My Sporting Hero

<p>Watching determined young Scot tear down snooker’s old guard was wonderful — even on a black-and-white telly.</p><p>Welcome to a new episode of the My Sporting Hero podcast, part of Nutmeg FC. The home of brilliant football stories — made in Scotland.</p><p>So far this month, Nutmeg FC subscribers have enjoyed....</p><p>* The exclusive column from our tactics guy <a target="_blank" href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutmegfc.co.uk%2Ft%2Fadam-clery&#38;data=05%7C02%7C%7Cee0dbc8426f0451551dd08dd5d728f15%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638769468791199241%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&#38;sdata=gsggZoyDr7jtIyJnxplO384I6zeosC3%2Bz%2BRNPb7lBso%3D&#38;reserved=0">Adam Clery</a> — on Scotland’s friendly double header against Iceland and Liechtenstein.</p><p>* Daniel Gray’s <a target="_blank" href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutmegfc.co.uk%2Ft%2Fthe-slow-match-report&#38;data=05%7C02%7C%7Cee0dbc8426f0451551dd08dd5d728f15%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638769468791211943%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&#38;sdata=TatLu8SnmHwrhm89Z3nb16w0Pp31OFS0gWuK5LE1PJI%3D&#38;reserved=0">Slow Match Report</a> from the Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers League of Ireland clash.</p><p>And still to come....</p><p>* The latest column from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk/t/nick-harris">Nick Harris</a> — author of the brilliant Sporting Intelligence blog.</p><p>* The latest three-part investigation from award-winning sportswriter Stephen McGowan.</p><p>Only paid subscribers to Nutmeg FC get every piece we produce straight to their inbox.</p><p>This time on My Sporting Hero, our guest is Maurice Ross.</p><p>Dundonian Maurice played as a full-back, most famously for Rangers under Alex McLeish.</p><p>He won two league titles, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups (scoring the opener in the 2005 final) with the Ibrox club. After leaving Glasgow in 2005, Maurice embarked on a globetrotting career that took him as far and wide as England, Turkey, Norway (most notably with Viking FK) and China. He was capped 13 times by Scotland.</p><p>Maurice went on to coach and manage different clubs in Norway and the Faroe Islands, was boss at Cowdenbeath and his last coaching role was as assistant manager to his old Gers team-mate Charlie Adam at Fleetwood Town. Maurice takes a particular interest in teaching youth footballers not only soccer skills but also life lessons and self-motivation.</p><p>Maurice’s sporting hero is Scotland’s snooker superman Stephen Hendry.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk/"><strong>Nutmeg FC | Substack</strong></a></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.nutmegfc.co.uk/subscribe</a>

<p>Midfield maestro mesmerised a Hibs-daft kid… later, his wise counsel would salvage his fledgling career at Sir Alex’s Aberdeen.</p><p>Welcome to a new episode of the My Sporting Hero podcast, part of Nutmeg FC. The home of brilliant football stories — made in Scotland.</p><p>In June, Nutmeg FC subscribers will enjoy a feast of exclusive content, including:</p><p>* Daniel Gray’s <a target="_blank" href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutmegfc.co.uk%2Ft%2Fthe-slow-match-report&#38;data=05%7C02%7C%7Cee0dbc8426f0451551dd08dd5d728f15%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638769468791211943%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&#38;sdata=TatLu8SnmHwrhm89Z3nb16w0Pp31OFS0gWuK5LE1PJI%3D&#38;reserved=0">Slow Match Report</a> from the Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers League of Ireland clash.</p><p>* Our tactics guy <a target="_blank" href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutmegfc.co.uk%2Ft%2Fadam-clery&#38;data=05%7C02%7C%7Cee0dbc8426f0451551dd08dd5d728f15%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638769468791199241%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&#38;sdata=gsggZoyDr7jtIyJnxplO384I6zeosC3%2Bz%2BRNPb7lBso%3D&#38;reserved=0">Adam Clery</a> breaking down Scotland’s double header with Iceland and Lichenstein.</p><p>* The latest three-part investigation from Stephen McGowan.</p><p>* Another Sporting Intelligence data dive.</p><p>Only paid subscribers to Nutmeg FC get every piece we produce straight to their inbox.</p><p>This time on My Sporting Hero, our guest is Gordon Strachan.</p><p>Edinburgh-born Gordon was the midfield dynamo in Sir Alex Ferguson’s mighty Aberdeen side of the early 1980s, winning two league titles, three Scottish Cups and, of course, the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup. He won the FA Cup with Manchester United before being reunited at Old Trafford with Ferguson, then captained Howard Wilkinson’s Leeds United to the 1992 league title. Gordon won a half century of Scotland caps, and graced the dark blue at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.</p><p>As well as managing Scotland — for five years — and three English clubs, Gordon led Celtic to six domestic trophies and deep into European competition. He has been a media analyst and has worked tirelessly for the good of the game of football, notably assisting hometown outfit Spartans FC.</p><p>Gordon is currently technical director at the club he started out at, Dundee.</p><p>Gordon’s sporting hero is the great Pat Stanton, Hibernian’s humble hero and the original midfield Mr Cool, Calm and Collected.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk/"><strong>Nutmeg FC | Substack</strong></a></p><p></p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.nutmegfc.co.uk/subscribe</a>

