
248: Sparky’s Thighs (Pt 2)
Explicit content warning
01/24/25 • 42 min
🎙️ Welcome to The Socially Distant Sports Bar – Sparky’s Thighs
Elis James (Elis & John, Oh, What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero are back with a thigh-slappingly good episode filled with rugby legends, iconic football moments, and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else. In Episode 248: Sparky’s Thighs, the lads dive into the career of Welsh football great Mark Hughes, plus a whole lot more.
✨ What’s in This Week’s Episode?
This week, you’ll hear about:
- The magic and power of Mark Hughes in Welsh football history
- NFL’s behind-the-scenes action with Rich Russo
- Rugby brilliance from France v Wales 1987
- The rise (and fall) of Freddy Adu, the original football prodigy
- Hidden gems like Gypsy Jem Mace and Olympic rugby triumphs
If you love a mix of sports history, quirky stories, and gut-busting banter, this episode is for you!
🗓 Episode Schedule
- Part 1: Out Wednesday
- Part 2: Out Friday
💡 Can’t wait? Subscribe to WONDERY+ to hear both parts ad-free and early, every Tuesday!
🚀 Why Choose WONDERY+?
- Early access: Be the first to hear Parts 1 and 2 every Tuesday.
- Ad-free listening: All the stories, none of the interruptions.
💡 Why Join Patreon?
- Support the pod directly!
- Unlock exclusive perks like:
- 30 minutes of bonus content every week
- Gift a Patreon membership to your mates!
- Access to iconic extras like Hoffi Pod and Michael Owen’s Movie Club
🎥 Bonus Podcasts for Patreon Members:
- Michael Owen’s Movie Club: Hilarious reviews of sports classics.
- Hoffi Pod: The lads’ favorite non-sports clips, revisited.
👉 Join the £8 or £10 Patreon tiers today and unlock everything!
🎉 THIS WEEK’S SHOW – Don’t Miss It!
PART 1 (OUT WEDNESDAY):
- Mike: Rich Russo and the NFL production truck – Watch here
- Elis: France v Wales, 1987 – Watch here
- Steff: Freddy Adu, football’s young prodigy – Watch here and here
PART 2 (OUT FRIDAY):
- Elis’ Documentary: Legends of Welsh Sport: Mark Hughes – Watch here
- Mike’s Book Recommendation: Gypsy Jem Mace by Jeremy Poolman – Get it here
PART 3 (PATREON EXCLUSIVE):
- Mike: Sushila Meena’s inspiring story – Watch here
- Elis: Mark Delaney’s unforgettable Cardiff v Chester moment in 1998 – Watch here
- Steff: Dupont winning Olympic gold in rugby sevens – Watch here
📺 TV Suggestions for More from Mike and Elis:
- Mike’s Throwback Special: Watch on BBC iPlayer
- Elis’ Derwydd Special: Watch here
✨ Get ready for an...
🎙️ Welcome to The Socially Distant Sports Bar – Sparky’s Thighs
Elis James (Elis & John, Oh, What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero are back with a thigh-slappingly good episode filled with rugby legends, iconic football moments, and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else. In Episode 248: Sparky’s Thighs, the lads dive into the career of Welsh football great Mark Hughes, plus a whole lot more.
✨ What’s in This Week’s Episode?
This week, you’ll hear about:
- The magic and power of Mark Hughes in Welsh football history
- NFL’s behind-the-scenes action with Rich Russo
- Rugby brilliance from France v Wales 1987
- The rise (and fall) of Freddy Adu, the original football prodigy
- Hidden gems like Gypsy Jem Mace and Olympic rugby triumphs
If you love a mix of sports history, quirky stories, and gut-busting banter, this episode is for you!
🗓 Episode Schedule
- Part 1: Out Wednesday
- Part 2: Out Friday
💡 Can’t wait? Subscribe to WONDERY+ to hear both parts ad-free and early, every Tuesday!
🚀 Why Choose WONDERY+?
- Early access: Be the first to hear Parts 1 and 2 every Tuesday.
- Ad-free listening: All the stories, none of the interruptions.
💡 Why Join Patreon?
- Support the pod directly!
- Unlock exclusive perks like:
- 30 minutes of bonus content every week
- Gift a Patreon membership to your mates!
- Access to iconic extras like Hoffi Pod and Michael Owen’s Movie Club
🎥 Bonus Podcasts for Patreon Members:
- Michael Owen’s Movie Club: Hilarious reviews of sports classics.
- Hoffi Pod: The lads’ favorite non-sports clips, revisited.
👉 Join the £8 or £10 Patreon tiers today and unlock everything!
🎉 THIS WEEK’S SHOW – Don’t Miss It!
