Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Malky Thomson, Head Women’s Coach at Rangers Football Club.

After briefly going down memory lane and recalling the journey of the growth of his passion for football, Malky reflects on yesterday’s football culture, through which previous generations grew not only in their love for the sport, but also in their resourcefulness, street smarts, and community spirit.

He talks about the discipline and work ethic that was instilled in him as a young footballer as well as the series of events that led him to getting “discovered” by Aberdeen. He was truly thrown in the deep end. “I can remember thinking I was a good player at the Boys Club level,” says Malky, but that he was quickly humbled once training began.

Aberdeen was a major influence on Malky even going beyond his football career. He recalls one particularly memorable moment when his manager Sir Alex Ferguson walked into the changing room and exclaimed, “One of you might make it. But everyone of you will make it in life by the time I’m finished with you,” before promptly making his exit.

Malky's tough early career has made him a relatable coach to the players he works with today. He says that there were many times he felt that he wasn’t quick enough, as skilled enough, or as sharp enough during games; however, he always knew that he was wanted. No matter the player’s background, character, or level of skill, Malky believes that the bottom line consideration is to truly make them feel that they contribute to the team’s efforts.

He brings it back to his coach’s words, that not everyone is going to make it as a footballer, but under his leadership, he was determined to help his players make it in life.

Malky attributes much of his success to his authenticity and willingness to take risks both as a coach and a player. Because football is inherently a team-focused sport, you need to gain and maintain trust with your coach, manager, or players, and that starts and ends with being yourself. And to stand a chance of “making it” as a footballer? That involves a lot of risk-taking and a willingness to endure the failures and setbacks that you will be inevitably faced with.

“Coaches have got a real responsibility,” concludes Malky, “to ensure that they create an environment where players can just be who they are, and to assure them that it’s okay to make mistakes and feel pressure.”

TIMESTAMP:

[01:04] How Malky got into football

[04:24] Can we duplicate the street football culture of decades past in today’s world?

[07:24] How Malky built discipline and work ethic as a young footballer

[15:21] Tough pre-game conversations

[17:26] How Aberdeen shaped Malky as a football man

[22:38] How Malky’s early career has helped him relate well to players he coaches

[26:51] The opportunities that have come Malky’s way through the years

[31:00] The importance of authenticity to be successful as a coach or a player

[34:31] Why we can’t avoid taking risks

[36:14] Moving into coaching the women’s team.

[41:55] The coachability and humility of the women’s team

[43:58] Malky’s vision for the women’s team

[47:19] Malky’s advice for those looking to become a coach

Connect with Malky Thomson:

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An introduction to Visualisation

When we visualize, we're tapping in the same neural pathways, and then putting software down on it. 

For example 

So we're actually running a program that says, "You know what? I'm visualizing myself getting on the end of a cross six yard out. I can see myself getting on the end of it and flying past to keep it." Now that doesn't guarantee that would happen. But what it does is it does a few things. It makes you feel good when you're thinking about it. So that's always a good thing. So it's creating that feelings of, "I want to go and practice."

Pat Nevin didn't wake up one morning and decide that he wanted to be different. He just was.

Since his early childhood growing up in a tenement in Glasgow, he was raised to believe that developing through reading and deep self-exploration was a part of life. His earliest role models weren't the great football players before him, but the Glaswegian working-class men and women he admired like his brothers who studied hard and obtained degrees; and the great works of musicians who composed music simply for the joy of doing so. In this episode, Pat discusses his lessons from those musicians and his family upbringing, leading to his well-rounded outlook on life and career and why he titled his book "The Accidental Footballer."

"Now, that's the reason why I've written this book called The Accidental Footballer. It's a true honest reflection of how I felt. I liked the idea of playing football for the utter joy and love of it, and that's why I played because I love doing it."

Pat's level-head approach to the game ensured that he was prepared to walk away if the game stopped bringing him joy. The idea of standing on what feels right didn't end with his football career; Pat brought the same zeal into his career as a D.J. and Journalist.

