John Terry, Maro Itoje, Anthony Joshua & more join Gabby on the City's trading floor for charity

0:02This is a Global Player original podcast. So something a little bit different today for the sports agents. We're here on a trading floor at BGC in Canary Wharf, very much outside of the sports agents comfort zone. I can tell you Chappers isn't here today, but many, many stars are. And the reason is that every year to mark the anniversary of 9-11, BGC donates its profits from its trades to a range of charities. and to become one of these charities is very much coveted. I'm fortunate enough as president of Muscular Dystrophy UK to have been here for many years. But of course, you've got to sing for your supper because you've got to go out and you've got to make trades to get the money.

0:41So you see people from the world of sport, entertainment, music, theatre, actors, all on the phones, bashing away, trying to raise money, trying to get their charities some thousands and thousands of pounds. And it is a unique event in the city, but as you can see, so well supported. So, of course, we've come down with the purpose of helping to raise some money for charity, but we couldn't resist being able to chat to the likes of John Terry, Anthony Joshua's here. I've just seen Keira Walsh. You genuinely never know who you're going to bump into at the BGC charity day. Welcome to the Sports Agents.

1:24The Sports Agents with Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman So it's just me today, no Chappers Can I just love you? I'm not a sports person but I was very good at the sports at school, no I really was I'm sure you were, I'm sure you were Davina and swimming Welcome to The Sports Agents your sporting knowledge where does it extend to? Arsenal yeah season ticket holder I love the Gooners like obsessed is this the season? is this the season? it feels like it but every season feels the season but I think this could be it and with my love and enthusiasm I'm going to infuse the Gooners with the wind so it's just me today on the Sports Agents and I'm here with Muscular Dystrophy UK I've been president of Muscular Dystrophy UK for about the last eight years now.

2:17And there are 110 ,000 people in the UK who are living with muscle-wasting diseases. And most of those people find out when they're about five or six years old. So those babies are born with their parents thinking they're going to have normal, active lives. And then suddenly, at the age of five or six, the signs start to set in. And for a lot of them, they're in a wheelchair by the age of 13. So you can imagine the trauma that that has in terms of the impact on the family and the life they thought they were going to have. And they need support both materially and emotionally and that's what the charity provides, but it also provides really important research.

2:48And we're doing a lot of that to try and hopefully one day come up with some kind of cure that will help people to either stop their symptoms or prevent them happening in the first place. But as with a lot of the charities here today, there's research charities, there's charities that give more practical help. They are all going to benefit from this incredible day. And if you want to know anything more about it, get in touch with the Sports Agents as always, the sportsagents at global.com. We love hearing from you. But now I've got a lot of people to chat to.

3:23John Terry has joined us. What a day this is. It's always so special, isn't it? I see you here every year, John. Yeah, I love it. A real privilege for me to come here. It's such a buzz on the floor as well. We can see everyone buy into it. A lot of people kind of dress up and make a real day of it. So a privilege for me to be here today. Tell us the charity you're with today. I am with the John Terry Foundation that I set up last year and also Oasis. So Oasis, care for families, underprivileged families, giving kids opportunities in school holidays. So go for a picnic in the park, go to Chesington World of Adventures, do things that normal kids should be doing.

3:54And of course, here, this really high octane atmosphere, you know, it's always noisy, isn't it? You get on the phones and you try and do a trade. I think you would have been quite a good trader, actually. Can you see yourself in this environment in other life? It actually scares me. When I'm here, it's like the deals are so big, aren't they? Like two, three, four, five hundred million pounds. Do you understand what they're actually doing? I haven't got a clue. I think it's my eighth year, I think, and I still haven't got a clue what I'm doing. They say things like, you've just sold three million of cable.

4:22What's that? I want to talk about trading a bit wider in a footballing context because everybody coming and saying hello to John as we're shouting. Because Chelsea's trading policy and agenda has been quite different in the last couple of years since your days at the club. What have you made of how they're rotating players and perhaps how that's going to affect young players coming through? Well, I think definitely a different way of doing things from when Roman was in charge. And I think initially from the fans' perspective, probably from my perspective as well, was probably unsure of it, first of all, of what direction the club going in.

4:56I think what they've done has been absolutely spot on so far. So I'm kind of in the wrong with probably a load of supporters are as well. It seems to be working and we're kind of moving in that right direction as well. I think we have to be so careful with financial fair play because point deductions and all of this and restrictions, we're sitting right on that barrier and kind of pushing the margins as well. But what I like is we're bringing in a lot of young players to come in and kind of experience the Premier League, but also compete as well. There's that fine balance, isn't there? If you sign young players, can you really compete at that top level?

