‘You’re the guy who died on the 14th, it’s always been a tricky hole…’

“But I’m honestly just glad I am still here to tell the tale. I was exceptionally lucky that there was a defib nearby and I was around people who could help me. They are the real heroes.”

Had the situation been the other round, it’s unlikely Steve would have been much help. It was only by chance that he was playing in the presence of people who knew how to perform CPR – a life-saving skill which he had never taken the time to learn before his ordeal.

“It was always something I thought I should go and do, but then I went and did something else,” admits Steve. “Having had the heart attack, I now know how important it is. Without it, I would just be another statistic because the survival rates are shocking.

“I’m pleased to say I can now give CPR and I think it should be a key requirement for everyone. It’s not a difficult thing to do and if that one day does come along when someone needs your help, it can change your life and hopefully save another one.”

\\ I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS A DEFIB NEARBY AND I WAS AROUND PEOPLE WHO COULD HELP ME. THEY ARE THE REAL HEROES //

Why every seconds counts

What is a defib?

What is The Circuit?

When someone suffers a sudden cardiac arrest, their heart stops beating and their brain is starved of oxygen.

The longer the brain is left without oxygen, the more physical and mental damage this can cause to the person if they survive. Survival rates drop 10% for every minute without defibrillation, so quick action can be the difference between life and death.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a life-saving device that can be used by anyone without training to restart the heart when cardiac arrest strikes. The device is fully portable and there are clear instructions on how to attach the defibrillator pads and deliver an electrical charge to establish a regular heartbeat. The AED will only shock when necessary.

The Circuit is a national defibrillator network which provides an overview of where defibrillators can be found.

Currently, thousands of AEDs never get used because emergency services and people don’t know where they are or how to access them. If your golf club has not yet registered their device, they can do so by visiting www.thecircuit.uk

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HERE’S A ST AT I BET YOU DIDN’T KN W

OVER HALF A MILLION SKY BET CUSTOMERS USE DEPOSIT LIMITS TO MANAGE THEIR BETTING BUDGET. THAT’S ENOUGH TO FILL: 6 WEMBLEYS. 201 ALLY PALLYS. OR 8 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DAYS. (THAT’S A LOT OF TWEED)

ALL GOOD BOOKMAKERS HAVE DEPOSIT LIMITS. SO WHOEVER YOU BET WITH, SET AN APPROPRIATE ONE FOR YOU AND THEN ENJOY THE SPORT. DEPOSIT LIMITS

THAT’S BETTING, BETTER.

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DON’T SUFFER WITH YOUR GAMBLING ALONE These people made use of the free tools and support available to help keep their gambling under control.

\\ I CAN’T TALK TO MY PARENTS ABOUT IT, SO THE LIVE CHAT IS MASSIVE FOR ME //

I

live in Manchester with my husband and two kids. I work part-time for the NHS in mental health. I love my job, but it is really demanding. At night, when the kids have gone to bed, gambling on my phone is one of the things I do to switch off.

I try to set myself limits to keep it under control, because you can sit there and say you’re in control, but sometimes you’re not.

Having a spend calculator is helpful because it visually shows you how much you’re

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spending and you can’t ignore it. But there is that worry I will take it a bit too far.

I think if I was able to speak more openly about it, with other people in my family or whatever, then I think I’d be able to handle it better.

There’s definitely a stereotype around being a mum – your kids should be your priority, and I do feel rubbish that I can’t buy them stuff or take them out because I’m short from gambling. I think it is a bit of a taboo in the Asian community, especially when it comes to girls. I couldn’t go to my mum or dad – they’d hit the roof. I think they’d probably judge me so it’s something no one knows about, apart from my husband.

Having the National Gambling Helpline’s live chat on the BeGambleAaware website is so helpful because you’re in that frame of mind, right there, so to be able to speak to someone straight away is a really good thing. They can talk you through what’s going on. It’s so nice to know someone’s there to help you.

– Mina

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\\ I GOT CAUGHT \\ SOCIAL FOR CREDIT PRESSURE CARD FRAUD // MAKES ME GAMBLE ON THINGS I DON’T UNDERSTAND //

I

’m in my 40s now and I got into gambling when I was about 15.

When I met my ex-husband, he had some problems – he was a functioning alcoholic. I never told anybody how bad his drinking was. It was fun to everyone on the outside, but to me it was embarrassing and it was difficult to deal with at home. I found it really hard to cope with. I never talked about anything.

Gambling was my escapism. It just kind of released everything I was holding onto.

Even when I turned to crime, I didn’t see that I had a problem. I thought, ‘I’ll just get enough money so that I can support my family and pay back the money I’d stolen, and no one would be any the wiser. And then my friend said to me: ‘What are you doing? The bank have been in contact; you’ve been using my credit card. What have you done?’ I got caught for credit card fraud.

That was it for me, because I could get some help. I could tell people what I’d done and it was such a relief in so many ways.

I had a peer supporter who’d struggled with her own gambling addiction, and it was just great to talk to somebody who’d been through what I had, and who in no way judged me at all. I’d go to group meetings and the more I shared my story, the more questions I got asked and the more open I was and the more involved I became.

That really helped my recovery.

I’ve now got a job with a charity and I’m helping other people with gambling issues. There are so many organisations out there that can help you understand your relationship with gambling, no matter what stage you’re at.

Recovery is tough, but it’s worth it in the end. My relationship with my partner and my son is one where we don’t keep secrets. Life is not going to be a bed of roses, but you’ve got to face your problems. Sharing with someone, talking, means you don’t have to face things on your own.

– Joanne

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It all sort of started with my dad, because he was mad into racing and football.

He used to let me bet pocket money on the horses, but I was always more into football. So, when website gambling took off, I started using that. I was doing accumulators, where you spend a quid here and there on six or seven football games. And with betting on your phone, it became a lot more casual, with social groups and WhatsApp. I felt a pressure to be a part of the conversation, and I put money on boxing, not understanding it, just so I could be involved with what my mates were talking about.

money that you’ll miss.” I’d say that 90 per cent of the time I stick to that. But every now and again I’ll just get a bit carried away. In my head, I’m telling myself, ‘Well, I’m definitely still winning,’ but then you look at your bank account and realise you’re £200 or £300 down.

When I bet more than I should have, I’ll panic a bit, delete all the apps and step away.

The BeGambleAware site is good because it’s all anonymous. You don’t have to give any details or anything.

It’s really good to have that resource that you can help yourself with. The calculator tool lets you see how much you spend, and that makes you think about where that money should be spent and about the consequences.

Seeing other people’s stories that are similar to mine does make you think, ‘Hang on a minute… I’m not a million miles away from that’. It’s comforting to know that there is help there if you need it, but also that there’s loads of tools and advice to help you out online.

– Ben

No one ever talks about losses, so it’s often hard to even know if anyone’s got a problem or not, because if you haven’t won for a while you just won’t say anything. Anyone who loses too much, we just laugh at them. That’s why people don’t reach out: because you just feel like a right mug.

I’ve always tried to follow my dad’s advice, which was: “Never gamble

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\\ YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE //

I

’m married, with two children, and I’ve been in recovery for just over three years.

I’d always worked hard, but eventually every penny I had went on gambling. People would say, “Oh, he likes a bet,” but they didn’t have a clue. In the end, I turned to crime to fund my gambling. No one knew.

My gambling became more and more and more, and it became evident that I wasn’t saving, I wasn’t paying bills on time, I was using credit cards and then taking out loans to clear the credit cards, and then taking out bigger loans to consolidate the credit cards and the loans.

I never thought I had a problem. I didn’t want to be seen as a gambler and an addict but they’re all the things that I was.

Now, knowing that I could pick up the phone to someone or reach out to

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someone and get help straight away, it might have been easier.

The day before my 37th birthday, I was sleeping on someone’s sofa. I thought my marriage was over. I’d lost my home. I was in so much debt I’d committed crime. I was thinking about suicide every day.

Everything was just crashing down on me. A family member sent me some money to get a train so I could go and see my mum – I just needed to get away.

But, on the way to the train station, there was a bookies, and I walked in.

That that was the moment when I thought, ‘Even if I don’t take my life myself, this will kill me’.

I do believe that everyone has the opportunity to walk through that door, to have that moment – but it’s got to come from inside you. That was my moment, and I reached out for help With my treatment, I didn’t know what to expect. I remember still wearing that mask, laughing and joking as if nothing had happened – where deep down I was broken inside. It took weeks

for me to actually let out my emotions and feelings, but that was it – that was the start of my journey.

Since that time, I’ve had peace of mind, built friendships, rebuilt broken bridges, but I still take my recovery day by day. I’ve stayed in touch with all the treatment providers I used and I try to help people, signposting people towards treatment.

Whatever treatment is – and it’s different for different people – the one thing is you can’t do it alone. It’s about speaking to people that get it, and there are people out there that do.

– Adam

CALL Speak to an adviser one-toone for confidential advice, information and emotional support. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 0808 8020 133

CHAT Speak to an advisor one-toone for confidential advice, information and emotional support. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Visit: begambleaware.org/ngts

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ARC

Helping keep play safe At Entain, there’s nothing more important than the safety of our players.

We believe gambling should be fun, exciting, and entertaining – but always done responsibly.

That’s why we’ve created ARC – our Advanced Responsibility & Care System – to help identify moments where players need protecting.

Think of it as an invisible, intelligent safety net, constantly working in the background to spot potential signs of harm. When it does, it quickly diverts players towards a safer gambling experience by prompting them to set their limits, or take a break.

These are just a few of the things we look out for, and it’s a list which we’re always developing:

1 2 3 4 5 6

Real time unusual deposits Real time long session lengths Deposit amount / frequency Chasing losses Failed deposit Late night play

To find out more about ARC, and how we’re helping keep play safe, visit www.entaingroup. com/sustainability/safer-gambling-strategy It’s your game.

ARC

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THE What the team at FourFourTwo don’t know about football frankly isn’t worth knowing. They’ve argued amongst themselves to name and rank the 100 best football stadiums in the beautiful game. How many have you visited?

And where does your club’s ground rank?

How do you decide on a list of the best football stadiums?

The perfect ground does not exist.

Pubs and good patter can be traded off against handy road access or proximity to a station, while one fan’s trash is another’s beloved. But some things grab us all: that feeling as you stroll towards a historical behemoth; the sense of calm in a unique beauty spot; a special atmosphere unmatched elsewhere.

It’s all subjective, of course – but we’ve had a go at running down our favourites anyway. Bicker afterwards...

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GREATEST FOOTBALL STADIUMS IN BRITAIN

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PLOUGH LANE

AFC WIMBLEDON Capacity 9,215 Opened 2021

Wimbledon’s new stadium may have opened less than 12 months ago, but there’s more than 100 years of history at Plough Lane, the club’s spiritual home since 1912. The Dons left the old Plough Lane in 1991 – this one was built just 200 yards away, and is altogether smarter.

BEST FEATURE Not situated in Milton Keynes or Kingston.

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RECREATION GROUND ALDERSHOT Capacity 7,100 Opened 1927

The Shots’ ground is situated in a public park, with a distinctive downhill stroll through woodland required to access the away turnstiles of this traditional lowerleague favourite.

BEST FEATURE Home and away fans are segregated in the barrel-roofed East Bank terrace behind one of the goals, which often makes for a cracking atmosphere.

Don’t forget your drum.

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SEEL PARK MOSSLEY Capacity 4,000 Opened 1952

Tucked on the north-westerly edge of the Peak District in Greater Manchester, Seel Park is accompanied by some of the best views in non-league. It’s been modernised in recent years too, and now features various viewing points: standing terraces, seats… even a garden bench.

BEST FEATURE Beyond the obvious scenery, Seel Park also has its own beer garden serving local brew – a nice touch on matchdays.

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MKM STADIUM HULL CITY Capacity 25,400 Opened 2002

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SANDYGATE HALLAM FC Capacity 700 Opened 1860

A statement of ambition, rising above the surrounding houses, shops and parks on the skyline of the city. Hull waited a century to play top-flight football – it was no coincidence they did in their new ground.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Phil Brown belting out a verse of the Beach Boys’ Sloop John B to celebrate the Tigers retaining their Premier League status in 2009.

Football fans with a taste for time travel have often made pilgrimages to Sandygate.

Located on Sheffield’s western fringes, it hosted its first match as far back as the mid19th century, making it the world’s oldest football stadium. And that’s Guinness official.

DID YOU KNOW? Sandygate was the final home ground of one Christopher Roland Waddle, who then coached Hallam’s Sunday team.

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EDGELEY PARK STOCKPORT COUNTY Capacity 10,841 Opened 1901

Over 120 years old, Edgeley Park is a relic of English football – but to traditionalists, it still carries certain charms of bygone years. With the town centre nearby, there’s plenty going for it as a solid nonleague away day.

BEST FEATURE The Railway End: a former terrace converted to an uncovered seating area, it’s generally only used for the biggest games these days. Scruffy fun.

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WHAM STADIUM ACCRINGTON STANLEY Capacity 5,450 Opened 1968

Seamlessly and stylishly expanded and improved as Accrington rose up the divisions, but retaining its homely feel.

There are views of nearby hills, but wherever you’re sat or stood it’s pleasingly near the pitch to feel involved.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Accrington found a pair of false teeth which a fan had lost while watching their 2018 win over AFC Wimbledon.

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MAES TEGID BALA TOWN Capacity 3,000 Opened 1950

Is it possible to look at Maes Tegid without a feeling of complete serenity? With the rolling hills of Snowdonia National Park for company, it’s one of the most pleasant grounds on these shores. Aaaand breathe...

DID YOU KNOW? Bala have played seven seasons’ worth of Europa/ Conference League qualifiers – but never at home. UEFA regulations mean they have to use Rhyl’s Belle Vue instead.

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VICARAGE ROAD WATFORD Capacity 21,577 Opened 1922

There might be nowhere to park, but this is another terrific crucible for night-time football. Pre-match entertainment comes courtesy of away team drivers attempting to reverse their luxury coaches down the narrow lane to the player’s entrance.

DID YOU KNOW? Vicarage Road doubled as the home ground of Dunmore United in ’80s ITV kids caper Murphy’s Mob.

THE SAFFRONS EASTBOURNE TOWN Capacity 3,000 Opened 1884

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PENYDARREN PARK MERTHYR TOWN Capacity 4,500 Opened 1908

Plonked atop a hill, the ground occupies the site of a Roman military settlement – and while showing its age in places, is a rustic gem that recently benefited from development work costing £3m.

DID YOU KNOW? Merthyr stunned Atalanta here in the first round of the 1987-88 European Cup Winners’ Cup, in one of Welsh football’s most memorable nights.

Home to the oldest club in Sussex, Town’s home for 135 years is tucked neatly on the edge of town behind stone walls and cricket sight screens. It’s a leafy cracker, spied upon by the clock tower of Eastbourne’s heritage museum.

DID YOU KNOW? Since 1947, fires have destroyed the Saffrons’ cricket pavilion, its replacement, a wooden grandstand (arson) and main turnstile. Cursed.