Pat shares with The Football, Mindset, and Leadership Listeners how his personal compass has evolved with age, his thoughts on where the game is going, and advice for developing your inner compass.

● [00:00:06] We catch up with Pat Nevin

● [00:05:53] Pat explains his early childhood and the lessons that shaped him

● [00:13:12] Pat discusses how he makes difficult decisions and what he does to find peace within those decisions.

● [00:22:37] Instinct or training? Pat takes us through his career highlights and explains the one decision that every player has to make for themselves.

● [00:27:29] Pat has never believed in having "hero's." Listen to him explain why and who he most respects as masters of their craft.

● [00:29:37] How fame and material gains can take the fun away from any endeavor. Learn how Pat keeps his enthusiasm for every area of his life.

● [00:38:24] What is the difference between somebody who understands the psychology of getting the best out of people and those who don't? Pat shares his views.

● [01:05:03] Pat's advice for someone looking to make their own way in the world and his recommended book and resources.

Connect with Don MacNaughton:

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The Mindset of a Winning Team with Ryan Christie

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Bournemouth and the Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie.

Ryan relates his lifelong love of football, having been immersed in the sport for as long as he can remember. He recalls an early memory of his father Charlie, a footballer and coach in his own right, taking him to the pitch and showing him the ropes near the end of his own storied career.

He shares his unique perspective as an athlete who turned his passion into a career as a youngster, not to mention the blessing of being able to counsel with his fellow pro footballer father. Coming from the Highlands, his journey saw him traveling across the country as his career progressed.

Ryan also discusses being coached by infectiously positive John “Yogi” Hughes during his early days with Celtic. “He flipped the way we played football the minute he came in,” Ryan says of him, adding that a mindset of optimism and sureness of victory was one of the greatest gifts he took away from being coached by Yogi.

Ryan also speaks on the hectic day-to-day when playing for a big club and the constant pressure to grow as a player that comes from such an environment. It is a matter, he says, of compartmentalizing your focus to avoid overwhelm—that when it was time to perform on the pitch, it was time to put personal and business issues aside until the game was over.

In addition, he talks about the dangers of social media and the importance of taking care of one’s mental health, particularly as a modern player.

“If you start relying on [social media] as your source of confidence or acceptance, it kills you,” says Ryan, speaking for himself and his fellow teammates in the premier league. “The bigger you are in the sport, the more it can affect you.”

Finally, Ryan describes the moment his team qualified for a major tournament for the first time in 22 years in the Euro 2020 play-off final against Serbia. He remembers having watched Scotland “come so close, yet so far” year after year, and humbly elates the fact that he played a part in this massive win for the country.

TIMESTAMP:

[00:43] Ryan on his lifelong love of football

[07:12] People who have influenced Ryan as a footballer

[08:57] The moment Ryan decided to become a professional

[13:13] The mindset of a champion athlete

[16:45] His early days with Celtic

[20:28] Joining Aberdeen on loan and developing his game

[29:31] The mentality a player needs to thrive with a big club

[30:59] How social media factors into the life and career of modern players

[34:11] The importance of mental health for modern players

[37:31] Ryan talks of the elation he felt when his team qualified for a major tournament

[42:06] Looking forward to his upcoming games

[43:48] The decision to move on from Celtic

[47:04] Playing in the Championship versus the premier league in Scotland

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Today on the podcast, I’m joined by former Celtic and Scotland forward Simon Donnelly.

He starts off speaking about navigating the continued challenges posed by the lockdown, saying that he is grateful for any opportunity he gets to spend time with fans or his teammates in person. “In football,” says Simon, “you can be sitting in a dressing room with teammates one minute, and you’re out the door the next like ships passing in the night.”

Simon reflects on his journey in football, saying that he’s been obsessed with the sport for as long as he can remember. His foray into football as a career began in his teen years when he joined Queen’s Park. Celtic followed shortly after that in 1993.

