In the first episode of the Sports Bench Podcast, host Marc Millar sits down with Graeme Jones, joint assistant manager at Newcastle United, to reflect on a remarkable career in football.

From early struggles and a record-breaking season at Wigan to coaching alongside Roberto Martínez at Swansea, Everton and with Belgium’s golden generation, Graeme shares stories from inside some of football’s biggest moments - including an FA Cup win, a World Cup bronze medal and a European silver medal.

He also opens up about the realities of management at Luton Town, his coaching philosophy and what it means to work at his boyhood club, Newcastle.

A candid and inspiring conversation filled with lessons on resilience, adaptability and the mindset required to succeed at the highest level in sport.

• (00:00:00) - Sports Bench Podcast
• (00:01:53) - Graham Jones
• (00:06:43) - Adam Ferguson on His Turn to Coaching
• (00:11:29) - Graham Jones on his early coaching experiences
• (00:19:27) - Graham Jones on Everton's nervousness
• (00:23:28) - Belgium vs England
• (00:27:23) - Australia's World Cup
• (00:33:13) - Belgium's players on the World Cup
• (00:35:04) - Gareth Southgate on his appointment as England Coach
• (00:40:56) - Germany vs France
• (00:41:07) - Graham Hill on the England and Newcastle jobs
• (00:45:14) - What did you learn about yourself during your time as a manager
• (00:49:54) - What was the biggest challenge you faced as a manager?
• (00:52:38) - Have the game changed for the better?
• (00:58:04) - Graham Jones on his coaching