After The Final Whistle

About After The Final Whistle

After The Final Whistle is a powerful video podcast hosted by Premier League reporter and Psychology grad Alison Bender, exploring what really happens to footballers when the game ends. Alison speaks to former Premier League and international players about life beyond the pitch — from identity and resilience to mental health, recovery, and purpose. These are the stories we don’t usually hear: raw, reflective and deeply human. A series about what it means to start again. Supported by Samaritans who have provided Alison with training for these sensitive topics

Publisher

Alison Bender

Category

news · sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Apr 2026

Latest episode

2 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Thomas Hitzlsperger: I Had to Retire Before Coming Out | After The Final Whistle

   Thomas Hitzlsperger: I Had to Retire Before Coming Out | After The Final Whistle Welcome to After The Final Whistle where we talk about the person, not the player, and ask what happens when the football stops. Thomas Hitzlsperger played at the highest level for Germany, Aston Villa, Stuttgart, West Ham and Everton, and won the Bundesliga with Stuttgart. But his football career also came with a secret. Thomas came out as gay after retiring from football and in this conversation, he talks openly about why he couldn't come out while he was still playing, the pressure of the dressing room, masculinity in football, and why not a single gay player reached out to him when he came out. We also talk about life after football; from becoming a CEO and working in football, to dealing with failure, fear, criticism and finding a new identity when you're no longer a player. Thomas explains why he wishes he'd won more trophies, why footballers need interests and passions outside the game, and why he believes you shouldn't wait for everyone else's approval to be yourself. And, as always on After The Final Whistle, I ask AI to analyse Thomas's personality and read the results back to him. In this episode:00:00 The decision that took Thomas Hitzlsperger to Aston Villa03:30 Leaving Germany at 1805:44 Why Thomas couldn't wait to retire08:09 Why he didn't come out while playing11:13 Telling his family he was gay14:11 Why representation in football matters16:16 Why aren't more footballers coming out?20:30 “Not a single gay player reached out to me”21:25 From footballer to CEO25:47 Imposter syndrome after football28:21 Failure, fear and mental health31:38 “Playing football just harms me more”33:01 Becoming an entrepreneur37:38 Which version of Thomas is the real Thomas?39:14 Why footballers need a life beyond football41:36 Breaking the dressing room mentality43:03 Would he come out earlier?43:52 AI analyses Thomas Hitzlsperger45:42 “I wish I had one more trophy”48:05 Why he still speaks up for the LGBTQ+ community This episode is supported by Football Safety App, helping people report abuse, racism, misogyny, harassment and violence around football anonymously and safely. Download on your phone so you have it when you need it. If you enjoy the conversation, please subscribe, like and share — and let me know which footballer you'd like me to speak to next. After the final whistle, because when the whistle blows, they are people, not footballers. #ThomasHitzlsperger #AfterTheFinalWhistle #Football #FootballPodcast #LGBTQ #FootballStories #LifeAfterFootball #Footballers #MentalHealth #ComingOut #FootballSafetyApp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2. 

   25 Sept 2026

   Rickie Lambert: Football Retirement Broke Me

   What happens when the football stops? For the first episode of Series 2 of After The Final Whistle, I sit down with former England, Liverpool and Southampton striker Rickie Lambert for one of my most open conversations yet. Rickie’s journey is anything but straightforward. At 15, he was rejected by Liverpool and found himself working in a factory, playing non-league football and wondering whether professional football would ever happen for him. He tells me about the years of graft that followed; from beetroot farming and working in factories to travelling to clubs with just £50 in his pocket. We talk about Blackpool, Macclesfield, Southampton, scoring more than 100 goals, and finally making his England debut at 31… scoring with his first touch at Wembley. But this conversation isn’t really about the goals. Rickie opens up about the pressure he felt throughout his career, the importance of trust, what football gave him... and what it took away. We talk about returning to Liverpool, becoming a father, watching his children grow up, his love of golf, coaching, and what life looks like when you are no longer a professional footballer. Rickie was incredibly open with me, and there are moments in this conversation that go far beyond football. We talk about his rock bottom and how he finally decided to seek help. We speak about him giving up alcohol, and how he stays steady today. Because after the final whistle, they are people, not footballers. 🎙️ After The Final Whistle with Alison Bender📍 Series 2, Episode 1🎥 Watch on YouTube🎧 Also available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe and share — it really helps us grow the series. 🛡️ This episode is supported by the Football Safety App.Everyone should feel safe in and around football. The Football Safety App gives supporters a way to report incidents of abuse, racism, harassment, misogyny and violence.Download the Football Safety App on your phone and you can report any incident in real time without having to confront anyone. Help keep the beautiful game beautiful. CHAPTERS 00:00 The rejection that changed everything 01:19 From Liverpool rejection to England 03:54 Life after football 04:37 The reality of retirement 06:20 Burnout and finding a new purpose 11:02 Rejected by Liverpool at 15 12:47 The mindset that kept Rickie going 13:08 Manifesting England and Liverpool 15:29 Working in a beetroot factory 18:32 Where Rickie's resilience came from 19:31 The call from Liverpool 22:04 England, the World Cup and becoming a dad 23:05 What AI thinks it knows about Rickie 25:22 When Liverpool became a nightmare 28:54 Realising his Liverpool career was over 32:20 Why Southampton was the highlight 33:16 Life after football and questioning everything 35:17 Growing up dyslexic 36:09 Speaking out during COVID 39:57 Rickie's spiritual awakening 40:45 Hitting rock bottom 42:05 Giving up alcohol and asking for help 43:40 Finding stability after football 44:38 Losing his purpose 45:24 Replacing football with golf 46:34 What would Rickie tell his 15-year-old self? 47:25 Letting go of ego 50:16 The moment Rickie decided to change 51:28 What really matters now #AfterTheFinalWhistle #RickieLambert #AlisonBender #Football #FootballPodcast #LiverpoolFC #SouthamptonFC #EnglandFootball #LifeAfterFootball #MentalHealth #FootballStories #PremierLeague #sobriety Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3. 

