A Journey Through Sport: Recent Episodes
Luke Brown
Hello, my name is Luke Brown, I am a sports coach from the UK with a background in football and sport science. Welcome to my podcast ‘A journey through sport’. On this podcast, myself and guests reflect and share our experiences working in sport. Hopefully listeners can use these experiences of others to apply it to their own work in sport or day to day life.
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, is UEFA A licence coach Manuel Nunez-dongour. In this episode, Manuel gives a great and fascinating insight into growing up and playing football in Canada and chasing the dream in Spain. He also talks about making the decision of moving on from playing to coaching. Where he completed his UEFA A licence at an early age and moving through the ranks at Espanyol. During his time at Espanyol, he talks about adapting to different scenarios, his values as a coach, proving his worth and taking inspiration from other coaches. He also goes into detail about moving from academy football to semi-pro football, the role of a coach as a life coach. He also gives an inspiring isolation 6-a-side team! “ I really enjoyed talking to Manuel, he talks with so much maturity and while telling his story you can see how much he has grown as a person and as a coach. I feel this is a great episode for any young aspiring coaches out there!” This was recorded in the Summer 2022, very sorry for the lateness of this episode. Enjoy the episode and let me know what you think on our social media platforms; just search ‘A Journey Through Sport’ on instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, is legendary kitman Bob Oteng. The former QPR, West Ham, Watford, Charlton and current Brentford kitman talks about his career working in professional football. He talks about the tight knit community at Brentford, the roles and responsibilities of being a kitman, how many shirts a premier league goes through in a season, and his excellent shirt collection! He also talks about helping to prepare players, his role in the changing room, dealing with challenges and changes in management, building relationships and much more! He also has an exceptional isolation 6-a-side!! Enjoy the podcast, as Bob gives a fascinating insight of working as a kitman at Brentford! Please follow and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast and other podcast platforms! Please also follow on social media: Instagram; ajourneythroughsportpodcast. Twitter: @journeysport. If you would like to share your thoughts on the podcast or would like to share your story then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
In this weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, is founder of Hackney Laces Katee Hui. In this episode Katee talks about her experiences moving to London, the challenges she has faced moving and coaching in a different country, the lack of opportunities for women’s football, and from this building Hackney Laces from the ground up. She also talks about the challenges she has faced to getting Hackney Laces where they are today, shock in culture and grassroots between Canada and England, dealing with keyboard warriors and serious threats, supporting the girls of Hackney laces from such threats, the changes Katee has seen in women’s football, being awarded the unsung hero for London at the BBC Sports Personality awards in 2018, managing a full time job with Hackney Laces, and transferable skills. Also an exciting isolation 6-a-side!
In this episode we welcome back Gary Faber for part two! Gary gives a fascinating insight of the day to day runnings of being a physiotherapist at international and first team club level. He talks about his progress with the current England Amputee Football Team, what happens when the squad are together, dealing with limited face to face time, giving them the platform to succeed, what he learnt on his first tournament with England, raising awareness of the sport and representing his country. Gary also recollects on the different challenges he faced working as a first team physiotherapist for different League One clubs. He also talks about fully committing to the role, the reality of working in football, making tough decisions, stepping away from professional football, building foundations, what he does on his days off, and his top 5 tips that have helped in professional football! Here is the link for Gary’s fundraising page for the England Amputee Football Team. Donate if you can, if your want more information then don’t hesitate to get in touch! https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/englandamputeefootballworldcup2022 This episode is great if you aspire to work in professional sport or if you already work in professional to compare experiences.
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, is soft tissue therapist Chris Domoney. In this episode, Chris talks about his big career change, why he made this change, and how his previous experiences in other careers helped him with his new career. He also talks about his time at Ebbsfleet United, Gillingham, and Brentford where he has been ever since. He talks about key skills and qualities, enjoying life, being driven, dealing with stress, working as a team, and learning from others. He also talks about being part of Brentford’s promotion push to the premier league and the wonderful managers he has worked under since working for Brentford, including Mark Wharburton, Dean Smith, Lee Carsley, and current manager Thomas Frank. He also includes a very good isolation 6-a-side and an absolute classic of a football shirt!
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, is newly appointed England’s National Football Team Amputee physiotherapist Gary Faber. He talks about his previous experiences as a physiotherapist for the NHS, working with the academy at Charlton Athletic, head physiotherapist at Gillingham Football Club, and starting a business with his friend. In this episode he talks about the importance of backing yourself, self worth, respect, and being humble. He also talks about how his experiences in the NHS helped him when working in a sporting environment, dealing with the changing room environment, balancing his private life and work life, learning from others and learning from mistakes. He also includes his isolation 6-a-side and his favourite football shirt!
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, is former academy coach and guest host Warren Clarke. He talks about his love of coaching, learning from experience, moving to mens football, reasons why he stopped coaching and the dark side of coaching. We also get to hear his isolation 6-a-side just before we interrupted his cooking!
In this week’s episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, we welcome back Wayne Virgo for part two of his story. Wayne talks about getting back to normality, working as a youth worker, studying, and the murder of his brother. He talks in-depth about the effect it had on himself and his family, the strength of his mother, and the thoughts of revenge. He follows on with having a purpose as a youth worker and the positive effects he has had on the people he works with. Wayne also talks about getting back into sport playing wheelchair basketball, competing in Europe, training with Team GB, and how he got into teaching. This episode also includes Wayne’s isolation 6-a-side and his favourite football shirts.
