Jacko's Sporting Almanac

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Lynne Thomas

20180719

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20250324 (RW)
20250325 (RW)
20250330 (RW)

First broadcast in 2018, Peter Jackson meets Lynne Thomas, newly-installed in the Welsh Sporting Hall of Fame for her pioneering performances in women's sport. She was part of the team which smashed England's home record when Wales beat England at hockey in front of 50,000 fans at Wembley. Then she became the first woman in the world to score a century in one-day international cricket. And, at 246 runs, she was part of the record opening stand in Women's Cricket World Cup history. She has also encouraged dozens of others to follow her into Welsh sport through her teaching and coaching.

The pioneering Welsh sportswoman Lynne Thomas - a champion in both hockey and cricket.

Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations

Peter Jackson meets pioneering Welsh sportswoman Lynne Thomas – a champion in both hockey and cricket.

[LISTEN NOW]

Bonesetter Reese

20190725

20250111 (RW)

The story of John D Bonesetter Reese is untold in Wales. Yet when the self-educated, Eisteddfod-winning, Sunday-school teaching Welshmen died in 1931, his obituaries were carried in newspapers from New York to San Francisco. Because Reese had won the nickname Bonesetter due to his knack of healing ligaments, strains and pulls learned in the iron town of Rhymney. His patients were the miners and metalworkers of Youngstown, Ohio where he went when work was running short at the top of the Rhymney Valley. But when his ability was used by some of the great baseball players of the day, his fame spread and he gained an international reputation. And as well as the sportsmen, he treated show biz stars, chorus girls, acrobats, greats of American industry and even David Lloyd George while the fellow Welshman was on an American speaking tour. Peter Jackson has been to Ohio to speak to Bonesetter's family, historians and baseball exports to tell the remarkable story of John D Reese.

From Rhymney iron works to one of baseball's unsung heroes - Peter Jackson reveals all.

Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations

When John Reese died, the Welshman's name was spread across America. Peter Jackson follows Bonesetter from Rhymney iron works to being one of the unsung heroes of baseball.

[LISTEN NOW]

Jj Williams

20140809

20240622 (RW)

In tribute to JJ Williams, another chance to hear him in conversation with Peter Jackson.

Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations

Stephanie Morgan

20240401

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20240407 (RW)
20241109 (RW)
20250331 (RW)
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Stephanie Morgan was 17 when the plane carrying Manchester United's Busby Babes crashed in Munich in 1958. Her fiancé Kenny was on board, the youngest of the Babes and last player to be found in the wreckage. A Welshman was among the 23 dead – and while Kenny was among the 21 who survived could he ever be the same player again? Peter Jackson talks to Stephanie about Kenny's return to Swansea, how he returned to playing that season despite having spent weeks in hospital, and how the tragedy affected both of them.

Stephanie Morgan on the lasting affect of the Munich air disaster survived by her fiance.

Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations

Stephanie Morgan was at work in Swansea when she heard the plane carrying her footballing fiancé crashed in Munich with the Busby Babes on board.

Stephanie Morgan on the lasting effect of the Munich air disaster survived by her fiance.

[LISTEN NOW]

Stephanie Morgan on the lasting effect of the Munich air disaster, survived by her fiance.

Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations

Stephanie Morgan was at work in Swansea when she heard the plane carrying her footballing fiancé crashed in Munich with the Busby Babes on board.

[LISTEN NOW]

Nancy And Roy Evans

20240408

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20250413 (RW)
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China was emerging from Mao's Cultural Revolution. Across the Pacific, Richard Nixon was desperate to get China to talk. Step forward the doyen of Welsh table tennis, H Roy Evans. He and his wife Nancy were at the forefront of the sport in Europe and the World. So when Chinese premier Zhou Enlai invited him for talks behind the bamboo curtain, he knew something was up. Now Peter Jackson tells the story of how that meeting was the first stepping stone to Nixon's extraordinary visit to China in 1972, and how the Chinese table tennis team – featuring the greatest players in the world – ended up in Cardiff to play at the Welsh Open Championships. And how the Welshman helped table tennis become an Olympic sport.

Peter Jackson on the Welsh couple at the heart of Richard Nixon's ping-pong diplomacy.

Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations

Peter Jackson tells the remarkable story of Nancy and Roy Evans, the doyens of Welsh table tennis, and how Roy helped foster Richard Nixon's historic ping-pong diplomacy with China

[LISTEN NOW]

Peter Jackson on the Welsh couple at the heart of Richard Nixon's ping-pong diplomacy.

Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations

Peter Jackson tells the remarkable story of Nancy and Roy Evans, the doyens of Welsh table tennis, and how Roy helped foster Richard Nixon's historic ping-pong diplomacy with China

[LISTEN NOW]

Dave Gaskell

20240415

20240416 (RW)
20240421 (RW)
20241005 (RW)
20250414 (RW)
20250415 (RW)
20250420 (RW)

You decide at the last minute to go and watch Manchester United play Manchester City in one of the showpiece matches of the football season, the FA Charity Shield. And then you get a tap on the shoulder, and are told to report immediately to the United dressing room where you will become the first sixteen year-old to play for them, in a pair of borrowed boots. That night Dave Gaskell became the youngest of the Busby Babes. And at his home in Wrexham, he tells Peter Jackson his own Boy's Own story, because that is exactly what happened. Gaskell then went on to win an FA Cup winner's medal and was belatedly awarded League Championship medals, but not before falling out with the club - and filling in time by playing rugby for ace English club Orrell. Then football took him to Wrexham where he became a Racecourse hero and where he's stayed ever since. And when a serious injury meant goalkeeping was no longer an option he returned to the rugby field - for Wrexham RFC. It couldn't happen now – but it happened to Dave Gaskell.

Dave Gaskell - 16-year-old Man Utd hero, FA Cup winner and Wrexham rugby flanker.

Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations

Dave Gaskell tells Peter Jackson how he was plucked from the terraces at 16 to make his Manchester United debut, helped win the FA Cup and ended up playing rugby for Wrexham.

[LISTEN NOW]

First broadcast in 2024

That night Dave Gaskell became the youngest of the Busby Babes. And at his home in Wrexham, he tells Peter Jackson his own Boy's Own story, because that is exactly what happened. Gaskell then went on to win an FA Cup winner's medal and was belatedly awarded League Championship medals, but not before falling out with the club - and filling in time by playing rugby for ace English club Orrell. Then football took him to Wrexham where he became a Racecourse hero and where he's stayed ever since. And when a serious injury meant goalkeeping was no longer an option he returned to the rugby field - for Wrexham RFC. It couldn't happen now – but it happened to Dave Gaskell.

Dave Gaskell - 16-year-old Man Utd hero, FA Cup winner and Wrexham rugby flanker.

Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations

Dave Gaskell tells Peter Jackson how he was plucked from the terraces at 16 to make his Manchester United debut, helped win the FA Cup and ended up playing rugby for Wrexham.

[LISTEN NOW]

Dave Gaskell: Busby Babe To Wrexham Hero

20240415

20250414 (RW)
20250415 (RW)

Dave Gaskell - 16-year-old Man Utd hero, FA Cup winner and Wrexham rugby flanker.

Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations

Dave Gaskell tells Peter Jackson how he was plucked from the terraces at 16 to make his Manchester United debut, helped win the FA Cup and ended up playing rugby for Wrexham.

[LISTEN NOW]

Lewis Jones

20240422

20240423 (RW)
20240428 (RW)
20241117 (RW)

Lewis Jones was being hailed as the Golden Boy of Welsh rugby union when he “went north ? to become a folk hero at Leeds rugby league club. Following his recent death, Peter Jackson traces the story of one of the most gifted players in either code and hears tributes from Wales, Yorkshire and Australia where he eventually found success and acceptance from both games.

Peter Jackson pays tribute to Lewis Jones, the golden boy of Welsh rugby.

Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations

Peter Jackson hears stories of Lewis Jones, the golden boy of Welsh rugby who was ostracised in Wales but a rugby league hero in Yorkshire and Australia.

[LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
		Lynne Thomas	20180719	20250322 (RW) 20250324 (RW) 20250325 (RW) 20250330 (RW)	First broadcast in 2018, Peter Jackson meets Lynne Thomas, newly-installed in the Welsh Sporting Hall of Fame for her pioneering performances in women's sport. She was part of the team which smashed England's home record when Wales beat England at hockey in front of 50,000 fans at Wembley. Then she became the first woman in the world to score a century in one-day international cricket. And, at 246 runs, she was part of the record opening stand in Women's Cricket World Cup history. She has also encouraged dozens of others to follow her into Welsh sport through her teaching and coaching. The pioneering Welsh sportswoman Lynne Thomas - a champion in both hockey and cricket. Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations Peter Jackson meets pioneering Welsh sportswoman Lynne Thomas – a champion in both hockey and cricket. [LISTEN NOW]
	01	Bonesetter Reese	20190725	20250111 (RW)	The story of John D Bonesetter Reese is untold in Wales. Yet when the self-educated, Eisteddfod-winning, Sunday-school teaching Welshmen died in 1931, his obituaries were carried in newspapers from New York to San Francisco. Because Reese had won the nickname Bonesetter due to his knack of healing ligaments, strains and pulls learned in the iron town of Rhymney. His patients were the miners and metalworkers of Youngstown, Ohio where he went when work was running short at the top of the Rhymney Valley. But when his ability was used by some of the great baseball players of the day, his fame spread and he gained an international reputation. And as well as the sportsmen, he treated show biz stars, chorus girls, acrobats, greats of American industry and even David Lloyd George while the fellow Welshman was on an American speaking tour. Peter Jackson has been to Ohio to speak to Bonesetter's family, historians and baseball exports to tell the remarkable story of John D Reese. From Rhymney iron works to one of baseball's unsung heroes - Peter Jackson reveals all. Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations When John Reese died, the Welshman's name was spread across America. Peter Jackson follows Bonesetter from Rhymney iron works to being one of the unsung heroes of baseball. [LISTEN NOW]
	01	Jj Williams	20140809	20240622 (RW)	In tribute to JJ Williams, another chance to hear him in conversation with Peter Jackson. Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations
14	01	Stephanie Morgan	20240401	20240402 (RW) 20240407 (RW) 20241109 (RW) 20250331 (RW) 20250401 (RW) 20250406 (RW)	Stephanie Morgan was 17 when the plane carrying Manchester United's Busby Babes crashed in Munich in 1958. Her fiancé Kenny was on board, the youngest of the Babes and last player to be found in the wreckage. A Welshman was among the 23 dead – and while Kenny was among the 21 who survived could he ever be the same player again? Peter Jackson talks to Stephanie about Kenny's return to Swansea, how he returned to playing that season despite having spent weeks in hospital, and how the tragedy affected both of them. Stephanie Morgan on the lasting affect of the Munich air disaster survived by her fiance. Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations Stephanie Morgan was at work in Swansea when she heard the plane carrying her footballing fiancé crashed in Munich with the Busby Babes on board. Stephanie Morgan on the lasting effect of the Munich air disaster survived by her fiance. [LISTEN NOW] Stephanie Morgan was 17 when the plane carrying Manchester United's Busby Babes crashed in Munich in 1958. Her fiancé Kenny was on board, the youngest of the Babes and last player to be found in the wreckage. A Welshman was among the 23 dead – and while Kenny was among the 21 who survived could he ever be the same player again? Peter Jackson talks to Stephanie about Kenny's return to Swansea, how he returned to playing that season despite having spent weeks in hospital, and how the tragedy affected both of them. Stephanie Morgan on the lasting effect of the Munich air disaster, survived by her fiance. Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations Stephanie Morgan was at work in Swansea when she heard the plane carrying her footballing fiancé crashed in Munich with the Busby Babes on board. [LISTEN NOW]
14	02	Nancy And Roy Evans	20240408	20240409 (RW) 20240414 (RW) 20241012 (RW) 20250407 (RW) 20250408 (RW) 20250413 (RW) 20250802 (RW)	China was emerging from Mao's Cultural Revolution. Across the Pacific, Richard Nixon was desperate to get China to talk. Step forward the doyen of Welsh table tennis, H Roy Evans. He and his wife Nancy were at the forefront of the sport in Europe and the World. So when Chinese premier Zhou Enlai invited him for talks behind the bamboo curtain, he knew something was up. Now Peter Jackson tells the story of how that meeting was the first stepping stone to Nixon's extraordinary visit to China in 1972, and how the Chinese table tennis team – featuring the greatest players in the world – ended up in Cardiff to play at the Welsh Open Championships. And how the Welshman helped table tennis become an Olympic sport. Peter Jackson on the Welsh couple at the heart of Richard Nixon's ping-pong diplomacy. Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations Peter Jackson tells the remarkable story of Nancy and Roy Evans, the doyens of Welsh table tennis, and how Roy helped foster Richard Nixon's historic ping-pong diplomacy with China [LISTEN NOW] China was emerging from Mao's Cultural Revolution. Across the Pacific, Richard Nixon was desperate to get China to talk. Step forward the doyen of Welsh table tennis, H Roy Evans. He and his wife Nancy were at the forefront of the sport in Europe and the World. So when Chinese premier Zhou Enlai invited him for talks behind the bamboo curtain, he knew something was up. Now Peter Jackson tells the story of how that meeting was the first stepping stone to Nixon's extraordinary visit to China in 1972, and how the Chinese table tennis team – featuring the greatest players in the world – ended up in Cardiff to play at the Welsh Open Championships. And how the Welshman helped table tennis become an Olympic sport. Peter Jackson on the Welsh couple at the heart of Richard Nixon's ping-pong diplomacy. Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations Peter Jackson tells the remarkable story of Nancy and Roy Evans, the doyens of Welsh table tennis, and how Roy helped foster Richard Nixon's historic ping-pong diplomacy with China [LISTEN NOW] [LISTEN NOW]
