Football Daily - 72+ EFL Pod: Steve Evans in at Bristol Rovers

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff are joined by the new Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans. They chat about his reasons for taking the job, and his sadness at it being of the expense of his friend Darrell Clarke. How did Mrs Evans react when the family’s Christmas holiday was cancelled? Steve’s old Stevenage captain Carl Piergianni is up for debate for the ‘Ultimate Hard Men Squad’, and Steve poses a tribute to former player Sol Bamba. Plus, with boxing back on BBC TV, Barnsley’s Callum Simpson pops by to chat about his upcoming fight on Saturday evening – what does he make of Barnsley’s season? And what do Aaron and Jobi make of Preston and Hull, the surprise packages at the top of the Championship?Time Codes: 00:20 – Jobi feeling festive? 03:10 – Steve Evans in at Bristol Rovers 17:25 – ‘Ultimate Hard Men Squad’ 25:30 – Barnsley’s Callum Simpson 35:45 – Top of Championship: Preston & Hull 44:02 – 72Plus/72MinusCommentaries This Week: Thurs 20:00 Sparta Prague v Aberdeen - Sports Extra Sat 15:00 Man City v West Ham - 5 Live Sat 15:00 Brighton v Sunderland - Sports Extra Sat 17:30 Tottenham v Liverpool - 5 Live Sun 13:30 Hearts v Rangers - 5 Live Sun 16:30 Aston Villa v Manchester United - 5 Live

72 Plus, the EFL podcast with Aaron Paul and Joby McEnough. Hello everybody, welcome along to 72 Plus, the EFL podcast from Five Lives Football Daily. That is welcome, as ever to my right hand. It is Joby McEnough. Jowell, how are you? I am very, very well, thank you very much. You're feeling festive, you know, mate? I am. I really am.

It's, yeah, a nice time of the year with the kids getting into everything. What does Christmas look like at Casa McEnough? I presume you're out early. You've got the decorations down the Elf and the shelf is out. You're getting ready. You're brining your turkeys. You're planning things. What's it looking like?

Yeah, you know what? We normally have a big family. Well, I say big, you know, obviously my I've got two sisters, my wife's mum and my mum and dad, obviously, and then a few of the grandkids. So it's a nice affair. We're actually going to my sister. She's hosting this year, which is a bit of a shift. we normally do have it at ours so that's quite nice

be quite good to get up we can have Christmas morning as we would do normally open the presies and then just swan off to somebody else is doing all the cooking and obviously help a little bit cleaning up but then you know come home to a nice tidy house rather than absolute destruction at the end of a long day overly stuffed with food and drink is your sister a good cook very good I've got to say they're excellent I've got to say so again really looking forward to that not that my wife isn't obviously she's No, no, no, no. I have to throw that in there, do you know what I mean?

But we're blessed with good cooks in the Mac and a household. Do you want to shout out of Mrs. Mac right now? Yeah, obviously, you know, she's going to, I'll say a day off. We're going to obviously contribute and take some bits around, but she's actually quite relieved because it is a lot, I must say, as much as I think we all sort of have a laugh about it when you're the one responsible for making sure that turkey's coming out perfectly and on time, all the rest of the foods, hot, all the trimings.

You know, it's a lot of pressure, in it? A lot of pressure. So, yeah. Light work, mate. You like work. You got that, yeah. Light work. Light work, Joel.

Jobes, we teased it last week, but shall we reveal who our Christmas special is with this year? It is a family affair. Oh, listen, I've been really doing my best not to put a spoiler, you know, and mess this up. Because obviously it's a big one for us. It was a brilliant shoot, wasn't it? Buzzin to reveal. Not just one, Bruce, but two. We've got the absolute legend, Steve.

You know, brilliant. managerial career over a thousand games and actually dug into a little bit about the man United playing career because it's almost as if that goes you know it gets washed over because he's been a manager for so long so some great stories from his time with sir Alex as a player and then we had Alex as well which was just a lovely feel to it just to bring out that sort of personal side of things again we spoke to them a bit about their experiences over Christmas and that relationship of dad and son not only both being in the game but being at the same team at the same time on a couple of occasions so a absolute cracker

I'm sure all the listeners will really, really enjoy catching that one. So you can join us for 72 Plus's Christmas special, The Family Affair, with Steve and Alex Bruce. Next Wednesday, it's Christmas Eve on BBC Sounds. Joining us this week is someone who almost nearly didn't make it. His Christmas plans have gone all haywire. I bet Mrs Evans is absolutely raging. You promise you'd be staying home with the grandkids, Big Steve.