Asked what set him apart to be able to get accepted by Celtic, Simon says that, apart from skill, “you have to be in the right place at the right time.”

He goes on to share the highs and lows of his time with Celtic before moving to Sheffield six years later in 1999.

Simon retired as a player in 2011 and has since moved into coaching and managing. He speaks on the question of teaching game intelligence and notes his observations on the evolution of football culture and communicating the sport effectively to today’s youth.

TIMESTAMP:

[01:19]  1st Star former player events

[04:05] Incorporating his love for music into his sport

[05:05] Simon’s football journey

[09:33] How football culture amongst the youth has changed over the years

[12:22] Simon’s biggest football influences growing up

[15:59] How Simon developed the resilience to push through the toughest times in his career

[19:15] Is football becoming more entertaining today?

[21:44] What sets apart boys who are able to join pro clubs

[26:40] Simon’s first day with Celtic

[30:33] Simon’s most cherished moments with Celtic

[36:53] How much of game intelligence can be coached?

[39:43] Leaving Celtic for Sheffield in 1999

[42:18] The importance of getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new

[44:51] Simon’s experience coaching and managing

[51:28] Coaching young players today

[55:00] Simon speaks on his love for music

Connect with Simon Donnelly:

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Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Kenny Millar, football writer, journalist, and consultant. He talks of his journey in football writing and how players can harness social media effectively to maximise their brand and career.

“From the age of ten,” says Kenny, “I knew I wanted to be a football writer, and that was all-consuming. I’d be writing match reports from the TV.” By the time he began work at the Sunday Post a month after turning 17, Kenny had already done over 100 interviews with a wide variety of individuals in the Scottish sports industry.

After nine years with the Sunday Post, Kenny had the opportunity to join The Scottish Sun, where he remembers having to navigate Impostor Syndrome being one of the company's youngest journalists despite the years of writing experience he already had under his belt. To his pleasant surprise, however, he was given a great deal of freedom in going about his projects.

In late 2017, Kenny was unexpectedly offered a job at the SFA and, shortly after, the Scottish FA. Today, he writes for FourFourTwo Magazine as well as NutmegMagazine, in addition to his freelancing consulting work for football clubs and creative agencies.

Speaking on the role of social media in the careers of today’s players, Kenny says, “I think that social media should be a window into your professionalism.” He encourages them to exercise tact whenever they post. If done wrong, social media can ruin one’s career overnight. If done right, it can cause one’s career to skyrocket.

“What do supporters want to see? They want to see somebody who appreciates being a player. They want to see somebody who works hard and takes their craft seriously.”

TIMESTAMP:

[01:25] Are younger players missing out having not grown up playing street football with mates?

[03:29] Kenny’s football heroes

[07:08] How Kenny got into writing and journalism

[13:18] Working for the Sunday Post and developing his writing skills

[19:24] Moving on to The Scottish Sun

[25:30] Working for the SFA and the Scottish FA

[30:26] How today’s players can use social media to their advantage

[36:42] Why Kenny loves Scottish football

[41:23] Kenny’s advice to those who want to get into football writing

Connect with Kenny Millar:

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Today on the podcast I am joined by Craig Brown CBE, former Director and now ambassador at the Aberdeen Football Club, as well as the former Director of Football Development and International Team Manager at the Scottish Football Association.

In the second part of our interview with Craig, we continue our conversation on lessons he has learnt from other coaches throughout his career. We also have an interesting discussion on substitutions.

“I’m unashamedly prepared to steal ideas and to ask for ideas,” says Craig, proceeding to talk of what he was able to glean from coaches, managers, and even players alike in his time. He speaks in particular of Brian Clough, whose rather unorthodox approach to coaching once saw him taking his players to a pub and buying them whisky in place of practicing.

Speaking on substitutions, Craig says that there are reasons to substitute beyond preventing poor performance and injury. For instance, it’s a form of acknowledgement when the player has scored a few goals themselves. Substitutions also reveal a lot about the player’s attitude.

