E44 | Paul Ifill

Episode summary | Paul Ifill

Paul Ifill is a well-known name in New Zealand football due to his exploits with the Wellington Phoenix where he rose to legendary status.

But he also has a lifetime of stories you might not have heard. In this episode we dig into some of those, like the time he tore his groin celebrating Tim Cahill’s winner in the 2004 FA Cup semi-final, playing against Keane, Giggs, Scholes, van Nistelrooy, and Christiano Ronaldo in the final.

When he was dropped for the Sheffield derby thanks to a dream that the wife of his manager Neil Warnock had the night before the game. His experiences with gambling and Keith Gillespie who lost 7 million pounds across his career! Investments and why he’s a part owner of a petrol station in Sierra Leone, and why he posted a scathing column Steven wrote about him on his fridge in 2015.

Show notes | Paul Ifill

2.01 How Seamus knows Paul Ifill and the time Steven slagged him off in the paper

6.10 A former Premier League player in the NZ Masters Tournament

11.39 In his own words: Paul Ifill the player

17.30 A legend at Millwall: The 2004 FA Cup journey, Tim Cahill, the final against Manchester United and “picking up the Portuguese lad at corners”

39.11 Ifill on his potential as a player and being a player / coach

45.38 Playing at The New Den and leaving Millwall for Sheffield United

56.23 Neil Warnock and the time he dropped Paul for the Sheffield derby

1.01.25 Keith Gillespie and gambling, the Secret Footballer, and investments in Sierra Leone

1.11.53 The journey to sign for the Wellington Phoenix

1.17.22 Adjusting to life in New Zealand and getting attacked on arrival in Wellington

1.23.11 Reflections on his time at the Nix

1.29.00 Selfish v Selfless: The difference between playing and coaching

1.31.30 Coaching women’s football and being appointed to lead the Samoan women’s national team

1.34.45 Thoughts on the changes to the New Zealand national league

1.38.08 Masterton, Wairarapa United, the Paul Ifill Football Academy, women’s football and the future

1.41.58 Experiences of racism in football

1.45.46 International football with Barbados

1.48.47 Last words from Seamus, Steven, and Paul