Behind the Boots

Fernando is a proud father from Colombia whose two sons are excelling in the world of youth football. One is a Premier League academy goalkeeper, while the younger son is training to be a referee. Fernando shares how his cultural values of work ethic and commitment have influenced his son's passion for the game. Watch the FULL Behind the Boots Series One OUT NOW on our app! ⭐️Click here to d...

The honesty and self-awareness of Anayo father of a talented youngest who played at top UK academies, openly shared his challenges, acknowledging his role in the difficulties which undoubtly impacted his son's progression. Listen to his moments of self-reflection as he admits to placing excessive pressure on his son and overstepping boundaries with the academy staff and rules.  This episode o...

Jim and Sue Mepham, the proud parents of professional footballer Chris Mepham at Bournemouth FC. Here we explore their remarkable journey of how his parents supported Chris through the highs and lows of the industry. Constant setbacks almost led him to train as a gardener with his uncle, but with some extra encouragement from his mum Sue, he was willing to give it one last go.     This episode rea...

"Facing a football club, we were a little bit lost and a little naive".  Vanessa and Alain went above and beyond to learn to develop a champion mentality. Like many, they've supported their son through the highs and lows of youth football, but despite challenges like  their son's injuries and living away from home, they remained steadfast in their support, creating a positive e...

“I’m so sorry that I did that and I promise that will never happen again - from me” In this episode, we talk to Bola Ranson, whose son is a goalkeeper at a premier league academy. Through success at Arsenal, England call-ups, education, day-release, extra coaching, siblings and identity - Bola generously and honestly covered it all! His openness, down-to-earth attitude and appreciation of football...

"There was a time he wanted to give the game up, the pressure was immense..." Welcome to the Behind the Boots parent podcast episode featuring a truly inspiring guest, Les Smith-Rowe, the father of Arsenal's talented footballer, Emile Smith-Rowe. Join us as we dive into the untold stories of raising a Premier League player straight from the source. In this episode, Les opens up abou...

"Football is something, but it's not who your child is". Liliana and Mikey share their stories of supporting their three sons, two in football and one in the music industry. Mikey's experience as a world-famous musician from the 80s band Culture Club gives him unique insight into the journey of success in demanding industries.  Together they share their experiences of navigatin...

"Parents have got to reflect on what comes out of their mouths." Get ready for an eye-opening episode of Behind the Boots! Join us as we speak with Troy Townsend, a seasoned professional in the football industry.  From his own playing career to coaching and his current role as Head of Development at Kick It Out, Troy has a wealth of experience and insights to share. As the father of prof...

In this episode, we talked to Emma and Brad, parents with four boys navigating the world of youth football within an elite academy.  They share their experiences, insights, and wisdom on how they manage crazy schedules and logistics and manage to stay positive throughout the journey.  This was such a fun, honest conversation which we are sure you will enjoy.  Watch the FULL Behind the Boots Series...

"Nobody gives you a textbook to tell you how to support them" Sarah and Steve Morris are the ultimate support team for their son, James Morris, who spent over a decade at his Dad’s boyhood football club.  In this podcast episode, they talked about stepping back, trusting the academy process, and standing by all the decisions they made. They navigated some very challenging times but alway...

"I didn't say a word" Eddie Gray MBE, former Scottish international, iconic Leeds player and ex-Leeds Manager, shares his wisdom from his own journey as a player, manager, parent, and great-uncle to Archie Gray, up and coming youngster also playing at Leeds United. What treat it was to enjoy the wisdom of such an experienced player, industry professional and parent. We talked about...

"No child should hear that..."  In this "Behind the Boots" episode, we talk to mum, Alejandra, who raised two sons as they trained at a Premier League academy for over a decade. Now playing professionally in Europe, Alejandra shares the challenges and why she believes the football industry needs to improve.  Drawing from her background as a psychologist, Alejandra emphasises th...

"If you're a parent, we've already gone through loads of adversity" Kenny Brown is Academy Manager at West Ham, a former-professional player, Coach, Manager and dad to two sons involved in youth football.  Kenny is funny and relatable, and there is not much he does not know about success in this game! He generously gives us much food for thought as parents navigating youth foot...

"I made a decision to enjoy it"  Joanne Stanley, mum to Lioness Georgia Stanway, was there when they finally brought it home in Wembley. After talking to Joanne, we can see where Georgia got her passion and determination to succeed in sports... The journey that the family went through and the sacrifices Mum made were incredible. And it wasn't through hope of big money - just passion...

"It was a rough journey, but would I do it again? 100% yes!" Step into the world of Chuka Iwobi, the father of Premier League player Alex Iwobi, in this captivating episode of Behind the Boots. Discover how Alex's determination, work ethic, and a stroke of luck propelled him from the Arsenal academy to their first team, defying the odds along the way.  Chuka shares insights into Ale...