Chris Knight joins Rob to give his Grassroots Stories. Chris is a passionate fan of football who now supports his local team with a season ticket taking him to Walthamstow FC home and away. As well as this, he plays Monday nights with fellow Leyton Orient fans which is where you'll find host Rob most Monday nights too.

Aside form his involvement as a fan and player. Chris is an advocate for LGBT rights in society (as well as football). Having had some negative experiences in the game he talks about how the game can be more inclusive both at the top and in grassroots football. His story is one of equality and educating on LGBT language and culture so many in football are left without.

Thanks again to Comic Relief and Groundwork who are supporting the #JustTalk project!

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Daniel Merrix joins Rob to give his Grassroots Stories. We know the life of volunteer is incredibly busy but Daniel truly is a man on the go with heavy involvement in 2 football clubs. Coach at Newbury Forest FC, a brand new men's side set up post lockdown and also the Chairman/Manager of Upton Park Ladies, a ladies side now in their 2nd season. No full season has been played for either side so it's an exciting time for Daniel.

Fascinating to hear about the challenges and differences faced between the grassroots game in men's and women's football. Especially given Daniel's personal journey that has faced issues that has been shared with his team and helped him through some difficult times. Amazing what the game can do for individuals as well as teams!

Thanks again to Comic Relief and Groundwork who are supporting the #JustTalk project!

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Daniel Merrix joins Rob to give his Grassroots Stories. We know the life of volunteer is incredibly busy but Daniel truly is a man on the go with heavy involvement in 2 football clubs. Coach at Newbury Forest FC, a brand new men's side set up post lockdown and also the Chairman/Manager of Upton Park Ladies, a ladies side now in their 2nd season. No full season has been played for either side so it's an exciting time for Daniel. 

Fascinating to hear about the challenges and differences faced between the grassroots game in men's and women's football. Especially given Daniel's personal journey that has faced issues that has been shared with his team and helped him through some difficult times. Amazing what the game can do for individuals as well as teams!

Thanks again to Comic Relief and Groundwork who are supporting the #JustTalk project!

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Tom “rubbish at football” Taylor. His words not ours. Tom joins old friend and host Rob Crane to discuss the life of a young man working in marketing and communications with Kick It Out and Fans for Diversity. Of course we get to listen to Tom's own grassroots stories as he shared his experiences in grassroots football as well as his professional career working which now sees him working at Made By Sport who support grassroots clubs with funding for their ongoing projects.

Thanks again to Comic Relief and Groundwork who are supporting the #JustTalk project!

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What is a non league hero? Look (or listen) no further! Host Rob is joined by Nikhil Saglani to talk about all things non-league and why volunteering at a club is so important to him. He has stayed with Wingate and Finchley FC as a volunteer for 7 years. Players and coaches have come and gone but Nakhil has been there through it all! Nikhil talks through his time as a press officer and some of his grassroots playing experiences and some of the best feelings he has had volunteer and playing in the beautiful game.

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It’s okay, to feel okay right? Easy to say. We're back kicking off season 2 with Danny Owens sharing his Grassroots Stories with Rob. They discuss what it’s like growing up not being up to talk about stuff and how Danny is making change happen with his football club, Men For Mind FC.

This new team was established just in June 2021 to raise awareness for Mind BLMK, creating a safe space environment for men to come together and play football whilst raising awareness for a great cause. With this podcast being centred around mental health and wellbeing, it was great to hear Danny's story on Men For Mind FC and all the great work they do for men's mental health.

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Host Rob is joined by CSM London FC chairman Anees Ikramullah to recap their favourite parts of Season 1. We have been able to host some wonderful guests who given their Grassroots Stories from players to referees, coaches to goalkeepers, and educators to physios. 

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 2, which we'll look to kick off in time for the 2021-22 season. 

Our work behind the scenes continues though (call it pre-season!). So if you are looking to share your tales of the beautiful game get in touch: [email protected] or drop us a DM @csmlondonfc.

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This week on the #JustTalk podcast, Rob is joined by Russell Harley. Mistakes made by outfield players often get lost in the midst of a game, but goalkeepers do not have that luxury. Russell talks about how he deals with those high pressure situations as a goalkeeper who has played semi-professionally and in the Sunday League circuits of Essex.

We also discuss once having trials for a Champions League club and draw from this as we find out more about Russell's grassroots football story.

Don't forget, as well as grassroots stories, this podcast is centred around mental health and wellbeing for all footballers plying their trade on the honest, and often unforgiving, pitches of the grassroots football. If you are anyone you know feel you have a story to share then contact us at [email protected] and tell us about your grassroots story.

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This week we dive into one of grassroots football most unspoken of roles... the referee! Morgan Conn joins host Rob to educate our audience on the day to day life of a referee.

Just what took Morgan the route of the whistle in the beautiful game and how tough is it to be a ref?   We often overlook the referee in football but they are always that 23rd body on the pitch during the 90 minutes of football. Without them, there is no game. It's an unforgiving task with abuse regularly sent their way. Rob opens dialogue with Morgan just to see how he handles it as a young referee in the game.

Steve Clark (not the Scottish national team manager) joins host Rob to talk about his career in football. His adventures through the game started late as a schoolboy but always had a love for fitness. As his first entry to football began, little did he know that he would end up in the professional game. With plenty of experiences in the game Steve has been involved in the game at all levels which has helped shaped the person he is today, as a grassroots football coach giving back to the game that gave so much to him.