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit <a href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_7">www.nutmegfc.co.uk</a><br/><br/><p>You don’t need to be half French to worship Zizou the magnificent, but it probably helps</p><p>Welcome to a new episode of the My Sporting Hero podcast, part of Nutmeg FC. The home of brilliant football stories – made in Scotland.</p><p>So far this month, Nutmeg FC subscribers have enjoyed....</p><p>* Former Dundee United, Aberdeen and Hibs star Mixu Paatelainen telling us why his dad Matti is his sporting hero.</p><p>* Iain Macintosh giving us the skinny on Duncan Ferguson’s sensational autobiography, with nine things we didn’t know about the Everton legend.</p><p>* <a target="_blank" href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutmegfc.co.uk%2Ft%2Fadam-clery&#38;data=05%7C02%7C%7Cee0dbc8426f0451551dd08dd5d728f15%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638769468791199241%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&#38;sdata=gsggZoyDr7jtIyJnxplO384I6zeosC3%2Bz%2BRNPb7lBso%3D&#38;reserved=0">Adam Clery</a> analysing how Scotland’s Lewis Ferguson became the tactical lynchpin to Bologna’s brilliant season.</p><p>Great content still to come includes....</p><p>* The <a target="_blank" href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutmegfc.co.uk%2Ft%2Fthe-slow-match-report&#38;data=05%7C02%7C%7Cee0dbc8426f0451551dd08dd5d728f15%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638769468791211943%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&#38;sdata=TatLu8SnmHwrhm89Z3nb16w0Pp31OFS0gWuK5LE1PJI%3D&#38;reserved=0">Slow Match Report</a> from Daniel Gray reporting on the Premiership playoff final.</p><p>* Stephen McGowan’s three-part investigation into plastic pitches in Scottish football.</p><p>Only paid subscribers to Nutmeg FC get every piece we produce straight to their inbox – including the full version of today’s episode.</p><p>This time on My Sporting Hero, our guest is Christophe Berra.</p><p>Christophe was a central-defensive stalwart for Hearts during two spells at Tynecastle, which bookended eight years south of the border at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town. He sat on the bench for Hearts’ 2006 Scottish Cup triumph over Gretna but received a winner’s medal, and won the second tier with the Jambos in Scotland and with Wolves in England, going on to grace three Premier League seasons with the Molineux club. He also won the Scottish Challenge Cup with Raith Rovers in 2022.</p><p>Christophe has such a cool name because his dad Christian is French. However, while he retains a soft spot for Les Bleus, Edinburgh-born Christophe’s allegiances are firmly with Scotland, and he proudly donned the dark blue of his nation 41 times.</p><p>Christophe retired from playing three years ago and is currently based in Alabama, as interim head coach of professional outfit Huntsville City.</p><p>Christophe’s sporting hero is former midfielder Zinedine Zidane – France’s World Cup-winning Monsieur Magnifique.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk/"><strong>Nutmeg FC | Substack</strong></a></p>

