Taboo on the Terraces

Azeem Amir is a blind international footballer for England and Great Britain, and an ambassador for several disability organisations. You might recognise Azeem from his various Ted Talks challenging perceptions about disability, and also as one of the stars of Nike’s recent ‘Land of New Football’ initiative. 

Azeem spends much of his time aiming to challenge people's perceptions of disability in sport and in society, and has also set up his own business 'Learn with ESS' to address stigmatised issues around disability. What Azeem has achieved in his life to date is extraordinary and it makes for an inspirational interview with host Ryan.

Please check out our other podcast episodes, and head over to our website www.tabooontheterraces.co.uk to find helpful resources and contact information if you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode.

Mark Hudson has recently been appointed as a first team coach at Cardiff City and was a brilliant central defender in his playing days for Crystal Palace, Cardiff and Huddersfield Town. Mark also became a part of David Wagner's coaching staff at Huddersfield and even took charge of the club as caretaker manager in 2019, coming up against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in his sole game in charge.

Mark speaks openly with host Ryan about his career but also about a difficult time in the lives of himself and his family after signing for Cardiff City, and the loss of a close family member. Mark discusses how this affected his mental health and how almost no one at the club knew about what he and his family were going through, and how eventually he was able to open up and come to terms with their loss.

Please check out our other podcast episodes, and head over to our website www.tabooontheterraces.co.uk to find helpful resources and contact information if you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode.

Taboo on the Terraces is back for a second season! New guests, new stories, same goal – to challenge the stigma around issues relating to mental health in football and in wider society, and to share the inspirational stories of some very special people.

Host Ryan Molloy speaks with guests from the world of football to discuss their careers and wider subjects associated with mental health including addiction and abuse, but also overcoming hardship, challenging the norm, and strength in the face of adversity.

New episodes are released every two weeks and make sure you hit 'subscribe' to never miss an episode!

Website: www.tabooontheterraces.co.uk
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In the last episode for the series Ryan speaks with Cheltenham Town's Chris Hussey. Chris has just enjoyed one of the most memorable seasons in his career to date with Cheltenham as they won the League Two title, even scoring the goal that confirmed their promotion, a beautiful free-kick versus Carlisle that's well worth searching for on YouTube. We also look back on Chris' days with AFC Wimbledon, Coventry, Burton Albion, Bury and Sheffield United.

Chris speaks candidly about his experience of battling with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder, and the coping mechanisms he has learned to manage the condition on a daily basis. But also how he has learned to channel his obsessive behaviours to better himself on a personal and professional level, including creating an app in lockdown to help struggling local businesses in his area. It's a must listen and the perfect end to series one of the podcast.

The podcast will be back later this year for season two. In the meantime, keep an eye on our social media channels to see how the podcast and our listeners will soon be able to contribute towards charities, and some of the worthy causes we discuss here.

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Been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode? Head over to our website to find useful resources and contact information.

In this next episode of Taboo on the Terraces, Ryan speaks with former Brighton, Southampton and Leicester City midfielder Dean Hammond. Dean's career highlights include successive promotions from League One to the Premier League with Southampton, and he talks about what made that Southampton side so special. Also the Championship title win with Leicester City in 2014, and being a part of the squad that survived relegation against all the odds the following season, and how that side turned in to Premier League winners just a few months later makes for a fascinating listen.

After taking a break from football at the age of 33, Dean found himself almost forced in to an early retirement, and that caused his mental health to suffer as a result. Dean's honest account of that period in his life, to where he currently is now, is inspirational to listen to and makes for one of the standout episodes of the podcast to date.

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Been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode? Head over to our website to find useful resources and contact information.

Lucy Briggs is a referee and assistant referee in the Women's Super League and Championship. Lucy grew up in Garstang, Lancashire, and alongside her officiating runs multiple football leagues in her local area, giving hundreds of people opportunities to play that maybe weren't around when she was younger.

Ryan spoke with Lucy for the next episode of Taboo on the Terraces to discuss her career as an official in the WSL and Championship and her best moments and memories to date, but also her work championing mental health support. Lucy herself suffered with depression and mental ill-health as a teenager, but utilised resources around her to get better and seek help, and also used football and refereeing in particular as a motivator in a very tough period of her life.

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Been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode? Head over to our website to find useful resources and contact information.

Frank Fielding has enjoyed a successful career with clubs including Derby County and Bristol City, and is currently at Millwall in the Championship. Frank began his career with his boyhood club Blackburn Rovers and enjoys speaking about the incredible life experiences that football has given him, but has also experienced the feeling of being released as a player and the emotional side of what can be an extremely tough time in the life of a footballer.

Ryan speaks with Frank in this next episode of Taboo on the Terraces to discuss his career to date including his title and football league trophy-winning season with Bristol City, learning from Brad Friedel and Paul Robinson, his senior England call-up in 2010, but also the work he is currently doing alongside Go Again, a charity providing mental health support to footballers of all age groups who have been released by football clubs.

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Been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode? Head over to our website to find useful resources and contact information.

Harvey Steel is an incredibly bright and inspiring young man. At just 19 he has already achieved so much in challenging the stigma around mental health, something he is passionate about by sharing his own experiences during his time in the youth ranks at Cambridge United, and how depression led him to some extremely dark and low places in his life.

Ryan sits down with Harvey to talk about a very tough period in his life in this next episode of Taboo on the Terraces, how depression can affect anyone at any time, but more importantly how he has grown as a person over the past 18 months and what he has done to ensure he is now in a much more positive place. Hearing his views on mental health as a whole but also the work he is doing with organisations to help young players with their transition once being released is humbling and fantastic to listen to.

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Been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode? Head over to our website to find useful resources and contact information.

Matt Jarvis has enjoyed a successful football career, beginning with Gillingham before playing for Wolves, West Ham and Norwich, and even representing England in 2011. In this next episode of Taboo on the Terraces, Ryan reflects on Matt's career with him, and discusses winning the Championship with Wolves, once being West Ham's record signing, and representing his country.

Towards the end of the 2015/16 season in a game against Manchester City, Matt went in to a tackle with Yaya Toure and suffered a medial cruciate ligament injury. Then came an ankle fracture and other issues, and all-in-all Matt spent three years out of action. As well as experiencing the pain of these serious injuries, Matt speaks openly about the mental pressure that being out for so long had on him, and how he was able to remain motivated through setbacks to get back playing football.

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review, and spread the word of the podcast to your friends and family.
Been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode? Head over to our website to find useful resources and contact information.

Brad Bates plays for West Bromwich Albion and England Powerchair football teams, and is regarded as one of the most talented players not only in the country, but also in Europe. Brad was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a rare neuromuscular disorder which affects almost his whole body.

Despite having obstacles constantly put in his way throughout his life, including becoming so seriously ill in 2016 that his parents were told he may not survive, Brad is just the most positive person. In this next episode of Taboo on the Terraces, Ryan talks to Brad in detail about his outlook on life, his Powerchair career, and his goals for the future.

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review, and spread the word of the podcast to your friends and family.
Been affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode? Head over to our website to find useful resources and contact information.