   29 May 2026

   Paul Canoville: Racism, Addiction, Cancer, Chelsea & Surviving Football’s Darkest Days

   In this powerful episode of After The Final Whistle, we sit down with Chelsea legend and trailblazer Paul Canoville for one of the most emotional and inspiring conversations we’ve ever had on the podcast. 🎙️⚽️ Paul opens up about: 🔥 Becoming Chelsea’s first Black player 🔥 The horrific racist abuse he suffered during his career 🔥 Recovering from drug addiction 🔥 Losing his baby son after just 10 days 🔥 Surviving one of the worst football injuries he had ever seen 🔥 Mental health, resilience and rebuilding his life after football Despite everything he endured, Paul’s story is ultimately one of strength, survival and hope. This is more than a football conversation — it’s a story about overcoming unimaginable adversity and continuing to inspire generations. If you enjoy meaningful football conversations and exclusive interviews like this, please LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE, it genuinely helps the channel grow and allows us to keep sharing important stories like Paul’s. ❤️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4. 

   22 May 2026

   Lianne Sanderson Opens Up On Coming Out, Online Abuse & Life After Football | After The Final Whistle

   In this episode of After The Final Whistle, Alison sits down with former England international and football pundit Lianne Sanderson for an honest, inspiring and powerful conversation. 🎙️⚽️ Lianne reflects on an incredible career that saw her win major honours with Arsenal, represent England on the international stage, and play football across the world in the USA, Spain, Italy and beyond. We also discuss:🔥 Becoming the first Lioness to publicly come out as gay🔥 The financial realities of women’s football during her playing days🔥 Life after football and building a career in punditry🔥 Dealing with online abuse and criticism🔥 Her love for football A raw and emotional conversation about resilience, identity, football and finding purpose beyond playing. If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more football conversations and exclusive interviews. 🎧 Available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts📲 Follow us on socials for more clips and updates @afterthefinalwhistlepod #LianneSanderson #Lionesses #WomensFootball #ManchesterUnited #FootballPodcast #AfterTheFinalWhistle #WomenInSport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5. 

   14 May 2026

   Danny Mills on Pressure, Identity, and Finding Purpose After the Game

   Former England international Danny Mills joins Alison Bender on After The Final Whistle for an honest conversation about life beyond football. Danny reflects on the injuries that ended his career, retiring at 31, rebuilding his identity after football, and the mentality needed to survive elite sport. He also opens up about family, grief, resilience, criticism, business, and finding purpose after the game. Topics covered: Career-ending injuries and retirement Life after football and identity Family, fatherhood and resilience Handling criticism and pressure Elite mentality and work ethic Business, investing and media life Legacy, values and personal growth Chapters: 05:24 – Career-ending injuries and rehab 10:04 – Criticism and accepting retirement 15:02 – Family life and purpose after football 20:02 – Media career and life beyond the game 21:28 – Elite athlete mentality 25:03 – Loss, resilience and perspective 27:35 – Coping with grief and returning to football 36:20 – Coping mechanisms and reflection 38:26 – Anxiety around children’s health 47:50 – Discipline, family values and hard work 52:03 – Business, investing and negotiation 57:05 – Private equity and learning in business 1:00:20 – Early wages, ambition and sacrifice 1:08:07 – Legacy, family and staying true to yourself If you enjoyed the episode, like, comment and subscribe. If you’re struggling, Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123. 📸 Instagram https://instagram.com/afterthefinalwhistlepod 🎵 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@afterthefinalwhistlepod 🎙️ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4f03ajj2ziNtLSv2d9qBmW 🎙️ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/after-the-final-whistle/id1893080400 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

6. 