5:28Are we as good as Liverpool, Man City, to really push them the whole way in the season? I'm not sure with youngsters you can do that. I think you still need a bit of experience. I think when Thiago Silva was at the football club and players like him that have been there, done it. And these younger players are kind of in the dressing room sharing those experiences of the way he looks after himself, the way he goes in the gym before and after training. Those little snippets into the life of what it takes to be a top, top professional, I think players miss. So I think there's a balance, I think. And in terms of, you said bringing young players in, in terms of young players coming through the club, we all know that clubs have to sell those talents eventually at the moment, as you say, to balance the books.

6:07Does that worry in terms of the generation you had? There was a real kind of loyalty to that shirt, wasn't there? And a real sense of pride when you pulled that shirt on. Speaking honestly, at Chelsea, it doesn't at the moment because last year from the academy, so I'm working in the academy two days a week, working with the 18s and 21s, so right on the fringe of when they go over to the first team and make their debut. We had over 10 players last year make their debut in big competitions as well, late stages of competitions. so the opportunities for our younger players and a big sell when we're trying to sign young players to come in and we're trying to take the best players from Arsenal, Liverpool, like everyone's competing we have an advantage over the other teams because our youngsters are getting those opportunities now whether they're good enough to stay there and play regularly is very difficult but I think players at a young age at Chelsea get that experience if they're at the level they stay in the first team or in and around the squad if not it puts you in the shop window and we see Tyreek George that a deal fell through with Fulham late on that they wanted to buy him for 22 million so he would have probably gone because he wasn't getting the game time that he probably wanted but then again it would have been great business for the club Tyreek gets a window of six months in the first team playing in competitions that he should be playing in so I think it's a really good balance at the moment Are you enjoying that role that you have?

7:25I love my role yeah I really enjoy it And I guess very clever as well of Chelsea to bring somebody like you in to give those young players an idea of what it means And finally, before I let you go and mingle a little bit more, talking of young players and Fulham and Chelsea, I'm making a link here. Josh King's goal that was disallowed against Chelsea and what ensued after that. Take your Chelsea hat off and tell me that goal definitely shouldn't have stood. I give you my honest opinion always. It was very, very soft for me. Even at the time, I was like... Does it worry you that that's happening?

7:56I was at the game. VAR and the referee, I think, is appalling at the moment. I sit at football matches, I watch that Fulham game we had 8 minutes of that incident in the first half the penalty in the second half I think it was and I'm sitting there going, the first one wasn't a foul the penalty was instant for me I look at that, being in football, when I'm around football people we're looking at the screen going, that's a penalty, straight away and these decisions are taking 7-8 minutes and I'm at the game and I'm a frustrated ex-player the fans are getting frustrated around me it's really annoying.

8:32I heard you say you're not enjoying watching football at the moment. I don't enjoy the stoppages. Listen, players are very clever. Players are buying fouls and stuff but I think the refs can be a little bit firmer. I think the referees have to, the on-field referees have to take an awful lot of responsibility and when they go over to the screen and no, I'm in charge, I'm making the decision and very clear, like even the talking where the referee comes on the pitch, it's like NFL. It's not, I don't think it's a good place to go. I don't think football's going in the direction we want it to go and I think it needs a good few voices Gary Neville, guys that are at the top in those big roles in football to really call out these people and get it sorted for the next generation for me John, thank you so much Candidate as always get out there and make millions and good luck with your charity cheers, thank you very much thank you

9:21well friend of the sports agents Mara Toji is here of course you are because you talked to us before on the sports agents about your charity the Pearl Fund, and they are one of the beneficiaries today. How good are you at the trades? Well, I'm getting better. This is actually my first time here. The traders have been very hospitable. They're looking after me. It's a different world. Have you picked the phone up and tried to do a trade yet? I've done a few trades, but I've had to have my hand held throughout the whole process. But we're getting there. We're getting better. Congratulations on the British and Irish Lions tour.