Oh, she's crying. we had beautiful beautiful Christmas Eve planned beautiful Christmas Day boxing day and then a little trip to the Maldives Oh Steve Steve

If it's too late to change it And you need someone to take your place Then please send me the tickets over Yeah me and us We've been able to postpone it And lost a lot of money But yeah we're But the opportunity

It came to come into a good club and we sat down and took me five seconds and took my took so long time we got a head round at the holiday was gone I would love to have had that been a fly in the wall for that conversation Steve I've got to be honest mate that would have been absolute gold mate your wife is a very sweet woman I've had the privilege of meeting Mrs Evans on a couple of occasions she's a very sweet woman she's you know uber polite and she's very kind I can't imagine what she was like to you when you told her you were getting the Bristol I went into the room five foot eight and come out five foot one of my knees

and it was yeah she has she has a succinct weird never raised a voice but saying something that really means a lot and um she got and then she'd transferred the news to her daughters to say that instead of walking around her a lot was island at you know 75, 80 degrees in line by the pool she was travelling to Bristol on Boxing Day to watch us play Bromley at home so yeah quite a change

but yeah we're having football so we know what happens. Must have been a different vibe I don't know if you remember or you will remember it's only a few weeks ago we did a gig didn't we Steve and Steve had to have a late change of clothing because the emblems on his shirt were a little bit too big for

to go out on TV so he's ended up in a black sort of turtle neck looking very very suave and then about five minutes on air he gets a little message from the misses didn't you Steve? Do you want to share what it was? She goes, oh wild square that new jump with you

bought it's amazing you look great I think it's a bit 10 years old Jimmy was it? That's amazing oh mate so yeah I think this is a slightly frosty conversation. Jobi that's what love is that's what a proper relationship is all about

still being married after all these years kids grandkids and your husband been to go and disappear to the other side of the country to go and manage yet another football team probably to induce a bit more blood pressure on you, Steve. That's what Mrs Evans is all about, and that's why we love her. She's up there with EFL royalty.

She lets you go do your thing. And she puts up with you. Well, she could never quite understand, Joby, when I was off to the house by every morning to do my bake and my swimming now. I used to say to her every morning, I'm off to walk. And she used to say, you don't walk,

screw me down the stairs. But no, so it's, yeah, Alyssa, we're born to do what we do, don't we? So the opportunity has presented itself three or four times recently that I'm speaking to Ross Wilkes and director of football up at Newcastle and he said, you'll know when you wake up the next morning and you want to say yes and you want to get in the car. In all honesty, between the SPO and clubs in the NFL, the opportunities are hard.

I'd never got that feeling, but when I spoke to the board here, Mr Rovers and I had an overnight decision to make, I did wake up thinking, I'm going to say yes, and let's get in the car and let's go to walk. The more difficult conversation was the holiday. The thing is, Steve, I'd imagine having a conversation with her about the third wheel in the relationship. The third party in your marriage was even worse because it's a return of Paul Rayner as well. Your long term, right, our man, she saw his car pulling up the driver and thought, here we go again. You know, it's the other woman. What's going on now? I'm about to lose my husband again his mistress is back

yes she does and she did tongue-in-cheek say so you be sharing an apartment again with Paul I said yes make sure you get a two-bedroom she says people will talk and listen Paul's probably to what it does but yeah she puts his hand

and glove when it comes to going to do a job and walking football so I'm delighted that he accepted the opportunity to come because he as much as I'm on a new Monday it was reasonably late on Monday night before I Senator Paul with the opportunity. Steve, there's a lady called Holly

Von Mac, Weird Fishers 86 on X, who is a big, big Bristol Rovers fan. In fact, she's got a Bristol Rovers podcast called the Robin and Irene podcast, which I think is a city and Rovers podcast, just you know, so I like comparing and contrasting.

Since August, she's a message going, hi Aaron, can you send Steve Evans a message and ask him to come some of a football club out? And the other day, It was just the greatest honour to say, hey, Holly, happy Christmas, job done. There you go. So, look, the fans are excited to have you there.

They're excited to have someone who's going to grab the club by it, you know what, and really drive it forward. What are the first few days being like? Because it feels from the outside that this is a club who aren't at rock bottom yet. I mean, in terms of in the grand scheme of things, maybe on the pitch, 10 defeats in a row. but there's still that glimmer of hope and there's still that fire to achieve something.

Yeah, I think we all know the Rovers, don't we? It's historically and it's a fantastic football club with a real passionate fan best. And I've read the words and heard the words of supporters in recent weeks, months as we all follow football to say

that, you know, the team's in this run of form because the owners don't put money in, etc. I met the board. The facts are, are in the budget is the third or fourth highest in league two. Now, it doesn't matter

if you've got the top budget gives you no right to the top of the league but it should give you an opportunity to be higher than second bottom and I feel sorry for Darrell Clark

who's lost the job as a manager because he is a good manager he's a personal friend and our first voice to the players when I addressed the players was a good man's lost his job

but we have to make sure we don't lose our jobs going forward now whether that be a player or manager with the staff and so we've been brought in to deal with a big immediate problem

which is where the club is in league position so that's what we're all going to try and do but it's get every opportunity of the football club to be I think Jobby's played against Bristol Rovers are good levels. It's got an opportunity for this club to be a championship club

but as I said to the owners I insisted on a deal to the end of the season and the reason I insisted because if we can sort of the short term problem out, then I'll see what the real plans are going forward and whether we can build a real championship group to, in terms of league two championship, to be into league one. Steve, just on that, you mentioned Darrell Clark and I'm very surprised it's gone as badly as it has because, you know, for me, seemed like a good fit at the time and probably what the club

needed. And I don't think any of us could have foreseen, you know, 10 defeats on the bounce. It's unheard of. We've all been in bad runs and, you know, but you find that way to get out of it. and they just haven't been able to do that. What do you put that down to? And, I mean, how do you turn that around? It's a real lack of confidence at the moment. What's the first thing you do when you walk in there and address those players

and get them to start believing that you're the man to turn things around? Well, I think we said it, Joby. The first thing I did say, in simple, as a good man's lost his job. And I know, I know from speaking to him during that run, he was trying everything. He was trying different systems,

whether it be a four, we'd be a three, whether it'd be a five. where two strikers, one strikeer, two wide, he was trying everything. But sometimes when you get, sometimes in a football club, the more you turn the page and you more you try, the more you dig deep and the more you over-analyze, it doesn't quite happen for you. And I think then players lose confidence.

