On Episode 33 of our podcast, it is a pleasure to welcomeRob Schofield.
Rob is a local Wythenshawe lad and personal trainer, withover 17 years experience of working with people in the community on a 1-2-1 or group basis to help them achieve their fitness and wellbeing goals. However, in2024, Rob took a step back and re-assessed his own goals, lifestyle and habits after realising he had fallen foul of not ‘practicing what he preaches’, and decided to implement some changes which led him down a road he never thought he’d go down – Bodybuilding.
In less than a year, Rob got himself into competing shapeand entered a local bodybuilding contest where he was put up in two categories and won them both! This has led to the federation going on to select Rob for the European Championships in November 2025, taking place in Poland.
Rob highlights his journey to this point in this episode,describing what starting felt and looked like for him, how he had to re-assess and made difficult decisions, and also gives some realities of bodybuilding that people may not know. It’s a fascinating insight into an industry which is risingrapidly.
If you’d like to follow Rob and see how he gets on out in Poland, then give his Instagram account a follow @robertschofieldpt and if you want to see more of his personal training profile or even look to work with him yourself, you can follow @strongaf_pt
If you want to be a participant on our podcast then let us know! Message us via our website -www.happysomedays.co.uk or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter/X. Just search for “Happy Somedays”
Chapters:
00:00 – 01:32 – Episode Intro
01:32 – 06:00 – Welcome Rob and point of realisation
06:00 – 07:35 – Relationship with food and noticing changes
07:35 – 16:10 - Education around fitness and nutrition
16:10 – 19:20 – Strong AF and the toll setting up a business can have on someone
19:20 – 24:45 – Navigating son’s autism diagnosis
24:45 – 30:20 – Prioritising own wellbeing ready for Poland
30:20 – 32:00 – “The Best Decision I Have Ever Made”
32:00 – 37:20 – Realities of bodybuilding
37:20 – 40:50 – Are you allowed cheat days when bodybuilding?
40:50 – 43:45 – Team GB
43:45 – 47:30 – More info on Rob and Strong AF Studio
47:30 – 47:58 – Thanks and End
Our podcast is back! And what an episode we have to bringyou with another participant story from someone else who has been involved since the very early days of Happy Somedays
Craig Rigby started coming to sessions when we were onlygetting 10-12 people at a time for the men’s football, way before the women’s sessions launched, before the fitness classes, badminton, walks and the social events, too. Here, he talks to us about the growth he has seen and how the people very much make Happy Somedays what it is and what epitomises the incentive.
Craig also touches on his love of Man City and how special it was to be sat on the Kippax during the Maine Road days and going on away days to some long-forgottenFootball League grounds. He also mentions disability awareness as his dad is a disabled supporter and is often left scratching his head at the lack of awareness and support – not just within football but in general. Craig alsohighlights his love for travel and discusses launching a YouTube channel of travel Vlogs alongside his wife Philippa. Be sure to check out The Rigby-Holmes Adventures Channel on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRigbyHolmesAdventuresand follow them on Instagram to see where they’re going next @Rigbyholmesadventures
If you want to be a participant on our podcast then let us know! Message us via our website - www.happysomedays.co.uk or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter/X. Just search for “Happy Somedays”
00:00 – 01:40 – Episode Intro
01:40 – 04:48 – Welcome Craig
04:48 – 08:53 - Familiar Surroundings and Faces
08:53 – 13:51 - Passion for Manchester City and MemorableMoments
13:51 – 19:47 - Accessibility and Attending Matches
19:47 – 22:30 - Growing Up with Disabled Parents
22:30 – 26:21 - Accessibility Challenges, Improvements HeWants To See and Travelling With A Disability
26:21 – 31:11 - Staying Active: Sports, Fitness and The Joyof Football and Community
31:11 – 35:14 - Finding a Supportive Environment and TheEnjoyment Of The Fitness Classes
35:14 – 40:10 - Adjusting to a New Community &Maintaining Connections
40:10 – 41:58 - Creating an Inclusive Space
41:58 – 49:21 Travel Adventures and YouTube Channel Vlogs
As part of our partnership with the Forum Library's Creative Space, this edition of the Podcast welcomes Stephen Evans from Block Cinema to chat about the project which aims to bring social cinema and a "proper movie atmosphere" to Wythenshawe.