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, is current Head of Physical Education at St. Columba’s Catholic Boys School Wayne Virgo. In this episode, Wayne talks about life growing up on a South London estate, bouncing around London academy clubs, racism in football, and wearing Dave Beasant’s boots. Wayne also goes into detail about how an incident at a house party changed his life forever, where he was told he may never walk again. He reflects on the challenges he has faced learning to walk again, positive mindset, taking his first steps, father figures in his life and being visited in hospital by Jimmy Saville. Part two comes out next week, Enjoy! Warning: This episode contains strong language.
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, is current Assistant Head Teacher at St. Columba’s Catholic Boys School Harry Martin. In this episode, Harry shows his impressive knowledge of football shirts. He has picked 5 shirts that reminds him of 5 key moments in his teaching career. Harry reflects on how he got involved with teaching, family sporting rivalry, learning from others, progressing, ambition, taking advice and pitch invasions. He also picks his five favourite football shirts and some honourable mentions.
This week I am delighted to welcome back former guest Dean Wixon. In this special episode, Dean picks 5 shirts and connects them to 5 key moments in his life. He also picks his 5 favourite shirts and one absolute stinker!
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Welcome back to a new series of A Journey Through Sport!! This week we welcome back Mike MacNeill. During this episode we talk about; achieving session objectives, building relationships with players, providing the opportunity to learn, and the power of reflection. Mike also talks through his adapted isolation 5-a-side and discusses his world 5-a-side.
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This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, is former international high jumper Martin Lloyd. In this episode Martin talks about competing for Great Britain, building relationships with coaches, juggling personal life with an athletics career, and a busy week competing. Martin also discusses his isolation 6-a-side team, and his all time Bexley medley relay team. Please get in touch on social media to let us know your thoughts on what was discussed during this episode. FB: A journey Through Sport, Twitter: @JourneySport, Instagram: ajourneythroughsportpodcast
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’ is Mike MacNeill, who is currently a scout for Crystal Palace. Mike gives a great insight into being a scout for a premier league club. In this episode Mike discusses; Neil Warnock, how he got into scouting, working with different managers, first experience scouting for Huddersfield Town, preparation for matches and presenting information, technical vs physical, and staying motivated. Mike also discusses his isolation 6-a-side team, with a very questionable pick!!
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’ is current Millwall first team Sport Therapist Tom Birch. This week Tom discusses; why he chose sports therapy, differences between physiotherapist and sports therapists, importance of gaining experience while learning, communicating with different age groups and coaches, transitioning from women’s football to men’s football, and what he has learned during his journey in sport so far. Tom also discusses his isolation 6-a-side team.
A special episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, where host Luke Brown talks about his journey with mental health. This week, Luke talks about the beginning of his battle with depression, triggers, falling out of love with football, road to recovery, falling back in love with with football and life, mental health awareness and tips. This episode also includes Luke’s on isolation 6-a-side (missing one player, will conclude on another episode). This was a tough episode to record but it is important to raise awareness on such an important issue. If anyone is struggling with mental health issues then please get in touch and we can have a private conversation. If anybody wants to get in touch about this episode and my journey with mental health then please do. A big thank for our guest host Warren Clarke. During this episode, there are some technical faults (overlapping). Please bear with it.
Simon Webster returns on this week’s episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’. We continue from the Spurs years and move on to when Simon played for Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United. This week Simon talks about his introduction to professional football, negotiating his own contract with the help of Gerry Francis, playing with Sam Allardyce, coming back from injury, and facing adversity.
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, is current Charlton Athletic Under 18s and Lead Academy strength and conditioning coach Sam Tomkins. This week Sam discusses; powerlifting, personal training, university, engaging with athletes, the challenges of being a S & C coach, and returning to football. We also hear his interesting isolation 6-a-side team and how he nearly broke a players nose with a medicine ball!
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’, is former Charlton Athletic Women’s captain, England Under 23 player and current Charlton Athletic Women’s first team coach Kim Dixson. In this episode, Kim talks about her positive loan experience in Iceland, playing for England Under 23s, recovering from an ACL injury, transitioning from a player to a coach, and the challenges she has faced as a female footballer. As well as her isolation six-a-side team and a funny story involving a halftime rant and a sink!
This week’s episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’ is former Tottenham Hotspur, Sheffield United, and Charlton Athletic player Simon Webster. This episode is the first part of a mini series, where Simon talks about his career as a professional footballer and how he has transitioned into a career as a physiotherapist. This week Simon talks about his introduction into football, being offered money at 13 to play for a professional club, the Spurs way, and how going on loan to Barry Fry’s Barnet would help with his debut for Spurs.
This weeks episode of ‘A Journey Through Sport’ is former Nottingham Forest academy player and current first team head coach of Charlton Athletic Women’s Football Club, Riteesh Mishra. In this episode, Riteesh talks about life as an academy player, his values as a player and coach, his introduction to women’s football, and much more.
Welcome to the brand new podcast ‘A Journey Through Sport’. Today’s guest, is former Charlton Athletic Women’s coach and current Casey Comets Head Coach Dean Wixon. In today’s episode, Dean talks about his; introduction to coaching, the challenges he has faced, the importance of reflection, changes in philosophy, the growth of women’s football, his isolation 6-a-side team and, much more.