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HIGHBURY

FLEETWOOD TOWN Capacity5,327 Opened 1939

Named after nearby Highbury Avenue rather than Arsenal’s old ground (although they suspiciously borrowed the Gunners’ club colours too), Fleetwood brightened up their home as they neared the EFL. There’s an arcing main stand and a smaller seating area opposite, which curiously still sits directly in front of the rickety old stand it replaced.

BEST FEATURE Every time Fleetwood score, they play the theme tune to Captain Pugwash.

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CAPPIELOW

GREENOCK MORTON Capacity 11,589 Opened 1879

An unashamed throwback full of character.

Upgrades haven’t been a priority for a club that has survived some tough times, meaning Cappielow sits rough and ready by the docks, whose famous Titan Crane dominates the skyline. A five-minute walk from Cartsdyke train station.

BEST FEATURE We’re big fans of the three-tier dugouts, which will hopefully be back to full capacity soon enough.

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FOOTBALL PITCH ERISKAY AFC Population 143 (at last count)

OK, so it’s more ‘pitch’ than ‘ground’… but just look at it. Locals on this Outer Hebrides island have their beach, community hall, pub, shop… and football pitch. It’s uneven, on a slope, completely exposed to the elements and wildlife – but it’s beautiful.

DID YOU KNOW? In 2015, FIFA picked it as one of the eight most remarkable places to play football.

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THE WELLESLEY GREAT YARMOUTH Capacity 3,600 Opened 1888

The main reason to visit one of the UK’s most easterly grounds isn’t to observe its 10th-tier Eastern Counties League side’s prowess – it’s to gaze upon, and sit within, the grandeur of its Victorian grandstand.

Built in 1892, it’s the oldest in the country.

BEST FEATURE What else? That grandstand was given Grade II-listed status in 2002.

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THE VALLEY

CHARLTON ATHLETIC Capacity 27,111 Opened 1919

Evocative name, evocative place. Those of long tooth will recall the repurposed chalkpit’s post-war glory years; others The Who’s record-breakingly loud gig there.

After the Addicks’ seven-year absence, ended in 1992 by the fans’ organisation and determination, came The Valley’s subsequent triumphant rebuild.

BEST FEATURE When the DJ strikes up The Skids’ Into The Valley, only a stone heart remains unstirred.

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BRUNTON PARK CARLISLE UNITED Capacity 17,949 Opened 1909

A trip there represents a slog for most fans, being so close to Scotland, but is worth it thanks to a lopsided mix of seated stands and terraced paddocks. Crammed with character.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Magno Vieira’s madcap winner against Halifax in 2005: a quick free-kick after goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin mistakenly thought the referee was calling him over, but was then penalised for handball outside his box.

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BEVEREE

HAMPTON & RICHMOND Capacity 3,500 Opened 1959

The splendour of Hampton Court Palace may only be a mile and a half down the road, but you’ll find none of that pomp and pageantry at the Bev: a cosy ramshackle hodgepodge hidden in leafy suburbia.

DID YOU KNOW? Last season’s WSL winners and Champions League runnersup Chelsea called it their home for several campaigns during the mid-noughties.

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BLUNDELL PARK

GRIMSBY TOWN Capacity 9,052 Opened 1899

Take your big coat, if not your galoshes: Grimsby’s Cleethorpes home is hard by the North Sea. It’s also a historical layer cake. Roughly half of the 1939 away end is restricted view, but the 1961 Pontoon End makes a fine racket. Like the two ends, the pillar-filled 1901 Main Stand is dwarfed by the 1982 two-tier job opposite, from which you can watch the weather closing in.

BEST FEATURE The black-and-white floodlights.

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THE ABBEY STADIUM

CAMBRIDGE UNITED Capacity 8,127 Opened 1932

The neighbouring Barnwell Lake provides a scenic backdrop to one of the most distinct grounds in the lower leagues. The North Terrace may be a throwback but the nostalgic ought to like it.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Notorious former boss John Beck moved the opposition’s dugout to near the corner flag, to stop the visiting manager from having a good view.

That’s the spirit.

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ST JAMES PARK EXETER CITY Capacity 8,696 Opened 1904

Framed by elegant houses, packed in by roads and the railway, it combines the throwback of a large open terrace with more modern features – including the £3.4m Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand, which was completed in 2018.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Pop god Michael Jackson visited in 2002 with magician David Blaine and his friend Uri Geller, who was then Exeter’s joint chairman.

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GAYFIELD PARK

ARBROATH Capacity 6,600 Opened 1880

Bring a coat... and your appetite. Arbroath is famous for its ‘smokies’ – a local delicacy made from haddock. The fish is salted overnight before being tied in pairs to dry, then hung in a special barrel.

DID YOU KNOW? Gayfield is believed to be the closest ground to the sea in Europe, meaning a howling wind from the North Sea. Brrrrrr!

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SWANSEA CITY Capacity 21,088 Opened 2005

The Liberty sways when Swansea are winning. Tucked away in picturesque surroundings, the Swans’ sphere is somewhat identikit – but it’s had classic moments and huge scalps since opening in 2005.

WEIRDEST MOMENT An elderly lady giving two fingers to protestors at a UKIP rally, staged at the Liberty in 2014. Still less aggro than when Cardiff visit, mind.

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LIBERTY STADIUM

CARDIFF CITY STADIUM CARDIFF CITY Capacity 33,280 Opened 2009

Despite having the dullest of names, Cardiff City’s current home – built on a site adjacent to their old Ninian Park ground – is a terrifically noisy place when filled with passionate Bluebirds. But it takes on an extra dimension when homeboy Gareth Bale leads out the national side here.

DID YOU KNOW? Jay Bothroyd scored the first goal at the stadium, in a pre-season friendly against non-league Chasetown.

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ASHTON GATE BRISTOL CITY Capacity 27,000 Opened 1887

Situated in the foreground of rolling Bristolian hills and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Ashton Gate is a sleeping giant.

Its 27,000-capacity is rarely full but the acoustics are excellent – often amplifying dedicated chants to drinking cider.

WEIRDEST FEATURE When you’re a first-time visitor and realise that at fulltime, yes, that is the Wurzels that they’re playing.

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TWERTON PARK BATH CITY Capacity 3,528 Opened 1909

If you like character, you’ll probably like Twerton Park, with its combination of open terraces, main stand in a faded shade of green and backdrop of rolling hills. They don’t build ’em like this anymore.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Bath offered the naming rights via a £50 raffle in 2012, raising some £8,350 for the club… and a few ‘unsuitable’ suggestions. Luckily, charity The Mayday Trust won.

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BALMOOR STADIUM PETERHEAD Capacity 4,000 Opened 1997

Balmoor’s a great away day, but best take your car – the nearest station is 32 miles away. Fish pie is a staple in this notorious port town, though fans had better huddle up: the North Sea wind is a bit nippy...

DID YOU KNOW? Long-serving midfielder Simon Ferry has become an attraction in his own right thanks to his exploits on the popular Open Goal YouTube channel.

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VITALITY STADIUM

BOURNEMOUTH Capacity 11,364 Opened 2001

Dean Court was rebuilt two decades ago and has seen Bournemouth from bottom to top – and with fans so close to the action, it’s had a huge part to play in their rise.

WEIRDEST MOMENT 20 minutes of serenading new signings Juan Iturbe and Benik Afobe against West Ham in January 2016, set to ‘La Bamba’ and split into two choral sections.

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MIDDLESBROUGH Capacity 35,742 Opened 1995

Its side is a nod to Middlesbrough’s industrial past. Perhaps the Riverside looks best at night, the lights reflecting in the water – and it surely shone brightest in the evenings of Boro’s run to the 2006 UEFA Cup Final.

BEST FEATURE The gates from the old Ayresome Park, flanked by the statues of Boro greats Wilf Mannion and George Hardwick.

BRISTOL ROVERS Capacity 12,300 Opened 1921

Many grounds don’t have one memorable stand. The Memorial has two. The blue East Stand rises high above the rest of the ground, while the lighter West Stand looks more like a cricket pavilion DID YOU KNOW? It’s built on Buffalo Bill’s Field, where William Cody – one of the legends of the Wild West – once staged a show.

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MEMORIAL STADIUM

CALEDONIAN STADIUM

INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE Capacity 7,512 Opened 1996

It’s a long old poke for pitiful pub options, but… that view. Caley’s stadium lies on the banks of the picturesque Moray Firth, well known for its population of dolphins, while the away end offers a glimpse of the Kessock Bridge.

DID YOU KNOW? The stadium doubled up as a drive-in cinema during the pandemic – with screenings of Braveheart, Grease, Joker and Toy Story.

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NEW MANOR GROUND ILKESTON Capacity 3,029 Opened 1991

The New Manor Ground is getting newer, with a £2m revamp. It should be one of the plushest stadia outside the Football League – while retaining its lovely Clock Tower.

DID YOU KNOW? Ilkeston Town are the second Ilkeston Town to play here.

The first folded in 2010, to be followed

by Ilkeston FC and now another Ilkeston Town. Right.

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LOFTUS ROAD QPR Capacity 18,181 Opened 1904

The nearby BBC’s default ground for football filming is so tight it’s claustrophobic, with four steep stands shoulder-to-shoulder and looming close over the pitch. That’s not always good for the legroom but it’s great for the atmosphere: the single-tier Ellerslie Road is small but vociferous, while the two-tier Loft end sucks the ball in.

BEST FEATURE That it’s now officially named after the Kiyan Prince charity.

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CRABBLE

DOVER ATHLETIC Capacity 5,745 Opened 1931

Carved into the side of a hill, its idyllic ‘upper pitch’ setting offers attractive views of the village River below... once you’ve finally got your breath back after a hike up to the turnstiles.

DID YOU KNOW? The adjoining ‘lower pitch’, now used by Dover Rugby Club, hosted more than 100 first-class cricket matches for Kent between 1907 and 1976.

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BROADHURST PARK FC UNITED OF MANCHESTER Capacity 4,700 Opened 2015

After a long-term ground-share with Bury, FC United moved into their own gaff six years ago. From the outside, it resembles a new-build tertiary college, but inside it’s a brilliantly atmospheric crucible, aided by the inclusion of terraces that replicate the feel of the old pens at Old Trafford.

DID YOU KNOW? The first official match here was between FC United and Benfica B, on the anniversary of the 1968 European Cup Final.

TURF MOOR BURNLEY Capacity 21,944 Opened 1883

Travel back in time to a ground older than the Football League, boxed in by terraced houses and with views of industrial chimneys and Pennine hills. The noise can be a reminder of earlier eras, too.

DID YOU KNOW? The cameras were banned from Turf Moor by dictatorial former chairman Bob Lord, who thought television coverage was bad for football.

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SELHURST PARK CRYSTAL PALACE Capacity 25,486 Opened 1924

Nobody could claim Selhurst is a beauty – not even the home fans who pack it out and threaten its ageing rafters with songs and drumbeats every fortnight. Certainly not the away fans in the 1969 Arthur Wait Stand, which is far from fabulous at 50. But the heady atmosphere and urban setting contribute to a stirringly different type of matchday.

BEST FEATURE England’s best tifosi.

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CLAGGAN PARK FORT WILLIAM Capacity 1,800 Opened 1985

Few, if any, British football grounds can boast such a dramatic backdrop. The local Highland Football League side play in the direct shadow of one of Ben Nevis’s foothills, with the peak itself – almost invariably snow-capped – visible beyond in all its cloud-scraping glory.

DID YOU KNOW? For several years, this was the home ground of future Premier League star John McGinlay, who scored 61 goals in 92 appearances for Fort William.

PRINCES PARK DARTFORD Capacity 4,100 Opened 2006

Modern? Yes. Dull and conventional?

Absolutely not. Dartford boast one of Britain’s most eco-friendly grounds, featuring solar panels, a water recycling system, grassy ‘living roof’ and timber beams. Surely the gold standard for new non-league ground design.

BEST FEATURE Dartford were never crowdless amid COVID – their towering Oak Man in the stands is always there lending his support.

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PRIDE PARK DERBY COUNTY Capacity 33,597 Opened 1997

One of the most stylish and classy of the modern stadia, aided by the black and white colours. The bust of Steve Bloomer, next to the dugouts, is a nice nod to Derby’s rich history.

DID YOU KNOW? The first goal and first competitive goal at Pride Park were both scored by Italians – Vincenzo Montella and Stefano Eranio.

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ST ANDREW’S BIRMINGHAM CITY Capacity 29,409 Opened 1906

A ground to suit the club. Shinier and newer stadia have more pretensions of grandeur, but St Andrew’s is in the heart of a community and a working-class fanbase can produce a rousing atmosphere.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Former Birmingham manager Barry Fry urinated on all four corner flags to lift a gypsy’s curse on the ground. Or that was his excuse, anyway.

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Oakwell

BARNSLEY Capacity 23,287 Opened 1888

An extra layer is advised to ward off those sharp-toothed winds at this classic cathedral of South Yorkshire football. And do keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of the club’s former poet-in-residence – the season-ticketholding broadcaster Ian McMillan – waxing lyrical in the tea queue come half-time.

DID YOU KNOW? In 2008, Manchester City played a home UEFA Cup tie at Oakwell because their new pitch wasn’t ready.

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CAUSEWAY LANE MATLOCK TOWN Capacity 2,400

With trees framing the appropriately named Twigg Stand, one of the most picturesque grounds in non-league is on the edge of the Peak District. The scenery extends to Matlock’s football club: even the Gladiators’ badge looks unique and appealing.

BEST FEATURE The views of Riber Castle, the 19th-century stately home, on a hill overlooking the town and ground.

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THE NEW LAWN FOREST GREEN ROVERS Capacity 5,147 Opened 2006

No other league ground is located at the top of such a lung-sappingly steep hill as the New Lawn is. Those with tickets for the main stand can enjoy the fine fare of the all-vegan restaurant, along with views of the local cattle on the hill opposite.

WEIRDEST FEATURE The dressing rooms are situated in what looks like a toilet block in the far corner of the pitch.

BELLSEA PARK FRASERBURGH Capacity 3,000 Opened 1909

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Recreation Park ALLOA ATHLETIC Capacity 3,100 Opened 1895

Alloa are widely regarded as one of the best-run part-time clubs in Scotland – extending to the maintenance of their tidy stadium. The 3G surface isn’t to everyone’s liking, but those glorious views of the Ochil Hills from the Railway End wash all concerns away.

BEST FEATURE You haven’t had the full Scottish football experience until you’ve tried Alloa’s famous pie in a roll.

In the far north-eastern corner of Aberdeenshire, Fraserburgh is one of the biggest shellfish ports in Europe.

It also takes a great deal of pride in its local team, whose cracking ground is overlooked by Fraserburgh South Kirk.

DID YOU KNOW? In January 2018, The Broch became the first Highland League side to appear live on Sky Sports when hosting Rangers in the Scottish Cup.

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MEADOW LANE NOTTS COUNTY Capacity 19,841 Opened 1910

A wonderful location, near the city centre and just across the river Trent from Nottingham Forest, which serve as a reminder of County’s past. Meadow Lane’s size shows they really shouldn’t be a non-league club now.

DID YOU KNOW? County used to play at Trent Bridge – although they had to find other venues when Nottinghamshire were playing cricket there.