9:53And it was a huge success. I think even, and you won't like this, but even losing that final test and the way it happened was a success for the tour and for world rugby. Because we need Australia to be a strong force, don't we? And you inspired them to go on and beat South Africa just after that as well. But it was a great tour to watch. What was it like to be a part of? That was amazing. It was one of the most enjoyable rugby experiences I've had. Just from start to finish, the boys were great, the coaches were great, the support staff were great. everyone mucked in you know the only thing that we wish we probably could have done better was was the last test but you know that's sport sometimes you can't you can't have it all your your way we need jeopardy in sport though as well as a whitewash don't we i think well yeah we do we don't it depends where you're looking at domestic rugby will soon be upon us are you back in training now i start on monday right i start on monday so yeah we're gonna it's gonna to be a tough couple of weeks, blow some of the cobwebs out, but I'm looking forward to it.

10:51I've had a good break and I'm looking forward to getting back into it. I spoke to Henry Pollock last week, I was doing something for another charity and he very much enjoyed his experience I think of being a very young British and Irish lion and was telling us about the politics of rooming because he had Duan van der Merwe for quite a few weeks then suddenly found himself with Owen Farrell and didn't quite know what to do with himself but I think those stories of kind of kinship and how you bond on a tour like that are so fascinating to people who work in this world, aren't they? Who've got to work in teams and they've got to very quickly forge relationships.

11:25How did you see the kind of dynamic of this squad? And how as captain did you ensure that happened quickly? Well, the dynamic was great because I was having a conversation yesterday and fortunately with Lions Tours and people and players, as well as staff actually, within that environment, what you do is give the best of yourself to it. So often people are desperate to be there. They don't take them being there for granted. And perhaps in some other environments, you do do that. So people give the very best on themselves. But in addition to that, one, as a team, we had a team first mentality. So regardless of what you're asked to do, what's best for the team, let's do it.

12:08And I guess my role was just trying to ensure that happens. I was collaborating with the other senior players who all did a great job. And, you know, we managed to have one of the few successful Lions tours. Tell me what the money you raised today will go towards then for the Pearl Fund. Yeah, so the money we raised today, so the Pearl Fund is, we call it a cradle to college program where we support kids from the very start of the academic journey to the very end. And these kids are orphaned, fatherless and in abject poverty. like serious poverty so these the the money will go to the holistic care that the pearl fund offers so that is tuition fees that is transport to and from from school that is nutritional packages for them as well as their families their uniform their extracurricular activities and anything else they need to make sure they get a good education we'll go out there and raise some money and go well on the trades thank you thank you i'll do my very best thank you

13:15What are you going to do? What are they going to do to me? Anthony Joshua's here. I'm only allowed to ask you about the charity. Okay. I can't even say how are you. How are you? No, that's fine.

13:28You look well. How are you? You look really well. Are you good? I'm good. How are you? I'm really good. It's great to see you. You're here for not just one specific charity. Why is this so important to you? because I feel like I step into their world what they're doing they do big business here and they dedicate this day to help like grassroots charities that are doing stuff in the community so it's just connecting like the top of the pyramid to the mid and our charity actually collaborates with a lot of charities so it's like our vision and then what we also do is connect with like-minded people because I feel like two heads are better than one and I'm only allowed to ask you one question so um and that was it really but can I just say this isn't a question it's a statement we miss you we miss you when are we going to see you again is that a question alright

14:25Michael McIntyre on the Sports Agents their words I never thought I'd say how are you last time we were together we were at Wimbledon yes I didn't think you were going to bring it up You've done it already. You've brought it up. I'm not going to bring up the whole incident, Michael. You're going to have to tell the story a bit. You totally and utterly had me. I felt like I was being pranked. You need to clarify what you're talking about. That could go viral. Is that what you call it?

14:56It was one of the great wind-ups. Basically, you and my husband conspired to pretend that Roger Federer wanted to take Kenny and I to his house in Geneva. Well, your beloved husband took my number and put it in his phone as Roger Federer because Roger Federer was sitting with us and I kept texting your husband, pretending to be Roger Federer, and invited you to my house in Geneva. And I believed it. And you came running up to me saying, you won't believe what's just happened. We've been invited to Roger Federer's house in Geneva. And you kept this going until you thought I was telling Sue Barker.

15:34I felt really bad. I felt really bad. I just didn't think you'd fall for it. But, you know, I know what Kenny's like. Because also I sent a text saying, I can't believe how boring the Royals are with a big yawning emoji. I thought Roger's got such a good sense of humour. But look, let's talk football because you are a big Spurs fan. Yes. First of all, we'll mention prostate cancer research. Yes, okay. Because that's why we're here on the trading floor. I see you here all the time. How was the trade? Yeah, the trade was really good. We're raising a lot of money for an amazing cause, lots of amazing causes.

