Robbie Graham is on the pod this week, and if you know Auckland football, you know the name. A MAP icon, long-time keeper, captain, and yes, somehow also the penalty taker.

We reached out to David Seaman who never replied, but it worked out better because Robbie showed up with stories that genuinely deliver.

From saving goals to scoring them, dodgy Europa League trips in Baku, and the real story behind NZ’s win over Bahrain, it’s all here.

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This week on Booked and Abandoned, we're joined by Max Whitehead — Oratia United's First Team forward, law student, and all-round machine.

Max takes us through his footballing journey from Northland FC to the Wellington Phoenix Academy and now leading the line at Oratia. We talk discipline, bodybuilding, balancing a law degree with first-team footy, and what it takes to chase big goals both on and off the pitch.

This isn’t someone playing with a balloon in his sock — Max is the real deal.

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From Valencia to Papatoetoe – Kim Beale Joins the Pod.

Sir Alex might’ve bottled it, but we’ve upgraded the dugout with grassroots coaching royalty: Kim Beale. From leading Papatoetoe United to shaping young talent through Soccer Plus NZ and the Valencia Foundation Academy, Kim’s building more than just game plans, he’s building futures.

We chat about taking kids to Spain for the football experience of a lifetime, running teams on heart not money, and why local legends show up when the global ones ghost us.

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Neil Warnock ghosted us... so we found the Kiwi version – and he brought a lawnmower. Mark O'Donnell has coached half of NZ, managed everyone else, and tells stories like your uncle at the pub (but better). Expect: Ice baths, wild transfers, and tales that probably need a disclaimer.

It’s grassroots gold – boots, beers, and all.

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After a couple of weeks off (life, aye?), Booked and Abandoned returns with a cracker of an episode. This week, we’re joined by Stu Roberts - a proper New Zealand football journeyman with over 500 senior games, 100+ goals, and, yes, an appearance at Old Trafford. That Old Trafford. Eat your heart out, Beckham.

While David ghosted us again (he’s probably off filming another documentary), Stu showed up and brought three decades’ worth of incredible stories from the heart of grassroots football.

A cracking chat about Chatham Cup glories, Lining up against legends like Wynton Rufer and life as a proper club man.

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We almost landed Jürgen Klopp this week… but instead got someone with more local flavour and he returned our calls.

Daniel Eisenhut — new Oratia United head coach — joins us to chat grassroots footy, coaching chaos, and why Auckland rain builds character. Plus: the wildest pre-game ritual yet, risking death for the Warriors, and what we would've asked Klopp (had he not ghosted us).

Tune in — the Spezi’s still cold.

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When Paolo Maldini bailed, Stuart Greenaway stepped up – and honestly, we think we got the better deal. A former Northern Ireland U17 international, Stuart brings stories from the pitch, tackles that could split timelines (including one that left his groin with a Harry Potter like scar), and his current work coaching the future stars with Total Football Technique in Auckland.

We talk grassroots glory, coaching philosophy, and the fine art of being a rock-solid left back – on and off the field. Maldini might've missed out, but we didn’t.

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