Neil Danns

Best mates since the age of 11, Tony and footballer Neil Danns shoot the breeze about being competitive with each other, the downfall of Bury FC and headlocks.

Growing up near each other in the south of Liverpool and from similar backgrounds, Tony and Neil went to school together before Tony got expelled and Neil went off to football school. An inspiration to each other they were also wildly competitive.

Neil tells the story of the time they wrestled for an hour in Tony’s bedroom over a Fifa game until Tony’s mum came in to find out what was going on. It came down to who had the best headlock. Tony remembers the time Neil beat him on a punching machine in Ayia Napa. And they both remember when they went to a gym in Liverpool for a ‘light training session’ and ended up doing 3 hours until they made themselves ill. Neither wanted to be the first to stop.

They also talk racism, locker room punch-ups and why sports people are the most insecure people on the planet. Plus, Neil reveals why the anger he has never been able to get rid of was from his time at Bury FC. Full of highs and lows and the genuine warmth of two old pals catching up.

Producer: Mike Holt Booker: Charlie Copsey Social Media: Lucy Oliva Executive Producer: Alice Lloyd

An Orion Publishing Group production for BBC 5 Live and BBC Sounds.