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HOME PARK PLYMOUTH Capacity 16,388 Opened 1893

The ‘Theatre of Greens’ – nicknames don’t get much better – was heavily bombed in the Second World War but still has its lovely 1930s art-deco façade to complement plenty of far more modern facilities.

DID YOU KNOW? Manchester United faced Saint-Etienne in the Cup Winners’ Cup at Home Park in 1977 – it had to be staged more than 200km from Old Trafford after rioting.

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GLEBE PARK BRECHIN CITY Capacity 4,123 Opened 1919

Brechin have fallen on hard times with relegation to The Highland League, but their stadium remains one of the most distinctive in Scotland – largely due to the unmistakable (and well-tended) hedge that borders the length of one flank.

DID YOU KNOW? Glebe Park’s iconic topiary was under threat in 2009 because UEFA deemed Brechin’s pitch dimensions too small to meet their requirements.

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KENILWORTH RD

BRENTFORD COMMUNITY STADIUM BRENTFORD Capacity 17,250 Opened 2020

Sadly gone are the pubs on every corner, but the buzz of the Bees’ new hive remains. Brentford’s new arena is fresh with an atmosphere of old – as fans proved when they practically took their new sloped roof off against Arsenal on their Premier League debut.

BEST FEATURE Just how impressively 17,000 seats have been squeezed into a tiny square of London land. The enclosed design means the sound stays in, too.

LUTON TOWN Capacity 10,356 Opened 1905

That row of ground-level executive boxes along one touchline has always been a weird anomaly among stadiums, but there are few more flavoursome places to watch a midweek Championship game than in this tight, distinctly old-school stadium.

BEST FEATURE The decidedly quirky entrance to the Oak Stand, which takes away fans up and over neighbouring back gardens.

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ST MARY’S SOUTHAMPTON Capacity 32,384 Opened 2001

An enclosed bowl gives it a complete feel, and the symmetry of it makes it the opposite of their cramped former home, The Dell. The front façade has plenty of glass and plenty of class.

WEIRDEST MOMENT The statue of club legend Ted Bates was removed after a few days in 2007 – because it looked more like former Pompey owner Milan Mandaric.

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UNIVERSITY OF BOLTON BOLTON WANDERERS Capacity 28,018 Opened 1997

To most, it’s still the Reebok, but it’s two-tier stands offer excellent comfort below floodlights whose points pierce the often-glowering Lancastrian sky. Next to the motorway, served by trains and surrounded by shopping, it’s arguably the country’s finest ‘new’ stadium for those who count – the supporters.

BEST FEATURE The legroom, so often forgotten in the race to milk wallets.

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EDGAR STREET HEREFORD Capacity 4,913 Opened 1924

Little has changed since Ronnie, Ricky & Co sparked parka-clad pitch invasions in the ’70s, but to many that remains part of the appeal of visiting an old classic with its towering floodlights – among the first to be installed in England.

BEST FEATURE The Bulls’ mascot – an actual one – is paraded around the ground before high-profile games.

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CAE CLYD

DUMBARTON DUMBARTON Capacity 2,020 Opened 2000

A scenic favourite, Dumbarton’s ground sits under Castle Rock. It’s a shame that the seats in their one stand face away from the landmark, but regardless, it makes for a pretty picture and is only a five-minute walk from the train station.

BEST FEATURE The dugouts – at least the coaching staff and subs get to enjoy one of the best views in Scottish football.

BLAENAU FFESTINIOG Capacity 550 Opened 1956

We’d imagine the locals were fairly chuffed when their former rubbish tip was transformed into one of Wales’ greatestlooking football grounds in the mid-50s.

Set in the heart of Snowdonia, it’s now a gorgeous sprawl of hillsides, housing and greenery. Phwoar indeed.

DID YOU KNOW? In July, Wales’ slate landscape – including Blaenau Ffestiniog – was named as the UK’s 33rd UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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STADIUM OF LIGHT SUNDERLAND Capacity 49,000 Opened 1997

Spectacularly overlooking the River Wear, this hulking arena shouldn’t be hosting League One football – it’s previously staged England matches, back when the atmosphere for Sunderland games could be absolutely electric.

BEST FEATURE The deafening pre-match rendition of Prokofiev’s Dance of the Knights, later nicked by the BBC as the theme tune for The Apprentice. Brief attempts to replace it with ’90s trance didn’t go down well.

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BET365 STADIUM STOKE CITY Capacity 30,089 Opened 1997

Yes, the former Britannia Stadium sits on top of a big hill and every third match seems to be played in some sort of hurricane, but it hasn’t stopped the atmosphere being one of Britain’s best over the years. Stoke fans have broken decibel records – they were officially as loud as a jumbo jet taking off.

DID YOU KNOW? When Stanley Matthews died in 2000, his ashes were buried beneath the centre circle.

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DEEPDALE

PRESTON NORTH END Capacity 23,404 Opened 1875

Though drenched in history and brilliantly named, Deepdale desperately needed an update. It got one, superbly modelled on Sampdoria’s foursquare Luigi Ferraris. The faces of Tom Finney, Bill Shankly and Alan Kelly (ask a local) gaze on from steep-raked single-tier stands affording excellent views, not least of the Invincibles Pavilion honouring those formative unconquerables.

BEST FEATURE The ‘Splash’ Tom Finney statue.

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EARLS ORCHARD RICHMOND TOWN Capacity 500 (est.)

Voted England’s most scenic non-league ground in 2019... and it’s easy to see why.

By the river Swale in the Yorkshire Dales, beneath the shadow of trees, it’s unique – even if Richmond are moving to get a 5G pitch elsewhere.

BEST FEATURE The imposing Richmond Castle, which dates back almost 1,000 years to Norman times, towers over the ground.

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CWM NANT-YGROES

ABERTILLERY BLUEBIRDS Capacity N/A Opened 1989

This might look like a scene from The Sound of Music, but no – behold the beauty of Welsh village Six Bells and its stunning ground of third-tier side Abertillery. Drainage issues forced them to play on a 3G surface elsewhere until this year, when local grafters improved the pitch to ensure a return home. We’re very glad they did.

BEST FEATURE A conifer valley overhead – that’s quite nice, isn’t it?

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JOHN SMITH’S STADIUM HUDDERSFIELD TOWN Capacity24,329 Opened 1994

Leeds Road was the archetypal midcentury English football ground; the new place up the road pointed to the future. All graceful arcs and fan-led architecture, the new Kirklees Stadium opened with just the two side stands, the ends following in due course. Not many grounds get voted the RIBA’s Building of the Year; this did, in 1995.

BEST FEATURE Those roof-supporting ‘banana trusses’.

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PITTODRIE ABERDEEN Capacity20,866 Opened 1899

There’s no shortage of folks pleased to hear that a proposed stadium move has stalled.

The distinctive old floodlights and granite façade of the Merkland Stand are eyecatching, while the club have done a great job revamping their vibrant Red Shed area.

DID YOU KNOW? Pittodrie was the first football stadium to feature a dugout, thanks to trainer Donald Coleman in the 1920s.

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MILL ROAD ARUNDEL Capacity 2,200

A view that belongs on a picture postcard, with greenery and history. The Mullets – a nickname that sadly has nothing to do with 1980s footballers – have quite a sight.

BEST FEATURE The views of the magnificent Arundel Castle, built by an ally of William the Conqueror, home to the Dukes of Norfolk for 400 years and stylishly restructured in the 19th century.

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ETIHAD STADIUM

MANCHESTER CITY Capacity 55,017 Opened 2003

Proof that an athletics stadium can be transformed into a top-quality football ground. Outstanding facilities and some brilliant football have made the Etihad a byword for big games, though a struggle to fill it for smaller ones doesn’t always lend itself to a raucous atmosphere.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Phil Brown’s halftime team talk on the pitch when his Hull side were 4-0 down in 2008. Final score: 5-1.

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BLOOMFIELD ROAD BLACKPOOL Capacity 16,616 Opened 1899

Blackpool’s home is a tangerine butterfly from a very ugly caterpillar. That the rotting Kop, dingy Scratching Shed, lowslung main stand and shallow South Stand have gradually been replaced by shiny new stands (even the ‘temporary’ East is an upgrade) is all the more remarkable given the club’s ownership affairs. And it’s still a great town for an away day.

BEST FEATURE The statue of the universally loved Jimmy Armfield.

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VICTORIA PARK ROSS COUNTY Capacity 6,541 Opened 1929

OK, so it’s a trek for most – but a worthwhile one to a beautiful part of Scotland.

Dingwall’s train station couldn’t be handier and also boasts a welcoming pub, The Mallard, whether you’re looking to celebrate or commiserate. Victoria Park’s haggis and venison pie is almost worth the trip itself.

DID YOU KNOW? Victoria Park has a greater capacity than the population of Dingwall.

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HUISH PARK YEOVIL Capacity9,565 Opened 1990

It doesn’t have the famous slope of the old Huish, indelibly associated with the FA Cup shock of Sunderland in 1949, but the elegant, distinctive Tamburino Stand and open terraces make it the model for many lower-league grounds.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Four Yeovil fans staged a pitch invasion in 2018 and tried to escape by climbing over the away end – but got trapped on a roof.

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BLANDY PARK GARW S.B.G.C Opened 1920

What is it about Wales and rubbish tips?

It’s a minor miracle this pitch in the village of Pontycyme, south Wales, even exists.

Once a coal waste dumping ground, it was eventually transformed by local miners who dug out the bank to ensure a flat piece of playable land in terrain that’s anything but. And what results.

BEST FEATURE A two-storey cottage that also serves as the club’s changing rooms. Obviously.

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HAMPDEN PARK SCOTLAND Capacity 51,866 Opened 1903

Some of the views are poor and the stands too far from the pitch, but Hampden remains iconic. If you need convincing, dig out the footage of Leigh Griffiths scoring a second free-kick against England in 2017.

We also recommend its fine museum.

DID YOU KNOW? Liverpool’s Andy Robertson worked in the office when he was a part-time player at Queen’s Park.

AMEX STADIUM

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION Capacity 31,780 Opened 2011

Home is sweeter for absence, and Brighton slept rough longer than most.

After 14 sofa-surfing years, the Falmer opened a new era. It’s well-equipped and modern, to the point that ticket holders get free public transport – not, in truth, ideal for car-driving away fans.

BEST FEATURE The hawks that, without irony, scare away seagulls.

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THE DEN

MILLWALL Capacity 20,146 Opened 1993

The oldest of the ‘new’ all-seater stadiums built following the Taylor Report – and also the closest to central London. There’s a great atmosphere for the big games… particularly when West Ham or Leeds are in town.

DID YOU KNOW? The Den also doubled up as the home ground for Sky One’s fictional team Harchester United in the Sky One hit Dream Team.

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THE ENCLOSED GROUND WHITEHAWK Capacity 2,000 Opened 1954

Sunk into East Sussex’s South Downs, the Brighton-based ground is easily one of non-league’s most picturesque. Occasionally visited by an actual hawk in club regalia for special occasions, it’s pretty from pitchside – or higher…

BEST FEATURE Cheapskates rejoice: you can watch games for free if you fancy trekking up the hill, with glorious views thrown in for good measure.

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MOLINEUX

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS Capacity 32,050 Opened 1889

If you like old gold, this is the stadium for you. Handily located near Wolverhampton city centre, it’s been expanded in recent years after a major overhaul in the 1990s.

The atmosphere is usually decent.

WEIRDEST MOMENT The bomb squad arriving to conduct a controlled explosion on a suspicious foil package before an England U21 game in 1996 – it turned out to be a cheese sandwich.

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KING POWER STADIUM LEICESTER CITY Capacity 32,261 Opened 2002

Moulded from the same bowl that had popped out Southampton’s St Mary’s a year earlier, the Foxes’ Filbert Street replacement was eventually sprinkled with magic dust to create the kind of party atmosphere that could only accompany the club’s wild magic carpet ride. Plans to expand it to 40,000 look highly impressive.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Leicester fans created a minor earthquake celebrating Leo Ulloa’s lastminute winner against Norwich in March 2016.

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WYCOMBE WANDERERS Capacity 10,137 Opened 1990

Although the approach to Adams Park is through an ugly industrial estate, the ground is flanked on its remaining three sides by open countryside and woodland.

If the on-field action gets dull, simply gaze skywards to watch the resident red kites circle overhead.

DID YOU KNOW? Adams Park’s first-ever match saw Wycombe manager Martin O’Neill up against former club Nottingham Forest – and former boss Brian Clough.

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SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY Capacity 39,732 Opened 1899

Only the bang-central Villa Park has hosted more FA Cup semi-finals than the Owlerton behemoth, with its history-defining stands.

The 1915 main stand with its clock face and finial; the 1961 North Stand with the country’s first full-length cantilever roof; the huge Kop symbolising the terrace era, and the haunting Leppings Lane that ended it.

BEST FEATURE The North Stand’s graceful space-age curves.

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BRADFORD CITY Capacity 25,136 Opened 1886

Stubbornly clinging to a Pennine slope, Valley Parade wears its cantilever technology proudly, like a Yorkshire version of the Pompidou. Its mismatched stands – the main one ends abruptly to accommodate the street that names the stadium – create a winningly unique ground of two halves.

BEST FEATURE The players emerging from what looks like a non-league changing hut.

Adams Park

HILLSBOROUGH

VALLEY PARADE

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THE CITY GROUND

NOTTINGHAM FOREST Capacity 30,445 Opened 1898

Notts County’s Meadow Lane is closer to the city centre, but Forest’s Trentside home was the centre of Europe for two seasons. Brian Clough’s success built the expensive stand that (after remodelling) bears his name, and history hangs heavy around a ground awaiting a comparable hero that may never come.

BEST FEATURE The Bridgford End’s bent roof, which keeps nearby houses in sunlight.

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FRATTON PARK PORTSMOUTH Capacity 19,700 Opened 1899

Maritime and military, Portsmouth is very English; Fratton is ferociously traditional.

Behind the mock-Tudor main entrance is a bastion of Archie Leitch stands, old terraces (now seated) and vociferous support. This ain’t your sanitised Premier League football – and for many it’s all the better for it.

BEST FEATURE The disused old floodlight relocated to the car park as a keepsake–cumtelecom tower.

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CHAMPION HILL DULWICH HAMLET Capacity 3,000 Opened 1992

The local manor of these south London cult favourites recently evaded the property developer’s wrecking ball. Mix with the band of mild-mannered ultras known as The Rabble… and keep an eye out for former player turned newly appointed director Peter Crouch.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Champion Hill was once the location for a terracescleaning task on The Apprentice.

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GOODISON PARK EVERTON Capacity 39,414 Opened 1892

EASTER ROAD HIBERNIAN Capacity 20,421 Opened 1893

Embedded in one of Europe’s most densely populated areas, you’re treated to views of Arthur’s Seat – an ancient volcano – at one end, and Leith Docks from the other.

Sunshine On Leith sounds superb when belted out from the single-tier East Stand.

DID YOU KNOW? During lockdown, cardboard cutout supporters included celebrity Hibee Andy Murray and 33 kangaroos on behalf of their Australian supporters club.

