Down To The Roots Soccer Podcast

In this second episode of the second season of Down to the Roots, I chat with Robbie Matthews, the Chairman of Heswall FC who play in the West Cheshire League, Division 1.  Our conversation covers the long history of the club, their style of play, the connection to their local community, and much more.  I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did recording this.  

Follow Heswall FC on Twitter (@heswallFC_) and Instagram (@heswallFC_)

In today's episode, I speak with Adam Arthur, the Managing Owner of the Football Factory and Director of Soccer, FC Alliance South, both in Charleston, WV and the surrounding area.  Prior to coming over to the United States, Adam made his way through the academy system at York City FC, including appearances in the FA Cup for the senior, or professional team.  While he initially came over to play football and earn a college degree, he used his opportunity to play in the USL pyramid for a few different clubs before getting into coaching.  He's got a very interesting approach to coaching which will come out over the course of the interview.  To find out more about his soccer training complex, the Football Factory, you can check them out on Instagram.  Likewise, I'd encourage you to look at some of the great work Adam and his team are doing with FC Alliance, https://www.fcalliancewv.com

In this episode wanted to take a closer look at what the beautiful game looks like for younger ages in the UK, more specifically for young ladies.  I wanted to make sure I provided the necessary attention to teams outside of the mainstream football pyramid, so to that end I connected with Jim Kearn, manager of the Chigwell FC girls U14 Girls football team.  We discussed what the process for teams at Chigwell is like, teaching the girls to play footy the right way, and much more over the course of our interview.  I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did recording it.

In today's episode of Down to the Roots, we return to our exploration of the women's game, this time looking at the collegiate soccer landscape.  This is the first in a series where we will look at the various divisions in collegiate soccer and how they are all related.  The series begins with a look at NCAA Division 2  with Ashley Martin, Head Coach for Flagler College about what it's like to build a successful program, differences between the men's and women's games that he experienced as a coach and player, and other insights.  To get a player perspective, Coach Martin was joined by Lorena Lopez, a senior midfielder and defender who came through the IMG Academy in Bradenton and the youth soccer system in Mexico where she participated at the U17 level with her country in a Women's Cup in 2013 in Costa Rica.

Find out more about Flagler College Women's Soccer by visiting the Athletics website at https://flaglerathletics.com

In this latest episode of the Down to The Roots Soccer Podcast, I'm joined by Jamie Ramm, Director of the Lakelands Toros Soccer Academy in Greenwood, SC and the Head Boy's Varsity Coach at Emerald High School, also in Greenwood.  We discuss how Jamie made his way over here from the UK back in 2006, his experiences playing in college and beyond in various leagues here in the United States.  Additionally we discuss what his thoughts are on building a successful academy program while also providing a fun recreational program for those not ready to dive into the travel experience.  Lastly we look at the positive impact that his marriage and family have had on him personally and how his priorities have shifted as he navigates his role as a husband and father. 

Find out more about Lakelands Toros by visiting their website: https://www.lakelandstoros.com

In today's episode of Down to the Roots, we start an exploration of the women's professional game in the United Kingdom and around the world through the lens of @LCFC_Women.  Over the course of the interview we discuss their promotion to the Women's Super League, what that means to the club, and what the overall football pyramid looks like for women in the UK.  We also discuss the women's game from a global perspective, Hannah's involvement with the Beyond the 90 and Her Football Hub, a global resource for exploring women's soccer/football.  Finally, we get some insight as to what it is like to plan and participate in a supporters club for a women's side.  Please use the links below to find out more about the women's game, and stay tuned for future episodes around the topic of women's soccer.

Find Hannah on Twitter: @hannahskiw

HerFootballHub: https://herfootballhub.com

In today's episode, we take a deeper look at soccer tactics courtesy of John Morrissey who studies and analyzes data from USL League One for the Tampa Bay Rowdies as an opposition data intern among other things.  You can also find John and his work on the podcast, @theUSLshow on Apple Podcasts.  We discuss why USL League One is worth a watch (especially for those of you that already subscribe to ESPN+), the tactics of formations, pressing, counter attacks, and more.  John also reveals over the course of the interview some new tactical things he is paying attention to this season which certainly warrant further consideration by more people.  

Find John on Twitter: @USLTactics

In the fourth episode, I speak with Ollie Bayliss, host of the Non-League Football Show on BBC Three Counties Radio about grassroots football in the England.  Non-league football is an integral part of the fabric of the football pyramid, providing a path forward for players outside of the first four divisions that most might recognize: The Premier League, the English Championship, League One and League Two.  We discuss the non-league system, beginning with the Vanarama National League as well as the steps below it.  Also Ollie discusses what it's like to cover non-league football as both a journalist and a commentator, what a good run in the FA Cup can mean for a non-league side, current Premier League players who got their start in the lower leagues, and much more.

Find out more about Ollie and his shows, check out his Twitter page and give his show a listen on BBC.

In the second episode, I speak with the head men's soccer coach of Lander University, Lee Squires.  Lander has consistently performed in both their conference and in the NCAA Division 2 landscape, taking further strides every year towards the DII Title.  Before coming to Lander, Lee played and coached at Lees-McRae in Banner Elk, NC, where he still holds several school records for points in a career, total goals, and game winning goals.  You'll hear in the interview the path that led Lee into coaching after he hung up his football boots, matching his formations and game plans  to the unique skills of his team, advice for those young adults seeking to develop into a college-level player, what he finds rewarding about shaping the young men that come and play for him at Lander, and much more.

Find out more about Lee and his program via Twitter