Homegrown Heroes

Football Icons: Dive deeper into the grassroots stories of footballers on the pitch at FIFA World Cup 2026.

Local Radio,37 episodes

Episodes

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Football Icons
Tyler Fletcher is 'ecstatic'
Tyler Fletcher was a late call-up for Scotland's World Cup squad.
12 Jun 2026,3 mins
Football Icons
'Henderson was always very dedicated'
Jordan Henderson's former teacher and academy coach talks about his route to England.
11 Jun 2026,3 mins
Football Icons
Gordon: 'I'll be living the dream when we win'
FC Barcelona's Anthony Gordon from Liverpool is going to the World Cup.
06 Jun 2026,2 mins
Football Icons
Nico O'Reilly: 'A dream come true'
Manchester City's left-back Nico O'Reilly has made England's World Cup Squad at age 21.
02 Jun 2026,3 mins
Trails Will Blaze
From a motorcycle accident to the Paralympics
Jason Kean is representing Paralympics GB in Wheelchair Curling.
02 Mar 2026,7 mins
Trails Will Blaze
‘My brother, bobsleigher Brad Hall’
The veteran Olympian’s sister shares the inside track on what makes him tick.
16 Feb 2026,2 mins
Trails Will Blaze
Brad Hall: Bobsleigher taught by famous comedian
Did you know the Olympic veteran's maths teacher was Romesh Ranganathan?
13 Feb 2026,4 mins
Trails Will Blaze
Bekker & Hernandez: 'Amazing' Olympic debut
The ice-skating pair Phebe Bekker and James Hernandez have only been together 5 years.
13 Feb 2026,6 mins
Trails Will Blaze
Fearon: ‘I’m the fastest Winter Olympian in history’
Joel Fearon will be pushing in both the two and four man bobsleigh for Jamaica.
13 Feb 2026,6 mins
Trails Will Blaze
Marcus Wyatt: "I've been told I'm crazy, but I'm just me"
Marcus Wyatt from East Devon is bidding for an Olympic medal in Skeleton.
12 Feb 2026,5 mins
Trails Will Blaze
Matt Weston: pressure of being skeleton favourite
The Double World Champion, from Tunbridge Wells, is the highest-ranking competitor.
10 Feb 2026,3 mins
Trails Will Blaze
Spours: 'I was so unhappy, I couldn't continue'
Kristen Spours: From spinal surgery to Team GB's skating team.
06 Feb 2026,5 mins
Trails Will Blaze
Axel Brown: 'If you try to react, you're too late'
Bobsleigh pilot Axel Brown is representing Trinidad and Tobago in Italy.
05 Feb 2026,3 mins
Names Will Be Made
Lark Atkin-Davies: 'Access is so important'
The World Cup winner shares how her rugby career began in the rural Welsh Borders.
01 Oct 2025,4 mins
Names Will Be Made
'To play in Sunderland is an absolute privilege'
Rebecca Harding speaks to Red Rose Abby Dow about her emotional link to Sunderland.
26 Aug 2025,3 mins
Names Will Be Made
Alex Greenwood: ‘ultimately, I really love winning’
Scouser and Lioness Alex Greenwood shares her memories of a winning summer.
13 Aug 2025,7 mins
Names Will Be Made
Jade Shekells: Red Rose
Get to know the Worcestershire-born centre as she opens up on life off-the-field.
12 Aug 2025,5 mins
Names Will Be Made
Lark Atkin-Davies: Red Rose, ‘hair plaiter’
The England veteran and world cup winner talks hair, tattoos and music.
12 Aug 2025,5 mins
Names Will Be Made
Packer: World Cup win would ‘mean everything’
England Roses Vice Captain, Marlie Packer, discusses playing in her fourth World Cup.
28 Jul 2025,4 mins
Names Will Be Made
'It's great to have a hero like Hannah Hampton'
Students & teachers at the Lioness goalkeeper's former school get behind their hero.
3 mins
Names Will Be Made
Lioness Lucy Bronze always had 'eye of the tiger'
Former coach Ryan Jobson reflects on Lioness Lucy Bronze's determination to succeed.
22 Jul 2025,2 mins
Names Will Be Made
Thomas: 'It's the first time I've left the UK'
Dorset teen Lydia Thomas is the only girl on England's U18 Fly fishing squad.
14 Jul 2025,3 mins
Names Will Be Made
Lionesses inspire Tigresses tournament success
Cramlington United under 14s are excited to play at St George's Park.
10 Jul 2025,2 mins
Names Will Be Made
Bronze's aunty Julie: 'Lucy is a big icon'
Lucy Bronze's aunty Julie shares her pride in her Lioness niece.
10 Jul 2025,3 mins
Kare Adenegan on Coventry
Paralympian Kare explores how the city helped shaped her racing career.
25 Jul 2022,11 mins
Georgia Taylor-Brown on Droylsden, Greater Manchester
Georgia discusses her upbringing, her MBE and what inspired her love of triathlon.
25 Jul 2022,10 mins
Jonny Brownlee on Yorkshire
Olympian Jonny explores what makes him the athlete he is today.
25 Jul 2022,11 mins
Jack Laugher on Ripon, Yorkshire
Olympian Jack Laugher remembers how the green pool in Rio helped him bag a gold.
25 Jul 2022,11 mins
Anna Hopkin on Chorley, Lancashire
Hear how her mum lost sleep when she realised how good the Olympian was at swimming.
25 Jul 2022,10 mins
Jess Grimson on Bournemouth
England Beach Volleyball player Jess shares how the loss of her Dad has impacted her.
25 Jul 2022,9 mins