Craig contends: “If you’re on that bench,” he says, “you’ve got to be a supporter as well as a substitute.”

TIMESTAMP:

[00:52] Lessons learned from other coaches and managers

[04:20] Why Brian Clough stands out

[08:04] Why bigger stars are easier to handle

[11:42] Is there a right time to tell a player when they’re dropped?

[17:06] A new perspective on substitutions

[23:43] How substitutions can tell you a lot about the player

Connect with Craig Brown:

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Connect with Don MacNaughton:

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Today on the podcast I am joined by Gordon Forrest, Assistant Manager of Heart of Midlothian Football Club. He has coached in Scotland, New Zealand and in Canada, where he was with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

As the sport evolves, having well-thought-out infrastructure in place has become extremely important to the individual development of today’s players. Gordon touches on the fundamentals of a great club and how his own travels as a coach to other countries opened his mind to ways of improving the player experience back home.

Gordon takes us through his globe-trotting journey as a coach and how his almost nonstop eight-year career overseas shaped his approach to leading players. He says that, upon returning to Scotland, he had a greater appreciation for the footballer as a person and how understanding individual circumstances opens the doors to more effective coaching.

He also gives his thoughts on how football clubs can meet the individual needs of players, particular in the four key developmental areas of their technical, tactical, physical, and the mental capabilities. Finally, he offers his best advice to young coaches.

TIMESTAMP:

[00:20] Gordon reflects on a successful season at Heart

[02:27] The importance of infrastructure in modern football

[03:36] Gordon on his travels as a coach

[07:18] Where Gordon developed his desire to be a coach

[11:31] Gordon on moving to New Zealand with his young family and the cultural differences

[16:02] Gordon’s experience at the Olympics

[21:40] Coaching in MLS

[25:07] How Gordon’s time in Vancouver shaped his coaching

[28:11] Coming back to Scotland after being constantly on the road for eight years

[30:57] How the sport and culture of football had changed since Gordon first left Scotland

[33:50] The challenges of football clubs in meeting the individual needs of the player

[37:53] The different nuances of coaching young players in different countries

[42:42] Gordon’s advice for young coaches

Connect with Gordon Forrest:

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Connect with Don MacNaughton:

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 Darren O'Dea on Football, Change and Mindset

Today on the podcast I am joined by Celtic F.C U18 coach Darren O'Dea. He speaks about his love of sport and football and the lessons learned playing around the world.

Darren opens the conversation describing his return to playing football after some time since the lockdowns and the importance of habits, consistency, and taking ownership for anybody looking to continue practicing their sport in spite of challenges like the pandemic. He extends this lesson to the world of athletes in general.

We then talk about the value of the formative experience of street football to future professional athletes and how the culture of the sport is affected when that is sorely missing.

Darren goes on to talk about how “football found him” and how to build a mindset of an athlete destined for success. He also explains why building relationships is one of the most important things a coach can do, the nuances of coaching younger players, and what he learned about the importance of adapting to different environments after his travels to multiple countries.

TIMESTAMP:

[00:21] Darren talks about the importance of taking ownership of your career as an athlete

[03:15] Darren’s role models growing up and developing himself as a footballer

[07:48] Is the positive influence of street football missing in today’s professional games?

[10:58] The transferability of skills between different sports

[13:05] Why it pays in the future to not be the “best” in your sport in the beginning

[18:56] The moment Darren decided he would become a footballer and the first few tough years

[34:10] Honing your mindset to thrive as a budding athlete

[39:30] The importance of building relationships as a coach

[44:17] Why Darren loves basking in the energy of his teammates

[46:04] The nuances of communicating with today’s generation of players

[53:30] Lessons Darren has learned throughout his travels to different countries

Connect with Darren O’Dea:

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· LINKEDIN

George Galloway talks about the influence of football on Scottish society.