Gus Ballantine

Sidelines • 23rd April 2025

The cutman in the corner - Sidelines

When Anthony Joshua takes a seat in his corner between the rounds of a fight, there’s someone leaning in who isn’t throwing punches but could be the reason the contest continues. His name is Dr Ian Gatt, aka, ‘The Boxing Physio’, and he’s one of the most trusted cutmen in the game.


Never heard of a cutman? Don’t worry, many people haven’t. Gus Ballantine explains everything you need to know.  


In boxing, the title of a cutman might conjure up gritty movie images – bloodied towels, screamin...

Sidelines • 16th April 2025

Sport’s storytellers: inside the world of commentary - Sidelines

Iconic sporting moments don’t just live in our memories because of what we see – they’re shaped by the voices we hear. Sidelines delves into the lives of three TV commentators who reveal how commentary brings the sporting experience to life.



Peter Drury commentating, photo courtesy of Peter Drury



Peter Drury


Peter Drury, 57, has been a football commentator for over three decades. He has worked for BBC Radio Leeds, ITV, BT Sport, Amazon Prime Video, and is now the lead Premier league...

Sidelines • 6th June 2025

The Oscar winner behind sport's biggest documentaries  - Sidelines

Sports documentaries have transformed the way fans connect with their favourite sports. Sidelines speaks to film producer James Gay-Rees, the man at the forefront of the sports documentary revolution.



James Gay-Rees with his Oscar, photo courtesy of Alexandra Allan



James Gay-Rees, co-founder of Box-to-Box Films, is the mind behind the fan-favourite sports docs and series such as Drive to Survive, Senna, Break Point, Full Swing, Make Us Dream and many more. 


“We offer the reality of...

Sidelines • 28th May 2025

From pitch to press: the media training mastermind - Sidelines

After winning the Rugby World Cup in 2003, England’s fight wasn’t over yet with the storm of the press still waiting. Sidelines speaks to the man who helped them navigate the media frenzy and ensure their victory was celebrated both on and off the field.


For many athletes or those involved in sport, the word “media” might send shivers down their spine, with visions of hundreds of journalists scrambling for answers. 


Enter the media liaison officer, who has to control the chaos and make sur...

Sidelines • 23rd May 2025

Football meets Moneyball - Sidelines

In 2020, Kevin De Bruyne became the first player to turn to data and analytics to negotiate his contract renewal with Manchester City. Sidelines meets the consultancy behind the move that introduced data-driven decisions to some of football’s biggest contracts. 






The role of data and analytics in football has grown exponentially in recent years, with the industry’s decision-makers increasingly turning to numbers to advise their choices. 


If ‘Moneyball’ has taught us anything, it’s tha...

Sidelines • 22nd May 2025

Tomorrow's red and whites - Sidelines

With standout talents like Fin Smith and Henry Pollock recently named in the Lions squad, the future of England men’s rugby team looks bright – but who’s building it? Sidelines explores the groundwork being laid for World Cup success.


The road to World Cup glory doesn’t start on the pitch at Twickenham. It starts in schools, local clubs and academies up and down the country, where the foundations are laid for success. 


Jonathan Pendlebury plays a vital role in this process. As Head Coach o...

Sidelines • 16th April 2025

The story of the 'Hardest Working Man in Boxing' - Sidelines

When people think of boxing promoters, names like Eddie Hearn at Matchroom Boxing and Frank Warren at Queensberry Promotions dominate the spotlight. But outside the televised limelight, there are promoters building fighters from the ground up.


Boxing promoters are the engines behind fight nights – responsible for organising events, matching opponents, arranging officials and marketing the show. The list goes on.


However, not all promoters operate under the dazzling lights of Sky Sports or...

Sidelines • 2nd June 2025

"Volunteers are the lifeblood of sport" - Sidelines

For Volunteers’ Week, hear from three women who help bring some of the world’s biggest sporting events to life.



Karolyn Gaston, photo courtesy of Karolyn Gaston



Karolyn Gaston


Karolyn Gaston, 53, has been volunteering for 36 years, including three Olympics, the Invictus Games and the Commonwealth Games.


Gifting your time is relatively free to give, but it’s priceless to receive – it’s the most precious gift you can give anyone. 


If I could bottle and sell the impact of volunte...

Sidelines • 23rd May 2025

Cheese rolling: meet the team behind world-famous Cooper's Hill event

Each year, the world’s wildest community sport takes place on Cooper’s Hill: cheese rolling. Sidelines uncovers more.


The small village of Brockworth in Gloucester has come into the spotlight once again. Their annual cheese-rolling event involves participants chasing an 8-9 lbs roll of double Gloucester cheese down an almost vertical hill.


For something that attracts widespread attention from thousands of people all over the globe, its preparation is the hands of a small team. 



Chris...

Sidelines • 4th June 2025

The virtual advantage: how VR is revolutionising sports training  - Sidelines

How is virtual reality (VR) influencing the way athletes train and level up their game? Sidelines dives into the future of sports training to find out more. 



Andy Etches, co-founder of Rezzil, photo courtesy of Andy Etches



In the world of sports technology, few things are as exciting as using virtual reality to level up athlete performance. 


Rezzil, whose name comes from ‘mental resilience’, is leading the charge in this space. They transform the way athletes train, recover and mak...