Everton’s home drips history, from its classic stands with archetypal Leitch cross-braced balconies to St Luke’s Church popping its head from behind the Jumbotron. Sadly but inevitably, the Toffees are leaving the close-packed terraced streets for a swish new dockside home – so soak up this history while you can.

BEST FEATURE Those Leitch crossbraces: bygone beauties.

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CARROW ROAD LEEDS UNITED Capacity 27,359 Opened 1935

Chuffed at having built a new ground in 82 days, club officials at the ground’s opening called it the “Eighth Wonder of the World”.

A bit much perhaps, but the riverside Carrow Road has tradition (On The Ball City is football’s oldest song) and good views from the South Stand (named after a bloke called South).

BEST FEATURE The rotating phone screen thing. Quirky is good.

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ELLAND ROAD LEEDS UNITED Capacity 37,890 Opened 1897

Four stands named after legends (Charles, Charlton, Hunter and Revie) frame a bearpit in which Marcelo Bielsa’s busy little bees delight the locals and terrify the visitors – just as it was in Don Revie’s heyday. A loud, proud ground.

WEIRDEST MOMENT In 1971, Revie became convinced the ground was cursed so hired a “gypsy witch” from Scarborough to perform a cleansing magic spell.

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The Hawthorns

WEST BROMWICH ALBION Capacity 26,850 Opened 1900

The English league’s highest stadium and one of its most evocative names. A marvellous ground which has retained its history despite necessary reinventions down the decades BEST FEATURE The throstle in the Woodman corner. C’mon, who doesn’t love an enormous avian effigy?

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THE DRIPPING PAN

EMIRATES STADIUM ARSENAL Capacity 60,260 Opened 2006

It took years, but the bold ‘new’ bowl feels like home to Arsenal now. The views and surface are ever-immaculate, while time has allowed it to generate a better atmosphere for big games. Those who mock have never seen it rock.

WEIRDEST MOMENT How the Brazilian national side have randomly claimed the Emirates as their second home, having played eight fixtures at Arsenal’s stadium.

LEWES Capacity 3,000 Opened 1885

A 15-minute train ride east out of Brighton, The Dripping Pan is set on a salt marsh formerly panned by local monks (hence its name), while its steep, pitch-length grass bank gives the place a fabulous amphitheatre feel. Craft beers and gourmet burgers complete the deal.

DID YOU KNOW? The Day Today actor Patrick Marber was part of the consortium that bought now-fan-owned Lewes.

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WEMBLEY STADIUM ENGLAND Capacity 90,000 Opened 2007

It may have taken 14 years, but Wembley finally felt like a proper home for the England team at Euro 2020. For the first time, the atmosphere inside the ground finally matched its impressive architecture.

BEST FEATURE The arch replaced those iconic Twin Towers of the Old Wembley, but it’s more than just a landmark – it supports the roof structure, removing the need for columns. Every seat has a brilliant view.

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STAMFORD BRIDGE CHELSEA Capacity 40,267 Opened 1877

The ground Fulham turned down and Chelsea still want out of is a fascinating historical document of near-bankruptcy (the East Stand), echoes of hooliganism (the Shed End) and reminders of players unheralded elsewhere (the Spackman and Speedie entrances).

WEIRDEST MOMENT In the 1980s, opinionated owner Ken Bates fought hooliganism by electrifying the perimeter fences – but the council wouldn’t let him switch them on.

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BRAMALL LANE SHEFFIELD UNITED Capacity 32,050 Opened 1855

A proper football ground, with fans in close proximity to the pitch and a brilliant atmosphere more often than not – particularly in recent years. No frills, but if you want to sample the true essence of English football, this is one of the grounds you should visit.

WEIRDEST MOMENT The 2002 Battle of Bramall Lane, of course – featuring three red cards, various punch-ups and an abandonment with eight minutes left. Peak Neil Warnock.

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TYNECASTLE PARK

HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN Capacity 20,099 Opened 1886

Ask Scottish football supporters for their favourite away day, and the chances are most opt for Tynecastle. Well served by public transport, it’s a proper ground stadium – the crowd are almost on top of the players and the steep stands keep the noise in.

DID YOU KNOW? The club’s ambitious redevelopment of their main stand was delayed when they forgot to order seats for it. A bad day at the office.

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ST. JAMES’ PARK NEWCASTLE UNITED Capacity52,305 Opened 1892

The cathedral on the hill, visible from the city centre, is a highlight of the Newcastle skyline. The huge Milburn Stand and Leaves Stand feel like something out of the Camp Nou. It’s a sign of what Newcastle could – and should – be.

WEIRDEST MOMENT In 2005, Magpies midfielders Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer were sent off for fighting… each other.

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VILLA PARK ASTON VILLA Capacity42,785 Opened 1897

From the statue of the Football League founder William McGregor, to the magnificent Holte End, it oozes history.

The spiritual home of the FA Cup semifinal is opposite a stately home and its grandness shows Villa are footballing aristocracy.

DID YOU KNOW? England have only played home games at two grounds – Villa Park and Anfield – in all of the 1800s, 1900s and 2000s.

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OLD TRAFFORD MANCHESTER UNITED Capacity74,140 Opened 1910

Bobby Charlton wasn’t wrong in coining the phrase the Theatre of Dreams. England’s first holistically planned stadium was reborn in the cantilever era and again for the post-Taylor Report epoch.

WEIRDEST MOMENT Technically, Old Trafford holds the record for the lowest-ever Football League attendance: just 13, for Stockport vs Leicester in 1921 – although in truth, many more stayed behind after United’s preceding match against Derby.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Capacity62,850 Opened 2019

Tottenham’s billion-pound arena features the biggest Kop end in Europe and NFL capability, with a dividing pull-out pitch. It’s the most technologically advanced stadium ever constructed, geared to noise and comfort, and certainly puts the ‘experience’ in matchday experience.

BEST FEATURE An in-house brewery, making the ground the biggest pub in London. They just need a row of sandwich outlets called ‘The Deli Alley’ now. Guys?

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CRAVEN COTTAGE

FULHAM Capacity 19,359 Opened 1896

London’s oldest ground is an away fans’ delight. Its famous cottage doubles up as the changing rooms, while the turnstiles for all four stands are uniquely on the same road. Its acoustics are poor, but the old ground was rocking for Fulham’s 2009-10 Europa League run.

DID YOU KNOW? The Riverside Stand is undergoing expansion redevelopment for 2022... complete with a rooftop swimming pool.

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03 CELTIC PARK CELTIC Capacity 60,411 Opened 1892

ANFIELD

LIVERPOOL Capacity 53,394 Opened 1884

Everton’s exit over a rent squabble left Anfield available; it’s now one of the world’s most storied homes (especially on Those Midweek European Nights).

The huge Kop terrace popularised witty chanting, and the stands around it have been raised to meet sky-high expectations.

WEIRDEST MOMENT In July 1987, a 15x20ft section of the Kop collapsed into the Victorian sewer below.

The greats have lined up to rave about the electric atmosphere generated in Glasgow’s East End for big games. Steven Gerrard might think differently now, but he once said, “For an opposition player it’s quite incredible. I’ve not seen a better atmosphere.”

BEST FEATURE The redeveloped Celtic Way – the area directly outside the stadium – includes a statue of legendary former manager Jock Stein. His famous “football without the fans is nothing” quote became especially apt amid the COVID crisis.

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IBROX

RRANGERS Capacity 50,817 Opened 1899

If you’re looking for the best atmosphere in British football, Glasgow is the place. For its sheer vibrancy, passion and intensity, on and off the pitch, nothing on these shores compares to the matchday experience at an Old Firm fixture.

Few games in the world can equal it – arguably only Boca Juniors versus River Plate.

Big European nights at Ibrox and Celtic Park are pretty special too, as various legends like Lionel Messi and Gigi Buffon have attested over the years. There’s very little to choose between the two grounds, and FFT does its best to maintain neutrality on all Rangers vs Celtic matters, but by the sheer nature of a list like this, there has to be a number one (inevitably dooming us to a deluge of angry letters).

Ibrox just about takes top spot, even though its capacity is smaller by around 10,000. Fans are close to the pitch on all sides of the ground, with good views from pretty much anywhere. Three sides of the stadium are aesthetically smart, modern two-tiered affairs, while the main stand provides the nod to history – and not only because it’s named after legendary manager Bill Struth.

Designed by legendary architect Archibald Leitch, the three-tiered stand is a Category B listed building with an impressive red brick facade that backs straight on to the main road, and a plush interior which includes a famous marble staircase leading to the boardroom and trophy room.

Just about within walking distance of the city centre, the local area is abuzz on matchday. Inside the ground it’s even more raucous – they don’t call it The Ibrox Roar for no reason. Whichever of the two Glasgow grounds you choose, visit for a big game if you can – you may not see anything like it elsewhere.

DID YOU KNOW? Ibrox holds the record attendance for any league match in Britain – 118,567 people saw Rangers face Celtic in 1939.

IMAGE CREDIT: Brian Aitkenhead, CC BY 2.0

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UNITING AGAINST SUICIDE

125 lives are lost to suicide every week. CALM wants that number to be zero – and we all need to do our bit to help.

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uicide. Anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide or opened up about suicidal thoughts will know the power that word has to silence a room, stunt a conversation, or encourage a change of topic. Suicide isn’t talked about much.

But it should be. While it’s one of the leading causes of death around the world, suicide is not inevitable, and talking openly is one of the best tools we have to help improve the situation.

In 2019, 5,691 people died by suicide in the UK. Far from just a shocking statistic,

\\ ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF PREVENTING SUICIDE IS TALKING FREELY AND OPENLY WITH EACH OTHER // manmagazineuk.co.uk

there’s a life behind every single one of those deaths – a person with friends, family, and a community.

The effects of suicide can be earthshattering. Research has found that every suicide directly affects 135 people – that’s mates, family, colleagues, the person that serves coffee every day or drives the bus to work. On top of that, when somebody is bereaved by suicide, they are then at greater risk of taking their own lives.

115 people die by suicide every week – with 75% of those deaths being male. That’s not okay, and it doesn’t have to be that way.

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BE A BETTER YOU Suicide is preventable – with the right support and an open and equal society, no one should ever feel like there’s no reason to go on.

\\ CENTURIES OF SILENCE AROUND SUICIDE HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SHAME AND STIGMA SURROUNDING IT // Need help? get help At CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), we believe everyone deserves to get the help they need, which is why we run a free, anonymous and confidential helpline and webchat from 5pm to midnight every day. If you need help, call 0800 58 58 58 or visit thecalmzone.net

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But it isn’t just immediate crisis support that is needed to prevent suicide – it’s culture change too. We work with people across industries and communities to raise awareness, tackle stigma and ultimately stop people reaching crisis point.

Why do people take their own lives?

It’s a question we often get asked, but there’s no single answer. Suicide can affect anyone, no matter of age, gender, sexual identity or race, which means it’s impossible to pinpoint one reason.

People who experience suicidal thoughts often want to end their life to be free of emotional or physical pain, to put an end to a difficult situation, to regain a sense of control, or to relieve someone of a perceived burden.

Sometimes, life can feel hopeless, and when you feel like this, you may think other people will be better off without you. This is never the case.

There is always a way forward, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

Suicide has a devastating effect on the people left behind, including family, friends, and whole communities.

What are the signs to look out for?

There’s no simple way to tell if someone is planning to take their own life.

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BE A BETTER YOU Something we hear time and time again from bereaved people is that there was no sign or indication that their loved one was having suicidal thoughts.

However, there are some signs that someone may be struggling, like unexplained changes in behaviour, an increase in drug or alcohol intake, or comments like “you’d be better off without me”.

What can i do to help this culture shift?

At CALM, we believe that one of the most effective ways of preventing suicide is talking freely and openly with each other about what we’re going through. Suicide and mental health don’t exist in a vacuum; they are affected by all the things that go on in our day to day lives – the break-ups, the job-losses, the stresses of bringing up a family, the loneliness of moving to another town, or the strain of living with mental distress.

By creating relationships in which we can talk about the football score alongside the highs and lows of life, we make it possible for our mates, our families, and the people in our lives to open up when they’re feeling at their lowest and stop them reaching crisis point.

By normalising conversations around how we feel, especially when things are tough, it makes it easier for people to open up when they really need to. We hope that by encouraging a more open and equal society, we can drive suicide statistics down.

Help raise awareness of the support available CALM campaigns to raise awareness of suicidal thoughts and mental wellbeing so that more people are able to access life-saving support when they need it. We believe if people know about support services when they’re doing okay, they’re more likely to use them when they’re not – just like the emergency services. If you didn’t know that you could dial 999 in an emergency, you wouldn’t ring them when you had an accident. By raising awareness of our support services, we can help prevent suicide.

Why is there stigma around suicide?

This is a biggie and there’s no way we could explain it all here. First things

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\\ THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY FORWARD, EVEN IF IT DOESN”T FEEL LIKE IT // first though, CALM is passionate about smashing the silence around suicide. Suicidal thoughts are not like Voldemort: the more we talk about them, the more we can support people struggling.

Centuries of silence around suicide have contributed to the shame and stigma surrounding it. We vehemently believe that the first step in tackling the UK’s devastating suicide rates is to smash that silence so people can speak freely and openly about their struggles and find the support they need.

Suicide used to be illegal The term “committed suicide” is something we’ve all heard and probably never really questioned before.

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BE A BETTER YOU Uniting against suicide There’s lots to suicide prevention, from policy-making to culturechanging – and we can’t do it alone. True societal change takes a movement that spans communities, classes, industries and politics.

We believe that we all have a part to play in standing against suicide – whether that’s raising awareness at your workplace, running a marathon to fund our helpline, signposting someone in need or getting your university to change their policies.

Whoever you are, whatever you’re good at, you can do something against living miserably and help in the fight against suicide.

But it’s a big indicator of the shame that’s always been placed on those that have taken their own lives, and their families and friends.

The word commit is almost always linked with illegal or perceived morally wrong actions – committing a crime, committing adultery and committing arson are all examples of this. So why the term “commit suicide”?

Put simply, it’s because up until 1961 suicide was a crime in the UK. And as such, suicide was something people learned to be ashamed of. This goes some way to explaining how the tradition of silence around suicide and bereavement began.

While suicide was decriminalised (stopped being illegal) in 1961, the turn of phrase is still pretty common.

At CALM we try not to use “commit suicide”, instead using died by suicide, took their own lives, or lost to suicide.

With this small shift in language, we’re able to take away some of the shame and judgement that’s been attached to suicide for hundreds of years. We try not to police how other people speak – if you’ve lost someone to suicide, the last thing you want to think of is whether the words you’re using are ‘correct’– but if we get a choice, we opt to avoid the term.

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\\ WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN STANDING AGAINST SUICIDE //

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Available at

BE A BETTER YOU

John Award-winning comedian, radio host and podcaster John Robins talks to Rob Jerram about being funny, mental health, hate messages, breakups, and a four-year search for a new laptop…

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ow do I cope? I don’t really, but I’m constantly trying to find a way,” John Robins laughs. It’s a frank answer from the comedian, broadcaster and host of the awardwinning BBC mental health podcast that asks that very question of its famous guests.