Good players don't want to get the ball. Good players don't want to go and chase the ball because they might get it because they're scared. And it's a strong world scared, but there's a difference of being, we talk about being brave. Brave is taking the ball when, but poor areas. I have to say it on this podcast and I hate it to say this to Jopi

but he was one player that was brave and Joby wouldn't jump up and throw an elbow at someone or scratch someone but he would take the ball in the worst of areas and control it and cement and help his team so I think a lot to do with it is confidence because if you wrote the team down

in August at the end of it, the window, the squad it was for sure a playoff score if not a promotion squad but I reminded the players there's not been a game winner on paper it has to be one on the grass and therefore whatever's been wrong and we're trying to find those reasons

and we'll change certain things is we need to change and all of us need to change because if we don't change more of the same cannot do because more of the same will mean National League football. Just on Jobie

I knew you were going to come back on if I saw your eyes in the later stages of his career because the knees were gone the legs are gone it was only really sort of like the middle bit of him left because yeah It was all done. It was like, you know, a four-pot engine that has like a couple of cylinders on the blink.

That's what it was. And that's why he needed to hold the ball up and keep his team in the game and just bring everyone else into play. I'll get nothing but negativity from this guy. So I really appreciate that, nice words. And redefining bravery, I don't think there'd be loads of people that would look at me and go. I might actually make it into the Hardman 11 off the back of this as. What do you reckon? Yeah, good joke.

Different type of way. No. In terms of physicality and admin, I don't think you're on the page. I don't know you get there a bit I used to think if Mcinoff even in his

lot of years gets the ball wade and he goes half a yard if you've got straight and he moves real when he's a

strong they'll put it on his head that's what I used to think and then unlucky for Joeby the striker because he was

putting it on the head I've used to head at wade over so you can say that you can definitely say that

Steve I don't I've never to say but I've never but you but you're right

you're good you're good it's all love it's all love you know Through gritted teeth, that was. Never, ever through gritted teeth. Yeah, Steve, look, it's great to have you there

and have your back involved in the football league. I know it's going to be a roller coaster at Bristol Rovers. January, any talk about potential money available? Anyone you like the look of. We know we've got a curly head striker that is banging goals in the national league. And I'm sure if you phone him up and said, hey, Taylor, get over it. I'm sure he'd do it. Yeah, I love him. I love Lyle.

But I think realities is part of my conversations where the board was was about January. But first and foremost, you have to, we have to give the players here an opportunity because I said if you wrote them down in a slip of paper or in a squad sheet back in August, you'd be saying, oh, it's a decent squad this. But the players now have four or five games to demonstrate that they want to be a part of the short term fixing and the long term future. but I've been given every assurance by the chairman and the board that there's funds available and when you're coming into the current predicament and situation then I needed that assurance and I would have walked in the door so it doesn't mean there's going to be huge funds for transfer fees

there won't be because I think with the third of four highest budget already in and league two and buy cement and further funds to that it's probably going to take us in at the top two or three so but we have got pleasant identified that we believe we'd like to bring into the football club but what stops that by position is current performances if if players in certain positions really perform then what we're not going to do is bring duplicates in because that won't walk for it so we have areas of the team that we've identified we need to strengthen and that's where the appropriate funds are

got fantastic if you need a little bit of help on the getting the forwards going I actually did a bit of work with rule suitorio so you can speak to him when you go in next we did a nice little bit of finishing when I was coaching and couldn't use his left foot, started stick him in the bottom corner. So if you do need a hand, a bit of extra coaching, because Aaron's really just, you know, not giving me the credit my career deserves. And Joby, I did say,

I did say to Role this morning in training at one stage that the last time he played against me was for late, well, not last year he played against me, was for Bristol over, but in his time at Leight and Orient, I don't think my feelback that day has ever recovered. I don't think he's ever recovered. He's got a fantastic

ability but do we need to get it out of him now and does he need to run a lot more and walk a lot harder the obvious get after him steve get after him steve top little player there if you can get him going that's joby's horse my horse is 35 years old he's got fresh blonde curls and i can get him for your gaffer so let me know when you want big l t as long as you got the 33 shirt free he'll come in it and he'll do a job for you i think i think be people that run young railway looks as if he needs someone in his face, Joey, and I'm the man to be in his face, but I'm the man to cuddle him and give him all the plaudits

when he turns it on, but the time has come for him now to justify his future at Bristol Roes. Not just real, the whole squad, because at the end of the day, you're sick and bottom for a reason, and the reason is, the performances have not been good enough, and 11 defeats in a row

if you include a cup, is a statistic that each player must be embarrassed, but, never mind a manager losing his job, and let me say every player in the squad loves Daryl Clark and I love him as a friend so a good man is no longer working and if I thought Daryl could stop being working I'd be somewhere else competing against him, taking it because he's one of my true friends in this in this mad game of football. Fantastic stuff. Steve, let's push on and talk about our hard man 11. The last

time you hear it was our ultimate 11 but this time we've changed the theme and this is the team that will come up against them. You can get your suggestions in on WhatsApp. 08,000, 28,000. nine three six nine uh we've currently assembled a bit of a squad steve no no 11 yeah it's a squad we don't really not shape we're going with and whatnot hey i don't think this team will have a shape patty kenny is the only goalkeeper i thought we've got in and amongst it at the moment got barry fuller chris morgan paul robinson who's ex mill wall kevin muscat guy brantston that's from Liam in Rotherham, Gary Brabbing, that's some Tommy in Southport,