16:04And there's so many people here. I've run into Tom Hardy in the lift. What a cool chap. Ray Winston. There's a lot of gangsters, a lot of gangster people. Tom's not really a gangster. He just plays gangster. No, but I don't know how to separate fantasy from reality. Prostate Cancer Research charity very close to my heart because my husband, Kenny, had prostate cancer. Right, yes. And so I understand that the work they're doing and the work you're doing at the moment to raise awareness is as important almost as anything. awareness of people to be meant to be screened to rule it out yeah go and get the test not too late yes and so obviously our demographic i imagine on the sports ages we probably have quite a lot of blokes listening correct um and so they will have vans are they driving vans not necessarily even if they're not of the age they'll have parents grandparents they need to go and get their men in their life that would be a very good idea and so let's let's talk just very briefly about spurs i'm going to be at the villa real game on tuesday doing that uh yes Are you going?

16:57Yes, I am going. It's all changed at Spurs. So we've got two new signings. Colin Mawani. Very excited about. And Kudis is amazing. And Xavi Simmonds, of course, they'll be making their debuts. He might not have been your first choice. Yes, no, it was wonderful how our plan came together. Things are just the best things happen by accident, don't they? So we signed a player called Morgan Gibbs-White. I don't know what happened there. Have you met his chairman? I've not met his chairman. persuasive chap I'd say he wasn't necessarily released by the club and then there was an Eze situation I've just found out that he likes North London Crystal Palace have a player called Eze who's supposed to be their great hope after Eze leaves it makes it very easy for the fans it's quite good because we had a player obviously we sold Carl Walker and then behind him we had Carl Walker Peters he didn't want a hyphenated name but the club made him even when we sold Gareth Bale there was a kid in the academy who looked exactly like Gareth Bale and we were clinging on to the hope that he would be the next Gareth Bale.

18:00So are you going to, under Thomas Frank, finish higher than last season? I've checked the bar low for you. OK, so are we not going to get relegated? Because we were one place above relegation. Yeah. So let's hope that things turn around on Tuesday. Well, before that, obviously the weekend, but Tuesday you've got Villarreal, Thomas Frank's start in the Champions League as well. He's never managed the Champions League. I know. It's very exciting, isn't it? Yeah, well, Champions League nights is what it's all about. It's exciting. The theme music gets you going. Do you play it in the car on the way to the ground?

18:28It has been known. So, you know, we'll see what happens. But, you know, I think we've got a relatively good draw. Two of the teams we beat already in the Europa. We're playing Bodo again in their stadium for less people that are in this room. I was going to say, people who play for Bodo get paid in fish. They literally get paid in fish. And it's impossible to get to. And we've already beaten them. And then, of course, we beat Frankfurt as well. They're in our group. we're playing them as well. So yeah, we'll see what happens. I know, it's hard saying not saying group. And trust me, as the presenter of Champions League...

18:59It's so confusing. You have to say Champions League league phase, which is not a good... And when they put all the draw up, when you see all the... Even the people in this trading floor couldn't understand how the new format of the Champions League works. And then you don't even get the balls. I think the draw's still happening. Did you see... Zlatan was pushing a button like on a game show. Going, Zlatan, push the button. Okay, I'm sorry. You must have thought of this already. Surely you could come up with your brilliance in terms of game shows and formats. You must be able to come up with a better format for it.

19:31I would absolutely be happy to be tasked with revamping the format of the draw because there's the guy that's only at the draw. The guy, his job in life is to open those little balls that are really hard to open. Why are they so hard to open? And they're really hard to open out. It takes half an hour to go, Manchester United. Except they weren't in the Champions League. Yes, I know. I don't know why I said that. That was a yesteryear. You were just seeing if I was concentrating and not looking over your shoulder to see if Ray Winston was coming over. Yes, Man U do tend to struggle. I heard that last season, it's the highest ratings there's ever been is for matches watching Manchester United because people love watching them lose.

20:10It's like, it's a national pastime outside of the Man U fan base. Well, working for Prime, they are desperate to get them in the Champions League because nobody rates higher when Manchester United are on. Even if they're playing dreadfully, nobody rates higher. No, it's true. Yeah, so, well, good luck. It's been great to see you. Well, let's see how it all plays out. And, of course, Ange is back at Forest. Yeah, well, how do you think about that? Let's see how that goes. Well, it's good that he's back at the Premier League. He's an amazing, fun manager. Poor Nuno. Did I feel any empathy towards Nuno?