14	03	Dave Gaskell	20240415	20240416 (RW) 20240421 (RW) 20241005 (RW) 20250414 (RW) 20250415 (RW) 20250420 (RW)	You decide at the last minute to go and watch Manchester United play Manchester City in one of the showpiece matches of the football season, the FA Charity Shield. And then you get a tap on the shoulder, and are told to report immediately to the United dressing room where you will become the first sixteen year-old to play for them, in a pair of borrowed boots. That night Dave Gaskell became the youngest of the Busby Babes. And at his home in Wrexham, he tells Peter Jackson his own Boy's Own story, because that is exactly what happened. Gaskell then went on to win an FA Cup winner's medal and was belatedly awarded League Championship medals, but not before falling out with the club - and filling in time by playing rugby for ace English club Orrell. Then football took him to Wrexham where he became a Racecourse hero and where he's stayed ever since. And when a serious injury meant goalkeeping was no longer an option he returned to the rugby field - for Wrexham RFC. It couldn't happen now – but it happened to Dave Gaskell. Dave Gaskell - 16-year-old Man Utd hero, FA Cup winner and Wrexham rugby flanker. Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations Dave Gaskell tells Peter Jackson how he was plucked from the terraces at 16 to make his Manchester United debut, helped win the FA Cup and ended up playing rugby for Wrexham. [LISTEN NOW] First broadcast in 2024 You decide at the last minute to go and watch Manchester United play Manchester City in one of the showpiece matches of the football season, the FA Charity Shield. And then you get a tap on the shoulder, and are told to report immediately to the United dressing room where you will become the first sixteen year-old to play for them, in a pair of borrowed boots. That night Dave Gaskell became the youngest of the Busby Babes. And at his home in Wrexham, he tells Peter Jackson his own Boy's Own story, because that is exactly what happened. Gaskell then went on to win an FA Cup winner's medal and was belatedly awarded League Championship medals, but not before falling out with the club - and filling in time by playing rugby for ace English club Orrell. Then football took him to Wrexham where he became a Racecourse hero and where he's stayed ever since. And when a serious injury meant goalkeeping was no longer an option he returned to the rugby field - for Wrexham RFC. It couldn't happen now – but it happened to Dave Gaskell. Dave Gaskell - 16-year-old Man Utd hero, FA Cup winner and Wrexham rugby flanker. Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations Dave Gaskell tells Peter Jackson how he was plucked from the terraces at 16 to make his Manchester United debut, helped win the FA Cup and ended up playing rugby for Wrexham. [LISTEN NOW] [LISTEN NOW]
14	03	Dave Gaskell: Busby Babe To Wrexham Hero	20240415	20250414 (RW) 20250415 (RW)	You decide at the last minute to go and watch Manchester United play Manchester City in one of the showpiece matches of the football season, the FA Charity Shield. And then you get a tap on the shoulder, and are told to report immediately to the United dressing room where you will become the first sixteen year-old to play for them, in a pair of borrowed boots. That night Dave Gaskell became the youngest of the Busby Babes. And at his home in Wrexham, he tells Peter Jackson his own Boy's Own story, because that is exactly what happened. Gaskell then went on to win an FA Cup winner's medal and was belatedly awarded League Championship medals, but not before falling out with the club - and filling in time by playing rugby for ace English club Orrell. Then football took him to Wrexham where he became a Racecourse hero and where he's stayed ever since. And when a serious injury meant goalkeeping was no longer an option he returned to the rugby field - for Wrexham RFC. It couldn't happen now – but it happened to Dave Gaskell. Dave Gaskell - 16-year-old Man Utd hero, FA Cup winner and Wrexham rugby flanker. Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations Dave Gaskell tells Peter Jackson how he was plucked from the terraces at 16 to make his Manchester United debut, helped win the FA Cup and ended up playing rugby for Wrexham. [LISTEN NOW]
14	04	Lewis Jones	20240422	20240423 (RW) 20240428 (RW) 20241117 (RW)	Lewis Jones was being hailed as the Golden Boy of Welsh rugby union when he “went north ? to become a folk hero at Leeds rugby league club. Following his recent death, Peter Jackson traces the story of one of the most gifted players in either code and hears tributes from Wales, Yorkshire and Australia where he eventually found success and acceptance from both games. Peter Jackson pays tribute to Lewis Jones, the golden boy of Welsh rugby. Peter Jackson with more remarkable sporting conversations Peter Jackson hears stories of Lewis Jones, the golden boy of Welsh rugby who was ostracised in Wales but a rugby league hero in Yorkshire and Australia. [LISTEN NOW]