Non-League GANGSTERS, DODGY Contracts & BRUTAL Sackings! | Danny Meadowcroft

Danny Meadowcroft joins I Had Trials Once to tell some incredible stories from a career that took him from Stockport County into the professional game & deep into the chaos of Non-League football. Danny discusses playing at Stockport alongside future stars including Ashley Williams & Rickie Lambert, working under Carlton Palmer, his remarkable 40-yard goal, a wild tour of China, becoming captain at just 19 & making the jump into full-time football with Morecambe. He also opens up on the reality of Non-League contracts, including contracts being left in the “top drawer”, discovering he wasn't actually under contract after an injury & the chairman who the hosts describe as a bit of a gangster. There are stories about Steve Morison, Jamie Vardy, Christmas bookings, dressing-room drinking games, Chester, Colwyn Bay & Danny's experiences in management. Then comes the unbelievable finale: Danny takes over at Barnton, wins the League Cup, wins the play-offs... and gets sacked. 0:00 Intro 6:36 Danny Meadowcroft 7:55 Stockport County & Carlton Palmer 12:19 Ashley Williams & Rickie Lambert 17:16 Danny Shittu: “The Beast” 20:20 Danny’s 40-Yard Goal 24:00 Mossley Captain at 19 25:07 Non-League Dressing Room Chaos 31:39 Morecambe Move & Failed Medical 38:39 Bradford Park Avenue Contract Drama 44:50 Steve Morison Battle 46:16 Jamie Vardy in Non-League 58:35 Shoulder Injury & No Contract 1:00:35 Non-League Drinking Challenges 1:07:18 10/1 Bet & Pitch Invasion 1:14:11 Colwyn Bay & Welsh Football 1:31:47 Management: Won the Cup & Got Sacked 1:34:30 Outro 👋 Got someone you'd love to see on the podcast? Drop us a message on any of our socials or let us know in the comments. 👌 If you're enjoying the podcast, make sure you Like, Comment & Subscribe, and turn notifications on so you never miss a new episode. 👀 Join I Had Trials Once on Patreon for just £3 a month for more exclusive, unfiltered content that we simply cannot get away with on YouTube 👉 https://www.patreon.com/IHadTrialsOnce 👏 A massive thanks to CAPO for sponsoring this week's episode. 👔 Check them out: https://capouk.com/ 🤑 Use code IHADTRIALS at checkout to save 15%. 🤔 Who should we get on next? Let us know in the comments! 😍 Connect with us: 🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/ihadtrialsonce 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ihadtrialsonce ⏳ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ihadtrialsonce 🖥️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ihadtrialsoncepodcast ⚽ I Had Trials Once is the football podcast where the best stories from the game get told. Every week we sit down with former footballers, current players, managers, coaches, journalists and some of football's biggest personalities for honest conversations, hilarious dressing room stories, untold career moments and behind the scenes insight. 📈 From the Premier League and EFL to Non League, grassroots football and beyond, if you love football stories, football interviews and proper football banter, you're in the right place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices