In part two of this powerful episode, Kyle Lafferty kicks things off with hilarious stories from his time at Kilmarnock under Derek McInnes. From setting off industrial-sized fireworks in the stadium that had the police called and an elderly neighbour reporting an "explosion," to orchestrating a naked "orchestra" in the dressing room to welcome new signings (complete with bagpipes and guitars made from teammates), Kyle reveals why that dressing room was one of the best he'd ever been in – and why manager Derek McInnes had to have a word about "please, no more fireworks."

But the conversation takes a more serious turn as Kyle opens up about the darker side of his football career – a gambling addiction that consumed his life from the age of 12 and nearly cost him everything. Kyle shares brutally honest stories about placing bets at half-time during matches, betting on his phone whilst warming up for games, and how the addiction spiralled completely out of control. He explains how the buzz from gambling became bigger than the buzz from scoring goals, and how betting companies would send him thousands in "goodwill gestures" knowing they'd get it back tenfold.

Kyle discusses getting fined by the SFA, the shame of coming out publicly whilst at Hearts (and having coins thrown at him during warm-up at Easter Road), and why he believes there's a massive double standard in punishing players for gambling whilst football is saturated with betting advertisements. He talks candidly about Gamblers Anonymous meetings, why owning up to your problem is the first step, and how his life has completely changed in 19 months of being clean. He explains why he can now have £100 in his wallet for a week when previously £1,000 would be gone in an afternoon.

Kyle finishes by discussing his passion project – his own football academy, where he's stripping kids back to basics and teaching them the skills he learned from the best. He wants to give young players the opportunity to maximise their potential, and his message to anyone struggling with addiction is clear: there is help out there, and recovery is possible.

A raw, emotional, and inspiring conversation about dressing room chaos, the realities of addiction, the importance of mental health support in football, and the power of second chances.

This podcast is sponsored by AGPayroll.

This is the first in a two-part series of the Boots to Billing podcast, where host Alan McFadden and co-host Chris Fahey sit down with Northern Ireland legend Kyle Lafferty – the country's second-highest ever goal scorer, who won everything in Scottish football and played across Europe.

Kyle opens up about his remarkable journey from a tiny village of 2,000 people in Northern Ireland, where dreams of professional football seemed impossible, to signing for Burnley at just 15 and leaving home for the first time. He shares the emotional reality of being a homesick teenager in digs with seven cats, and how sheer determination and focus kept him going.

The conversation dives deep into the transfer saga that brought him to Rangers – how he turned down Celtic out of loyalty to the club he'd supported his entire life, and what it was like to walk into Ibrox for the first time. Kyle reflects on playing under the legendary Walter Smith, a proper father figure who knew about your family before he knew about your football, and why that man-management made all the difference.

Kyle doesn't shy away from addressing his reputation, admitting to "daft stuff" done as a naive 20-year-old thrust into one of the world's biggest clubs. He discusses the immense pressure of playing for Rangers, why it's harder than people think, and how he found it easier to score against Celtic when playing for other clubs.

He also takes us inside his time playing abroad – particularly in Italy with Palermo, where he experienced Serie B football, ultras confronting players in restaurants, and the reality of Mafia influence on everyday life. Kyle explains why he believes more British players should move abroad and why he loved the lifestyle and challenge of Italian football.

This episode is sponsored by AGPayroll.

In this episode of the Boots to Billing podcast, host Alan McFadden and co-host Chris Fahey sit down with former Scottish football prodigy Jamie McCluskey, who at just 16 became the youngest player to appear in the SPL for Hibernian.

Jamie opens up about his incredible journey through Scottish football – from convincing a young Steven Fletcher to come along to his Hibs trial, to rubbing shoulders with legends like Derek Riordan, Gary Caldwell, and Stephen Glass in the Easter Road dressing room. He shares honest reflections on what it was like to be thrown into first-team training as a fearless teenager and why he believes that mentality has been lost in the modern game.

The conversation takes us through the highs and lows of his career – from European nights to injury setbacks, a surreal trial at Partizan Belgrade where his dad told him to "take the jail sentence" rather than come home, and finding his feet at Wrexham under Dean Saunders.

Jamie also reflects on winning the Scottish League title alongside his younger brother Stefan – a moment that brought his football journey full circle. Now successfully transitioned into business, Jamie discusses the parallels between the dressing room and the boardroom, and why the skills learned in football translate so well into sales and recruitment.

This episode was sponsored by Radio – Glasgow's brand new Irish-American bar on Soho Street, owned by former footballer Adam Coley. Good Guinness, live music, and amazing pizza slices.