But Robins’ open and honest response should come as no surprise. Ever since the Bristolian hit the airwaves with fellow comic Elis James in 2014, their awardwinning show has been built around open conversations, community, support, friendship, and laughter.

The pair were chosen from a host of comedians after piloting for the revered XFM (now Radio X) slot formally held by the likes of Adam and Joe, and Ricky Gervais and Karl Pilkington, and built a large and loyal following.

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While negotiating their move to BBC Radio 5Live in 2019, Robins and James pitched ‘How Do You Cope?’. Three series later and the pair have talked to Adam Kay, George Ezra, Simon Thomas, Chris Packham, Azeem Rafiq, Alex Brooker, Sally Phillips and many more, about everything from suicide and autism to racism and eating disorders. Its presenters have been universally praised for their handling of the topics, with the series winning the Broadcasting Press Guild’s UK Podcast of the Year Award in 2021.

Robins, who also hosts the hit Moon Under Water podcast and Bad Golf YouTube channel (with TaskMaster’s Alex Horne), is the ideal man to pose the difficult questions, having always been comfortable discussing the highs and lows of his own life. His late teens were overtaken by gambling addiction and self-harm, while, more recently, he has battled anxiety.

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\\ I THINK I’M AT MY FUNNIEST WHEN I’M IRATE WITH MYSELF, AND THAT INEVITABLY HAPPENS WHEN THINGS AREN’T GOING TO PLAN IN LIFE //

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BE A BETTER YOU Thankfully he’s managed to find humour in life’s challenges and, in 2017, Robins won the coveted Edinburgh Comedy Award for the aptly-titled The Darkness of Robins, a stunning hour of stand-up that reflected on his breakup with fellow comedian Sara Pascoe.

Talking exclusively to Man Magazine, the 40-year-old discussed everything from life on the radio to his own mental health, and how we can help others.

The radio show has always had a down-to-earth, open and natural feel. Was that the plan?

It just came naturally because we need so much guidance from Dave [Masterman, the show’s producer], and it’s funnier to do that live on air than doing it during songs and then trying to pretend you know what you’re doing when the mics go up. It’s funny to tell Dave that I’ve run out of ideas, that Elis has lost his head, you don’t know what button to press or how to get into the texts console.

We never wanted to get stressed about creating a really slick-sounding show.

that with in normal life.

But it’s important to remember that we don’t say everything we’ve ever thought or that’s ever happened to us when we’re on air. Equally it’s not like I’ve got paparazzi following me or that it makes it into the papers when I talk about stuff. We’ve got an odd level of fame whereby a relatively small group of people really, really know us, which is great, because if someone recognises us then we know they’re probably nice because they’ve listened to us talking for 600 hours! But then we can still go to a pub or restaurant and not feel anyone recognises us.

It’s kind of the dream scenario.

How do you feel when fans (and Elis) say you’re at your broadcasting best when your personal life is at its lowest?

I think it probably is partly true. I think I’m at my funniest when I’m irate with myself, and that inevitably happens when things aren’t going to plan in life. I’ve never really found much comedic mileage in things going well.

\\ STAND-UPS GET TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF FAME AND WEALTH AND THEIR EXPERIENCES STOP RELATING // Moving from Radio X to BBC Radio 5 Live must have taken some getting used to?

I listen back and cringe at some of the early shows where we felt a lot of pressure to fit in with their output.

I thought we were going to be the first move towards a different direction for 5 Live, but the BBC couldn’t just rebrand it as a whole new thing overnight because people rely on it. It’s hard enough to change one time slot, so it happens incrementally.

Is it ever hard talking about your personal life on air?

No. It’s an open show because I’m talking to Elis, someone who I would always be like

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None of my stand-up shows have really been about that. But then I don’t think comedians should really be the victors – it’s not a funny place to come from.

What about when a comedian becomes a big success?

Stand-ups tend to get to a certain level of fame and wealth and their experiences stop relating and you’re watching thinking, “I don’t care, that’s not my life”.

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That’s a difficult thing to deal with, especially if you’ve made your name by connecting with people. Sarah Millican is one of the few exceptions. She’s shown incredible judgement and one of the keys to that is her refusal to play enormous, 10,000-seat venues. She’d rather do 10 nights in a 1,000-seater, even though it doesn’t make financial sense, but it allows her audience to have a connection with her and vice versa. It takes a lot to say no to that opportunity.

So a big arena tour isn’t on your bucket list?

I just don’t know who it’s for. It very rarely works. Successful John wouldn’t work, anyway. I am successful to a degree and very lucky to do what I do, but I don’t think if John has a big win he’d be particularly pleasant company.

He’s bad enough company when he’s not winning!

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How do you deal with life’s day-to-day challenges?

I don’t, really. When I’m in a healthier place I’ll read and meditate. I’ve had some online therapy. I’m trying to get fit, which I’ve never done before, and my body is certainly better, but it’s not yet making a huge difference to my mind. I write and try to think of stand-up routines that are about me and the elements of my being that frustrates me.

I try to get outside and I play a lot of golf. That’s probably been the biggest change over the last few years, and I love it. And I speak to my friends – although seeing friends does get more difficult as we get older and people have kids and responsibilities. But all of those things end, the night opens out with its long hours, and I don’t deal with that particularly well, so I drink too much.

\\ THE NIGHT OPENS OUT WITH ITS LONG HOURS, AND I DON’T DEAL WITH THAT WELL, SO I DRINK TOO MUCH //

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BE A BETTER YOU Do you find it easy to talk to people?

How did that anxiety impact you day to day?

Oh yeah, I’ve never really had a problem doing that. It doesn’t mean I don’t have a little cage inside me full of things I don’t talk about, but I think perhaps my cage is smaller than most people’s.

Something my friend Robin and I quite often talk about is if you make a list of all the things you want to change, all the regrets you have and all the things you wish you hadn’t done, then what you eventually end up doing is wishing you were a completely different person.

That’s never going to happen.

Just be open, be honest and get to know yourself a bit better.

If I used to drop or spill something, I’d lose my mind. I’m much better with that now.

I went on my annual golf trip to Spain when it was really bad. We were going for a meal, which was booked for 8pm with a taxi back at 11.30pm. I got into this spiral worrying about how long we’d be waiting for the taxi, how late we’d be back, what time I’d have to be up in time to have a shower and breakfast before the 8am tee time. I was going over and over it in my head and then asked one of the guys if we could move the taxi to 11.15pm. He was just looking at me like, “What are you on about?

Are you insane?” I’m trying to have a conversation with 23 guys who are on the piss, having the best weekend of their year, about moving a taxi time 15 minutes. But you don’t realise how crazy that sounds because you’re just trapped in your spiral with all these catastrophic thoughts and scenarios.

I was obsessed with the most efficient way of doing everything. If I had something in the kitchen that needed to go upstairs and went upstairs without it, I’d be furious with myself. If I dropped a pan, or if I was chopping onions but the side was cluttered which caused me to spill some from the board onto the floor, I’d berate myself for not being organised. My then-partner would be in the lounge asking why I was shouting at myself for dropping some onions. It’s not until you’re out of that spiral that you realise how it is. You sort of know that something’s wrong but afterwards it’s like coming out of a dream.

How do you go about that?

I’m trying to speak to myself more kindly.

Living alone I’m constantly having conversations with myself and I’m trying to make that tone of voice a little kinder.

I had quite an acute anxiety problem caused by an overactive thyroid that was undiagnosed and looking back now I have big regrets about the impact that had on my relationships.

I can’t not have been that person who was worrying about everything and who was livid with themselves for the tiniest mistake, but I wish I’d got diagnosed a bit earlier because I was losing a lot of weight and think I’d probably had it for seven or eight years. I went from. sleeping until 10am to getting in from gigs at 1am and waking at 4am with my heart pounding. Thankfully it’s more under control now.

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How did you overcome it?

I’ve had to convince myself that nothing matters. At all. And that’s easy to say for someone who doesn’t have a partner or kids, but absolutely nothing matters, really. That’s quite a bleak mantra to have, but that’s the only way I’ve found to deal with it.

Give us an example of where that’s helped.

I’m going on holiday for the first time in years, so I was booking ferries and hotels, and the process was so much simpler than it would have been two years ago.

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BE A BETTER YOU It would have taken me so long to build up the courage because I’d have been trying to do it in the best possible way, constantly worrying about what would happen if I got asked to do something once I’d booked a holiday. You just come home or fucking cancel it, or rearrange – it doesn’t matter.

I still over-planned, but in the past that would have been days of agonising, comparing hotels and routes.

I remember you talking on the show about the time you bought a dehumidifier…

Let’s talk about How Do You Cope. Was it a challenge initially, getting well-known people to open up to two comedians?

I think we’ve been fortunate to have people who want to talk about their experiences. It’s good to talk to people who the listening audience may not know what they’ve been through.

It’s also nice to talk to people who have some level of media training, because you ask them a question and they answer for five minutes, in depth.

Fuck me, yeah. That was insane. It took me a day. A whole day. Looking, researching, comparing, questioning.

Another example – I needed a new laptop for four years. I was so anxious about getting the wrong one or buying one just before there was an upgrade or new model launched, how my old one would transfer over, what would happen if I lost my information, or if I had to use the cloud and someone got my password.

Earlier this year I just bought it. The fear of it is far worse than the reality.

Then I booked an hour-long online session with a Mac expert in America.

It cost $120 dollars and it was brilliant.

There should be people like that for everything.

\\ I’M TRYING TO SPEAK TO MYSELF MORE KINDLY // manmagazineuk.co.uk

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BE A BETTER YOU Have any guests left you wondering how you would have coped in their shoes?

Oh yeah, especially the guests we’ve had on to discuss death and grief. Neither Elis nor I have experienced a major death in our lives. We’ve been very lucky with our family and friends. It’s been fascinating talking to the likes of Emily Dean, Poorna Bell, and Richard Coles.

I can’t put myself into their position and it’s not like an addiction, an eating disorder, or anxiety – you can overcome all of those things, certainly to an extent. There’s no medicine for death. And facing up to the fact that grief is something you live with forever… the closest I’ve come to that, and it’s probably similar at first, is when a relationship ends suddenly. But that gets to a stage where you think “I’m glad that ended because, with hindsight, it wasn’t right.” But no one loses a loved one and four years later thinks “actually, it’s probably a good thing they died because I didn’t like them”.

I’m also interested by how people are honest about flaws they had that are perhaps a result of their struggles. Just because you have a mental health

condition or are struggling with something, it doesn’t mean you’re not a dick sometimes. I know what it’s like to have an excuse that isn’t an excuse for your behaviour.

We’ve just interviewed the musician and author Guvna B. After his dad died, he found his partner’s search history and she’d searched “Is my husband grieving or is he just really annoying?” and I think that’s so funny. I think that gets as close to the absolute truth of it as anything we’ve discussed with anyone.

Is it harder to interview someone who you identify with with?

It makes it so hard to keep the interview professional and keep yourself out of it. I really found that when we interviewed Gail Porter.

Her documentary, Being Gail Porter, had parts where I felt so represented by her experience.

A strong point of How Do You Cope is that, barring the intro, it’s never about us. But those are definitely the hardest ones, the ones where you’re going to struggle to say certain things without crying because, even though it’s their story, it feels like it’s about you.

As a nation, do you think we’re getting better at talking about mental health?

Yes. The only concern I have is that this conversation about wellbeing rather than mental illness can sometimes isolate people that are suffering from acute mental health problems. There still aren’t the services or the funding available for those people.

We shouldn’t think that just because we are able to share positivity and empowering memes about mental health, which are a good thing, that there aren’t people out there on the very edge because society or the Government do not feel their problem is worth throwing a lot of money at. And the truth is it’s money. It will always be money. It’s money and facilities that will always be lacking.

It’s quite easy to get caught up in a little bubble where we think we’re all talking about our mental health, because we are, but we’re talking about Instagram and Twitter, basically.

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\\ I DON’T SUBSCRIBE TO THAT THING THAT COMEDIANS ARE A BREED APART // What about people who need access to inpatient rehab? What about the experience of people who are sectioned? What about care for people who might have very complex needs and eating disorders? It’s not good enough, and it hasn’t been good enough for a very long time. There are all these wonderful people in wonderful organisations doing their best, but if you go down the NHS route for support with a mental health condition it can be hellish. So, it is good that we’re talking more, but we need to start talking more about what free provisions there are for people.

What would be an obvious solution?

We need a mental health emergency service to release pressure on police and paramedics who are dealing with so many mental health cases they admit they’re not in any way qualified for. We need an emergency service with an emergency number that will come out with qualified people. But it would need billions of pounds of investment.

Despite the subject matter, you still inject humour and light into How Do You Cope.

Was that always the hope?

It’s something we set out to do, but we allow it to come quite naturally. Conversations about mental health can be serious and heartfelt and

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sincere, but I don’t think they should ever be earnest, because I think that puts people off, as if you’re somehow talking about something that is sacred or righteous. I think it should be human and always address the messiness and muddiness of it. There’s humour in mess and mud, and complexity, and I don’t think you should ever take it so seriously that it feels unrelatable.

When people meet you is there an assumption you will always be funny?

No, not anymore, because if people know I’m a comedian then they know my comedy so they probably wouldn’t expect that. If I was Tim Vine, then I’m sure people would constantly be asking me for jokes or telling me jokes. I think there’s more of an expectation that you’re a tortured artist, which is more of a fiction, in a sense, because everyone who does stand-up used to be a teacher, work in finance, or in a pub.

I don’t subscribe to that thing that comedians are a breed apart. I think the best ones just have the perfect tension of ego and low self-esteem but if either side of that gains control it can be catastrophic. You want that need to be heard and need to not be found out to stay at about 50/50, so you’re never quite honest but never quite making it up.

Listen to Elis and John on 5Live every Friday from 2-4pm, or download the show and ‘How Do You Cope With Elis and John’ from wherever you get your podcasts. Their full Radio X back catalogue is also available, and you can find out more about John at johnrobins.com or read his columns on Today’s Golfer: bit.ly/38UqMHJ

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REFRESHING ITALIAN TASTE

HAS ARRIVED WITH

THE SAME REFRESHING TASTE, THE SAME PASSION AND FLAIR AND THE SAME ELEVATED MOMENTS AS PERONI NASTRO AZZURRO. NOW WITH 0.0% ALCOHOL .

AVA I L A B L E I N

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pread the word on mental health so people feel less alone and in the future they will know where to go and what to do. If mental health issues can bring a world heavyweight champion to their knees, they can do the same to everyone else too.

We can all fight back from suicidal thoughts, depression, and anxiety. Anything is possible with the right mindset and, if we work together, anything can be done.

Life is short and it’s a blessing. Every day shouldn’t be a grey day that constantly leaves us stressing. When the storm passes, it’s time to appreciate every single moment of a rose-coloured day and shine in the sun.

You can have everything in life and still feel worthless and useless on a daily basis, because no one can see inside the mind. You are not a weak person, you are not a let-down, you are not a failure; mental health issues are illnesses and silent killers that you battle with, so take it easy and always be kind.

Talking is the key to everything and is not attention seeking. We all need somebody to talk to.

It only takes a second to send a text to a loved one to ask them how they really are, because people can disguise how they feel by acting happy and smiley, while inside they are hurting so bad.

