After The Final Whistle

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

Episodes

Rickie Lambert: Football Retirement Broke Me

September 25, 2026 • 55 mins
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...
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Paul Canoville: Racism, Addiction, Cancer, Chelsea & Surviving Football’s Darkest Days

May 29, 2026 • 51 mins
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 o...
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Lianne Sanderson Opens Up On Coming Out, Online Abuse & Life After Football | After The Final Whistle

May 22, 2026 • 54 mins
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 Li...
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Danny Mills on Pressure, Identity, and Finding Purpose After the Game

May 14, 2026 • 77 mins
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-...
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Emile Heskey: England Career Cut Too Short

May 8, 2026 • 49 mins
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 u...
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Marvin Sordell: Why I Retired at 28 | Mental Health, Identity & Life After Football

May 1, 2026 • 49 mins
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 h...
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Chris Kirkland: Addiction, Rock Bottom & Recovery After Football

April 24, 2026 • 50 mins
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...
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After The Final Whistle Trailer

April 17, 2026 • 1 min
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 #footballpod...
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After The Final Whistle is here

April 13, 2026 • 9 secs
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 ...
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