6, 8 or 10 - Life & The Beautiful Game

Hello & Welcome to the final episode of the 6, 8 or 10 Podcast.

It's been a glorious 3 seasons but unfortunately its time to call it a day & I couldn't think of a better way to finish than with the man who helped me on not only this journey but in life, Graham Hunter.

Please note that this episode was filmed a few months ago, some stories will be relevant to this time.

I'd like to thank everyone who has or will listen to this podcast. A pipe dream in which I began as a coping mechanism for my own mental health. I'd also like to thank the Blue Lenas who provide the incredible soundtrack, with Keep the Motor Running as well as Graham for his suggestion for After the Fair by the Coral to play out the final episode.

And then there is the guests, all 50 of them who have shared their magnificent stories from season 1 to 3. You have been beautiful and an inspiration to me.

I'm forever grateful to everyone and anyone who has listened to, connected with or have had an impact throughout this adventure of mine. That's a job well done from me.

So for one last time.

Take Care, Stay Safe.

Bye Now

Inspired by Mundials, GIANT podcast The Magnificent 7....

That's the first time I'd heard Bex speak about football I knew immediately I had to speak to her one day.

Thankfully she accepted my invitation to chat life & the beautiful game.

Global Executive for Women's Football at Copa90, Fifa, Duke University, Captain of New Zealand, 2x Olympian, World Cup, Germany, Sweden, Champions League Winner....yeah Bex Smith has done it all.

Bex is inspiring, not only her career to date but her journey in life.

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it.

Have a lovely Christmas and stay safe.

Enjoy

Bye Now

Hello & Welcome to the 6, 8 or 10 Podcast.

In this episode I get the chance to speak to Steve Sallis, I've been a fan of his for quite so time and after recently getting to know him I can say he is first class. Not just as a professional but as a person.

As we go head first into the episode we start of by talking about lockdown and the positives he's taken from it, we then go for a wander down memory lane as Steve speaks about growing up in the 80s, his first footballing memories and playing for Brighton & Hove Albion.

That journey would come to an end so we talk about the importance of having a Plan B, University & furthering himself. We also talk about his work as a teacher and in the education system where he would teach over 30,000 pupils all over London.

As some one who wants to help people and get the best out of them, I couldn't help pick his brains. 

We also talk about Jimmy Bullard and what he's like to work with. Steve was his assistant at Leatherhead a few years back.

We finish off talking about his incredible book, Educating Football. It's my bible, I carry it everywhere with me. It would be a great stocking filler so please grab a copy.

Thanks again for listening.

Share the Love & Take Care

Bye Now

Hello & Welcome to the 6, 8 or 10 podcast where I'm joined by current Brighton Hove Albion & Republic of Ireland midfielder, Denise O'Sullivan.

I've know Denise for some time and I'm delighted to finally have got her on the show. Not only is she a top class footballer but she's a top person too.

We dive straight in with the difficulties faced in lockdown and isolation following her recent loan move to Brighton from North Carolina Courage. We speak about The Courage at greta length, including the relationships and respect she has for her teammates as well as the influence Head Coach Paul Riley has had on her.

Memory lane awaits as we head back to the streets of Cork where she grew up playing football with her brothers, we talk heroes and influences before heading on a worldwide journey playing the game she loves.

Her work rate and desire to better herself not only as a footballer but a person is incredible and it shines through in this episode.

This episode was recorded a few weeks back so apologies for any past references you may pick up on.

This is a challenging time for everyone - 6, 8 or 10 was set up as a coping mechanism not only for myself but for guests & listeners, so please take care of yourself and others around you. The direct messages are always open if you want a chat.

On that note I'll leave you be.

So take care, stay safe.

Bye Now

Hello & Welcome to the 6, 8 or 10 Podcast.

In this episode I'm joined by Utah Royals/Birmingham City Centre Back & Scotland Captain Rachel Corsie.

In her early days at Glasgow City I was fortunate enough to see her operate up close while I was in the youth set up and it's been great to see her have the career she has made for herself.

We talk about her youth playing for Stonehaven & Aberdeen before moving to Glasgow City, turning pro in her early 20s with Notts County before heading to the States to play with Real Salt Lake and then to the Utah Royals where she is today (currently on loan to Birmingham City). We also speak about her podcast with best friend Leanne Crichton, the importance of being a role model, her values as a player & person as well as what advice she would give to her younger self.

Tune in and enjoy with a nice cup of tea and biscuit of your choosing. 

Take Care, Stay Safe.

Bye Now

This episode is brought to you from the comfort of my living room, and Frazer's office at the Right 2 Dream academy in Ghana.

I've know Frazer since I started working with the Scottish FA well over 10 years ago while he was up and coming at St Mirren.

Like many stories lately we start off in lockdown, we discuss the effects on Frazer personally as well as the staff & players at the academy. We also touch on is childhood growing up watching St Mirren and playing with his local boys club before taking that step into coach. 

