The Players Lounge · Episode 03Published
Hayden Mullins: One Red Card Cost Me the FA Cup Final
Ex-professional footballer · Released 15 October 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
Hayden Mullins sits down with Gerryn to talk about leaving home at sixteen for Crystal Palace, the red card that ruled him out of West Ham's FA Cup final, the great escape with Carlos Tevez, Portsmouth's uncertainty, and finding a new role in coaching.
Show notes
- Growing up in Reading and leaving home at sixteen for Crystal Palace.
- A £30-a-week start, a first-team debut and developing leadership as captain.
- The red card that ruled Hayden out of West Ham's FA Cup final.
- West Ham's Premier League escape and Carlos Tevez.
- Portsmouth's uncertainty, another FA Cup final and promotion with Reading.
- Retirement, coaching, family influence and meeting Pep Guardiola.
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction
- 00:19Growing up in Reading
- 06:31Youth football and coaching the love out of the game
- 12:31Leaving home at 16 and the £30-a-week start
- 16:43Palace debut and becoming captain
- 24:56Leaving Palace for West Ham
- 29:20The red card and missing the FA Cup final
- 35:51Watching the final from the sidelines
- 40:44West Ham's great escape and Carlos Tevez
- 52:08Portsmouth and the financial uncertainty
- 56:17Returning to the FA Cup final
- 1:00:55Reading promotion and Portsmouth relegation
- 1:03:52Birmingham, Notts County and retirement
- 1:08:06Finding a new role in coaching
- 1:13:19Inspiration and meeting Pep Guardiola
- 1:16:19Advice for young footballers
Read the companion story
Gerryn's written piece on this conversation, with the context around the episode.
Read the story →