20:38Oh, totally, yes, no, absolutely. What did Nuno do? What did Nuno do wrong? We'll never know what goes on there. And I wouldn't ask questions. And I feel bad for actually bringing it up again. Because what if Mr. Marinakis is listening to this podcast? Quite likely. So can I just state for the record in case he is? I'm a huge fan of you, Mr. Maranakis, and I would like to thank Mr. Maranakis for everything he's done. Is that all right? That's Michael McIntyre. You need to call me Michael Maranakis. In fact, I'm more than happy to be referred to as Michael Maranakis. If it spares, spare my life, spare my family.

21:06Please don't hurt me. Trying not to be banned from the city ground over and out. Thank you so much for joining us. Lovely to see you. You're amazing. I love you, Gabs.

21:21Keira Walsh, Lioness, is with me. And you've been out on the trading floor already, Keira. It's your first time. How did it go? Yeah, I mean, it's exciting. It's obviously very, very different to my normal day-to-day life. But, yeah, I'm just really excited to be down there and, yeah, getting involved. How's the body? How's it post-summer and post-the euphoria of the Euros? Yeah, good. I managed to get three weeks off, which is quite long in football terms. And, yeah, feeling good. And, yeah, we had a good start to the season against City. and yeah, hopefully we can carry that on. You did have a good start to the season and it's looking already like it's you against the rest.

21:56What have you noticed in terms of the different dynamic to what you've experienced before in club football? I think it's just that they always find their way to win. Chelsea are known for that. I think the impressive thing about them is even if we're not playing our best football, we always find a way to win. I think that's a sign of a great team and obviously I've played against them and that was a frustrating thing they used to do when I was playing at City, they always managed to win, whether it was the first minute, the 90th minute, they always find a goal and a solution. And yet to be a part of that now is amazing.

22:26And the post-Euro's bounce, how has it differed to 2022? What do you see as kind of, because that was amazing. But obviously this time it was a different journey altogether. Like it was a completely different way of doing it. So has it felt different to you this time in terms of recognition and how everybody is kind of receiving women's football in terms of the league starting again? Yeah, definitely. I think I went to Barcelona last time, so I probably didn't get to experience much of the celebrations and kind of how the game had changed in England. So being here the second time around is incredible.

23:02And yeah, I think just the appreciation now that people have for women's football. And I think, yeah, people know it's here to stay and it's not going anywhere. So yeah, I feel like a lot more people are supporting us and getting behind us. And yeah, I think as a team, we want to continue that and we want to keep getting young girls involved and yeah, just for them to enjoy playing the game. And you put us all through it in the summer. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I put myself through it as well. Yeah. Were there any moments in that final where you thought, I mean, you knew a lot of those Spanish players after you played with a lot of those players where you just thought this is just not going to be our day today?

23:35Because the belief that, you know, we were watching thinking, how are you managing to get through that 90 minutes? How are you managing to get through extra time? And then to put yourself through another penalty shootout, But the drama of it was just spectacular off the scale. Yeah, I think, as you said, I've played with a lot of those players and they can just change the game in a moment. They're such special players. But I think for us, we knew that if we could keep going until the latest stages of the game, that we'd always have a chance. And I think when we got to penalties, obviously we'd experienced it before and we had such belief in our penalty takers.

24:06Yeah, I think we had actually a very good feeling that we were going to win. I think even in extra time, we were confident. I think obviously we had to defend a lot, but we were comfortable in defending. And I think just the belief through the whole tournament, I think obviously, you know, we did have a little bit of luck on our side, but ultimately, you know, the belief in ourselves got us there. In Serena we trust. Yeah, literally, yeah, exactly that. Those are the words. So just before I let you go, you have been making some trades today, hopefully successfully, and the charity Bloomsbury uses football as a power to kind of reach children that otherwise perhaps wouldn't have that kind of activity in their lives.

24:43So I guess it was an easy sell for you to be part of that. Yeah, definitely. And I think, obviously, it's closed home. You know, Bloomsbury does just work in London. But I also come from an area where, you know, young girls, young people don't have a lot of opportunities. And I think I was lucky that football could do that for me. So, yeah, just being able to be a part of that and, yeah, help them in trying to get more young people playing football is, yeah, it's just incredible. Well, keep going. Get out there and keep making trades. Thank you. And best of luck this season as well. Thank you, I appreciate it.