Every step you take will get you closer to where you should really be. During your recovery, just keep moving forward and hold your head high as you’re going through hell. If you get knocked down, you will find the strength to get back up again and whatever round you’re in, don’t throw in the towel or wait to be saved by the bell.

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GEAR

27 THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

They say you are what you listen to, so if you’re still letting the inane drivel and incessant ad breaks of commercial radio fill your ears, it’s time to stop. We’ve handpicked 27 podcasts that every man should listen to at least once. Once you’ve identified your own personal favourites, prepare for a binge as you realise what you’ve been missing.

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THE TIM FERRISS SHOW What’s it about?

Tim Ferriss is a relentless self-experimenter always hunting for ways to do things more efficiently and effectively. Newsweek calls him “the world’s best human guinea pig”. He’s found ways to make a fortune despite only working four hours a week, to learn things in record time, to keep in shape without spending hours exercising, and to basically become an all-conquering superhero by lunchtime.

His podcast covers topics ranging from personal development, morning routines, and the meditation habits of celebrities, to venture capital, metaphysics, movies and psychedelics. He regularly deconstructs the behaviour of world-class performers from eclectic areas, including elite sport, investing, and chess, to uncover the tools, tactics, and tricks they use to come out on top – and that you can implement in your own life.

\\ YOU ARE WHAT YOU LISTEN TO //

NO SUCH THING AS A FISH What’s it about?

The writers of the hit BBC quiz QI discuss the most mind-blowing facts they’ve discovered in the past seven days.

If you’ve always wanted to know why more attractive monkeys have smaller testicles than their less alluring peers, or why the Dalai Lama is frightened of caterpillars, this is the podcast for you. It sounds silly, but No Such Thing As A Fish will expand your brain without it ever feeling like hard work.

Why should I listen to it?

It’s like the best schoolteacher you ever had, on the last day of term, when he’s just found out he’s won the lottery.

FREAKONOMICS

Why should I listen to it?

Even if you don’t decide to go ‘full Ferriss’ and start working only four hours a week, you are guaranteed to find ways to live your own life at least a little bit better.

What’s it about?

Each week, Freakonomics Radio tells you things you always thought you knew (but didn’t) and things you never thought you wanted to know (but do), from the economics of sleep to how to become great at just about anything. Host Stephen J. Dubner enlists the wisdom of Nobel laureates and provocateurs, intellectuals and entrepreneurs, as well as other various massive underachievers.

Why should I listen to it?

It teaches you how the world works in a thoroughly entertaining way, and it means you’ll never be stuck for dinner party conversation again.

REPLY ALL What’s it about?

Ever heard of the internet? Then you should listen to Reply All. It covers the most interesting online stories and subcultures, from the far-right to the dark web, cancel culture and political advertising. In an age where the entire world is linked online, it’s an increasingly important, interesting, and sometimes scary listen.

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Why should I listen to it?

It’ll help you understand why you keep getting targeted Instagram ads for boxer shorts that stop your farts smelling, and might just protect you from that four-year-old whiz-kid hacker in America who’s trying to steal all your money.

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GEAR AKIMBO: A PODCAST FROM SETH GODIN

THE ART OF MANLINESS

What’s it about?

Seth Godin has written 19 best-selling books and created one of the most successful blogs in the world. If you’d prefer to have Godin’s pearls of wisdom deposited directly into your ears (ignore that image), Akimbo is what you need. It helps you see what’s happening in the world and, crucially, what you can do to improve it.

What’s it about?

Teaching you how to do manly things like grow a badass beard, pitch a tent, cook the perfect burger, or fight a bear.

That all sounds like one hell of a camping trip.

Why should I listen to it?

With topics including everything from history and philosophy to parenting, self-defence and physical training, you’ll pick up some knowledge and life skills that might finally make your old man proud.

Why should I listen to it?

Godin is like the wise old sage who arrives on horseback, tells you something profoundly lifechanging, and then disappears, except this time he’s wearing a suit and knows all about digital marketing and stuff.

THE PETER ATTIA DRIVE What’s it about?

Helping you live to the age of 100 or beyond, while maximising your health and fitness along the way.

OUT OF HOURS What’s it about?

Every Out of Hours guest has started a side hustle that turned into something much bigger than they expected.

They share experiences and useful learnings to help other entrepreneurs get a head start.

Why should I listen to it?

to start something on the side of your day job, or turn your current side hustle into your main gig, Out of Hours offers a mix of inspiration and practical advice to help you get there.

If you’re getting your health advice from mainstream media, you’re likely to end up more baffled than a drunk goldfish trying to do Sudoku in braille. Cut through the frequently contradictory noise and take the advice of Dr. Peter Attia, a trained physician and expert in the extension of human life.

Why should I listen to it?

We’re in an age of entrepreneurship. If you want

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GEAR STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE

What’s it about?

What’s it about?

The title sums it up, really. Each episode explains how something ‘works’, from peanut butter to epilepsy, global warming to reverse psychology.

The JRE is one of the world’s most listened to podcasts, having clocked up over 1,600 episodes since its launch in 2009. Each episode sees Rogan chat candidly with a guest about whatever topics happen to arise. Despite its popularity, one of the podcast’s strengths is its no-frills, seemingly unscripted production.

Why should I listen to it?

If you ever feel like your general knowledge is a bit lacking, a few episodes of Stuff You Should Know will change that.

THE KNOWLEDGE PROJECT What’s it about?

RICH ROLL What’s it about?

Ultra-endurance athlete Rich Roll interviews guests from various fields with a central theme of self-improvement, be it physical, mental, spiritual, or, often, all three.

Experts from a plethora of fields share the knowledge they’ve accrued in a lifetime, neatly packaged into an houror-so of fascinating listening.

Why should I listen to it?

Why should I listen to it?

The podcast’s popularity means it can attract genuine star names, most of whom seem willing to cut through the PR-approved nonsense to talk freely and openly about all manner of topics.

HOW I BUILT THIS What’s it about?

Host Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world’s bestknown companies, including Virgin, Starbucks and Patagonia.

Why should I listen to it?

It’ll help you turn that idea you had while sat on the toilet into the kind of business that means you can wipe your arse with £50 notes.

You’ll walk away from every episode with actionable insights that help you get better results and live a more meaningful life.

Why should I listen to it?

Roll secures uniquely interesting guests, not those just ‘doing the rounds’ of every TV and radio show to promote their latest offering, and engages them in deep conversation about topics that really matter.

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GEAR

YOU’RE WRONG ABOUT

ON PURPOSE WITH JAY SHETTY

What’s it about?

What’s it about?

Each episode takes a fresh look at a well-known person or event, exploring how and why you – and everyone else – have got it all wrong.

Shetty is a former monk turned author, life coach and podcaster. On Purpose features interviews with high-profile individuals, focused on ways you can improve your life, alongside episodes exclusively dedicated to improving your mindset and habits to yield the results you deeply desire.

Why should I listen to it?

In a world where it’s harder than ever to know who to trust and what to believe, You’re Wrong About does the hard work for you.

Why should I listen to it?

Shetty is to selfimprovement what Elvis was to rock ‘n’ roll. If you don’t find at least one thing that improves your life slightly in this podcast, you’d better check your headphones are working.

HAPPY PLACE BY FEARNE COTTON What’s it about?

TIME TO TALK WITH ALEX HOLMES

The TV presenter chats to celebrities, CEOs, authors and more about life, love, loss, and everything in between as they reveal what happiness means to them.

What’s it about?

Host Alex Holmes sits down with worldclass thinkers, writers, and leaders from all corners of the globe to unpack topics around what it means to be human, while exploring themes of masculinity, mental health, psychology, spirituality, and more.

Why should I listen to it?

Because we could all do with a little more happiness in our lives, couldn’t we?

Why should I listen to it?

Sensitive topics are handled delicately but without trepidation, leading to the kind of conversations men the world over could benefit from having a lot more often.

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL What’s it about?

Former Labour leader Ed Milliband and co-host Geoff Lloyd talk to smart thinkers from around the world, exploring the big ideas and movements that are aiming to

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solve society’s greatest issues and create a better world.

Why should I listen to it?

It will give you slightly more hope for the future, and could even spark an idea within you that changes life as we know it.

MAN MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2022

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GEAR JAACKMAATE’S HAPPY HOUR

SLEEP WITH ME What’s it about?

What’s it about?

Designed as an antidote to the increasing levels of insomnia in our busy, screen-filled lives, Sleep With Me redresses the tragic fact that one day, as a kid, you’re told your last ever bedtime story.

Jack Dean aka JaackMaate made his name slagging off people and things on YouTube, but has since matured into a refreshingly downto-earth podcast host and gets the best out of guests from a variety of areas.

Why should I listen to it?

It’ll help you sleep better, and sleep is kind of important, silly. Tune in for a bedtime story that lets you forget your problems and gets progressively more boring until you fall asleep.

Why should I listen to it?

Jack’s media savvy enables him to get entertaining and unique anecdotes from all manner of guests, including Premier League footballers, internet celebrities, porn stars, comedians and musicians. It’ll make you laugh, while serious topics are handled with a delightful lack of pretentiousness.

UNDER THE SKIN WITH RUSSELL BRAND What’s it about?

Brand interviews guests including A-list celebrities, artists, and leading academics, seeking to uncover – in his words – the “ulterior truth behind our constructed reality”. It sounds heavy, but Brand’s unmistakable style keeps it entertaining and often humorous.

Why should I listen to it?

If you formed your opinion of Russell Brand 10 years ago, when he was skipping around in leather trousers and jesting about his sexual antics, and haven’t revisited it since, it’s time to give him another go.

His transformation has seen him become a contemporary political thinker and hunter of truth among the mainstream media’s falsities.

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THE DIARY OF A CEO What’s it about?

University dropout turned mega-rich entrepreneur and CEO Steven Bartlett (now a dragon on BBC’s Dragons’ Den interviews big-name guests to find out how they got to where they are – and where they’re going next.

Why should I listen to it?

The name is actually a bit misleading nowadays, and dates back to a different type of content when the podcast began.

Today, this isn’t a business podcast by any means. Bartlett’s drive and investment has firmly established The Diary of a CEO as a podcast with top-quality guests and production levels, and it’s going from strength to strength. We’re yet to listen to an episode that didn’t give us at least one useful idea to implement or explore further.

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GEAR HOW DO YOU COPE? WITH ELIS AND JOHN What’s it about?

Comedians Elis James and John Robins speak to a wide range of guests about the challenges and hurdles they have faced in their own lives, asking the all-important question: “How do you cope?”

Why should I listen to it?

The hosts do a wonderful job of making deep, important conversations hugely entertaining and funny.

The podcast will make you laugh and feel better about life even after you’ve stopped chuckling.

What’s it about?

Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink explores discipline and leadership in business, war, relationships and everyday life.

Why should I listen to it?

Willink’s no-nonsense approach will virtually force you to get more from yourself. This recent review says it all: “Apparently the International Olympic Committee will start testing athletes for listening

FEEL BETTER, LIVE MORE WITH DR RANGAN CHATTERJEE What’s it about?

Why should I listen to it?

Leading health experts offer easyto-implement healthy life-hacks and debunk common myths, giving you the tools to revolutionise how you eat, sleep, move and relax.

Like it or not, health and happiness go hand-in-hand. Letting bona fide experts guide you to the most efficient ways to improve your health will benefit every aspect of your life.

THE DAD EDGE PODCAST What’s it about?

Breaking down common challenges of fatherhood, making them easy to understand and overcome.

Why should I listen to it?

Tackling the world of fatherhood can be a daunting task, and sometimes feel like a lonely one. The Dad Edge Podcast is there to help you become the best, strongest, happiest version of yourself, so you can help guide your kids to be the best version of themselves.

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to Jocko Podcast before competing to prevent any unfair advantages.”

JOCKO PODCAST

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THE HIGH PERFORMANCE PODCAST What’s it about?

Jake Humphrey (yeah, him off the telly) and organisational psychologist Prof. Damian Hughes chat to high-achievers about the non-negotiable behaviours they have used to reach the top of their field – and stay there.

Why should I listen to it?

If you love sport, you’ll be excited to gain wisdom from some of the biggest names in the game. And if not, there are enough guests from other fields to keep you interested.

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GEAR

READY TO START YOUR OWN PODCAST? Tom Edgar, host of the Shine A Light podcast, shares his top tips on how to get started…

The tech

Have a purpose You want to be clear on what the show is about. My theme is success – what it takes to be successful and what success truly is. You can be loose around your show’s purpose at times and with certain episodes, but having that North Star ties your pod together and helps with your own sense of purpose as much as anything else.

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I’d recommend hiring a studio at the start, rather than buying all your own kit.

You can get a decent studio for £20-25 an hour, whereas if you spend £500 or more on a full setup and then only do 10 episodes, it’s a waste of money.

Plus, the studio is a great place to start as they’ll offer some guidance and support when you’re learning the ropes of recording, sound levels, video, etc. Use a studio for at least your first few recordings, then if you feel confident you’re going to stick with it you can buy your own kit after that.

Getting guests Not every podcast has guests – some prefer to keep it to just the hosts – but having new faces every episode keeps things fresh and interesting, both for you and your listeners.

I’ve enjoyed the process of getting guests on board; it’s made me reach out to people I wouldn’t normally be in touch with, and I’ve found it rewarding when a guest you really want agrees to come on.

But I will say that reaching out to guests can take a lot of messages and you won’t always get replies, so be prepared for that – it can take a lot of time and be deflating at times. To make it easier, especially at the start, try to think of people you know or at least have a mutual connection with; that can make it a lot easier than going ‘cold calling’.

Getting listeners Start with getting your mates to listen and build from there.

We post lots of Instagram Reels with lots of hashtags to reach people that way.

One of the other advantages of having guests on your podcast is that they will often have a bit of an audience of their own; so if they share the episode on their socials, it will help build your audience.

Finally, get all your friends to leave positive reviews on Apple as that seems to help your pod get noticed.

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WHERE REAL FANS GO FOR BREAKFAST THE ONLY BREAKFAST SHOW WORTH GETTING UP FOR WITH LAURA WOODS & ALLY McCOIST

DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP . DAB . ONLINE . SMART SPEAKER . 1089/1053 AM

GEAR

BEST BUDS

Whether you’re listening to life-changing podcasts or your favourite tunes, do them justice with a sweet set of headphones.

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GEAR

Apple AirPods Pro – £239 The obvious choice for iPhone users, with good sound and great comfort, alongside the unrivalled design and usability you expect from Apple.

Panasonic RZS500W – £149.99 A fantastic option, especially given they’re a lot cheaper than many comparative models. For under £150, you get noise-cancellation, good battery life (6.5 hours from the buds and another 13 from the case) and intuitive touch controls.

Sony WH1000XM4 – £259 Sony don’t do sexy product names, but what they do do is top-quality audio tech. These offer supreme comfort, fantastic sound quality, plus an impressive 30-hour battery life.

Sony WF-1000XM4 – £250 Clever features, great comfort, and excellent sound quality make these hard to beat for those who prefer in-ear buds to over-the-head cans. You get eight hours of battery life, with another 16 stored in the easily transportable case.

