Rugby Reloaded kicks off a brand new series and we kick-off with a blockbuster interview with Anthony Broxton about his new book Hope and Glory: Rugby League in Thatcher’s Britain.

Anthony’s book explores the history of the sport during a pivotal decade for Britain. It was the era of Hanley and Offiah, when the pro game expanded as far as Kent, but it was also the decade of the miner’s great strike and social devastation across the sport’s heartlands. We talk about these topics and much more, and ask what can learn from the 1980s.

You can follow Anthony on the social network formerly named Twitter at @labour_history and his book is available here from Pitch Publishing or from all good bookshops.