Paul Mullin has scored goals in front of millions and become a household name through Welcome to Wrexham. But this one is about the part of his life the cameras rarely catch: being dad to Albi, his autistic son.
Gaz and Andy sit down with Paul for an honest, Albi-centric conversation about the regression that stopped his little boy in his tracks, the guilt that kept him up at night, and why he wouldn't change a single thing about his son. Plus the moment Albi found a way to tell him 'you're my best friend' without saying a word.
If you have ever felt like the only dad going through this, this one is for you.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome Paul Mullin
01:00 The first signs, and Albi after his 12-month jabs
02:00 Regression: like a click of the fingers
04:00 The guilt, and crying himself to sleep
04:30 I wouldn't pay a penny to change him
05:35 Denial, and getting the diagnosis
07:20 Speaking about it on Welcome to Wrexham
08:24 The hope that kills you
11:38 Why 'he'll be fine' doesn't help
13:00 Did he grieve? The problem-solver dad
16:14 Being a footballer dad: time away and routine
19:12 How Albi communicates now
22:15 Holidays: frozen meals, dry ice and the airport
25:40 Coming home: holidays, holidays, holidays
27:50 Razor-sharp awareness: he just knows
29:20 The crafty negotiator: jet skis and boats
33:40 The best friend clip
35:07 Macho on the pitch, in tears at home
35:48 Autism in Racing and giving back
38:26 Nobody ever asks the dad how he is
43:00 Advice to a dad just starting the journey
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