The Grassroots Football Coach

Send us Fan Mail For this years Christmas Special, Rivo & Rich caught up with Arsenal legend and World Cup Winner Per Mertesacker.  On the pod Per opens up about his early experiences in football and what impact his Dad had on his career. Per speaks of taking opportunities presented to him which led to making his debut for Germany at just 20 years old. Per also shares his historic journey with...

Send us Fan Mail Rivo & Rich caught up with FA Tutor and UK Coaching’s Adam Colley. In this episode, Adam shares his journey from his early playing days and coaching experiences. He talks about his positive attitude and his determination to continue developing as a coach which he believes has led him to the roles he is in today. Adam also talks about the social and personable skills which are...

Send us Fan Mail Rivo & Rich caught up with MK Dons SET, Women’s Participation Officer, Ellie Reid. In this episode, Ellie shares her experiences as a young player in grassroots football and reflects on the resilience she has gained as a result. She provides an insight into the journey that has since led her to her current role at MK Dons SET. Ellie talks in-depth about a recent project she le...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Rivo & Rich caught up with Oxford Utd U14 Girls' Head Coach and former colleague, Ellen Hopkins. On the pod, Ellen shares her journey from youth player, to coaching in the USA, and to becoming a UEFA B licenced Coach. She talks fondly of her experience across the pond and reflects on where she is now in her career and her various coaching roles. Always on...

Send us Fan Mail Mark ”Rivo” Rivers & Richard Brant are back with Series 5 of The Grassroots Football Coach podcast. This week, Rivo & Rich caught up with local grassroots coach, Jay Lovejoy. In this episode, Jay shares his experiences as a grassroots coach, discussing the importance of the social and psychological on young players plus transferrable skills of other sports and what role th...

Send us Fan Mail Mark ”Rivo” Rivers & Richard Brant caught up with Mickey McCloskey for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021. Mickey, Plymouth Argyle’s Community Trust Health & Disability Officer, shares his journey from growing up in Glasgow to his life-changing move to Plymouth and the impact his personal experiences of Mental Health had on his life. Caution advised - This episode contains...

Send us Fan Mail Mark 'Rivo' Rivers & Richard Brant revisit some of the best clips, interviews and discussions from a summer packed full of unmissable content. In this episode, we head back to May 2020 when Rivo caught up with QPR Techincal Director Chris Ramsey MBE. On the pod, Chris talks about his playing career before moving into coaching and hear Chris speak about his current ro...

Send us Fan Mail Mark 'Rivo' Rivers & Richard Brant revisit some of the best clips, interviews and discussions from a summer packed full of unmissable content. In this episode, we head back to June 2020 when Rich caught up with Graeme Carrick, The FA's National Lead for the Youth Development Phase. On the pod, Graeme talks about his early playing career at West Ham Utd before mo...

Send us Fan Mail Mark 'Rivo' Rivers & Richard Brant revisit some of the best clips, interviews and discussions from a summer packed full of unmissable content. In this episode, we head back to May 2020 when Sally Needham, FA Affiliate Tutor, shared her coaching experiences and journey. Sally also talked to us about the Polyvagal Theory and the importance it can have on young children...

Send us Fan Mail Mark 'Rivo' Rivers & Richard Brant revisit some of the best clips, interviews and discussions from a summer packed full of unmissable content. In this episode, we give grassroots coaches an early Christmas present as we head back to May 2020 to relive a brilliant from Pete Sturgess, The FA's Technical Lead for the Foundation Phase (5-11-year-olds). Listen back t...

Send us Fan Mail Mark 'Rivo' Rivers & Richard Brant revisit some of the best clips, interviews and discussions from a summer packed full of unmissable content. In this episode, we head back to May 2020 when Andy Ritchie, FA Affiliate Tutor, shared his coaching experiences and insight into the fantastic careers of Theo Walcott & Gareth Bale’s whilst at Southampton Academy. In the...

Send us Fan Mail Mark 'Rivo' Rivers & Richard Brant revisit some of the best clips, interviews and discussions from a summer packed full of unmissable content. In this episode, we look back to April 2020 when Tom Hartley, FA Affiliate Tutor and Senior Coach Developer at UK Coaching, discussed his thoughts and journey in the game with Rivo & Rich. In the second part of the episode...

