Life Through Ball

What if the biggest challenge in football isn't making it… but staying there? In this episode of Life Through Ball, I sit down with Dr Chris Platts to discuss the realities of academy football, career transitions, identity and the decisions that can shape a young player's future. Whether you're a player, parent or coach, this is a conversation worth hearing. Dr Chris Platts LinkedIn: https://www.l...

Former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Paddy Gamble joins Life Through Ball to talk about the realities of football beyond the pitch. Released at just 20 years old, Paddy reflects on the emotional side of leaving the professional game, rebuilding identity beyond football, and the lessons that shaped his journey after the academy system. We also dive into the unique pressures of being a goalkeeper, pl...

The Hidden Side Of The Football Industry

In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Tekky FC to explore his journey from Preston to London, and how he built a platform focused on developing young players beyond just football. We dive into the realities of the academy system, why it doesn’t work for everyone, and the importance of creating environments where players can grow both on and off the pitch. This conversation goes beyond t...

In this episode, we sit down with Johnny Kay, the mind behind Versus, to explore where football meets culture. From the power of identity in the modern game to the often-unspoken realities of mental health, Johnny opens up on what it really means to navigate life in and around football today. We dive into how Versus is reshaping storytelling in sport, why culture and community are inseparable from...

In this episode of Life Through Ball, I sit down with renowned football journalist and author Guillem Balagué for a conversation about his journey through the world of football. Known for his work covering some of the biggest names in the game, Guillem shares a perspective that might surprise many fans, football itself was never his true passion. Instead, it has always been storytelling. We discus...

In this episode of Life Through Ball, we sit down with KK, founder of Proficient Youth Development (@proficientyouthdev), to explore his journey and the reason he built a platform dedicated to supporting young athletes and their parents. We discuss identity beyond performance, the role of parental guidance in youth sport, and where youth development is heading. KK shares why he felt there was a ga...

In this episode of Life Through Ball, we sit down with Kamil, founder and owner of Euston Lane FC — a football club he started at just 20 years old. We explore the reality of building a club from the ground up — the vision, the challenges, and the responsibility that comes with leading players while still being early in your own journey. From organising fixtures and managing operations to taking h...

Football doesn’t always end how you imagine. Injury. Identity. Starting again. In this episode, Sami opens up about his journey through football — moving between Spain and England, battling long-term injury, and navigating the uncertainty that comes when the game stops. This conversation captures exactly what Life Through Ball is about: the parts of football we don’t prepare players for, and the r...

In this episode of Life Through Ball, Tarek sits down with Kraig McLeod to talk about the realities of football that often get laughed off but rarely spoken about properly. Kraig shares his journey through academy football at QPR and Norwich, the transition into non-leaguee, and the moments that forced him to rethink his relationship with the game. We explore what it really feels like to be releas...

Firstly, I want to acknowledge the gap for audio listeners and say thank you for your patience. Life happens, growth takes time, and I really appreciate everyone who has stayed connected during this period. Welcome to the Season 2 finale of Life Through Ball. This season has been a journey. We explored the game beyond the pitch through conversations around player care, coaching, media, analysis, i...

In this episode I sit down with Daniel Geey, one of the leading sports lawyers in football. We talk about his journey into the industry, how he found his path, and the steps that led him to working on some of the biggest deals in the game. Daniel also gives clear insight into how football contracts actually work, what really happens during a transfer, and the legal challenges that shape the modern...

In this episode, I sit down with Theo Brown — former academy footballer turned entrepreneur — to talk about his journey through football, resilience, and finding purpose beyond the game. From chasing the dream as a young player to building his own business, Theo shares honest insights about life in and after football, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and how the mindset developed in sport c...

Hugo Scheckter “the godfather of player care” has worked across multiple Premier League clubs including West Ham United, Southampton, and Brentford, gaining extensive first-team experience along the way. He’s since used his experience and network to found The Player Care Group, where he runs a course for people looking to break into the world of player care. Hugo also works as a consultant with cl...

S2 EP8 | Beyond Grenfell: How Football Became a Beacon of Hope ft Paul Menacer Our most personal episode yet. Paul Menacer — manager of Grenfell Athletic and survivor of the Grenfell fire — opens up about loss, resilience, and how football and community helped him rebuild. Paul’s story reminds us that even in the darkest moments, there’s always a way forward. 🎧 Watch / Listen / Connect 👉 Whether...

S2 EP8 | Football Academies Are Broken: The Truth No One Wants to Admit ft Dr Chris Platts In this episode of Life in Sport, Dr Chris Platts draws on over 10 years of research across 300 players to challenge our assumptions about success in football. He argues that the academy system is broken, and shares what his work has revealed about who “makes it”—and why most don’t. 👉 Whether you’re an athl...

🎙️ Sam Holden | Life in Sport Podcast From the academy system at Manchester United to building his own sports psychology company, Sam Holden has experienced both the highs and challenges of life in football. In this episode, Sam opens up about his academy journey, the mental battles players face, and why he created Unlock Performance — a platform making sports psychology more affordable and access...

In this episode, I sit down with Jess Simnett, who shares her journey from the England setup to Alliance FC in Dubai. We talk about the challenges that shaped her, the shifts in perspective along the way, and how sport continues to influence her story beyond the pitch. Check out our guest: - - - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-simnett-635190157?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_...

In this episode of the Life In Sport Podcast , I sit down with Budreya Faisal , founder and owner of Banaat FC , a pioneering football club based in Dubai that is empowering young women and building a global community around sport. We spoke about her journey, the importance of representation, and how Banaat FC is creating a space for women to express their abilities and identities on and off the p...

New episode of the Life in Sport Podcast! I’m joined by Ben Pringle, a former EFL midfielder with a 14-year career at clubs like Derby, Rotherham and Preston. ⚽ We dive into the highs and challenges of life as a professional footballer, his transition out of the league, and what inspired his move to Dubai. 🌍 If you're into football, career journeys or life transitions — this one’s for you. 🎧 ht...

In this episode, I sat down with Temisan Williams, an experienced academy coach who’s worked with some of London’s biggest clubs, including Arsenal, Tottenham, Fulham, and Southend United. With over 700 elite academy players coached, Temisan brings a wealth of insight and experience into youth development. He’s also the founder of the Coach Accelerator Community, where he supports coaches across t...

In today's episode T sits down with one half of the Mates with Mics Podcast Paul Williams. Paul is an advocate for the holistic development of young people and players and a current compliance officer. He is extremely passionate about Player Care especially after his own experiences in the Academy set up and how that part of his journey has shaped him.

Welcome back to Life in Sport — Season 2 kicks off with Matt Shepherd, Player Care Manager at Tottenham Hotspur Women’s Academy. In this powerful conversation, Matt opens up about what Player Care really means, why it's essential in modern football, and how the role has evolved to support players as people first — not just athletes. We discuss: What Player Care actually involves day to day The hum...

In todays episode T is joined by the one and only James Cox the founder of Work in Football, who is a former Performance Analyst who then transitioned into Player Care at Portsmouth FC. We discuss his journey through football as he gives us his insight on how to break into the ultra competitive industry and how through Work in Football he is helping the next generation! Like, Subscribe and Comment...

In todays episode we see the return of our first guest on the LIS Podcast Ossama Aslam! It was great to be able to catch up with him again as we reflect on his first season at London Welsh, the inclusion of Rugby and learning about South Asian culture and sport! Follow us on our other platforms: https://linktr.ee/lispod ? Check out our previous episode with Ossama: https://open.spotify.com/episode...