Block have moved into the Creative Space late in 2024 after establishing in Northenden in 2019. They have gone from strength to strength, offering a variety of films across various genre's that are screened at a reasonable, fair and affordable price.
It has long been said that a cinema in the area is needed - Block are trying their hardest to do just that! Stephen chatted to me about the project, how films are chosen, his own passion for film and getting this project off the ground, and why he is a huge advocate for social cinema and creating a "togetherness" when watching movies on a big screen.
To view listings or suggest a film you'd like to see screen, as well as all upcoming showings, check out their website www.blockcinema.org. You can also find Block Cinema on Facebook (Search Block Cinema) Instagram - @cinematheblock or on Twitter/X @Blockcinema.
Across 5 years of Happy Somedays, we have welcomed so many wonderful participants to our sessions who make everything that we do so unique.
We have always said that everyone has a story to tell, and this year we have committed to having more people from within Happy Somedays tell their story on our Podcast, as part of our ‘Participant Stories’ series.
The second episode in this series – and our 30th overall - is with a participant from our wonderful ladies provision, Hayley Shing. Hayley is fairly new to Happy Somedays, having only joined in April 2024. Previous to being involved with ourselves, Hayley was part of Wythenshawe FC (Formerly Amateurs) Ladies, but an injury ended her involvement with them. After some time away from football, she got an itch to return but wanted to do so in a non-competitive, nonjudgemental environment and decided Happy Somedays was the one for her.
She has involved herself in every aspect since then, and has been rewarded by being recognised as “Participant of the Year” at our annual awards night in 2024.
Hayley is also involved with other volunteering aspects, including “Friends of Rose Vale Park” and as a leader for Heald Green Scouts, both of which she delves into further within her podcast. Hayley also details her Chinese heritage, as she is British born Chinese, and spent some of her youth living in Hong Kong where she picked up her love of football and sports in general. She also had a very unique way of learning Cantonese! Listen out for how she did that…
To find out more about Rose Vale Park and the projects Hayley is involved in, check out their Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/RVPhealdgreen) and if you know any young people who may want to involve themselves with Scouts, check out Hayley’s group that meet in Heald Green. More information can be found at https://2ndhealdgreen.org.uk/
If you want to be a guest on our podcast, please do reach out! Find us on Facebook, Instagram and X or email us happysomedaysfootball@gmail.com
Chapters:
00:00 – 01:15 – Intro
01:15 – 02:35 – Thanks for reaching out
02:35 – 03:35 - “I’malways busy!”
03:35 – 07:50 – Volunteering and Friends Of Rose Vale Park
07:50 – 09:45 – Landscape Architecture Background
09:45 – 18:10 – Involvement With Scouts
18:10 – 21:40 - Hayley’s Hong Kong Heritage
21:40 – 25:30 – “Girls Aren’t Supposed To Play Football…!”
25:30 – 28:55 – Joining Wythenshawe Ammies
28:55 – 33:30 – Leaving The Ammies, Finding Happy Somedays& Falling Back In Love With Football
33:30 – 37:40 – Final Thoughts, Thanks and End
Welcome to Episode 29 of The Happy Somedays Podcast
On 22nd March 2025, as part of our 5th birthday celebrations, members of Happy Somedays will be taking on a mammoth fundraising walk across Manchester taking in 5 football grounds along the way. Starting at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, we will pass Manchester United’s Old Trafford, Altrincham FC’s Moss Lane, Wythenshawe Town’s Ericstan Park and end at Wythenshawe FC’s Community Stadium at Hollyhedge Park. We are doing this to raise funds for new equipment and to keep sessions for all activities at a continually low cost with half of whatever we raise going towards this and the other half going to a nominated charity.
