Life Through Ball

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🎙️ Sam Holden | Life in Sport Podcast From the academy system at Manchester United to building his own sports psychology company, Sam Holden has experienced both the highs and challenges of life in football. In this episode, Sam opens up about his academy journey, the mental battles players face, and why he created Unlock Performance — a platform making sports psychology more affordable and accessible for athletes at every level. We talk about identity, resilience, and the lessons Sam has carried from his playing days into his career as a founder supporting others. 👉 Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or just curious about the hidden side of sport, this conversation is packed with insight. Check out our guest:

https://www.unlockperformance.app/about-us

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampholden/

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In this episode, I sit down with Jess Simnett, who shares her journey from the England setup to Alliance FC in Dubai. We talk about the challenges that shaped her, the shifts in perspective along the way, and how sport continues to influence her story beyond the pitch.

Check out our guest: - - -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-simnett-635190157?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

#LifeInSport #entrepreneur #women #womensports #duabifootball #femalesports #PersonalGrowth #Podcast #SportsEducation

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In this episode of the Life In Sport Podcast, I sit down with Budreya Faisal, founder and owner of Banaat FC, a pioneering football club based in Dubai that is empowering young women and building a global community around sport.

We spoke about her journey, the importance of representation, and how Banaat FC is creating a space for women to express their abilities and identities on and off the pitch.

This is a powerful conversation about football, culture, and empowerment — and why sport can be such a driving force for change.

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New episode of the Life in Sport Podcast! I’m joined by Ben Pringle, a former EFL midfielder with a 14-year career at clubs like Derby, Rotherham and Preston. ⚽ We dive into the highs and challenges of life as a professional footballer, his transition out of the league, and what inspired his move to Dubai. 🌍 If you're into football, career journeys or life transitions — this one’s for you. 🎧

https://linktr.ee/lispod?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAae_sNJ1Jmlv4aBplvQ3IwwJLv7wF6ZESGgp90jCQzr9RFWjFerRUWWPfAUWGg_aem_xKuzyVozuy8V3a2Hn1V-rQ

Check out our guest:

https://www.instagram.com/benpringle1... / ben-pringle-9663aa18b utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

https://www.instagram.com/uaefootball... https://www.tiktok.com/@uaefootballne...

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In this episode, I sat down with Temisan Williams, an experienced academy coach who’s worked with some of London’s biggest clubs, including Arsenal, Tottenham, Fulham, and Southend United. With over 700 elite academy players coached, Temisan brings a wealth of insight and experience into youth development.

He’s also the founder of the Coach Accelerator Community, where he supports coaches across the world in breaking into the professional game through proven development strategies and personal growth.

We spoke about:

✅ His journey into coaching

✅ Key lessons from working in elite academies

✅ Building your coaching identity

✅ How to support players beyond the pitch

✅ The power of clarity, consistency, and coaching communities

This one’s full of wisdom for anyone interested in coaching, personal development, or making a real impact in sport.

Check out our guest:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/temisan-williams-msc-bsc-83a40931?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app

https://x.com/Coach_Temisan?t=Zjh6UjIg1EhssniibCVFzw&s=08

https://www.instagram.com/coach_temisan?igsh=anJsbmkyNmdqdGU5

#LifeInSport #CoachingJourney #YouthDevelopment #FootballCoaching #AcademyLife #CoachSupport #PersonalGrowth #Podcast #SportsEducation

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In today's episode T sits down with one half of the Mates with Mics Podcast Paul Williams. Paul is an advocate for the holistic development of young people and players and a current compliance officer. He is extremely passionate about Player Care especially after his own experiences in the Academy set up and how that part of his journey has shaped him.

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Welcome back to Life in Sport — Season 2 kicks off with Matt Shepherd, Player Care Manager at Tottenham Hotspur Women’s Academy. In this powerful conversation, Matt opens up about what Player Care really means, why it's essential in modern football, and how the role has evolved to support players as people first — not just athletes.

We discuss:

What Player Care actually involves day to day

The human side of elite football

How clubs can better support youth and academy players Building identity and resilience beyond the pitch

Lessons that apply far beyond sport

Whether you're involved in football, leadership, education, or just passionate about the people behind performance — this episode has something for you. 🔔

Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a comment with your thoughts. All My Links: https://linktr.ee/lispod?utm_source=l...

Check Out Our Guest:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-shep... #football #playercare #soccer #sport #sportspodcast

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In todays episode T is joined by the one and only James Cox the founder of Work in Football, who is a former Performance Analyst who then transitioned into Player Care at Portsmouth FC. We discuss his journey through football as he gives us his insight on how to break into the ultra competitive industry and how through Work in Football he is helping the next generation! Like, Subscribe and Comment! Big Love People!

If you are interested in Working in Football visit their website and book a call with James: https://workinfootball.net/

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In todays episode we see the return of our first guest on the LIS Podcast Ossama Aslam! It was great to be able to catch up with him again as we reflect on his first season at London Welsh, the inclusion of Rugby and learning about South Asian culture and sport!

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Check out our previous episode with Ossama:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Xjj3zmvzajmDG4boZPf0c?si=89fdbda102ca4f50

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In Episode 12, T travels up to Leeds to meet the ambitious Olly Wilson who has his goals of making it in Marketing in Football. Here, we learn about what drives Olly's passion, the importance of resilience in this industry, as well as his current projects he has going on.

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Olly's Portfolio:

https://sites.google.com/view/olly-wilson-website-portfolio/home?authuser=0

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