The Happy Somedays Podcast

Happy Somedays

Welcome to the Happy Somedays Podcast! Over the course of these episodes, we will be chatting to participants from all of the Happy Somedays sessions we hold, as well as having guests from the world of physical/mental health and wellbeing, sport, fitness, football and more. To get involved, you can find us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HappySomedays), follow us on Twitter/X (@Happy_Somedays), our Instagram page (@Happy_Somedays) or email us at HappySomedaysFootball@gmail.com. We also have a new website -www.happysomedays.co.uk where you can book on all sessions.

  1. 10/23/2025

    Episode 033 - Rob Schofield - My Bodybuilding Journey

    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

    Episode 033 - Rob Schofield - My Bodybuilding Journey
  2. 07/18/2025

    Episode 032 - Craig Rigby - Participant Stories

    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

    Episode 032 - Craig Rigby - Participant Stories
  3. 03/28/2025

    Episode 030 - Hayley Shing - Participant Stories

    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

    Episode 030 - Hayley Shing - Participant Stories
  4. 03/20/2025

    Episode 029 - Kelly Brown - Founder of Mero's World Foundation

    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

    Episode 029 - Kelly Brown - Founder of Mero's World Foundation
  5. 01/30/2025

    Episode 028 - Steve Egan - Celebrating 45 Years Of Jimmy Egan's Boxing Academy

    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

    Episode 028 - Steve Egan - Celebrating 45 Years Of Jimmy Egan's Boxing Academy
  6. 01/23/2025

    Episode 027 - Steven 'Bop' Foster - Participant Stories

    In 2025, Happy Somedays turns five years old! We have always said that it is our participants that make us who we are, and so across the year, we will be featuring a lot more people from within Happy Somedays as part of a ‘Participant Stories’ series. The first episode of that series see’s me welcome a day one member. An OG. And someone who is so well loved, well respected and adored by all who come to Happy Somedays sessions. It is an honour and a pleasure to welcome Steven ‘Bop’ Foster to the podcast! Bop (as he is known to literally everyone except his mother!) joined me to chat about his involvement with Happy Somedays, and having the conversation that initially got the idea off the ground, his love of football and Manchester City, being part of committees and projects before Happy Somedays and of course he spoke about his love of fancy dress and his famous Bop shirts! I loved chatting to him and finding out more about someone who is very much an unsung hero regarding what we do. 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, litter picks, social events 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 Episode Chapters: 00:00 – 01:55 – Episode Intro 01:55 – 05:20 – Welcome To Bop And Origin Of His Nickname 05:20 – 13:15 – Manchester City & Me 13:15 – 21:05 – Involvement in MCFC Supporters Clubs 21:05 – 29:35 – Greenbrow Memories & Love Of Darts 29:35 – 34:50 – Involvement In Previous Committees and Happy Somedays Origin 34:50 – 44:10 – Bop Foster: Manager - ‘Jurgen Bopp’, ‘Bopiola’ and ‘AnceBoppi’ 44:10 – 48:20 – Fancy Dress And The Bop Shirts 48:20 – 48:50 – End and Thanks

    Episode 027 - Steven 'Bop' Foster - Participant Stories

About

Welcome to the Happy Somedays Podcast! Over the course of these episodes, we will be chatting to participants from all of the Happy Somedays sessions we hold, as well as having guests from the world of physical/mental health and wellbeing, sport, fitness, football and more. To get involved, you can find us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/HappySomedays), follow us on Twitter/X (@Happy_Somedays), our Instagram page (@Happy_Somedays) or email us at HappySomedaysFootball@gmail.com. We also have a new website -www.happysomedays.co.uk where you can book on all sessions.