It’s the first edition of a brand new slot on the Second Captains World Service, where we get a friend of the show to review a classic sports book, and invite our listeners to read it along with us.

Book number 1 is “Only A Game?” by Eamon Dunphy, reviewed for us by former Ireland international, Premier League footballer and extremely decent skin Damien Delaney. Damien was good enough to join us at the Liberty Hall Theatre last week, and the author even popped in for a chat too.

©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

It’s an absolutely fascinating chat about the similarities that still exist between Premier League football and football in the 1970s. In the same way that the book is about Eamon’s dream of first division football being crushed by the football machine, this chat is about Damien enduring that life, but with the pay-off of three seasons of Premier League football at the end of a career that had many ups and downs.

©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Plus there’s being a good sub, the footballer Christmas party, the impact of money on a dressing-room, and how young players can be the bane of a good old pro’s life.

Click the image at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Richie Sadlier’s Player’s Chair, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras.

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