Kevin MacDonald, Jonathan Hogg, Michael Tongue, Michael Brown, John Akinday, Adabayak in Fenwa, Lucas Yukovitz, Darius Henderson, Steve Morrison, and Nicola Ziggich. Now, I'm wondering

where your former Stephenage captain fits into this. Is he a hard man, or is he just clumsy? I'll be a Johnny. He one million percent would be in it. You know, he is hard as nails. And many a heated discussion in many technical areas or walking up tunnels, football tunnels. Carl's appearance would make people run away.

He was hard as nails. And yet, away from all that, very much like Chris Morgan, absolutely warrior at Sheffield United, so competitive, so fearsome. And yet away from it all. and sitting having a glass of a wine or a bite to you with the girls he's a great fella but hard as nails so Pierre Janney for me

would be in that group he's great I remember when we come and sweet at the training granny told the story of I think he was breaking his nose on on a way day like completely smashing his face up and I think the physio I'd put a couple of like sort of cotton those big cotton swab ball things

whatever you want to call him up his nose just to sort of stop the bleeding so he's gone home got to bed and just thought nothing of it absolutely knackard woke up in the morning his wife is screaming the house down and she goes that like

obviously he's moving around while he sleeps his face is all smashed up it's all bruised and it's just covered in blood and he's like what what's going on completely oblivious what a man what a man who else would you have in your ultimate hard man squad

it's called a squad for the moment stevie in terms of totality of players it's played for me or anyone you like maybe it's someone you admired, maybe it is a player yeah, let's have let's some players that I've played for you. Yeah, there's one man that's he used to come across, he's very, very attractive looking for her,

he was very handsome, very suave. Oh, cheers, Steve. Is this where I think we're going? And it's, it's not a joby fella. No, no. But it was, he was at Legionade with me, he's no longer with his good rest of him, so bamba.

and he had all the soft French talking charm particularly in front of my good lady and different things but you put him in a you put the training get shut on or you put him in a match situation he was strong he was competitive and the harder the strikers they come the better soul was

and so that that sign of me he was a true hard bun bit for sporting reasons absolutely you're picking proper warriors, Steve. Yeah, he was a lad that led by example, feared no one but respected everyone. He could go from that soft, charming discussion in your office prior to training.

Joby, you've seen these types. And next thing, people at McEnough are running away from on the pitch because he's so strong, so hard. But yeah, just a real warrior. top, top class at what he'd done. In another way as well, in terms of brave, is that

Ivan Tony was a brave kid. Strong, strong, physically, but strong with a voice and took no nonsense either. Yeah, just on Sol, Job's a very, very, you know, dear, missed friend as well, someone who's a sweet person

to be around, we had the pleasure of working with him on 72 and on 5 Live, and just very, very missed, but an absolute animal on the pitch. great shout. I think he's one of those that sort of from the outside, I never played with Solba. I know a lot of lads who did, you probably have that perception of, you know, like Steve has given a brilliant description, sort of very smooth, you know, looks well, but actually they've all got that side to him where when that game needs to be one or that tackle needs to be

made or the standards in training. I mean, I'll throw Danny Shittu into the mix. I was with him and just a real man mounting, but a gentle giant off the pitch, you know, but then when he got angry or, you know, it was time to go to work, you did not want to cross him. And I think from that, the psychological impact, I've seen, you know, Steve says it, you know, strikers that just sort of go, I'm not sure about this today. And you've won your battle before the game's even started.

So, yeah, a couple of great shouts there from Steve. I just remember it's many of the times at Ellen Road where my wife, my family had been in my office, and sort of would come in after the game. And he had that charm a bit on the way he spoke, he was a big family man he would be very humble to my wife and to my children and and um and when we'd be in the car the way home my wife used to say but but that's not the big lad at the back who was like she was like bossing everyone i'm like yeah she goes oh my god then she met his wife

and his wife said he was at home he was even more charming he was even more nice he was even more like the husband of every lady's dreams, you know, and yet on the pitch he was and on the training round he was fearsome, that's the way I would say it he could have stitches in his eyes he could have a broken nose. I remember

one day he did break his nose and he I said, what have you done? He says, I've broken my nose gaff, I don't leave it, just move on, I'm not interested. So it made it good he said, no, no, I don't want to know it, and run back on the pitch and his nose is like half of it's pointing towards east terrace, do you know what I mean? So, you

you're thinking like, you know. But yeah, and I used to speak rigour to solemnism. Fantastic. Steve, we'll leave it there with you. Send us your suggestions throughout EFL hardband 11. Dive two-footed into our WhatsApp's 0-8,000, 289-369 in the new year. We'll have to trim that squad right down. Thank you, Gaffa. Best of luck.