   8 May 2026

   Emile Heskey: England Career Cut Too Short

   Former England and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey joins After The Final Whistle for a raw and powerful conversation about the realities of life beyond football. In this episode, Emile opens up about the immense pressure of moving to Liverpool at a young age, the coping mechanisms he developed during his career, and the moment he realised he was dealing with depression. He reflects on retiring from international football, growing up in Leicester, and how generational trauma and harmful stereotypes continue to affect players on and off the pitch. The conversation dives deep into racism in football, fatherhood, fame, financial mistakes, and why so many players struggle in silence. Emile also shares the personal story of dealing with his son’s heart defect privately while still performing under the spotlight, and explains why speaking up, male friendships, and mentorship are more important than ever in football culture. We also discuss: The hypocrisy of racist football fans Handling banter, criticism, and public perception The dangers of money and bad investments after football Building his football safety app to tackle fan abuse The lack of Black representation in football boardrooms Finding peace, purpose, and legacy after the game This is an honest conversation about identity, mental health, masculinity, race, and what really matters once the football stops. 🎙️ After The Final Whistle explores the untold stories of life after sport — the struggles, transitions, and lessons athletes rarely speak about publicly. Please support me, it's a brand new podcast. Like share, comment and subscribe. I have some great guests lined up if I can keep this going Chapters 04:02 - The Pressure of Moving to Liverpool 07:46 - Coping Mechanisms & Realizing it was Depression 10:12 - Retiring from International Football 11:55 - Family Heritage & Upbringing in Leicester 13:12 - Generational Trauma & Lazy Stereotypes in Football 16:39 - Dealing with "Banter" & Nicknames 17:45 - Fatherhood & Experiencing Racism Today 19:34 - Launching a Football Safety App for Fan Abuse 23:53 - How Generational Trauma Affects Daily Life 26:10 - The Hypocrisy of Racist Football Fans 27:36 - The Dangers of Fame, Money & Bad Investments 30:25 - Finding True Value in Life Over Wealth 33:40 - The Importance of Male Friendships & Speaking Up 36:36 - Dealing with His Son’s Heart Defect in Secret 39:40 - Advice for Young Players & Breaking Macho Culture 41:38 - Finding Peace and Embracing Mentorship 44:30 - The Main Takeaway & Emile's Legacy 46:10 - The Lack of Black Representation in Football Boardrooms 📸 Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/afterthefinalwhistlepod 🎵 Follow on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@afterthefinalwhistlepod 🎙️ Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4f03ajj2ziNtLSv2d9qBmW 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/after-the-final-whistle/id1893080400 #footballfans #podcast #footballpodcast #footballshow #premierleague #soccer #afterthefinalwhistle #ATFW #interview #exprofessional #retirement #retired #football #england #international #mentalhealth #lifeafterfootball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

7. 

   1 May 2026

   Marvin Sordell: Why I Retired at 28 | Mental Health, Identity & Life After Football

   Former Premier League footballer Marvin Sordell joins Alison Bender on After the Final Whistle to share his powerful and deeply personal story. In this episode, Marvin opens up about: Retiring from football at just 28 His battle with depression and loneliness The reality of life inside professional football Identity, purpose, and life after the game His suicide attempt and the road to recovery Why mental health support in football must improve This is an honest conversation about what really happens when the final whistle blows — and why the “dream life” of a footballer isn’t always what it seems. We also discuss masculinity, social media, therapy, and how to support friends who may be struggling. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Life After Football Isn’t What You Think Intro + themes: identity, time, and purpose 01:34 — Marvin Sordell: More Than a Footballer Meet the guest and his story 02:43 — “I Had to Retire at 28” Why he walked away early 05:15 — The Hidden Mental Health Toll of Football What the game really does to players 07:30 — Abuse, Racism & Pressure in Football The darker reality behind the scenes 10:04 — Misunderstood: “It Wasn’t Just Homesickness” How his struggles were dismissed 13:42 — What “Spiralling” Actually Feels Like Inside a mental health decline 18:11 — Rock Bottom: When It Got Too Much His lowest point and survival mindset 22:32 — How He Rebuilt His Mental Health Therapy, tools, and recovery 25:26 — Finding Purpose Beyond Football New passions and identity 29:37 — Why Time Became Everything His obsession with making life count 33:57 — Daily Habits That Keep Him Stable Simple things that help mental health 36:23 — Social Media Is Dangerous (Especially for Kids) His take on the online world 38:14 — What He’s Building Now Business, film, and future plans 40:27 — Football Has a Serious Problem What clubs must change 46:30 — Final Message: You’re Not Alone Closing thoughts + support If you’re finding things difficult, you’re not alone. Samaritans are available 24/7 at 116 123 (UK & ROI) free, confidential, and always listening Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this episode resonated with you. .... ▶️ Watch & subscribe on YouTube https://lnkd.in/gY-vP8Ee 📸 Follow on Instagram https://lnkd.in/g2a562S6 🎵 Follow on TikTok https://lnkd.in/g9Bx4_Bd 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://lnkd.in/gezQdPuP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

8. 