That nominated charity we have chose is Mero’s World Foundation
Mero’s World was set up by Kelly Brown in memory of her sonRhamero ‘Mero’ West, who was tragically killed as a result of a stab wound to the leg in 2021. Over the last 4 years, Kelly has turned her grief into action, campaigning across the community to raise awareness of knife crime. She has visited educational and correctional facilities such as schools, colleges and prisons to tell her story and help to prevent further knife crime from happening in the community. She has also overseen the installation of over 60 Bleed Boxes across Manchester installed in Mero’s memory, with some being used to help save lives as recently as December 2024. Kelly is doing incredible work and our aim is to raise enough money to buy another bleed box for Kelly to install, making them become even more accessible and work just like defibrillators in that anyone can use them should they need to.
Kelly’s story is inspiring, but the events leading to it isharrowing, and we obviously touch upon knife crime and death upon this episode. Listener discretion is advised.
To find out more about Mero’s World Foundation, visit theirwebsite at www.merosworld.org.uk
To donate to our fundraiser that is hoping to raise enough to buy a new BleedBox for Manchester, visit our Go Fund Me page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/happy-somedays-charity-walk
To sign up to our walk and be part of any of the legs (Youdon’t have to do it all if you don’t want to!) sign up via Pembee here: https://happysomedays.pembee.app/activity/677d47f88338291897d06ff8
It's hard to think of Wythenshawe, and NOT think of Jimmy Egan's Boxing Academy.
A proper institution of the Town, Jimmy Egan's has been transforming the lives of those who walk through their doors for 45 years in 2025. But their journey this far has not been easy.
13 different venues. Moving away from Wythenshawe and then back again, Facing bankruptcy... They've faced a lot to get to where they are now. Not to mention Jimmy Egan himself passing away aged only 68 in 2004 after a battle with cancer.
Jimmy's sons Shaun and Steve carried on their dad's mantle and legacy, meaning that the gym is still going strong now and celebrating 45 years this year! To tell me all about the journey here so far, Steve Egan came onto the Podcast to discuss the highs and lows; mention some of the boxers and coaches who have trained there over the years (Including one very obvious one!); highlight the 45th Anniversary show taking place at Wythenshawe Forum on 1st Feb 2025; and his hopes for the future of the gym.
Follow Steve Egan on Facebook for updates on the gym, as well as the Academy's page: Jimmy Egan's Boxing Academy. You can also find them on Instagram and YouTube! Tickets for the 45th Anniversary Showcase on Saturday 1st February are available from the gym on Royalthorn Road, or directly from Steve and Shaun. Just give the page a message to buy, Tickets are priced at £15 for adults and £10 for Under 16's, and there'll be 16 fights on the night from 7.30pm at Wythenshawe Forum Hall.
Thanks again to Steve for his time. This episode was once again recorded at Wythenshawe Forum Library's Creative Space.
Chapters:
00:00 - 01:40 - Intro to Episode
01:40 - 05:50 - Welcome and Congrats on 45 Years
05:50 - 09:45 - Early Days Of Jimmy Egan's
09:45 - 12:15 - Ensuring Everyone is Welcome
12:15 - 17:55 - Boxing As An Escape
17:55 - 21:40 - Thoughts on Tyson Fury's Retirement
21:40 - 23:35 - Spanning Generations & Coaches Shout Outs
23:35 - 25:45 - Memorable People & Moments
25:45 - 29:50 - Right Attitude & Overcoming Challenges
29:50 - 34:20 - What Makes Jimmy Egan's So Special?
34:20 - 36:35 - Steve's Advice For Beginners
36:35 - 42:15 - 45th Anniversary Showcase & Hopes For The Future of Jimmy Egan's
42:15 - 43:30 - End & Thanks To Steve
In this episode of The Happy Somedays Podcast, we team up with Music Evermore – a Community Interest Company that provides free and subsidised music workshops, classes, holiday clubs and 1-2-1 tuition to young people across the community. They operate and were founded right here in Wythenshawe by Chris Maddon, who joined us for a chat all about the project.
Chris shares his own journey with learning and working within music, and shares insights into what made him so passionate about wanting to give something back to his local community to find the next generation of musicians, artists, producers, podcasters, singers… you name it, Chris hopes Music Evermore will find it!
This episode was once again at Wythenshawe Forum library’s Creative Space, and Music Evermore are themselves based here, with after school classes taking place on various days throughout the week. Chris will go through what happens in a session or a 1-2-1 tuition lesson, as well as how someone can get their young person involved and the instruments and techniques that are up for being taught. Chris also features some of the fantastic ambassadors of the project, including previous podcast guest and Wythenshawe’s very own, Actor Andrew Ellis.
