The Paisley Pirates brought the dressing room to the stage on the 12 September with the club’s first-ever live Paisley Pirates Podcast, recorded in front of a packed room at The Wynd Centre, School Wynd in Paisley. The event combined nostalgia, humour and candid conversation, and gave fans a rare chance to hear from two club legends in person.
Host Calum Wilson opened the evening by welcoming supporters and introduced a line-up that celebrated the club’s heritage. The live show featured the club’s 1997 Scottish Cup heroes John Kidd (former captain) and Phil Connor, with comedy from Neil “The Wee Man” Bratchpiece getting the crowd warmed up before the conversation turned reflective.
A night of stories, memories and fan questions.
Kidd and Connor led a wide-ranging discussion that dug into the memories of the 1997 Cup success, life in Pirates colours and the changing face of grassroots hockey in Scotland. Fans in the room heard behind-the-scenes anecdotes, lesser-known stories from the dressing room and the kind of detail only those who were there can provide.
The live format also gave the audience a direct line into the show. A lively Q&A session saw supporters asking everything from tactical curiosities to personal recollections, creating a genuine and engaging atmosphere reminiscent of match-night camaraderie. Laughter, applause and local banter filled the room throughout.
The tone of the night reflected the club’s character — warm, direct and community-first — with long-time supporters and newer fans alike enjoying a shared celebration of Paisley’s hockey history.
Podcast milestone and wider availability
The live episode — part of the ongoing Paisley Pirates Podcast series — will be released across the club’s channels and on major podcast platforms at 4.00pm on the 22 September 2025, ensuring those who couldn’t attend can still experience the evening. The show sits alongside regular podcast episodes that feature coaches, players and partners, and is part of the club’s wider strategy to bring fans closer to the team off the ice.
Community and club context
Founded in 1946, the Paisley Pirates are a volunteer-run Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) with deep roots in Renfrewshire. The club’s podcast, live events and community outreach are part of an ongoing effort to keep local sport accessible and to celebrate the volunteers, players and supporters who sustain it.
The Pirates would like to thank everyone who attended and the volunteers who helped stage the event. They also offered public thanks to the sponsors and partners who support club activities and media projects.
What’s next
With the 2025/26 season under way, the Pirates continue to balance on-ice competition with off-ice community engagement.
Fans can expect the live episode to be published on Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, Castbox and the Paisley Pirates YouTube channel. Fixtures, podcast updates and club news are available at www.paisleypirates.co.uk