Have a great Christmas, Jorby. Go well, Steve. We're coming to your sisters. We're obviously got Christmas here at all. You're welcome, mate. You're welcome, mate. Because you've said everyone else is coming out

and you may as well come as well. Yeah, might as well. A Christmas at Jobbies and to you are and to the family and I know what you think big man of the family as well. So have a great time. More importantly,

let's all make sure we're seeing 2026 safely. Catch up with you soon. Thank you. Take care, guys. Cheers, boss. Cheers. My name's Steve Bradnell,

a sister manager of Royal Oak FC. You may have seen me online Vinyl. Vinyl Sensation. And now the BBC have given me the chance to set the footballing world bang to her eyes. This could be a great opportunity for us, lads, a podcast

for the BBC. Can I just say what's a podcast? Brilliant. Great start. Well done, Bob. Brilliant. We could completely show utter transparency to Royal Oak fans. I'll use my charm. Gifted at Gab. Games gone. The Steve Bracknell

podcast. Watch on YouTube. Listen on BBC sounds. 72 plus, the EFL podcast with Aaron Paul and Joby McEnough. Something a little bit different now on 72 plus. This Saturday, Barnsley's Callum Simpson will defend his super middleweight European, British and Commonwealth titles against Troy Williamson in Leeds. You'll be able to watch that on BBC Eye Player and on BBC 3. And so, as a huge Barnsley fan, delighted to say that Callum joins us now on 72 plus,

The home of the EFL from Five Live Sport. Callum, how are you feeling ahead of the big fight? I'm great, mate. Thank you. I'm very good. I'm especially hungry now after you guys are mentioning chocolate just then. But other than that, I'm feeling great, mate.

I'm looking forward to it. Training's gone well. Just a few days out now. So, yeah, I can't wait. Carl, it's not me. It's him. He's trying to get into your head. He's testing your mental resilience.

That's it. I've got plenty of that, so we're all right. We're all right. Talk to us about you and your relationship with Barnsley. Yeah, I'm Bansley born and bred My hometown I've got a massive connection with the club And I think we've got the same

Fighting spirit Right, I like to think Sometimes I wish Browns had a bit more of a fighting spirit But depends what players we've got back But I think with Connor We've Connor in charge We've shown the playing that this season I'd have come off to a little bit of a bad start at times

But it's up and down But no, you know The absolute top class lands Conner's a great guy as well And I think we've got that great And determination And yeah again from the fans to the club

they've got amazing support massive backing from them and yeah I've got a great connection with the club Callum I was reading your bio and it said just before you sort of really went into your box and you did play a little bit of football back in the day just give us a little taste of what we could expect to see if you

were on a football field rather than in a boxing ring what type of player would you have yourself out one that's not very good I played a right back or centre back when I was seven and eight and I used to play for

Donough of Minas well for my local team and yeah I would never any good but my dad became the manager and obviously so we don't know when the dad's the manager

I'm the one that were getting shouted I'm the one that he could obviously raise his voice to be fair it was my fault most of the time to be honest I mean it was it was my fault

it was deserved but yeah it got to a point where I was just like that's it enough I've had enough for being told off all time and yeah

gave it in I'm a much better at boxing. I work than out of football than anyway. I'll just say that. Cal, you won titles at Oakwell, haven't you? I mean, what's it like going out there? It's your home grand. You're a proud Yorkshireman.

You're a proud Barnsley-Ovian. Is that what the word? You're proud Tyke. Yeah, you can say I'm a proud town lad. A proud town lad. Is that what we call him? Yeah, okay, fair. He's from Barnsley, as.

So I think we'll take his word for it. And he's not too pretty handy in the ring, mate. So we'll definitely take his word for it. You know what I mean. I mean, how special is that to be walking out at your home ground, to be fighting at Oakwell and to win there as well? Honestly, people always say, is it a dream come true? Is it a dream come true?

But I would never even have dreamt that. I would never have dreamt as a kid. And even as a teenager or even like a few years ago, they were a possibility. So when I got told about it, I were like, that's not going to happen. Surely not. And has it got closer to being finalised? I were like, oh, my God, this is actually going to.

happened like that's crazy and to do it obviously the first time we did it was for the british in front of seven thousand people absolutely packed packed out of the east end seven thousand there sold out within two days from the from the press conference in town the the public waning town just a full week the buzzing around the buzz around bars it was was unreal and then walking out to all them supporters friends family i will see my neighbors i was seeing my old school friends my work friends some of our best mates people i've not seen in years in the crowd supporting me and chanting my name so it were a special moment and then to come back again not even 10 months later double the capacity the European title on the line it's just huge absolutely massive and again

just a special special moment in my career and just a huge mouse in my career and something that that's not only special for me but special for bansley as well there's so many people that have come out you like you see like the proper old boys who were like they're in the 60s 70s it's so many even 80s They come up to me and they just say how proud they are in me and what I've done for town and how many and that's the best atmosphere they've ever seen and they've gone through the Premier League days as well, getting promoted.

