The Christians in Sport Podcast

We sit down with Gaynor this week, a parent of top-level teenagers to chat about the wrestle she's had with her family on the issue of sport and church.  In an amazingly challenging and uplifting interview, we discuss the joy of spending quality time with her sporty kids, the importance of church and how conversations about priorities have led to wonderful opportunities to speak about Jesus. 

We sit down with Rev. Pete Nicholas to discuss the question of Sunday sport and church in our latest podcast.  Listen in for discussion around: The sabbath as taught in the Old and New Testaments. The critical importance of meeting with other believers. What rest looks like for Christians today The distinction of corporate worship and all life worship How churches can best support top level sports people who may compete in Sundays

Peter Browne played professional rugby for 12 years - starting out at Newcastle Falcons and finishing up in Ulster after a career including great success, first at Harlequins and then at London Welsh.  In October 2018, Pete announced his retirement from pro rugby due to medical reasons, involving multiple concussions. In this chat with Graham Daniels he touches on: The secrets of the success at Harlequins  The psychology of dealing with major repeated injuries The freedom of having an identity in Jesus first and foremost Making big decisions about moving clubs How he dealt with not being selected in his last few years His motivation for speaking of Jesus to his team-mates

This week we talk about socials. Sport is massively social as we hang out with people and get to know them on and off the pitch.  In this episode we chat to three former university students about: Their experiences of team socials and initiations as a Christian Why being at socials is a great thing Some top tips for honouring Jesus at a social Christians in Sport is a movement of competitors, coaches and officials.  We exist to reach the world of sport for Jesus.

Graham Daniels and Jonny Reid look at a very simple question - What does the bible actually have to say about sport? Christians in Sport is a movement of competitors, coaches and officials.  We exist to reach the world of sport for Jesus.

“Somewhere God was tapping me on the shoulder saying, hey you aint clever enough to deal with this yourself…just ask me for a bit of help!” Paul Brush has battled through a lot of adversity in his life and career - from serious injury, being dropped for the FA Cup final, to losing his wife through leukaemia, leaving him to raise a five-month old son. In the midst of it all he began to follow Jesus following a Billy Graham rally in the 1980s. Paul was a professional footballer and now coach who played in the Football League for West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Southend United. He is best known for his time with West Ham United, for whom he played from 1976 until 1985. In this interview with Graham Daniels we look at issues such as: Battling injury Hitting the wall as a top level player Coming to faith later in life How his faith informs his coaching

“When I got injured I found a faith and stability in God when times were tough, when I was literally out of work. He was faithful and he brought me through.” These are the words of Steve Spooner, the third interview in our series looking at the ups and downs of professional football. Spooner began his career with Derby County but got his breakthrough with Halifax Town. He then moved to Chesterfield where he won promotion in 1985, and then on to Hereford United, York City, Rotherham United, Mansfield Town and Blackpool before finishing his League career at Chesterfield. He then later went into non-League football and has since worked as a coach in numerous roles. In this episode we look at issues such as: Dealing with incredibly tough situations  Making his first team debut against World Cup superstars Telling your teammates you’re a Christian for the first time The difference between religion and a relationship with Jesus

When we say we have guests who have seen it all - we meant it - and with Bradford City Legend, Wayne Jacobs, we really do! Wayne Jacobs has played in nearly every league in professional football in a 21 year career, defined by his time at Bradford City where he not only played for 11 years, but has also had stints managing them too. He also played in the Football League for West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City, Rotherham United and Halifax Town. He is now Assistant Head Coach at West Brom, alongside running the charity One in a Million, which helps disadvantaged children in the city of Bradford. In this episode we hear his story of coming to faith and look at issues like: the influence of a Christian teammate in a heavy drinking culture How becoming a Christian doesn’t make you soft on the pitch What it looks like to lead with authenticity The transforming nature of Jesus in the life of a tough man from Yorkshire

“Before I was a Christian football was my god so I was up and down according to how I played. When I came to know Jesus however, everything changed because Jesus is God and football was in its right place.” These are the words of Gavin Peacock, the first interview in our new series looking at the ups and downs of professional football. Gavin is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and striker from 1984 until 2002 notably in the Premier League for Newcastle United and Chelsea. He also played in the Football League for Queens Park Rangers, Gillingham, Bournemouth and Charlton Athletic. He then worked in the media as a pundit, and in September 2008 relocated to Canada where he is currently a pastor at Calvary Grace Church in Calgary. In this episode we look at issues such as: How his faith influenced his view of his football Leadership on and off the pitch Speaking of Christ in the dressing-room The importance of church

Welcome to the final episode of the Retirement Question - series four of The Christians in Sport Podcast. The finale sees Danno chatting to former rower Debbie Bruwer (née Flood), whose 15-year international career included two Olympic silver medals and three World titles.  As she prepared to hang up her oars after competing in her home Olympics, Debbie expected the transition to life after rowing to be a smooth process. But she tells Danno: “Before London 2012, I had already decided that, whatever the result, the next season of life was going to look different. It wasn’t going to be rowing full-time. I was going to do all the things that I wouldn’t normally be able to do as a full-time athlete….After the Games, I had a wobble because I thought ‘do I want to end on that [disappointing] result?’.” Like all the former athletes we’ve featured in this series, retirement was far from a smooth process for Debbie. Listen in as she talks about: How retirement was harder than she expected (0mins 40secs) Being unsettled after experiencing disappointment at London 2012 (1.40) Feeling like her life had been “chucked up into the air” (2.10) Struggling without having a fixed routine (3.15) Knowing her identity was secure in Jesus (7.00) Trusting God with her future (8.40) Missing the banter of being in a team (10.50) Her advice for retiring athletes (12.20) Being thankful for your sporting career (13.20) And much more...