Football Journeys Podcast

This Bonus Episode is also a bit of an announcement. Fraser is preparing to have open heart surgery and, unsurprisingly, that means he'll be out of action for a little while. In this episode he talks to Matt about his condition and the operation. We will most definitely be back but it makes sense, to take a bit of pressure off the recovery, for us to have a rest from the pod.

Keep up to date on our social media @journeyspod on Twitter, Instagram and Threads and also on Fraser's @fraserfranks and there will be updates to come.

We are so grateful to University Campus of Football Business who we are partnering with for this and future episodes. For more information on UCFB visit their website here - https://www.ucfb.ac.uk/

The campaigner.

Troy Townsend's football journey is a remarkable one. From his own dreams of playing as a young boy, supporting his sons with those same aspirations, tragically losing his eldest boy Kurtis and, later, his tireless campaigning for equality. This is an emotional episode and we were so grateful to Troy for sharing with us.

We are so grateful, as always, to University Campus of Football Business for their support. This episode was recorded at the University's media facilities at Wembley and the production crew, led by Sam Smith, have edited the episode and our trailer. Special thanks to Sam Smith for this edit. For more information on UCFB visit their website here - https://www.ucfb.ac.uk/

The Officer.

In celebration of former guest David Clarke being awarded an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours List we had a Clarkie back on for a quick chat to discuss the honour but also his appointment this year as Chief Executive Officer of Paralympics GB.

We are so grateful to University Campus of Football Business who we are partnering with for this and future episodes. For more information on UCFB visit their website here - https://www.ucfb.ac.uk/

The Paralympian.

This is the third episode we've badged the Paralympian and, like David Clarke and Jack Rutter before him, we could have given this episode with Martin Sinclair so many different titles.

He talks about the "challenge" of his Cerebral Palsy, the tragic experiences that impacted his life but, more than that, the fun and adventure he has had in spite of the challenges. He and his brother Scott are the only brothers to have competed at the same Olympics and Paralympics, at London 2012, and this is just one of a number of uplifting and brilliant stories from this lovely and inspirational man.

More information about Martin's new venture, the Disability Football Collective, is on the company's website here - https://www.disabilityfc.org/

We are so grateful, as always, to University Campus of Football Business for their support. This episode was recorded at the University's media facilities at Wembley and the production crew, led by Sam Smith, have edited the episode and our trailer. Special thanks to Liam McDonagh for this edit. For more information on UCFB visit their website here - https://www.ucfb.ac.uk/

This is a very personal breakout episode presented by Matt Himsworth about hearing loss and football. Matt speaks to former Watford Women FC player Emma Beckett about her hearing loss caused by a car accident at the age of 19 and he speaks to Claire Stancliffe and Ceara Toal, two members of the England Deaf Women's football team who are raising funds for the team to travel to Malaysia for the 2023 Deaf Women's World Cup.

To help the team with fundraising you can do so here: https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/england-deaf-womens-football-squad or here: https://gofund.me/403b112d

You can learn more on the team's social media pages (supported by GB Deaf Football) at the links below:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/GB_DeafFootball

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gbdeaffootball/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TeamGBDF

The actor.

We could have titled this episode so many things but it seems fitting to call Peter, or Mitch, the actor given that his accomplishment, in not even appearing in his school play, to having a regular part in Hollyoaks, sums up the character of the man.

Like many Irish lads with footballing talent Mitch came to England as a young boy to follow his dream, securing a professional contract with Leeds United in the process. But in one moment, with a teammate driving erratically, his life changed forever. A car crash resulted in a broken back and the end of his football career. The road to recovery was far from smooth but what he has achieved has been remarkable. From representing Ireland in a Wheelchair Basketball European Championships to appearing in comedy series, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street, the good humour and determination of Mitch stands him out but, most of all, he is a husband and daddy. 

An extraordinary young man.

We are so grateful to University Campus of Football Business who we are partnering with for this and future episodes. For more information on UCFB visit their website here - https://www.ucfb.ac.uk/

The trailblazer.

If your boss calls you a trailblazer, why argue? When that boss is Les Ferdinand, it is all the more complimentary. Manisha Tailor earns that tag and then some. As a little girl growing up in a South Asian family in the 1980s opportunities to explore her talent and passion for football were limited. A combination of extraordinary desire, hard work, family love and also those tough challenges that life sometimes puts in our way has seen Manisha do incredible things in football since quitting her job as a primary school head teacher. Ten years on and she is the Assistant Head of Coaching at QPR but she doesn't ever rest. She is feverishly trying to pave the way for others to follow and she is a true football polymath and inspiration.

We are so grateful to University Campus of Football Business who we are partnering with for this and future episodes. For more information on UCFB visit their website here - https://www.ucfb.ac.uk/

The analyst.

As a lad growing up in Merseyside John McGuigan was obsessed with football. Though a decent player, he knew he'd never grace Anfield, and so he set off on his journey to work in coaching and analyst. His passion and work ethic saw him work for Manchester City and his beloved Liverpool as well as a short stint with the Ghana national team.

He know works in Lincoln, Nebraska for the big players in football analysis Hudl. For anyone who is interested in the world of football analysis and particularly anyone who wants to work in the game, this is a must listen.

We are so grateful to University Campus of Football Business who we are partnering with for this and future episodes. For more information on UCFB visit their website here - https://www.ucfb.ac.uk/

The Paralympian.

Yep, another one, and what a special lad.

Jack Rutter, a Man United mad kid from Gloucester, was at Birmingham City's Academy, close to signing his first pro deal and preparing to play in the Semi Final of the FA Youth Cup, when he was punched at a night club. He fell and hit his head on the curb and suffered serious injuries which looked like they might kill him.

With the support of doctors and the strength of his devoted mother Jack came through it but the neurological injuries he suffered ended his dream of playing professional football. He suffered in those early days but the journey he went through since has been sensational. Qualifying to play for England and Team GB's Cerebral Palsy teams he has represented his country at European and World Championships and the Paralympics and he is simply a beacon of positivity.

We are so grateful to University Campus of Football Business who we are partnering with for this and future episodes. For more information on UCFB visit their website here - https://www.ucfb.ac.uk/

The double amputee.

If ever a title didn't do a guest justice it's this one. Shaun Whiter, a talented non-league footballer for Newmarket Town, was hit by a drunk driver in 2016 in an incident which very nearly killed him and robbed him on both his legs.

He is honest about the struggles, both mental and physical. which followed but he has not allowed what happened to him to define him. Shaun had to re-learn how to do daily tasks which we all take for granted, most notably walking, but he has proved how limitless human beings can be. Running marathons, huge cycling courses, lifting frightening weights and, most crucially, educating people on the true impact of dangerous driving.

There is a danger that we can see Shaun and only be inspired. That would be to rob him of the seriousness of the battle he has faced and always faces. His Swiss Army Knife of prosthetic legs has allowed him to do amazing things but they are hard to operate, the rubs and sores, the mental anguish and grief humans go through when they experience something as life-changing as this, and the extraordinary challenge of learning how to walk around the same time as your baby son does so.

We are so proud to present Shaun to our listeners and will be presenting him even more to the world as he seeks to more and more positively influence young people, and particularly young footballers and their high-powered cars, on the true impact of dangerous driving.

To see Shaun's amazing resilience visit him on Instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/shaun_whiter/

We are so grateful to University Campus of Football Business who we are partnering with for this and future episodes. This episode was recorded at the University's media facilities at Wembley and the production crew, led by Sam Smith, have edited the episode and our trailer. For more information on UCFB visit their website here - https://www.ucfb.ac.uk/