And yeah, just that's what means a lot when I go and I shake the round and look in their eyes and they say thanks for doing what you're doing for balancing for the club as well. So yeah, it's special, mate, very special. That's a brilliant insight, I think, into the build-up. I've actually watched the highlights of that fight. And for anyone out there, you've got a spare sort of five minutes.

Get yourself on because this was a proper ding-dong. Talk about Rocky or maybe for the younger generation creed, but it was like a movie. You went down early first round. I mean, what are you thinking then? I mean, you've spoken about that, the sort of expectation, the pressure, fighting, you know, at your home ground. And then again went down in the third round, I think it was. And is that that Barnsley spirit that you had to show to come back and those fans help you get back on your feet and then go and stop him in the tent? That's that you're actually great right there.

Yeah, not only was it the first round, it was the first eight. seconds it was the first eight seconds um yeah for me i just i just got caught called i obviously i went down i wouldn't even hurt i got straight back up and in my head i was thinking why don't i feel embarrassed why don't i feel like i just got dropped in front of 15 000 people the home supporters first eight seconds but i was so confident still i was there was nothing there was no point in my head thinking oh no i'm going to lose this there was not at one point and then you know everyone still rallied still rallied behind me even i got dropped again there was still back in me still so some rally behind me

and then when I dropped Zucko in the 10th round the roar from the crowd you can see the smile on my face when I dropped him for the third time and I'm looking at my corner

and I'm looking at the crowd and I'm looking at Zuckor and I'm just smiling I've got massive grin on my face and I'm just getting ready to run either to run onto the corner to celebrate stopping him or to run back in to knock him out again

if the referee lets him carry on and unfortunately the referee stopped it and I'd run on the ropes and just get a big cheer a big roar and it would just yeah we're crazy or amazing. That local pride thing is huge, isn't it?

It's part of being like a Yorkshireman and a Yorkshire person, if you're like. You really feel it when you're up there. Like every corner of Yorkshire, they're just so proud of who they are, where they're from, what they do, and like, no doubt, proud of you as well. And it's really, really lovely to see. Now, when I got sent on a visit to Barnsley once upon a time, it's got to be about 10, 11 years ago, my editor at the time, BBC London, asked me to go and try and

check out what a Barnsley Chop was. Do you know what Barnsley Chop is? Oh, chop, yeah. Of course I don't know what Barnesy Chop is, yeah. Surely, like, well, no, surely you either, you know, sort of like your last punch, your winning punch, you'd be known as Barnsley Chop.

No, it's not, I don't know if Bansley Chop's that popular anymore, to be honest. I think, yeah, I've not had a Banzi chop in it in a while. I'm not had it in a long time, especially when I'm dieting, as well, I'd rather, I'd go for a chicken or a steak over a Banzi chop. But, yeah, you could... The finishing move weren't a chop, as I saw it,

is a massive uppercut, mate. Absolutely rocked in about three times on the bounce, mate. To be fair, it's like a branding thing, Jobes. Yeah, but I think we need to come out of a better chop. Not really doesn't do it justice. I mean, it was a kind of area. One on one is two, you know, and you just get them together on happy days. It might take off after this, who knows, who knows?

I think if I'm not try out with like an overhand right, like chop it down or an overhand left. What I'll do? I'll try and chop a shot down. we can say the bands they chop we'll see what we can do we'll see what I can do I'll see what I can do for you do it if people want to get involved if people want to check it out where they're doing

what they're heading what they're heading to online yeah so it's on on Saturday this Saturday 20th of December live on the BBC free before that would be on BBC I player as well to watch the prelims or if you're still wanting tickets to available at boxer.com it's going to be an amazing night

and proper barnstorm they've got plenty of local local talent on local on or from around Yorkshire in various areas as well so yeah it's going to be a great night kalam just on that one i mean i grew up in an era with sort of nigel ben chris eubank steve collins watching that on terrestrial tv and it was massive to be able to flick the telly on you know and just have a top top level sport and boxing in particular how important do you think that is certainly for you in building your profile and getting into everyone's houses but i just think for so many people out there that enjoy watching boxing might not have access

you know, to a lot of the big platforms that it seems to be on these days. Yeah, it's massively important to me. Like I said, I think a lot of, whether it's kids or adults or whatever it is, a lot don't watch the boxing on TV because it's a paywall there. It's all subscription-based. Literally every broadcast you've got to pay a monthly fee just to be able to watch it. So especially on the BBC free as well because the audience is a lot younger on BBC free. So, you know, I think the box is all about trying to inspire the next generation.

So hopefully there's a young kid flicking through their channels, whether it's a boy or a girl, they're flicking through their channels, they think, oh, is this? And they've seen me become a big bouncy chop, and they might want to take up boxing. They might want to, you know, all that again, trying to inspire the next generation.

But yeah, there's going to be, the eyes on it's going to be a lot more. So, yeah, much more exposure. So it's great for me. If you were taekwondo, martial arts, MMMA, anything like that, the Barnsley Chop will be right on. brand. You've got to make this your brand, though. The Barnsley Chop. We'll make it.

Bansy chop. That's it. Consider it done. Cal, I love it. I love your work, man. Good luck. We can't wait. To watch you on Saturday night and I'll be tuned in whilst I present 606 this week. Can't wait for it. It's going to be fun jokes. Thank you, Callum.

