The Match

In 2005, David Prutton was a Premier League up and comer. A tough tackling midfielder, but one who’d always managed to stay on the right side of the disciplinary line. And then, one afternoon at St Mary’s in Southampton, he lost it. Two minutes of madness that would shape the rest of his career. In the last episode of Season One, he tells us his story with wit and self-effacing honesty.

Richard Hughes was learning plenty in the most famous youth academy in Italy, at Atalanta. Coach Cesare Prandelli gave him his debut for the senior youth team against Brescia. And in Brescia's ranks was one of Italy's greatest future players, Andrea Pirlo. That was challenge enough, but Richard was to play out of position, at Centre Back. The prospect was, in his words, a nightmare.

In 1988, Clive Allen made a surprise move to France to play for Bordeaux. Early in that season, Bordeaux played PSG at the Parc Des Princes and Clive missed a penalty that would have won them the game. The next day he was called in to see the President. This week, it's the story of what happened next.

In April 1993, a young Matt Jackson was playing at right back for Everton against QPR. He'd had a good season to that point but always sensed that he didn't really know his position, that he was winging it, that he was guessing what a defender should do. One day this lack of guidance would surely catch up with him. And then it did. On an afternoon at Goodison Park when he came up against the England left winger Andy Sinton.

In September 1995, West Ham United went to Highbury to play Arsenal, and the West Ham midfielder Don Hutchison was furious with his manager Harry Redknapp. The two had argued, communication had broken down, and when Redknapp decided to bring on the 37 year old reserve goalkeeper Les Sealey as a substitute instead of Don, that was the end of the road, and player told manager that he would never play for him again. It would be a compelling story, if it was true. The fact that it isn't makes it even more so.

In 1993, Leroy Rosenior won his only cap for Sierra Leone. He’d had invitations before, and always said no. This time, though, he went. And came back with stories and memories that have instructed him ever since. This is the story of the red carpet, the witch doctor, the taxi ride, and of course, the match.

In 1997, third tier Chesterfield got to the FA Cup semi final. They played Premier League Middlesbrough. And they nearly won. This is the story of how a small club was denied its chance of a dream final by a refereeing decision, and how the then Chesterfield manager John Duncan remembers that day.

In April 2007, the BBC announced that, for the first time, they would use a female commentator on Match of the Day. And all hell broke loose. This week, Jacqui Oatley tells the story of that day.

Danny Higginbotham knew that he was nearing the end of his career when Stoke played Chelsea in 2011, but the serious injury that he suffered at the end of that game all but finished him as a player. He describes the road back, the false starts, the jealousies and the agonies of realising that you've lost the career that you loved. And how the injury made him the person that he is. Stronger and more successful.

In his second game in the Premier League, Dean Ashton felt out of his depth and wondered if he belonged. And then something happened that would change the course of his career, and his life.