As a coach he's worked in youth academies as well as a tutor for the Scottish FA, where he continued his personal education and is currently on his UEFA Pro Licence course.

Of course this takes time so we talk balancing this with being technical director at the Right 2 Dream academy as well as working alongside FC Nordsjælland in Denmark providing an alternative path for the youngsters in Ghana.

I'm glad I got the chance to catch up with Frazer and not only hear about his journey abroad but also pick his brains about his values and I.D as a coach.

This is definitely one for anyone thinking of working abroad and further their education in the game.

Take Care

Enjoy

Bye Now

Hello & welcome to the third episode to feature in season 3.

In this episode I'm joined by Hibernian Academy Coach & the co host of the Curve Mindset podcast, Craig Nisbet.

The connection between us was made during lockdown, we spoke a lot about football so we thought we should just record it. 

In the next hour or so we talk about football, Craig's journey as a player and coach as well as Lockdown and the adaptations he has had to make in football and his career as a PE teacher. 

We go in depth about how he began coaching and who inspired him, we also speak about coach education experiences as well as working with a variety of age groups and how that has benefited him in the long run. 

We talk childhood and his idols, watching Hibs in the 90s & his memories of playing the game we love.

As we finish off we speak about his values or non negotiables as a coach and person, as well as what advice he would give his younger self if he could meet him.

Thanks for listening.

Take Care, Enjoy.

Bye Now

Hello & Welcome to the 6, 8 or 10 Podcast.

I'm joined in this episode by the FAI's Stephen Rice as we talk life & the beautiful game.

We dive in head first, straight into his coaching career as he has recently just completed his UEFA Pro Licence. We talk coach education and a thirst for learning, going back to college and university to further his knowledge to help him advance in his career.

We talk football, something he has loved since he was a boy, perched in front of the TV with his Grandad as he watched on. Childhood, Nets, Kits, Street Games & moving to Coventry at the age of 15 and the challenges that came with it.

Lockdown - we speak about its advantages and having the chance to do things you may never do in normality. 

We finish up by talking about Values & the advice he would give to his younger self.

Stay Safe.

Take Care.

Enjoy.

Bye Now.

We are back for season 03 in what was possibly the shortest break ever.

HUMBLE > A word used throughout this podcast. Keep it in mind as you listen.

There was no better was to kick off the new season that to have a chat with Scotland International & F.C Rosengård Attacker, Fiona Brown.

I've know Fiona for quite some time and have admired her as not only a footballer but as a person.

Her journey started out as a kid kicking a ball around at Stenhousemuir in their community sessions before moving on to her beloved Celtic. She speaks admirably about the team she joined at Celtic, the friends she made and the desire to get better every session. She also speaks about her coaches at the time Paul Brownlie & Tina Ferguson who are still friends to this day.

At the age of 15 Fiona made her debut for Celtic, an age in which she agrees was maybe too young at the time but enjoyed it. A few years down the line she would move to Champions, Glasgow City. 

At City, Fiona was unplayable. Pace, Power, Goals, Assists, Enjoyment, A Threat, Trophies, Injuries & Champions League. Thats the short of her time with Glasgow City. 

After returning from a torn ACL, the season after Fiona moved to Sweden with Eskiltuna before moving to F.C Rosengård where she has just returned from another knee injury.

We talk set backs & Injuries as well as advice she would give to her younger self. Her answer blew me away. 

We of course talk about Scotland and her pride of pulling on that jersey.

Stay Safe

Take Care

Bye Now

Hello & welcome to the 6, 8 or 10 podcast. 

Sadly we are coming to a close on season 2, we have had some incredible guests and stories so far and that will continue on season 3. We pinky promise not to be away for too long this time but we will be taking a short break before getting back to it.

Our guest is this episode is Scotland National Team Manager, Shelley Kerr.

We have a playing & coaching career to talk about so we dive right in and head down memory lane to Shelley's childhood, one which was spent with a ball at her feet. Shelley speaks about her first ever experience in organised football, she was 13 playing in a senior environment. We then move forward to her senior career as a player and how she felt getting her first cap for her country.

We have a little breather to talk about motherhood & spending time out of the game before meeting the challenges head on as she wanted to play again.

Club or Country, it didn't matter Shelley just loved playing football but one this was for sure, she was always going to coach.

We head into her coaching journey which has been incredible when you look back at it. Boys, Girls, Youth, Adult, Professional, Semi Pro, International are just some of the experiences she has had. Throughout this conversation Shelley smiled as she spoke about her life in the game.

Pride, Passion, Student, Honest, Open, Nostalgic, Leader.

Ladies & Gentlemen - Shelley Kerr

Oh, and look out for a duet coming soon haha!

Stay Safe

Enjoy

Bye Now