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Apple AirPods Max – £549 If you’re an iPhone (or iPad) user, you simply can’t do better than these. If not, you’ll be missing out on so many features you may as well look at alternatives, especially for the price.

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GEAR Bose QuietComfort Earbuds – £249.95 It should be no surprise that these Bose buds deliver top-notch sound, and whilst the battery life isn’t as good as some, it’ll still be plenty for normal use (six hours plus a further 12 from the charging case). The noisecancellation is excellent and can be adjusted by a companion app on your phone.

Google Pixel Buds A-Series – £99.99 Think of these as the AirPods for Android users. They’re light, comfortable and easy to use, and although there’s no noisecancellation and only a five-hour battery life (plus 20 more from the case), they do a solid job and deliver decent sound.

JBL Reflect Flow Pro – £159.99 A great option if you wear your headphones during exercise, as they’re waterproof, lightweight, and comfortable, with multiple ear tip fin options to ensure a secure fit. The sound quality and noise-cancellation are solid, too.

Sennheiser HD 250BT – £59.99 Shure Aonic Free – £179 Slightly bulkier than some in-ear options, and there’s no noise-cancelling on offer, but they’re extremely easy to use and offer great, perky sound quality.

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If you want a set of no-frills, over-ear headphones that don’t break the bank, these are hard to beat. They’re comfortable and good quality, and the sound is a lot better than you might expect for the price.

There’s no noise-cancellation, though, so these are best for use at home and in quiet environments.

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JOLLY GOOD BURGERS

perfect for your bbq We carefully select the best British beef and mix it with a generous helping of bone marrow for a deep umami flavour. These burgers are self-basting and cook in their own rich beefy juices.

FIND ME NOW IN tesco

our ourfavourite favouriteburger burgerrecipe recipe Don’t Don’tbe befooled fooledby bythe thesound soundofofthis thiswacky wackyburger, burger,the thepeanut peanutbutter butteradds adds a adelicious deliciousnuttiness, nuttiness,whilst whilstthe thechilli chillijam jamadds addsa asweet sweetbut butspicy spicykick. kick.

Paired Pairedwith withour ourBritish Britishbeef, beef,steak steakand andbone bonemarrow marrowJolly JollyCow Cowburgers, burgers, plus plusour ourGreat GreatTaste TasteAward-Winning Award-WinningSmoked SmokedStreaky StreakyBacon, Bacon,we webelieve believe this thisisisthe theperfect perfectburger burgerrecipe. recipe.

Ingredients Ingredients(Serves (Serves1): 1): 11xxpack packofofThe TheJolly JollyCow Cowsteak steakburgers burgers 44rashers rashersofofThe TheJolly JollyHog Hogstreaky streakybacon bacon 44xxslices slicesofofWyke WykeFarm FarmVintage VintageCheddar CheddarCheese Cheese 11tbsp tbspManilife ManilifePeanut PeanutButter Butter 11tbsp tbspTracklement’s Tracklement’sChilli ChilliJam Jam AAhandful handfulofofrocket rocket 11xxbrioche briochebun bun

BE A BETTER YOU

HOW TO HELP A FRIEND IN NEED One of the main reasons people experiencing mental health challenges don’t always get the support they need is because their friends and family don’t feel qualified to help or are worried about saying the wrong thing. You don’t need to be an expert on mental health to offer support – and that support can make all the difference. This advice from Mind will set you on the right track.

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BE A BETTER YOU

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BE A BETTER YOU

\\ LEAVE OUT THE ‘CHEER UP’ COMMENTS, THEY DON’T HELP AND FORCE MY LOW MOODS LOWER AS MY CONDITION IS BEING MADE A JOKE OF //

BE OPENMINDED Phrases like “cheer up”, “I’m sure it’ll pass” and “pull yourself together” don’t help. Try to be nonjudgemental and listen.

Someone experiencing a mental health problem often knows best what’s helpful for them.

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ASK HOW YOU CAN HELP Everyone will want support at different times and in different ways, so ask how you can help. It might be useful to help keep track of medication they need to remember to take, or give support at a doctor’s appointment. If your friend wants to get more exercise, you could do this together, or if your partner is affected by lack of sleep, you could help them get into a regular sleeping pattern.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT If you know someone has been unwell, don’t be afraid to ask how they are. They might want to talk about it, or they might not. But just letting them know they don’t have to avoid the issue with you is important.

Spending time with your loved one lets them know you care and can help you understand what they’re going through.

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BE A BETTER YOU DON’T JUST TALK ABOUT METAL HEALTH

Keep in mind that having a mental health problem is just one aspect of your friend or family member’s life. Most people don’t want to be defined by their mental health problem, so keep talking about the things you’ve always talked about together as well.

LOOK AFTER YOURSELF SHOW TRUST AND RESPECT Trust and respect between you and your friend or family member are very important – they help to rebuild and maintain a sense of self-esteem, which a mental health problem can seriously damage. This can also help you to cope a bit better if you can see your support having a positive impact on the person you care about.

\\ SOMETIMES ALL YOU NEED IS A HUG AND FOR SOMEONE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU’RE GOING TO GET THERE // manmagazineuk.co.uk

Supporting someone else can sometimes be stressful. Making sure that you look after your own wellbeing can mean that you have the energy, time and distance you need to be able to help. For example: Set boundaries and don’t take too much on. If you become unwell yourself, you won’t be able to offer as much support.

Share your caring role with others if you can. It’s often easier to support someone if you’re not doing it alone.

Talk to someone about how you’re feeling. You may want to be careful about how much information you share about the person you’re supporting, but talking about your own feelings with someone you trust can help you feel supported too.

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Didn’t Didn’twanna wanna be behere, here, couldn’t couldn’tfind find aareason. reason.

Until UntilIIfound found aareason. reason.

If this If this speaks speaks to to you, you, speak speak to to us.us.

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13/04/2022 13/04/2022 16:01 16:01

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4 SUMMER SUN T-SHIRT, SUTSU, £15.50

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N A H T MORE

M Y G A JUST H

i, my name is Andrew, I’m an Olympic weightlifting coach and I’m a manager at PureGym Manchester Eccles.

I was always active as a kid, and I wanted to get stronger but was too young to join a gym. At the age of 13 I joined my school’s Olympic weightlifting club and gave it a go. Whilst I was only using a wooden bar, I was able to get into the positions and grasp the techniques of the lifts quite quickly – and over time we realised I was quite good! That’s when I fell in love with lifting.

I was always striving to be the best that I could be and at 15 I became the British Champion in the under 77kg class. It gave me a sense of belonging, something that I could be a part of and feel proud of.

But then I got injured in the run-up to a big competition and everything changed in a second. I lost concentration during a clean and jerk and ended up falling over and severely breaking my arm. I can still remember now watching the competition from the sidelines in a cast.

I was hungry to get back into my training, but soon realised it wasn’t

WITHOUT EXERCISE AND THE GYM, I DON’T THINK MY MENTAL HEALTH WOULD BE WHERE IT IS NOW quite so simple as picking back up where I left off. I was back to the wooden bar, and I realised it was going to be a long process to build back up to the level I was competing at. This was really difficult to process, and I was so disheartened.

From there I started coaching Olympic weightlifting to kids instead.

Mental health is something that’s really important to me. I wanted to help kids like me find their confidence and sense of belonging.

As soon as I was old enough to, I joined a gym and got a personal

trainer to help with my confidence, and well, I never really left!

That’s when I saw an advert for a Personal Training course, and I knew I wanted to turn my passion into a career.

Once I passed and got my Personal Training qualification, I started working at PureGym. I continued to learn and went from member to Personal Trainer to General Manager.

One of the main things I love about my job is the member interaction, the gym really is a community and it’s so great to be a part of.

So, if you’re thinking about becoming a personal trainer, do it! It’s one of the most rewarding careers around and gives you a chance to change so many people’s lives for the better. It can be challenging, but worth it!

And if you’re thinking about joining a gym, and nervous to start, just do it!

Without exercise and the gym, I don’t think my mental health would be where it is now.

“The gym allows me to escape reality, even just for an hour or so. Any problem or stress leaves my mind and allows me to be present in the moment.”

To watch Andrew’s full member film visit puregym.com/andrews-member-story

HELPING YOU TURN YOUR PASSION INTO A CAREER

A BECOMDEPT IN CERTIF4IEWEEKS 12-1 *

FIND OUT MORE PUREGYM.COM/ACADEMY *Guaranteed role upon completion of successful interview, see website for full terms and conditions.

GEAR

THE 10 GREATEST PERFORMANCE CARS EVER The team at Evo Magazine have been driving and testing the world’s best performance cars for more than two decades. We asked them to pick the best 10 they’ve ever driven...

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H O N DA CIVI C T YPE R (F K8)

‘The best hot hatch there has ever been,’ says evo Magazine’s Steve Sutcliffe, and John Barker feels there’s a bit of BMW E30 M3 in there somewhere, too. It has won tests against other hot hatches and even beat the Porsche’s 911 Turbo S and Cayman GTS 4.0 in terms of performance. The case for Honda’s FK8 Civic Type R almost writes itself.

Yes, it has looks that only its designer could love, though the toned-down Sport Line model addresses this (if you can find one, that is), but few cars, let alone hot hatches, have such exquisite steering and damping, a powertrain so polished

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and precise, and performance to humble almost every car it comes across on any road. Or track, for that matter.

It might be based on a simpler, volume-selling model, but the Type R has that bespoke feeling of a car that’s been developed in isolation, the team responsible allowed to set its own targets and use whatever means possible to reach them. There’s a new Type R on its way, possibly the last of its kind we’ll see from Honda, and it will have the toughest task of all as it strives to improve on the remarkable car it will replace.

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\\ CAR OF THE YEAR WINNER JUST SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE LAUNCH OF THE MP4-12C AND MAKING EVO’S PERFECT 10 THREE YEARS LATER IS QUITE THE ACHIEVEMENT //

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MCLAREN 6 0 0 LT

The McLAREN 600LT delivers a sweet spot in McLaren’s LT line-up because while its speed and performance remain pretty close to incomprehensible for a road car, it has an approachable side that allows more of us to enjoy it more of the time without sacrificing the edge that an LT needs to earn its orange badges.

In the 600LT, McLaren found the ideal balance between delivering its otherworldly ride and refinement and a sharper focus to challenge – and beat – Porsche’s most potent RS and Ferrari’s highly polished Pista.

An evo Car of the Year winner just seven years after the launch of the MP412C and making evo’s Perfect 10 three years later is quite the achievement.

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A S T O N M A R T I N V 1 2 V A N TA G E

What’s not to like? The V8-engined Vantage had been built around Aston Martin’s then-new VH platform and had the looks and kerb appeal to seduce a new generation of Aston buyers, but it came up short when asked to lock horns with a 911 Carrera. So Aston responded by adding 50 per cent more cylinders to create a car that was now quite possibly one-third engine.

The appeal of a V12 Vantage is hard to ignore, whether it’s the perfect proportions of the Callum/ Fisker body, or because this little thug of a car pulls

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at your emotions with its glorious 12-cylinder heart pulsating away, or because it’s a tricky, slippery eel of a sports car, one minute as comforting as the first sip of your favourite beer, the next the equivalent of not spotting the milk has curdled in your coffee before you take your first mouthful; the risks making the rewards taste so much sweeter.

Ultimately, cars such as the V12 Vantage make us grateful that there are still people within car companies who push to make them happen and there are (just) enough like-minded customers to justify their existence.

R E N A U LT S P O R T M É G A N E R 2 6 . R

Now it’s John Barker’s turn to declare the ‘greatest hot hatch of all time’ with the car that brought the sector plastic windows, half cages and no rear seats. A hot hatch minus the practicality, Renault Sport’s Mégane R26.R still remains the benchmark today, a decade on from its first appearance as the GT3 RS of hatches.

Its appeal runs much deeper than its lightweight fixtures and fittings, the mechanical changes and attention to detail forming a significant part of its charm. For marketing purposes, the R26.R was created to set a new lap record for front-wheel-drive cars at the Nürburgring – something that would normally set

the alarm bells ringing. But we needn’t have worried because it soon became clear this was simply a means for the engineering team to get the car signed-off for production. So while it achieved its goal and remains an exceptional track car, the R26.R impresses even more on the road.

The delicacy and accuracy of its differential make it one of the best that has ever been installed between the front wheels of any car. The damping shames many a premium performance car for poise and body control, and few if any of its rivals have the grip and balance of an R26.R. If Porsche did hot hatches…

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FE RR ARI 288 GTO

Admit it, you thought an evo Perfect 10 of the best cars we’ve ever driven would include the F40. But not a single judge put one in their Perfect 10 garage. Jethro would have an F50, Harry a 250 Short Wheelbase, with more modern Ferraris finding homes with the rest of our panel.

There’s an argument to be had for including the GTO on looks alone. One of the prettiest modern-era Ferraris, it blends classic curves with the first signs of modern-day performance

5

requirements, such as its swollen arches and aggressive slashes to aid cooling.

It’s a design Barker says he will never tire of looking at, ranking it fifth on his list not only for how it looks but for how it manages to blend near-F40 levels of performance with those timelessly seductive lines.

Meaden ranked it higher still, second in fact, selecting the car for similar reasons to JB. Both agreed its blend of fearsome performance matched to a

driving experience that remains as sweet as that of more classical Ferraris was an irresistible combination. It’s a Ferrari that bridges the period from Enzo’s last days to the new beginnings that the company embarked on after his passing.

It could easily have finished in the top five here. Harry had it 11th on his list as the one that got away, and if it hadn’t been for the small inconvenient fact that I haven’t actually driven one, it would have found a place in my Perfect 10, too.

ALFAH O LICS G R A- R

The first – and only – restomod in our Perfect 10. And, as with the omission of the F40, there are possibly a number of you expecting to see a Singer of some variety here instead. Sorry for any disappointment.

Meaden and Catchpole both made space for the delectable Alfa in their respective garages, the former placing an example fifth on his list, the latter elevating it to second place as a must-have in his Perfect 10. He’d be happy with any level of specification from the Bristol-based specialist, so energetic and thrilling are

the results they are capable of extracting from this diminutive Italian classic, polished with modern mechanical magic. That’s the great appeal of such cars; they can be tailored and engineered to your needs and requirements, the closest you can get to having a car built just for you.

And there’s the rub. In today’s digital world, the market for bespoke classics built to exacting standards and your own unique specification using the latest modern technology has been growing at a rate that even those at the epicentre of the niche couldn’t have anticipated.

And as manufacturers continue to chase unreachable levels of performance with technology that removes the layers of interaction between car and driver, the rise of the restomod is only set to continue heading in one direction.

Meaden’s decision to include the little Alfa was down to the fact that, like so many of us, he’s an Alfa tragic who loves the Italian marque despite its many low points – because the highs are so profound. In a GTA-R, those highs have never been more intoxicating, evocative and bursting with passion.

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LOTUS ELISE S1

Four of us have an Elise in our Perfect 10, and had the choice of model not been split between different generations, the original Hethel icon would have shared pole position in our garage.

