Podcaster in the question-and-answer spotlight

Speedway and football fanatic Nathan Bunting gets his moment in the spotlight during Gavin Caney’s monthly Q&A feature in Your Local Paper.Nathan. What came first, football or speedway? And what are your earliest memories of loving both sports?Football came first, but speedway wasn’t far behind. It was from 1990 to the present day and I would call it an unhealthy obsession with the sport.I remember standing on a box on the back straight at King’s Lynn and was hooked by the action and smell straight away.I have supported Man United from a very early age, and been involved with football in some capacity since the age of eight.I first played at Downham Town from the youth days until representing the reserves before moving away to university.Speedway is my passion though and would take precedence over football. Growing up, who were your two-wheel and football heroes? My first heroes from speedway were of course Mark Loram and Henka Gustafsson.I just loved everything about them, the way they would miss the start and then ride full throttle for four laps, both inside and outside, and produced some of the best entertainment you could imagine.Growing up in football as a goalkeeper, I always looked for the likes of Peter Schmeichel and Gigi Buffon. They were possibly the greatest goalkeepers of their generation and I looked to them for inspiration in my own style.You’ve been involved with Dersingham Rovers in a variety of roles since 2010. How did you get involved with the football club and what does it mean to you to be involved with it? I was first brought to Dersingham Rovers in 2010 by a great friend, Dave Day, who is sadly no longer with us.He took me along to sign for the B Team as it was then. He was enthusiastic, passionate and made me love football again. It didn’t start particularly well as I was sent off in my first game for the club.I’ve now done various roles including coaching and club secretary and Dersingham means more to me than just football.It’s a community and we share the passion to keep this club moving forward.It was the toughest decision in the world to reveal the club was winding up back in 2017 but it’s great to be back. You’re now coach of the A-team. What’s the biggest challenge of being involved with a third team at a club and what’s the most rewarding aspect? It’s difficult to name just one challenge involved with running a third team as there are a few.Of course there is attracting the players to come and play and keeping the players involved during the season, which can often be defined by results.Training and playing the same team in consecutive weeks and of course being the bottom team, having to release players if the teams above are short. The rewards come from performances. This season has been one of the best to date and makes it worth it when you are in the running for titles.You’ve become well known for your presenting and podcast hosting. Is this something you’ve always wanted to do? And how did this part of your life come about? I hadn’t really thought of podcasting in any capacity until Covid appeared. I was friends with Rob (Ludlow) and Cain (Watt) through various virtual speedway games and I just came up with the idea of presenting a speedway podcast for Britain.It seemed to take off quickly and has just spiralled to where we are today. It’s at this point I run away with ideas and need to be grounded sometimes but when we were asked to present the Nicolai Klindt evening, I jumped at the chance.It was different, and outside of our comfort zone but it was a great success. We are already planning more evenings.Round the Boards has been going since February 2022. Tell us a little about its growth and why you think it’s succeeded?Round the Boards has really become my baby and it would seem strange now if it were to ever stop. It seemed to start quite well and the audience enjoyed what we do. I don’t necessarily think it’s the factual content that captures the audience but the array of guests we have, through all aspects of the sport. Also, the features we do, including the quiz, keep people gripped.Ultimately, we are three guys who just love talking about speedway and bringing it to a wider audience.We are always looking to make improvements, we are by no means experts, but we are confident in what we do.You were part of the team that launched Pride of the East, the King’s Lynn Stars’ unofficial podcast. What made you set up another show and how have you found it? Pride of the East then came about as another idea, and having known Andrew (Howell) and Chris (Abbs), I knew they would be perfect.They share the same passion, knowledge and excitement of King’s Lynn Stars as I do and we just fit well. They have great ideas, and also great knowledge. What them two don’t know, isn’t worth knowing!!So far, it’s been a whirlwind of success, from presenting the show, to getting access to most areas and also getting involved with the management at the club.This podcast is only going one way and the Nicolai Klindt evening just topped it off.Talk us through that experience of the live night with Nicola Klindt and how you felt it went.The evening with Nicolai was just very surreal.When I accepted the invitation to host, the only emotion I could feel was excitement.As the day approaches, you then begin to doubt yourself and wonder if we have done enough? Are people going to like this?Andrew and Chris were great support and we knew the content would be good.After a nervy start, I really settled into it and thoroughly enjoyed the whole evening. The feedback has also been excellent and it gives us confidence that we could do this again.The confidence definitely comes from knowing the sport but also Nicolai was an ideal first guest.What are your aims for the future as a presenter and a podcast host? I’m not sure what to expect from the future, but as long as I’m enjoying it then I will carry on.Both podcasts are going from strength to strength and we hope it continues long into the future.We have ideas, or I have ideas, way outside our comfort zones and probability but I believe we need these to focus the mind.I never thought back in 2022 that I would be hosting a podcast but here we are today and I have two.The next five years could see us moving onto bigger and better things and that is certainly the aim, whatever they may be.Finally, how do you think King’s Lynn Stars will fare in 2025? It’s been a turbulent time for the Stars in recent years, a mixture of probably bad luck, injuries and bad decisions.The look of the 2025 side does excite me though, and having Bomber (Chris Harris) at King’s Lynn, even just for one season, is a great addition.We have a side that could genuinely swap positions from one to six through the whole season, and even if one or two riders have an off night, there is still plenty of quality to see us through.But I won’t get ahead of myself, as we’ve been in similar positions before, but I am excited to see how this goes.As long as we get to the play-offs as a minimum, anything can happen after that. It will never allow me to stop dreaming of us lifting the ultimate top-flight title though.Five interesting factsNathan has a degree in English and journalism from Staffordshire University having studied from 2003-2006. His final assignment included an interview with the late speedway rider Lee RichardsonBunting was a lifeguard at Alton Towers Resort from 2004-2010, working up to team leader and meeting celebrities like Paul Scholes and Jennifer EllisonHe is training towards being a UEFA B coach, having completed Levels 1 and 2 and has the long-term aim of being a non-League managerThe podcast host completed the Great North Run in 2015, an event won by Sir Mo Farah, in a time of one hour, 57 minutes and 30 secondsNathan’s son, Lewi, was born on Christmas Day in 16. He was due on January 9 and was Thomas Jorgensen’s mascot at Lewi Kerr’s testimonial (but he promises he wasn’t named after him!)