For more information on Music Evermore, please visit their website and social media pages which are:
www.musicevermore.com
Twitter/X - @Musicevermore
Instagram - @ Musicevermore
Facebook – Facebook.com/Musicevermore
Episode Chapters:
00:00 – 04:35 – Intro and using the Forum Creative Space
04:35 – 10:00 – What is Music Evermore?
10:00 – 13:00 – Using music as an escape
13:00 – 17:10 – What Instruments can people learn?
17:10 – 25:15 – Learning 1-2-1, as a group and finding funding
25:15 – 35:10 – Working classes in music
35:10 – 39:45 – Ambassadors
39:45 – 45:50 – Chris’s time working at Blueprint Studios
45:50- 49:50 – End, thanks to Chris and further information
If you've been around and about the streets of Wythenshawe, chances are you'll have seen either pink or green bags tied to bridges and posts on popular routes as well as next to bins ready to be collected. Those bags haven't appeared by magic - they've been collected and put there by some fantastic volunteer led organisations helping to keep the community's green spaces tidy and clean. One of which is the Wythenshawe Waste Warriors.
I was delighted to be joined by Barny Beswick, a volunteer
from the Waste Warriors recently to chat through their work within the community and go through the work they do with the volunteers to clean the pathways and provide ample opportunities to put litter in bins and bags so it doesn’t pollute the streets.
Barny explains how he goes into schools to help spread the word to the next generation on keeping their environment clean and green. He also explains how
he got involved and how he juggles volunteering with other commitments. There is also details on how you can help the Waste Warriors yourself with information on how to join.
If you do want more information on the Waste Warriors and to find out more about volunteering, check out their facebook page, Wythenshawe Waste Warriors to get involved!
If you'd like to be part of Happy Somedays in any way or if you'd like to know more about the sort of sessions we hold - including Men's and Women's football
sessions, fitness classes, running, hiking or you just want to make new connections and lasting friendships, let us know and get in touch! Feel free to send us a message on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HappySomedays). Follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@Happy_Somedays) or email us at HappySomedaysFootball@gmail.com. You can also check out our new website - www.happysomedays.co.uk for information on all sessions, and to book on. You
will also find previous podcast episodes listed here, too. We'd also love it if you'd leave us a rating and a review wherever you listen to your Podcasts and give us like and subscribe so the latest episodes reach you as soon as they're available. The Happy Somedays Podcast is also proudly sponsored by Reliable Electrical Supplies. Check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/reliableelectricalsupplies/?locale=en_GB
We were extremely honoured recently to be invited to collaborate with an exciting Football Festival that took place right here in Wythenshawe in mid-July - Ball Together Now.
Ball Together Now is a Trans inclusive festival of football for women and non-binary people. They held their first event in 2023 which was a roaring success so decided to do it again this year with double the participants involved, going from 32 teams to 60 taking part across the entire weekend.
Organisations and incentives from across the UK and Ireland came together for one big celebration of inclusiveness and togetherness to promote opportunities for Women, Trans and Marginalised Genders to have a safe space to play a sport they all love without any prejudice or stigmas attached. It was a real pleasure to be invited along to see the festival happen and the impact it is having on the football world and the wider society as we move towards a more inclusive community.
To find out more about the festival, you can follow them on Instagram (@BallTogetherNow_Festival) or X/Twitter (@BallTogetherNow), plus check out their website www,balltogethernow.com
Thanks to the participants and incentives featured in this special show, which were: Ball Together Now (@BallTogetherNow_Festival), Happy Somedays (@Happy_Somedays), Pride Sports (@PrideSportsUK), Football For Foodbanks CIC (@FootballForFoodbanks), Rainbow Devils (@RainbowDevils), Diversity Role Models (@Diversityrm), and Manchester Laces (@ManchesterLaces)
Thanks to all the teams who turned up across the weekend to the festival. Thanks as well to everyone who stopped but simply couldn't chat to me as they were too busy playing or having to attend to other duties. Disclaimer: This includes Manchester City and City In The Community. I asked them, but they were not allowed due to media rights.