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit <a href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_7">www.nutmegfc.co.uk</a><br/><br/><p>Welcome to a new episode of the My Sporting Hero podcast, part of Nutmeg FC. The home of brilliant football stories – made in Scotland.</p><p>Top content still to come this month for Nutmeg FC subscribers includes:</p><p>* Exclusive columns from the brilliant <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk/t/nick-harris">Nick Harris</a> and our tactics guru <a target="_blank" href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutmegfc.co.uk%2Ft%2Fadam-clery&#38;data=05%7C02%7C%7Cee0dbc8426f0451551dd08dd5d728f15%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638769468791199241%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&#38;sdata=gsggZoyDr7jtIyJnxplO384I6zeosC3%2Bz%2BRNPb7lBso%3D&#38;reserved=0">Adam Clery</a>.</p><p>* The <a target="_blank" href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutmegfc.co.uk%2Ft%2Fthe-slow-match-report&#38;data=05%7C02%7C%7Cee0dbc8426f0451551dd08dd5d728f15%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638769468791211943%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&#38;sdata=TatLu8SnmHwrhm89Z3nb16w0Pp31OFS0gWuK5LE1PJI%3D&#38;reserved=0">Slow Match Report</a> from Daniel Gray on the second leg of the Premiership playoff final.</p><p>* A three-part investigation by our latest signing Stephen McGowan.</p><p>Only paid subscribers to Nutmeg FC get every piece we produce straight to their inbox – including the full version of today’s episode.</p><p>This time on My Sporting Hero, our guest is Mixu Paatelainen.</p><p>Hailing from an auspicious Finnish sporting family, Mixu became a beloved, no-nonsense striker in his home from home Scotland, most notably at Dundee United, Aberdeen and Hibernian. He won Scottish Cup runners-up medals with all three clubs and helped Hibs win the First Division in 1999. His spell at Bolton Wanderers led to his cult hero status being sealed with a mention in Peter Kay’s classic comedy Phoenix Nights.</p><p>Mixu’s managerial career has taken him far and wide, and his charges have included Cowdenbeath, Hibs, Kilmarnock, Dundee United and the Finnish national team.</p><p>Mixu’s sporting hero is his father and fellow former Finland hero Matti.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk/">Nutmeg FC | Substack</a></p>

<p>Welcome to a new episode of the My Sporting Hero podcast, part of Nutmeg FC. The home of brilliant football stories – made in Scotland.</p><p>So far this month, Nutmeg FC subscribers have enjoyed....</p><p>* Brian Lee’s article on the fascinating connection between fans of Morton and Serie B outfit Reggiana</p><p>* Daniel Gray’s latest <a target="_blank" href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutmegfc.co.uk%2Ft%2Fthe-slow-match-report&#38;data=05%7C02%7C%7Cee0dbc8426f0451551dd08dd5d728f15%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638769468791211943%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&#38;sdata=TatLu8SnmHwrhm89Z3nb16w0Pp31OFS0gWuK5LE1PJI%3D&#38;reserved=0">Slow Match Report</a> on Rangers’ heroic draw with Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League quarter-final</p><p>And still to come....</p><p>* The exclusive column from our tactics guy <a target="_blank" href="https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutmegfc.co.uk%2Ft%2Fadam-clery&#38;data=05%7C02%7C%7Cee0dbc8426f0451551dd08dd5d728f15%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638769468791199241%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&#38;sdata=gsggZoyDr7jtIyJnxplO384I6zeosC3%2Bz%2BRNPb7lBso%3D&#38;reserved=0">Adam Clery</a> comparing Lewis Ferguson with Liam Henderson</p><p>Only paid subscribers to Nutmeg FC get every piece we produce straight to their inbox.</p><p>This time on My Sporting Hero, our guest is Michael O’Neill.</p><p>Portadown-born Michael played as a midfielder for several British clubs, including ones in Scotland where he is best remembered for spells at Dundee United and Hibernian. As a young man he set top-flight Newcastle ablaze with a stunning opening season. He moved to Tannadice and eventually fell out with notoriously thrawn United managerial legend Jim McLean. He also played over 30 times for Northern Ireland.</p><p>Michael started out in management at Brechin City, made Shamrock Rovers Irish champions and led them into Europe, before taking the reins at Northern Ireland. He achieved the nation’s first-ever qualification for the European Championship and progression to the second round of the finals in France in 2016. He also rescued Stoke City from relegation danger when he first joined the Potters.</p><p>Michael is currently enjoying his second spell as Northern Ireland manager.</p><p>His sporting hero is ‘Superbrat’ and all-round tennis genius/guru John McEnroe.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk/"><strong>Nutmeg FC | Substack</strong></a></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://www.nutmegfc.co.uk/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">www.nutmegfc.co.uk/subscribe</a>