   24 Apr 2026

   Chris Kirkland: Addiction, Rock Bottom & Recovery After Football

   Some of the hardest moments in football don’t happen on the pitch. In my first episode of After The Final Whistle, former Premier League goalkeeper Chris Kirkland opens up about his battle with painkiller addiction, the moment he hit rock bottom, and the long road to recovery. Chris speaks honestly about the pressures of professional football, playing through injury, and the culture of silence around mental health in the game. He shares what addiction really looked like behind the scenes, the reality of withdrawal, and how he rebuilt his life through routine, accountability, and asking for help. This is a raw and powerful conversation about life after football, overcoming addiction, and why speaking out matters. Series 1 of After The Final Whistle is proudly partnered with Johnstone’s Paint, a brand with a long-standing connection to football through the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and a strong commitment to community work. I also have had the support and training from Samaritans. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can contact Samaritans (UK & ROI) on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 04:47 – Football, Silence & Mental HealthWhy players struggle to speak up, stigma in the game, 07:46 – Isolation in FootballLoneliness, moving clubs, and hidden struggles even among teammates 10:56 – Opening Up & Reading the SignsWhy men find it hard to talk and how to recognise when someone isn’t okay 13:01 – Pressure, Contracts & PlayingThrough PainFinancial pressure, injury clauses, and the reality for players outside the toplevel 15:04 – How Addiction StartedFrom injury to anxiety, and when use turned into dependence 17:22 – Living with AddictionLying, hiding pills, and the lengths addiction drives you to 19:20 – Rock Bottom MomentThe night that nearly killed him and forced change 21:24 – The Cycle & The Way OutFailed attempts to quit, withdrawal, and why support is everything 23:45 – Why This Podcast Exists (Midroll)Creating space for honest conversations + partnership with Johnstone’s Paint 24:25 – Rockbottom, isolation, on the balcony0:26:32 –Turning point, calling for help0:27:12 –Relapse, lockdown struggles and rehab decision 0:29:03 –Recovery progress0:30:50 –Severity of addiction0:31:10 –Cold turkey withdrawal0:37:02 –Writing the book, purpose0:38:02 –Relief through honesty, Public reaction, support0:40:17 –Advice: talk & seek help0:41:13 –Support lines (Samaritans)0:42:19 –Therapy, opening up0:45:37 –Life after football, routine0:47:10 –Reflection, regret, career0:48:09 –Moving forward, staying healthy0:48:52 – Keytools: talk, exercise, accountability Please share with someone who might need it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

9. 

   17 Apr 2026

   After The Final Whistle Trailer

   After The Final Whistle. A new Video Podcast. Everything footballers wanted to talk about whilst they were playing and couldn’t. ⚽️ Thanks to my guests for series 1:Chris Kirkland, Marvin Sordell, Danny Mills, Emile Heskey, Paul Canoville, Leanne Sanderson and thanks to @samaritans for providing me with training so I handle episodes relating to suicide and self harm with care and sensitivity#footballfans #podcast #footballpodcast #footballshow #premierleague #soccer #kirkland #MarvinSordell #Sordell #DannyMills #EmileHeskey #Heskey #Cannoville #lfc #chelseafc #manchestercity #lioness #arsenal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10. 

    13 Apr 2026

    After The Final Whistle is here

    What happens when football ends suddenly? When the lights go out and the crowds go home, what next? Having interviewed over a thousand Premier League footballers in my job as a Premier League pitchside reporter it's a question I have often wondered about and so I created After The Final Whistle. Real human conversations with ex footballers as I seek to discover The Truth About Life After Football. I'm grateful to have the support of Samaritans as we discuss topics including depression, anxiety, mental health, self harm and suicide, and they have given me training so I handle those conversations with care and responsibility. It's a podcast about reinvention and second careers with some incredible stories that you won't have heard before as I interview them through a different lens. I've been through my contacts book and I know you are going to love the guests I have coming up on the show. So follow and join me for After The Final Whistle. Alison Bender Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Contact After The Final Whistle

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.