Welcome to Episode 21 of the Happy Somedays podcast where this time we are talking to comedian and all round 'Local Legend' Lewis 'BigLou' Jones!
Having started his comedy career right here in Wythenshawe via a course held at the Forum in 2009, Lewis has gone on to perform every kind of stand-up gig imaginable across the last 15 years and has built up an incredible repertoire of material to call upon dependant on the type of gig or audience available to him. However, he has never put pen to paper to perform a full solo show... until now!
After watching another comedian perform in the Lowry Theatre's 140-capacity Studio, Big Lou looked around and thought to himself "I reckon I could do this" and set about asking the questions to the staff. A few weeks later, his debut show 'Name Dropper' went on sale, and sold out within 36 hours! Luckily, as Big Lou will explain, The Lowry approached him and asked if he'd like to move the show into the much bigger Quays Theatre, and so on Sunday 23rd June 2024, 'Big Lou: Name Dropper' will be treading the boards of where so many comedy legends have performed before.
'Name Dropper' comes from the fact that Lewis always thought that he would be famous. He was a nobody who always thought he would be a somebody. After 15 years working in hotel catering, he ended up with a job working for a private aviation company at Manchester Airport, where he met an incredible amount of famous faces - a real who's who of music, sport, entertainment and more!
The show tells the story of how a nobody who thought he'd be a somebody ended up meeting almost everybody!
In this podcast, Big Lou will explain the origins of the show further, go into some encounters that didn't make the final cut, explain his comedy beginnings and why he is so thankful for finding the course and having it change his life and what he hopes to achieve and do next with the show once the performance at the Lowry is done.
Big thanks to Lewis for coming on to plug it. If you'd like to see the show yourself, last minute tickets are available here: https://thelowry.com/whats-on/big-lou-name-dropper-quays/
You can also keep up with where Lewis is performing next by following his social media page: https://www.facebook.com/BigLouComedy
In February of this year, Happy Someday's turned 4 years old - Can you believe that?!
In the space of 4 years, this incentive has grown and grown to become a much needed safe space for people in the local community to come and express themselves through sport and socialisation without any stigma or judgement attached. We have always said that anyone is welcome no matter your age, gender, ability, skill or fitness level. It is something we pride ourselves on and have stuck to throughout our journey from humble beginnings with a tiny session on an 8-a-side pitch right through to now with our various different sessions, on which we will explore and explain within this episode.
Joe Farrar, co-founder of Happy Somedays, joins me as we take a bit of a look back, with a focus in particular on the last year, as 2023 was our biggest yet! Hear how we have offered more sessions than ever across different sports and fitness facilities, as well as offering walks, social events, fundraisers and opportunities to get involved with the local community.
We are now 4 years down, but we hope to have many, many more to go! Here's to Happy Somedays!
In Episode 19 Of the Happy Someday's Podcast, we once again look within our very own network of unique participants to chat to Daniel Timmins.
Daniel has been involved with Happy Somedays for only a few months, but has immersed himself into the ethos and has ensured it has felt like he's always been around! He was introduced to us by our very own Hayden (Who you can hear from in Episode 3) and after initially feeling a bit anxious and worried about how he would be accepted, he is now very much enjoying coming along to all aspects of our incentive.
Daniel had other reasons to be anxious, as he also has Autism and Asperger's which can make socialising and speaking to others difficult. Here, he explains how he has navigated through life with the condition both pre and post diagnosis at the age of 19.
Daniel asked us to do this to raise awareness of the condition, much like Daniel Laing did way back in Episode 4. It's so rewarding to be able to give our participants a platform for them to share their real life, lived experiences.
