By CSM #JustTalk
The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.
Another week, another grassroots legend. This time, Rob and Anees are joined by Clapton CFC Manager, Geoff Ocran, to bring episode 21 of #JustTalk.
From being a fan favourite as a player, to managing the team he once captained... Geoff is the man at the helm of a club with a phenomal grassroots story of their own. Just how does Geoff deal with the weight of managing a team with 100s of Clapton CFC fans in attendance every home game, and 1000s following the team worldwide?
It seems like Geoff doesn't just "deal with it" but he thrives as he talks of the important club values and a changing culture in grassrotos football that puts other priorities ahead of the game itself. It's amazing to hear how the community work of Clapton CFC inspires Geoff in his role has manager, something he has taken to his league and cup winning double-winning manager's role with church-league side, ANM FC, to new heights too.
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Rob and... wait what? No Anees this week. Rob is on his own as he returns from a busy period at work to serve up episode 20 of #JustTalk. This time we invite Alam Zaman, professional sports photographer on to the show to talk to him about his work in grassroots football.
Just what inspired Alam to get involved in sports photography? From being a participant in sport growing up, he realised as he grew older that there were no pictures of him playing sport. He had an idea to do it for others and followed a passion from 2007 to get shots of people in action in grassroots football.
It's amazing to hear Alam speaking about giving a service that makes people playing football feel great when they see pictures of themselves playing. What a unique perspective on grassroots football and a conversation about the power of the photograph in the game we love to play.
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It's episode 3 of the #JustTalk season and we invite April McGrath to give her Grassroots story to Rob and Anees. She first came on board the City East management team to help with the admin side of things but now she is the first aider, kit washer, and more recently joined the Hackney and Leyton Football League management committee.
Her story is one of a fired up City East side on their way to success but a side the values the love of the game more than the win itself. As one of the few female volunteers visible on a Sunday morning at Hackney Marshes, April talks of the respect she has for many clubs and her enjoyment of the inclusive atmosphere she revels in.
Despite the disappointment of not completing the last 2 seasons due to covid, City East look a sure bet to finish as league champions and be promoted to the Premier Division. However, the story of April and City East is all about enjoyment. Taking a love for the game onto a pitch you can leave all other troubles behind.
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Season 3 of #JustTalk continues this week, with Aaron Hunwicks to give his Grassroots story to Rob and Anees! His Chadwell Heath Spartans side are a league rival of our own CSM London, but such is the relationship between the two clubs, we'll be cheering them on in a nailbiting title deciding run in for the Essex Alliance League Senior Division title.
Aaron's Grassroots story is one of family, commitment, and motivation to be both a player and manager of this new football club. Having founded the club with family members, the Hunwicks continue to push the Spartans up the league ladder having reached Step 7 status earlier this season.
They are not resting there though. Aaron dreams of seeing the Spartans enter the non-league realms of Step 6 and Step 5 football where he once played. And it was from the frustrations he felt at that level, where his determination to succeed with his own club was born.
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We kick off Season 3 of #JustTalk with Maamoon Khan to give his Grassroots story! Someone who has played with, been coached by, and played against our chief host, Rob, and his new co-host, Anees!
This story goes back to his semi-professional playing days with London APSA and Sporting Bengal where Maamoon tasted both the highs and lows of playing. But such is his positive attitude, he always made himself a person to want to be around.
That trait has made him such a well-loved team member for his current Saturday side, FC Baresi, and Sunday side, East London Celtics. Maamoon tells us how playing with his brother is a big motivator and that feeling of a community-family setup is so important in making him love the game he has been playing for so long.
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We are back! This preview episode sees the return of our Grassroots Stories with host Rob, but he returns with a co-host... Anees! They chat about what they are looking forward to in Season 3 and what they have been up to in the break.
Season 3 is back underway so stay tuned for a Monday 6.30pm drop of episode 17 of #JustTalk!
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Host Rob is joined by CSM London FC chairman Anees Ikramullah to recap their favourite parts of Season 2. We have been able to host some wonderful guests who given their Grassroots Stories from the perspective of being a chairperson, fan, media volunteer, coach, and player.
Such an amazing range of guests and we'll be looking to host another diverse set of individuals to share their Grassroots Stories in Season 3, which we'll look to kick off in time for the 2021-22 season. Thank you to Danny Owens, Nikhil Saglani, Tom Taylor, Daniel Merrix, Chris Knight, Nojeem "Jay Agbossa", Anees Ikramullah and William Brobby who joined us for Season 2. And of course, thank you to host Rob Crane for another fantastic Season!
Our work behind the scenes continues though. So if you are looking to share your tales of the beautiful game get in touch: [email protected] or drop us a DM @csmlondonfc on all social media platforms.
And a final thanks to Comic Relief and Groundwork, without whom this Season would not have been possible!
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What better way to close Season 2 of #JustTalk than to have Mr. CSM himself, Will, join host Rob to give his Grassroots Stories.
Despite joining CSM London FC as Saturday team manager, Will's playing career has not yet come to an end as he still plays for the Sunday IIs team at the club. He talks through some of the challenges faced with coaching players on a Saturday, some one whom are his teammates on a Sunday and the interesting dynamics behind this.
Also, we get to take a look back at what made Will make the early move into coaching and the reasons behind why he enjoys it so much and why he was willing to sacrifice some of his peak playing years to go into coaching.
Thanks again to Comic Relief and Groundwork who are supporting the #JustTalk project!
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Anees joins Rob Crane to give his Grassroots Stories for episode 7 in Season 2 of the #JustTalk podcast.
Having moved to Liverpool for 3 years, Anees has returned to London and is closer to the CSM London club he setup. But his story is one of a shared journey with friends to help make football accessible through the club and various community projects he has helped setup alongside his friends.
A new challenge is set now though, as he has very recently become a father. Rob asks what now motivates Anees football and how becoming a dad has changed this. We here from CSM London's own chairman about this and some very debatable playing history about regular goalscoring up front..!?
Thanks again to Comic Relief and Groundwork who are supporting the #JustTalk project!
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Jay joins Rob to give his Grassroots Stories. From New York to London. The story of Jay and Football is touched with an international flavour. However, his sporting story is one that begins with basketball, with a love for football coming later in life. But the quality he had took him to the heady heights of semi-professional as high as the National League North.
But it was "pick-up" games with other quality players that grew his love of the game in North. Having moved to London and recently becoming a father and playing for Walthamstow Reserves, somehow Jay has found time to setup Navarino FC and give back to young footballers to give the chances to others that he had early in his career. Here his story to see how this brand new side has unfolded over the summer towards the opening day of the season!
Thanks again to Comic Relief and Groundwork who are supporting the #JustTalk project!
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The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.