Ian Stringer: Still chasing yesterday for my alcoholic mum

Ian Stringer’s voice is familiar to football fans across the country — a commentator who has lived the highs and lows of the beautiful game. But behind the microphone is a story shaped by loss, trauma, and the lasting impact of growing up with a parent struggling with alcoholism.

In this deeply personal and courageous conversation, Ian shares the devastating story of losing his mother, Christine, whose body lay undiscovered for seven weeks after her death in 2016. He speaks with honesty about the guilt, anger and grief that followed — and the impossible choices children of alcoholics are often forced to make in order to protect themselves.

Ian Full export transcript

Ian reflects on a childhood marked by instability, domestic violence, and the gradual realisation that he could not save the person he loved most. He describes the complex emotions that come with loving someone whose illness takes them further and further away — and the burden so many children carry in silence.

Now a father himself, Ian explains how his experiences shaped his determination to break the cycle, protect his own children, and find healing through sharing his story. He also talks about his extraordinary fundraising challenge — running marathons across the international date line to “chase yesterday” — and why supporting children affected by parental alcoholism has become his mission.

This episode is a powerful testament to resilience, love, and the lifelong impact of growing up in the shadow of addiction. It’s also a reminder that no child should feel alone — and that by telling these stories, we can help others find understanding, support, and hope.