From The Sidelines - Grassroots Football

It's called a friendly ... so why do they sometimes feel anything but? 😂 A recent match left me genuinely questioning whether some adults forget what a friendly is actually for — to give children the chance to play, experiment, develop and enjoy their football without the pressure of league points or trophies. In this episode, I look at competition, coaching from the sidelines, respect for o...

We're U8s! ⚽ A new season means a new age group, and already we're noticing some big changes. The players are growing, the football is becoming more structured, the competition feels different... and suddenly we're hearing things like "mark the keeper" from corners! But when does children's football start becoming more serious? And how do we introduce more tactics, h...

Series 2 is coming! ⚽️🎙️ The lads will all be en-route to turning eight, the season is underway, and we're back on the sidelines. New season, new challenges, new things to talk about — from young referees, pre-season friendlies, and overcoaching to mixed teams, development pathways and everything in between. Same grassroots football. Same honest conversations. Same two coaches trying to work...

The U7 chapter is officially over. ⚽ In the final episode of Series 1, I look back at our first season of grassroots football — the highs, the challenges, the cup final, the lessons, the players, the parents and everything in between. I'll also be joined by my fellow manager Jonny (which meant a special episode cover for it😉), who shares his own reflections on the season and what he hopes t...

Grassroots clubs. Development centres. Professional academies. If you're new to youth football, it can feel like a maze of different pathways and opportunities. But what do they all actually mean? In this episode of From the Sidelines , I explore the different environments available to young players as the youth football landscape continues to grow and evolve, what each one is designed to do,...

Are We Overcoaching Our Kids? As coaches and parents, we all want to help. But when does helping become overcoaching? In this episode of From the Sidelines , I reflect on the fine line between guiding young players and controlling every decision they make. From a training session where we deliberately stayed silent and let the kids work things out for themselves, to the way players look to the sid...

In grassroots football, the sidelines are never silent — but what impact do they really have on the game? In this episode of From the Sidelines , I reflect on how the voices, reactions, and behaviours from the touchline can potentially shape a child’s experience far more than we might realise. From moments of genuine encouragement — even from opposition parents — to the noise that can build when t...

From Player of the Match awards to end-of-season trophies — incentives are everywhere in grassroots football. But are they helping motivate young players… or quietly creating pressure? In this episode of From the Sidelines , I reflect on the different ways children are rewarded in youth football — both on the pitch and at home — and how those incentives can shape the way kids approach the game. Fr...

What does it really take to start a grassroots football team? In this episode of From the Sidelines , we look beyond matchdays and training sessions to explore the reality of what happens behind the scenes. From registrations and safeguarding to sponsors, subs, and the admin no one talks about — this is an honest look at what goes into creating a team before a ball is even kicked. Not to put anyon...

As grassroots football restarts after the winter break, this episode takes a step back before looking forward. Rather than reviewing results, this is a reflection on the first half of the season — what’s gone well, what’s been challenging, and what we’ve learned along the way. From confidence and consistency to the influence of the sidelines, it’s about recognising progress that doesn’t always sho...

We love to win. Who doesn’t? But at U7s, winning can’t be the only thing that matters. In this episode of From the Sidelines , I reflect on our team winning their first cup — the pride, the celebrations, and why watching the lads lift the trophy was such a special moment. More importantly, we talk about keeping kids grounded, handling wins and losses the right way, and why “we win, lose and draw a...

Should seven-year-olds play with positions, or should they just be free to explore the game? In this episode of From the Sidelines , I share our teams current experience of using forms of positioning at U7s — what’s worked well, what hasn’t, and why some players naturally gravitate to certain areas of the pitch anyway. This isn’t about right or wrong, this is just our teams experience and what wor...

I never thought I'd be making a podcast, but it's something I've felt I've always wanted to try.  But standing on the sidelines week on week — tying muddy laces, watching kids give everything they’ve got, and navigating the quiet pressure that comes with grassroots football — I started to realise how much these small moments teach us. This first episode is about why this podcas...

This is the teaser trailer for my very own podcast all about grassroots football!  I'll be talking about my experiences as a coach, manager and parent, and what I'm learning along the way of this brilliant journey that is grassroots football.  If you’re a coach, manager, a parent, or someone just trying to show up and keep going… you’re in the right place.