If you'd like to be part of Happy Somedays in any way or if you'd like to know more about the sort of sessions we hold - including Men's and Women's football sessions, fitness classes, running, hiking or you just want to make new connections and lasting friendships, let us know and get in touch! Feel free to send us a message on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HappySomedays). Follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@Happy_Somedays) or email us at HappySomedaysFootball@gmail.com. You can also check out our new website - www.happysomedays.co.uk for information on all sessions, and to book on. You will also find previous podcast episodes listed here, too. We'd also love it if you'd leave us a rating and a review wherever you listen to your Podcasts and give us like and subscribe so the latest episodes reach you as soon as they're available. The Happy Somedays Podcast is also proudly sponsored by Reliable Electrical Supplies. Check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/reliableelectricalsupplies/?locale=en_GB
Welcome to Episode 18 and Part II of our chat with usual host Josh Deegan. As a reminder, in this edition, the tables have turned and he tells his story in the second part of this double header. A big thanks to guest presenter Jordan Pye for holding the fort In this second part, Josh details his later life up to now and explains the efforts he put in to turn his life around at age 25 after finding himself at 160kg and facing a future of pain and complications due to his weight. Hear how in the space of just one year, he turned it all around. He goes through his top tips for anyone wanting to change their lifestyle, the mental effect it has alongside the physical changes and how it has impacted every single aspect of every day life. Josh also chats, for the very first time, about his excess skin removal operation and what he hopes the result of that will achieve going forwards. As we said in part one, this is an episode that has been requested by numerous people, with Josh being asked a fair few times "When will you eventually tell your own story after spending so long hosting other people's?" Josh really hopes that his story will help others who are or have gone through some of the obstacles and challenges he has gone through in life. If you'd like to be part of Happy Somedays in any way or if you'd like to know more about the sort of sessions we hold - including Men's and Women's football sessions, fitness classes, running, hiking or you just want to make new connections and lasting friendships, let us know and get in touch! Feel free to send us a message on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HappySomedays). Follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@Happy_Somedays) or email us at HappySomedaysFootball@gmail.com. You can also check out our new website - www.happysomedays.co.uk for information on all sessions, and to book on. You will also find previous podcast episodes listed here, too. We'd also love it if you'd leave us a rating and a review wherever you listen to your Podcasts and give us like and subscribe so the latest episodes reach you as soon as they're available. The Happy Somedays Podcast is also proudly sponsored by Reliable Electrical Supplies. Check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/reliableelectricalsupplies/?locale=en_GB
The Happy Somedays Podcast has always been about letting people with real stories have a platform and a voice they otherwise wouldn't have to raise awareness of issues and causes close to their hearts. In this episode, our next guest, Kelly Jones, reached out herself a asking if she could do just that.
Kelly unfortunately has lived experience of baby loss - Not just once, but twice - and she requested some time to sit with us and discuss how it has affected her, as well as highlighting some of the amazing people and organisations that helped her at her lowest point. Each year, October 9th - 15th is known globally as Baby Loss Awareness Week. Across the week and beyond, people who have unfortunately experienced baby loss come together to show support, talk and raise awareness of a subject which is difficult to tackle, but nevertheless so important to highlight. Happy Somedays is proud to support the awareness week and go #PinkandBlue for Baby Loss Awareness.
A big thank you to Kelly for showing incredible strength throughout this episode and in general for wanting to break down barriers and talk about her experiences.
If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues that will be raised in the episode, please remember that you are not alone. You can gather support and further information at Tommy's, Sands, the stillbirth & neonatal death charity and Miscarriage Association. Kelly is also raising money for Sands and has raised an incredible amount so far but always wants to raise more! If you can spare any amount, big or small, please donate to: https://fundraising.sands.org.uk/fundraisers/kellyjones3912?fbclid=IwAR01WNoS7QYRmVPnoYurnfA6GoAwfgrAk_vB-UuZabFd0o3UpzHqep6V3QM
If you'd like to be part of Happy Somedays in any way or if you'd like to know more about the sort of sessions we hold - including Men's and Women's football sessions, fitness classes, running, hiking or you just want to make new connections and lasting friendships, let us know and get in touch! Feel free to send us a message on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HappySomedays). Follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@Happy_Somedays) or email us at HappySomedaysFootball@gmail.com. You can also check out our new website - www.happysomedays.co.uk for information on all sessions, and to book on. You will also find previous podcast episodes listed here, too. We'd also love it if you'd leave us a rating and a review wherever you listen to your Podcasts and give us like and subscribe so the latest episodes reach you as soon as they're available. The Happy Somedays Podcast is also proudly sponsored by Reliable Electrical Supplies. Check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/reliableelectricalsupplies/?locale=en_GB