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From Premier League to Prison Cell

Why nearly 350 former footballers will start the new season behind bars

According to figures from the charity Xpro nearly 350 former footballers will start the new season behind bars. So why are so many in the British justice system and is enough done to help them? We hear from former Liverpool trainee Michael Kinsella who spent 12 years in jail for drug dealing, but now helps footballers readjust once their careers are over. Plus Xpro Chief Executive Officer Geoff Scott on whether it’s time to put a cap on young players wages.

Greatest Sporting Comeback?
The recent one-off Test match between the touring South African and Zimbabwean cricket team was the backdrop to a remarkable comeback. Mark Vermeulen played for the hosts for the first time in ten years. The reason for the length of time between call ups was down to a fire Vermeulen set which destroyed the Zimbabwe Cricket headquarters in 2006. He was cleared of arson on psychiatric grounds after it was revealed he was suffering from problems related to epilepsy caused by twice being hit on the head by a cricket ball during matches.

What a Coup!
The 1991 Soviet Coup came the day after a football match against the United States. On the anniversary of the coup we hear from Chris Henderson part of the USA team who played in that game, the last time the world would the USSR national team played, and on waking up to see tanks in Red Square.

Cycle of Change
As the Youth Olympics get underway we hear from Rwanda’s first female cycling competitor Clementine Niyonsaba and the bike that helped pay for her family's goats.

Women’s Rugby World Cup
This year’s competition has been a huge success, 20,000 fans are due to attend the final on Sunday. The last world cup in England sold 30,000 tickets for the whole event. Despite this, the tournament will make a loss financially and is still fighting to overcome some negative stereotypes. We’re in Paris examining what is needed to ensure profitability and continue the growth of the game.

Sporting Transgender
In the week retired boxing promoter Frank Mallony revealed he is preparing to change sex and is living as a woman called Kellie. We speak to transgender power-lifter Kinnon MacKinnon.

Picture: A football ball remains stuck in barbed wire inside a prison (Credit: PASCAL POCHARD CASABIANCA/AFP/Getty Images)

55 minutes

Last on

Sat 16 Aug 2014 09:05GMT

Broadcast

  • Sat 16 Aug 2014 09:05GMT

Podcast