Thank you, mate. Appreciate it. Cheers, mate. Good luck. Good luck. To Barnsley's Callum Simpson taking to the ring Saturday evening. You can watch that farm BBC 3 and on the BBC iPod. Let's quickly chat championship. Paul Hakenbottoms, Preston, North and up to third, reaching the halfway stage. And I want to apologise.

And it's not really an apology. It's kind of like a tip of the hat to a guy called Paul Fletcher, who works with us at Five Live. Paul was one of the inaugural sort of like, you know, if you consider the founders of the Football League, Paul was one of the founders of 72 plus, he was very much in there, loves his P&E, loves the EFL. And Fletch the other week, when P&E were away at Watford said, you know, they're very, functional precedent they get things done they're unspectaculating

what they do and I go yeah they're basically a Voxal Astra they're functional they're practical they're good economically they look good when they need to look good they don't look good

when they don't need to look good they get the job done well they're efficient they're diligent they're proactive and that's what I've seen from P&E every time I watched them

however this is where the sport bit comes in the VXRB when Daniel Jebison someone actually gets him scoring goals you got yourself a little outlook there I absolutely get the analogy and I'd have to say yeah

I mean very much does what it says on the tin reliable you know never going to have you know a really really bad day at the office maybe getting into a car it's not the first thing you look at I'm joking I'm joking yeah you never quite want to

probably one of those vehicles that he said if I could pick anything I'd choose that but at the same time Will it get me from A to B more times than not? I'd say absolutely. And I think that is a good description of what Paul Heckenbottom's done there. And I mean this so respectfully. And I think it's important that we do note this by no means downplaying how well they've done or how they've done it.

But, you know, really, really solid, really organized, hard to beat. Everyone seems to be, you know, moving in the same direction. And I think it's shown what you can do with that togetherness and know how. and listen, no shortage of input on the training pitch as well, but there's only the top two that have lost more games than them. They have drawn eight, but listen, really solid, hard to beat, and that has been the real basis of that success. And no lack of quality at time as well.

You've just mentioned Jebison, you know, obviously he's chipped in recently with some important contributions and just a really all-round good football team. I really like Hecky. I've always been a Hecky fan. I think he's a very good coach. lovely guy as well, like really just great guy to be around and it's nice to see him doing well. What was interesting is that pre-season, everyone, including myself, wrote them off, fully wrote them off because of the scale of the window they needed. And the fact that they lost some, a couple of big players, the one I'm obviously looking at and everyone's looking at is Emil Rees, Ryan Ledson, Freddie Woodman as well in goal.

Like, they're three key players you're missing and you're losing. That's basically three quarters of your spying gone. But they've recruited well, they are very well coached, they're very well drilled, and again, they're functional, they get the job done. They don't have to be super pretty every week. They do play some pretty stuff sometimes, but yeah, I think it's good. Efficiency is good. There's nothing wrong with it. I think they're showing they're a fantastic model, Aaron. I think we live in an age where we've seen so many clubs overstretch and get themselves into trouble.

And maybe that's a criticism sometimes that the fans would label on the ownership there. clearly they're making sure that that club is as sustainable as it can be in the championship, which we know is nigh on impossible. But you look a couple of those signings, Harrison Armstrong on loan from Everton, fantastic loan sign. Lewis Dobbin as well from Astafin. And what they're giving those players is an opportunity to go and perform week in, week out. Yes, their ceilings, in my opinion, going to be higher than the championship.

But at this point in time, what do they need? They need regular football in a real environment that they can grow and learn. And obviously contribute to the team, which is what. they've absolutely done so you know I think massive kudos to everyone there because like you said I had them to really struggle this season but some clever recruitment

obviously a pre-season for he's to really implant some of the things that he wants to do with that squad and he's got them going very very nicely indeed I don't want to sit and go oh where they're going to finish blah blah blah blah just isn't that that's a bit sort of boring at this stage I'd rather talk about another team

who I've been really impressed with this whole city and I've watched them a few times the season. They are like a really well-oiled military-grade machine when they go in because they have a plan and they execute it just beautifully. They went to Millwall to go and

disrupt. They went to Millwall to go and wind people up to utilize the dark arts but also to counter rapidly because they know that Millwall don't have a midfielder to their name at the football club that is fit and so they exposed it. And their manager

is a funny guy. I don't know if you've bumped into it. to Sir Guy. He's a very, very funny guy. He's a funny chap. He's humorous. They've got experience in the back room. Dean Holden has gone in and added some EFL experience. This is not a bad little whole side. And again, with the sort of nature of the division and the way it's playing out and the way that we're watching it all unfold, anything goes. Anything is possible here. Yeah. And again, I mean, we've just spoken about recruitment at one end of the getting young, talented low knees. And I think a massive decision for them

was the likes of McBurney, Semiahe, who again, been around the circuit, but bring bags of experience and know-how. And my probably only big worry was the manager in terms of not having experience of football in this country and certainly not a championship level. But I think they've actually caveated that

with some of those signings that they've made. You know, Liam Miller coming back in and they've had injuries as well as to be where they are. You know, McBerney missed a chunk of game. Miller's missed games, you know, getting them both back and looking at full strength. Crooks, another one, you know, massively experienced at this level and a real good, good outfit and a really enjoyable team to watch actually. I know we had an organisation early on in the season about who's the sort of team that you really

enjoy watching and holes games, you know, whether scoring or conceding, which they have done at times this year, always a really, really good watch. So, yeah, massive credit to two clubs who certainly I didn't have on the list of of being in the top six come the end of this season making a real good go of it and I think it's just epitomize the league you've got mill all up there

of course this season as well there's just an openness to it and some of those clubs that we just didn't expect to be there which is just great I think it keeps it interesting I do feel it is still wide open for those playoff places