PART 1 (OUT WEDNESDAY):
- Mike: Rich Russo and the NFL production truck – Watch here
- Elis: France v Wales, 1987 – Watch here
- Steff: Freddy Adu, football’s young prodigy – Watch here and here
PART 2 (OUT FRIDAY):
- Elis’ Documentary: Legends of Welsh Sport: Mark Hughes – Watch here
- Mike’s Book Recommendation: Gypsy Jem Mace by Jeremy Poolman – Get it here
PART 3 (PATREON EXCLUSIVE):
- Mike: Sushila Meena’s inspiring story – Watch here
- Elis: Mark Delaney’s unforgettable Cardiff v Chester moment in 1998 – Watch here
- Steff: Dupont winning Olympic gold in rugby sevens – Watch here
📺 TV Suggestions for More from Mike and Elis:
- Mike’s Throwback Special: Watch on BBC iPlayer
- Elis’ Derwydd Special: Watch here
✨ Get ready for an...
Previous Episode

248: Sparky’s Thighs (Pt 1)
🎙️ Welcome to The Socially Distant Sports Bar – Sparky’s Thighs
Elis James (Elis & John, Oh, What A Time), Mike Bubbins (Mammoth), and Steff Garrero are back with a thigh-slappingly good episode filled with rugby legends, iconic football moments, and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else. In Episode 248: Sparky’s Thighs, the lads dive into the career of Welsh football great Mark Hughes, plus a whole lot more.
✨ What’s in This Week’s Episode?
This week, you’ll hear about:
- The magic and power of Mark Hughes in Welsh football history
- NFL’s behind-the-scenes action with Rich Russo
- Rugby brilliance from France v Wales 1987
- The rise (and fall) of Freddy Adu, the original football prodigy
- Hidden gems like Gypsy Jem Mace and Olympic rugby triumphs
If you love a mix of sports history, quirky stories, and gut-busting banter, this episode is for you!
🗓 Episode Schedule
- Part 1: Out Wednesday
- Part 2: Out Friday
💡 Can’t wait? Subscribe to our Patreon or to WONDERY+ to hear both parts ad-free and early, every Tuesday!
🚀 Why Choose WONDERY+?
- Early access: Be the first to hear Parts 1 and 2 every Tuesday.
- Ad-free listening: All the stories, none of the interruptions.
💡 Why Join Patreon?
- Support the pod directly!
- Unlock exclusive perks like:
- 30 minutes of bonus content every week
- Gift a Patreon membership to your mates!
- Access to iconic extras like Hoffi Pod and Michael Owen’s Movie Club
🎥 Bonus Podcasts for Patreon Members:
- Michael Owen’s Movie Club: Hilarious reviews of sports classics.
- Hoffi Pod: The lads’ favorite non-sports clips, revisited.
👉 Join the £8 or £10 Patreon tiers today and unlock everything!
🎉 THIS WEEK’S SHOW – Don’t Miss It!
PART 1 (OUT WEDNESDAY):
- Mike: Rich Russo and the NFL production truck – Watch here
- Elis: France v Wales, 1987 – Watch here
- Steff: Freddy Adu, football’s young prodigy – Watch here and here
PART 2 (OUT FRIDAY):
- Elis’ Documentary: Legends of Welsh Sport: Mark Hughes – Watch here
- Mike’s Book Recommendation: Gypsy Jem Mace by Jeremy Poolman – Get it here
PART 3 (PATREON EXCLUSIVE):
- Mike: Sushila Meena’s inspiring story – Watch here
- Elis: Mark Delaney’s unforgettable Cardiff v Chester moment in 1998 – Watch here
- Steff: Dupont winning Olympic gold in rugby sevens – Watch here
📺 TV Suggestions for More from Mike and Elis:
- Mike’s Throwback Special: Watch on BBC iPlayer
- Elis’ Derwydd Special: Watch here
✨ Get ready for another unforgettable episode of The Socially Distant Sports Bar! 🎉
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Turkey Hunt: PS114
🎙️ Welcome to Pint-Sized Distant Pod!
We’ve dived deep into our archive to bring you the best stories, hilarious anecdotes, and unforgettable moments from The Socially Distant Sports Bar. Perfect for newcomers, these curated clips are a great way to explore the highlights from earlier episodes.
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Enjoy early access and ad-free listening as part of your Wondery+ or Patreon Subscription.
📌 This Week’s Clip:
Taken from “201: The Argus? No Offence But, The Argus? Not Even The Echo? ”, it’s a laugh-out-loud moment you won’t want to miss.
🎥 Bonus Podcasts for Patreon Members
Every month, our top-tier Patreon members unlock two exclusive bonus shows:
- Michael Owen’s Movie Club: Elis, Mike, and Steff hilariously dissect a sports movie.
- Hoffi Pod: The lads share and chat about their favorite non-sports clips.
🎉 Ready to join the fun?
Sign up for the £8 or £10 Patreon tiers today and get access to these bonus podcasts and more!
Start listening and discover why The Socially Distant Sports Bar is your ultimate destination for laughs, sports, and stories.
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