The appeal of the Elise remains as strong today as it did in 1996 when it catapulted Lotus back onto the front pages for all the right reasons. Lithe, light, simple and brilliantly effective, it was the result of what happens when a crack team of engineers are given full backing to develop the most important car in your marque’s history.

It has never mattered that the original produced a rather lowly 118bhp from its K-series engine (insert head gasket joke here) because its aluminium chassis was so expertly engineered and everything from its damping control to the

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quality of its steering was developed to such a high level that it immediately became the benchmark for ride and handling.

Dickie Meaden describes it as nothing less than the most memorable, special and revolutionary performance car to be launched during his (long) career as a road tester. David Vivian admires the depth and quality of the engineering that went into a chassis that barely changed during the model’s quarter-of-a-century lifespan.

It was, and remains, a pivotal driver’s car. One that is appreciated by old hands but has the magic to enthuse, excite and impress young bloods who think power and performance is the key to a great driver’s car, where the reality is that doing more with much less is far more satisfying.

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PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS ( 9 9 7. 2 , 3 . 8 )

Of course there was going to be a Porsche in evo’s Perfect 10. Some of you (some of us included) probably thought there would be ten different 911s on the list. But there isn’t – this is the only one and it’s on the third step, not the top step of the podium.

Some 91 issues ago we declared this 911, the secondgeneration 997 GT3 RS in its 3.8-litre guise, to be the best car evo had driven during its first 200 issues. And objectively it still is. But the Perfect 10 is a much more personal selection of cars we would like to own, which is why, while all of us had a Porsche in our Perfect 10, only Catchpole and Porter selected the 3.8, both having it as their number one choice.

Henry favoured the 3.8 over the 4.0 (Jethro’s vote) because he prefers its road manners; its steering, chassis and engine combining to make every journey an event no matter the road or the speed at which you find yourself travelling along it. That’s the 3.8 RS in a nutshell: it feels special all of the time. Involving and engaging, as satisfying to snick between the gears in traffic as it is nailing the perfect downshift on the approach to the most challenging corner on whichever track you might find yourself on.

Porter doesn’t think he’d drive anything else if he actually had one, mainly for the reasons described by

Henry, but he is also drawn in by its (relatively) compact dimensions that make it feel like you’re comfortably wearing it rather than carrying it around with you.

Although in Porter’s eyes the looks could be improved by removing the rear wing; this, though, from a man who doesn’t attend many evo group tests and therefore has little appreciation for its role as a bacon roll serving counter.

Tellingly, of the five GT3s that appear in our judges’ personal Perfect 10s, all but one – Harry’s choice of the 991-series GT3 – are from the 997 generation of 911. It’s an era when manual gearboxes were the only option, Hans Mezger’s engine was still the beating heart of Porsche and chasing aerodynamic performance and ultimate grip were in their infancy. And while subsequent generations have raised the performance bar when many thought the ceiling had already been reached, in terms of pure engagement and charisma, the 997 remains a tough act to beat.

The GT3 genre’s unbreakable run of brilliant driver’s cars is unlikely to be surpassed. And had Porsche not given us such a wide portfolio to pick from, including GT4s and 918s, a GT3 would most likely be sitting at the very top of our table.

\\ IT FEELS SPECIAL ALL OF THE TIME, INVOLVING AND ENGAGING //

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BMW E30 M3

It remains the benchmark more than three decades on from its 1986 debut and a driver’s car that can still deliver the connection and immediacy that many newer cars struggle to achieve. As John Barker points out, the E30 M3 has a raft of abilities that are ageless; it’s a car that’s as compelling today as it was when new. Every time we drive an example we’re reminded what great balance and poise are all about.

Its roots are in motorsport from a time when homologation rules meant the road car equivalents were as close to competition cars with a warranty as you could get. And this shone through in their specifications, in the M3’s case including a dog-leg gearbox, left-hand drive only and a four-cylinder engine that focused on delivering the goods rather than pleasing the ear. And it was marvellous as a result. Every drive in an M3 becomes something to log away in the memory banks.

But it’s not simply because the E30 M3 is as inspirational to drive today as it was when it was new that it makes the podium, it’s because of the foundations it laid and the subsequent M3s it has given us. It remains the icon, but every new generation has been anticipated with equal levels of pent-up enthusiasm for yet another great in the making. It’s partly why we crowned the M2 CS our 2020 evo Car of the Year

– because you could sense it had been engineered and developed with the same unblinking focus and attention to detail as the brilliant original.

Some don’t get the E30 M3. Its steering is slow, the engine lacks torque and the gearshift isn’t the quickest. Drive it only briefly and at a sedate pace, or compare its straight-line performance against more modern machinery and those observations are hard to argue with. But as with many of the truly great performance cars, the longer and harder you drive, the more it gets under your skin.

It’s a precision instrument that rewards measured inputs, one that thrives on commitment and gives you more back the more you put in. It requires your willingness to work it to the high level it was designed to operate at. So the rewards aren’t there on a plate, ready to flatter you and impress your mates. You have to work for them.

And it’s worth every last drop of effort you put in.

The E30 M3 combines the best of the Elise and GT3 RS that it finishes above in our Perfect 10. The pared-back purity of the Lotus married to the precision and devastating capability Porsche’s Motorsport department instilled in the GT3 RS. Few cars we have driven combine these attributes better than an E30 M3.

\\ IT’S AS COMPELLING TODAY AS IT WAS WHEN IT WAS LAUNCHED // manmagazineuk.co.uk

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FERRARI 458 SPECIALE

The only manufacturer to be represented twice in the evo collective’s Perfect 10, Ferrari tops our list with the sublime, brilliant and totally intoxicating 458 Speciale.

The question we all struggled with was how do you choose just one Ferrari? How do you make the decision between something romantic and classic, or hedonistic and modern? Mid-engined or front-engined? Six, eight or twelve cylinders? Vee or boxer configuration? GT, super or hypercar? So much choice. So many edits made to each individual’s Perfect 10 list!

Ferrari has that effect on you, which goes a long way to explaining why, when the choice is purely personal, it’s an Italian icon that tops our collective Perfect 10 of our all-time favourite performance cars.

The Speciale was Steve Sutcliffe’s number one choice, while Richard Porter placed it second and Henry Catchpole fourth in their respective tens. And it was on the shortlist for just about every one of us before being pipped by one or another of Maranello’s finest.

You’d expect the Speciale’s naturally aspirated V8 to feature prominently among the reasons why we were drawn to this particular Ferrari. And you’d be right, although Henry was tempted by the F1-derived V12 in the F50 and Steve the ballistic twinturbocharged V8 of the F40. What we all agree is that the Speciale’s F136F V8 is one of the all-time greats, blending power and torque with tigerish responses, an eagerness to rev to the heavens and a soundtrack to die for.

And while the reach of the Speciale’s V8 is addictive, the shifts of its seven-speed paddleshift gearbox are equally seductive. Yes, an open-gate manual would provide the romance, but in the Speciale

speed and response are critical elements, and the mechanical feel and action of the shifts are as enthralling as watching the needle sweep around the rev-counter that’s positioned so prominently in your line of sight.

There’s more to the Speciale than its manic engine, of course.

Active aerodynamics balance drag with downforce, and it saw the first appearance of Ferrari’s SSC slide slip angle control that made it so intuitive to drive up to and over its limit. Crucially, it’s fun without striking the fear of God into you and it doesn’t require pro levels of wheel control to enjoy it as its maker intended (as Porter discovered when the Speciale was on its way to winning evo Car of the Year in 2014).

Every time you drive a Speciale it’s, well, special. That’s no surprise from a car that grew out of the Challenge Stradale and Scuderia models to scale a new pinnacle of Maranello engineering brilliance.

It’s a road car, yes, but it drips with Ferrari’s motorsport expertise.

There have been faster, more powerful and more sophisticated Ferraris since the Speciale first got under our skin, and there will be more to come as hybridisation takes performance to a whole new level. But few if any have the hypnotic mix of ingredients that make the company’s last mid-engined naturally aspirated V8 supercar so uniquely desirable.

There is a sense that we are currently in an age when many of our favourite manufacturers know they are creating the final generation of cars with genuine soul and identity – and they are therefore going all out to make sure they are the very best performance cars they can be. If they need any inspiration, they need look no further than the 458 Speciale.

\\ WHAT WE ALL AGREE IS THAT THE SPECIALE’S F136F V8 IS ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATS //

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A new PlayStation subscription service launching in June provides access to a library of over 700 games, from PS1 classics all the way through to modern hits. We asked Sam Hallahan from leading gaming site TheGamer.com to pick out the titles that should be first on your play list.

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GEAR DAXTER (PSP) You’ve probably heard of Jak & Daxter, which began life as a colourful platformer on the PS2 before the sequels took a darker turn for mature audiences, with guns, violence, and a whole lot of dull, grey buildings. If you enjoyed any of these games, or just want to play as a loudmouthed ferret-thing, then you should check out Daxter – the spin-off title from the PSP. In this game, you play as Daxter between the events of Jak & Daxter and Jak 2. While Jak is imprisoned by the Crimson Guard, Daxter is left alone in this city for multiple years.

In this time, he takes the role of an exterminator, and you’ll get to explore the city and take on different missions where you battle against Metal Bugs.

Daxter is a great game in the Jak series, and deserves more attention on the PS Plus Premium catalogue.

MUPPETS MONSTER ADVENTURE (PS1) A lesser-known game, but praised and held dearly by those who played it, Muppets Monster Adventure is a platforming game featuring many of the Muppets characters. Taking the role of Robin the Frog (nephew of the more popular Kermit), you arrive at a run-down castle with all of the other Muppets on vacation.

After things go wrong and the band of Muppets are transformed into monsters, it’s up to Robin to adventure through the castle and surrounding environments to rescue them all before they become monsters forever. A somewhat simple premise, but sometimes that is all you need for a good time. If you’re a fan of 3D platforming and the Muppets, then this game is definitely one to look out for on the PS Plus Premium service.

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VAGRANT STORY (PS1) Created by Square, now known as Square Enix, Vagrant Story is an action role-playing game with real-time tactical combat. Navigate your way through a mystery as you venture deeper into the catacombs beneath the ruined city of Leá Monde, and fight against those who are scheming for something a little more sinister in order to find the cult leader.

The game starts with the main character, Ashley Riot, standing accused of the murder of the duke. The game then follows the week leading up to the murder, and what Ashley experienced and found beneath the city. With an interesting plot to get wrapped up in, this game is an excellent experience that won’t eat up too much of your time.

TRANSFORMERS (PS2) Before the onslaught of over-thetop action from the films we all stopped watching many years ago, the Transformers PS2 game let people live out their life as a Transformer and cause chaos across the world. This open-world title allowed you to play as many different Autobots and Decepticons, driving and flying around before transforming into a giant destruction-causing machine – what’s not to love?

If you never played this one on the PS2 when it was around, then you should absolutely check it out if it makes its way onto the PS Plus Premium line-up. While it might be a little dated now, it will still offer plenty of opportunity for carnage as you run around the maps and wreak havoc as a giant robot. There are missions to undertake, or just a sandbox to play around in, so there’s something for everyone.

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SLY COOPER (PS2) A classic PlayStation 2 title created by the folks at Sucker Punch, now known for the Infamous games and the highly regarded Ghost of Tsushima, Sly Cooper is a game everyone should jump into if they haven’t already. These 3D platformers were a staple of the PS2, and still hold up well to this day.

Sly is a raccoon thief who, along with his comrades Bentley and Murray, attempts to steal some of the most notable artifacts and heirloom items from his family line, usually held by dangerous criminals and villainous figures who are less than eager to give them up. With so many interesting levels to explore and conquer, Sly Cooper can still be enjoyed for the first time by anyone.

MONSTER HUNTER (PS2) A much bigger series in Japan, and more popular than ever in the West with Monster Hunter: World and Monster Hunter Rise, this series had its beginnings on the PlayStation 2. There are many fans of the series who might not have played the originals, so it would be great to see its inclusion on the PS Plus Premium membership.

Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series and want to return to the roots, for the first time or for nostalgia, or if you’ve never played any Monster Hunter game but want to see what the games are all about, then this title would be an excellent addition to the catalogue of games.

Keep your eyes peeled for this one, as hunting larger-than-life monsters never gets old.

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SECTION TOKYO JUNGLE (PS3) An underrated game from the PlayStation 3 that is certainly strange, but a whole lot of fun, Tokyo Jungle puts you in the roles of animals in the now rampant streets of Tokyo. After humanity has become extinct, the animals fight for survival in this odd little game about becoming the top of the food chain.

From Pomeranians to Tigers, you’ll need to sneak, hunt, and survive these urban locations and overcome all competition in the area. With various levels to take on, this game can offer hours of enjoyment without the need for much investment – just load it up and have a blast. It’s already available on PS Now, so will likely be available on the Premium service when it all merges.

ICO(PS2) Before The Last Guardian and Shadow of the Colossus, Team Ico created a game that was a wonderful and powerful experience on the PlayStation 2. Despite the limitations of the hardware at the time, Ico pulls off an incredible story with minimal storytelling, brilliant gameplay with simple mechanics, and an overall game that you will be glad to have spent the time playing through.

A tale following the journey of a young boy with horns and a mysterious young girl, both of whom are captives and must work together to escape, despite speaking different languages. As Ico, you must lead the girl through the abandoned castle, and protect her from the shadow beings that inhabit the place. With some twists and intense moments, the game is a must-play. If you liked Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian, this is something you’ll want to experience.

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MODNATION RACERS (PS3) THE SABOTEUR (PS3)

Finally, we have a kart racer from the PlayStation 3 era of games. ModNation Racers is an enjoyable racing game to play solo or with friends, acting as a Mario Kart-esque experience on the PlayStation.

With a story mode to delve into, you can compete in many different kart racing tracks to become the best racer around.

However, the focus of ModNation Racers is the user-generated content, and there were always plenty of levels to play that were created by other players – or you could spend hours creating your own. If the game makes a return via the PS Plus Premium membership, it would be an excellent title for friends to try out and race against each other, or explore tracks that players around the globe have made.

A brilliant game from the PlayStation 3 that many might have overlooked, The Saboteur is a little bizarre in the plot but excellently done. Taking the role of Sean Devlin, an Irish Race Car Driver, you travel to Paris to compete in a Grand Prix. After the German invasion of France takes place, you will find yourself fighting with the resistance and pushing back the Nazi forces.

In this open-world game, the areas of the map are all in black and white, with only the colour red and yellow coming through, completing a noir aesthetic.

After you claim a district from the Nazis, colour will return to the area, and the once dull locations will now burst with life. This makes for a unique experience, and with plenty of driving, climbing, and shooting, The Saboteur is a great game that everyone should try out.

C H O O S E YO U R L E V E L PlayStation Plus Essential

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£10.99 monthly / £31.99 quarterly / £83.99 yearly

£13.49 monthly / £39.99 quarterly / £99.99 yearly

Two monthly downloadable games Exclusive discounts Cloud storage for saved games Online multiplayer access

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Provides all the benefits from the Essential tier Adds a catalogue of up to 400 of the most enjoyable PS4 and PS5 games

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Provides all the benefits from Essential and Extra tiers Adds up to 340 additional games Time-limited game trials, so you can try selected games before you buy

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