Send us Fan Mail In the final episode of Season 3 Rivo and Rich are joined by former Reading, Wycombe Wanderers, MK Dons, Wales international striker, Simon Church. On the pod, Buckinghamshire born Simon talks about the start of his career joining Wycombe before moving to Reading and playing an important role in the club's promotion to the Premier League in 2012. He also talks about receiving...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode, Rivo and Rich were joined by former Chelsea, Swindon, Bradford and England U21 Goalkeeper, Rhys Evans. On the pod, Rhys talks about starting his career at Lilleshall then moving on to Chelsea. Rhys talks about which goalkeepers have inspired him and about his current role as a coach at Swindon Submarine. Rhys also talks about mental health, best save of his...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode, Mark catches up with former Newcastle United, QPR and Crystal Palace defender, Peter Ramage. On the pod, Peter talks about the start of his playing career at his beloved Newcastle United and speaks of his time under coaches such as Alan Irvine, Graeme Souness, Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson. Peter also shares his journey on becoming a coach and tells us...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode, Paul talks about the beginning of his playing career and his early days with Arsenal, the impact of playing alongside First Teamers such as Liam Brady, Tony Adams, David Rocastle and Ian Wright. Paul also talks in-depth about the infamous league title victory at Anfield in 1989, his time coaching at Kettering Town with Paul Gascoigne and Paul talks about hi...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode, we look back to late last year when Rivo caught up with former Preston, and then Stevenage manager, Graham Westley. On the pod, Graham talks about the start of this playing career with QPR, representing England at U18 level and the impact of working under managers such as George Graham and Barry Fry. Graham also discusses the importance of fitness and his p...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode, Rivo & Rich catch up with former Slough Town & Reading FC forward, Lloyd Owusu. On the pod, Lloyd talks about his playing career starting out at Slough Town which included a four-goal debut, reminisces about his Brentford days, his goal scoring debut for Sheffield Weds and his debut for Ghana which included a two-day trip to France! For more informa...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode, Rivo catches up with former Reading midfielder, Mikele Leigertwood. On the pod, Mikele talks about his playing career at Wimbledon, Crystal Palace, Sheffield Utd, QPR and of course at Reading FC. Mikele also talks about his current role at Reading as U18 Academy Coach, his coaching style and the people that inspire him as a coach. For more information about...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode, Mark & Rich are joined by former Liverpool & Scotland legend, Steve Nicol. On the podcast, Steve talks about his 13 year career at Anfield, which included winning four League titles, three FA Cups and one European Cup, as well as sharing some of his experiences with The Reds. We also hear about Steve’s coaching career in the United States before mov...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode Mark & Rich are joined by MK Dons FC manager, Russell Martin. On the podcast, Russell talks about his playing career including starting out at Wycombe before spending 9 years at Norwich City, he talks about his early coaching aspirations and how he spent his time on long journeys to games on the team bus. We also hear the incredible story of on an a...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode Mark & Rich meet former Reading legend, Michael Gilkes. On the podcast, Gilksey talks about his 13 year career with Reading experiencing highs and lows; the valuable time spent coaching at Slough, Hungerford and Basingstoke; he gives an insight into his role at the time of recording at Reading and we hear which coach Michael admires in the current g...

Send us Fan Mail On this week's podcast Mark & Rich meet current Wycombe Wanderers Manager, Gareth Ainsworth. On the pod, Gareth talks about his playing career at Preston and Port Vale which led to a move to then Premier League side, Wimbledon. He also discusses how learning Spanish created an opportunity at QPR and how it feels to be the longest serving manager in the EFL. Gareth also sh...

Send us Fan Mail Mark Rivers & Richard Brant meet FA Cup winning captain Emmerson Boyce. On the pod, Emmerson talks about the start of his career as a striker at Aylesbury United before joining Luton, his time at Crystal Palace and more recently at Wigan Athletic including the memorable FA Cup Final victory over Manchester City in 2013. For more information about grassroots football coaching i...

Send us Fan Mail On the podcast this week Mark & Rich continue their conversation with current Lionesses and former Reading FC player, Jade Moore. On the pod, Jade talks about her club career at Birmingham, Notts County and Reading FC and also about her England career which has so far led to 50 caps and representing her Country at two World Cups and two European Championships. For more informa...