I certainly wouldn't be sort of ruling any of those out the only not negative but with Preston is maybe that squad depth as a season kicks on job's is consistency isn't it it's a case of if you can and you don't even need proper consistency here if you can get be semi-consistent you got you got a shout you got you are fully in with a shout yeah and I think that's something that they have actually focused on in that recruitment is

beefing up the squad from Preston's perspective where that has been an issue in times we've seen them start seasons well and then fall off in the second half of the season due to you know just numbers but I look for it now there's definitely a lot more depth than there has been and I think think that's been a key part of what they've tried to build at that football club. So I think if they can keep everybody fit, keep that squad healthy and that competition for places, you know, they put themselves in good positions down the last couple of years down the stretch and just not been able to quite convert, whereas this could be the year, given the open nature of the championship, that they could actually get themselves into those

playoffs at long last. If you are just a regular football fan and you want to look out for some whole players to watch out for, Ryan Giles has been excellent on the left. I'll tell you it is crossing has been very, very good the end product is excellent this season

and he's laid on a few Mohammed Balumi for me is someone I've really enjoyed watching he's tricky he's pacey he's got that flair about him

which is really enjoyable to watch Carl Joseph coming into the goals at Mill and Joe Geldhard when he comes back from injury Job's I think it's time

to finish with this 72 plus 72 minus on the football daily Jobbs, it's time for your best and worst moments of the week. What you got for us? Well, we've seen some halfway line-type goals before, haven't we?

And there's a bit of an argument at times as to are they as good as I certainly think they are when they're sort of just around the halfway line. Well, no debate whatsoever about this one. And it was Abdul Fattarwu, who actually picks the ball up just outside his own 18-yard box, skips forward, little nutmeg. and from what I can only say is probably 20 yards inside his own half sees the keeper off his line the longest distant strike ever recorded in the championship

since the opt-stats began what a bit of genius from him right bring it on fatahui picking the ball up here good enough meg and then has seen walton off his life it's a long striker goal this is going to go in it does Abdul fatahue scores from inside his own heart And it's a goal of the season contender from Abdul Fatawu. Very, very good indeed.

Best screamer, you ever scored Jopes? Oh, I'm going to go for away at Fratton Park for Leighton-Ory. And good distance, probably 25 at least, just whipped it into the far corner. You score a few screamers that you don't necessarily mean, but this one, the ball went exactly where I intended it to go and was a very nice moment. enjoyed that you had to pretend to think about it there for the camera i did score that many screamers mate so it's not a long list i've got to say i scored a great one yeah it was the the middle sex district lead under 15s and you know me as a sitter a holding midfielder

you don't really foray up that much but it was one of those ones where you just bring it for I bring it forward, bring it forward, bring it for, and like, yeah, go on then. And it just went and went and went and went. And I was like, oh, hello, hello. And then when I went to school, the worst thing was, I got turned into a target, man, because when you're six foot one, six foot two at 15, it just happens. And so they had a kid running off, and it was like, well, you just bring it down. And so every time you're bringing it down, you're trying to swivel and turn and shoot.

By the time you've done that someone's come and got you. Not happening. Anyway, it's my football career. Jobes, you're minus, please. Well, when you're having a bad time, as Bristol Rovers clearly have been 3-0 down, staring at a 10th straight defeat. What you don't need is your defender making an absolutely horrendous two-footed tackle. Referee, no other decision to make.

Lepata, don't know what you were thinking, that's a terrible, terrible challenge. And in the end, it leads to Daryl Clark getting relieved of his duties. Let's have it. Another loose ball, a flying tackle in from. Lepater, referee doesn't like it, and it's a red card for Caspar Lopata, and Rovers Day just gets worse and worse. He had to go in and make the tackle. It was a cross-field ball, about 20 yards from the Rovers' goal.

He saw it and thought, I've got to win this. Otherwise, Swindon could be in again, and Casper Lopata is off. Rovers are down to 10. There you go, Jokes. When it rains, it pours on our mate, Darrell Clark losing his job. But another one of our mates is getting his job in Steve. Evan so congratulations to Big Evo on that one up next on the Football Daily Steve Crosman will be here with reaction to the EFL Cup quarter finals as for us here

on 72 plus we'll be back next week with Christmas with the Bruce's oh can't wait for it Joby have a very merry Christmas me old mate you too mate and wishing everyone out there a very merry Christmas I do enjoy them a little bit more than I used to when I was playing, so plenty of drink and plenty of food, let's add it. Good tithings to you and your king. Thank you. This winter, cricket's oldest rivalry is reignited. England and Australia do battle to compete for the ashes.

That is extraordinary. Hear live ball-by-ball commentary on Fife Sports Extra and get analysis and reaction of every day's play with the Test Match Special podcast. The Stops out of the ground. Test match special at the Ashes. Listen on BBC Sounds.