Best B5 Consultancy Podcasts (2024)

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BONUS EPISODE - Fraser Franks 30:35

12M ago30:35

30:35

This Bonus Episode is also a bit of an announcement. Fraser is preparing to have open heart surgery and, unsurprisingly, that means he'll be out of action for a little while. In this episode he talks to Matt about his condition and the operation. We will most definitely be back but it makes sense, to take a bit of pressure off the recovery, for us …

1
S02 Ep30: Troy Townsend 1:23:30

12M ago1:23:30

1:23:30

The campaigner. Troy Townsend's football journey is a remarkable one. From his own dreams of playing as a young boy, supporting his sons with those same aspirations, tragically losing his eldest boy Kurtis and, later, his tireless campaigning for equality. This is an emotional episode and we were so grateful to Troy for sharing with us. We are so g…

1
BONUS EPISODE - David Clarke OBE 24:15

1y ago24:15

24:15

The Officer. In celebration of former guest David Clarke being awarded an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours List we had a Clarkie back on for a quick chat to discuss the honour but also his appointment this year as Chief Executive Officer of Paralympics GB. We are so grateful to University Campus of Football Business who we are partnering with for…

1
S02 Ep28: Martin Sinclair 1:06:22

1y ago1:06:22

1:06:22

The Paralympian. This is the third episode we've badged the Paralympian and, like David Clarke and Jack Rutter before him, we could have given this episode with Martin Sinclair so many different titles. He talks about the "challenge" of his Cerebral Palsy, the tragic experiences that impacted his life but, more than that, the fun and adventure he h…

1
S02 Ep27: Hearing Loss and Football 57:50

1y ago57:50

57:50

This is a very personal breakout episode presented by Matt Himsworth about hearing loss and football. Matt speaks to former Watford Women FC player Emma Beckett about her hearing loss caused by a car accident at the age of 19 and he speaks to Claire Stancliffe and Ceara Toal, two members of the England Deaf Women's football team who are raising fun…

1
S02 Ep26: Peter Mitchell 1:34:17

1y ago1:34:17

1:34:17

The actor. We could have titled this episode so many things but it seems fitting to call Peter, or Mitch, the actor given that his accomplishment, in not even appearing in his school play, to having a regular part in Hollyoaks, sums up the character of the man. Like many Irish lads with footballing talent Mitch came to England as a young boy to fol…

1
S02 Ep25: Manisha Tailor 1:11:28

1y ago1:11:28

1:11:28

The trailblazer. If your boss calls you a trailblazer, why argue? When that boss is Les Ferdinand, it is all the more complimentary. Manisha Tailor earns that tag and then some. As a little girl growing up in a South Asian family in the 1980s opportunities to explore her talent and passion for football were limited. A combination of extraordinary d…

1
S02 Ep24: John McGuigan 1:08:38

1y ago1:08:38

1:08:38

The analyst. As a lad growing up in Merseyside John McGuigan was obsessed with football. Though a decent player, he knew he'd never grace Anfield, and so he set off on his journey to work in coaching and analyst. His passion and work ethic saw him work for Manchester City and his beloved Liverpool as well as a short stint with the Ghana national te…

1
S02 Ep23: Jack Rutter 1:08:39

1+ y ago1:08:39

1:08:39

The Paralympian. Yep, another one, and what a special lad. Jack Rutter, a Man United mad kid from Gloucester, was at Birmingham City's Academy, close to signing his first pro deal and preparing to play in the Semi Final of the FA Youth Cup, when he was punched at a night club. He fell and hit his head on the curb and suffered serious injuries which…

1
S02 Ep22: Shaun Whiter 1:11:29

1+ y ago1:11:29

1:11:29

The double amputee. If ever a title didn't do a guest justice it's this one. Shaun Whiter, a talented non-league footballer for Newmarket Town, was hit by a drunk driver in 2016 in an incident which very nearly killed him and robbed him on both his legs. He is honest about the struggles, both mental and physical. which followed but he has not allow…

1
S02 Ep21: Mikele Leigertwood 1:13:14

1+ y ago1:13:14

1:13:14

The player. In association with University Campus of Football Business this week we meet a man who was described by our previous guest and colleague Brian McDermott as a leader both on and off the pitch. Affectionately know at Reading, where he is well-loved, as Ledge we spoke to Mikele Leigertwood about his fabulous playing career, the influence o…

1
S02 Ep20: David Winnie 1:08:57

1+ y ago1:08:57

1:08:57

The lawyer. In association with University Campus of Football Business this week we meet a man, David Winnie, who had a hugely successful playing career in Scotland, Iceland and Australia, but it was the end of his playing career and the requirement to re-think his life, his career and his identity, which was so hard. David ultimately started all o…

1
S02 Ep19: Michael Doughty 1:20:42

1+ y ago1:20:42

1:20:42

The entrepreneur. This week we speak with Michael Doughty, formerly of QPR, Peterborough and Swindon Town. Michael retired from football aged just 27, not because of injury or lack of opportunity, but because of his passion to create something lasting and sustainable. He launched Hylo Athletics, a more sustainable sports brand, and has gone from st…

1
S02 Ep18: Tom Watt 1:18:53

1+ y ago1:18:53

1:18:53

Released a week early on Patreon. The storyteller. This week broadcaster, actor and Arsenal fan, who is so used to telling other people's stories, tells us his own. Those of a certain generation will naturally associate Tom with his role as Lofty Holloway on Eastenders, and he touches on those experiences as he discusses fame and pressure, but it i…

1
S02 Ep17: Brian McDermott 1:18:08

1+ y ago1:18:08

1:18:08

The manager. We're proud to say that the guest starting us back up after our break is now a member of the B5 Consultancy team. Making his debut for Arsenal aged 17, becoming Sweden’s player of the year at a young age, managing Reading to the Premier League – many would think that Brian’s career was the thing of dreams. But his career was racked by …

1
S02 Ep16: Update Episode 1:29:47

2y ago1:29:47

1:29:47

This week we have an update episode. Fraser and Matt chatted, shared recollections, updates and thoughts about guests from across both Series One and Two. We also have some clips, a few short follow up interviews, and a few other little bits and bobs. If you're a keen listener of this podcast then this should be a lot of fun. We are taking a summer…

1
S02 Ep15: Georgie Kelly 58:10

2y ago58:10

58:10

The student. This week we meet Rotherham United striker Georgie Kelly. The 25 year old is no ordinary footballer as he combines his time at the New York Stadium with a Master's Degree in Renewable Energy and Finance. We talk to the Donegal lad about his love for Gaelic sports and the benefits of enjoying an array of different sporting pursuits, his…

1
S02 Ep14: Michael Caulfield 1:01:17

2y ago1:01:17

1:01:17

The sports psychologist. Often the role of a sports psychologist is misunderstood, many believing that it is about a win at all costs mentality but, in actual fact, as Michael says: "they just want someone to talk to". We talk to Michael about his career, from his early days as a wannabe jockey, to running the Professional Jockeys Association, and …

1
S02 EP13: If U Care Share 1:17:39

2y ago1:17:39

1:17:39

This is our third breakout episode and it deals with perhaps the most sensitive subject that could be dealt with in the game: suicide. The episode is in partnership with the wonderful charity If U Care Share and, as its founder Matty Smith says, suicide is its own pandemic. The episode is hosted by Leigh, who speaks about her own struggles with sui…

1
S02 Ep12: Yinka Tomori 1:14:06

2y ago1:14:06

1:14:06

The parent. "See a man, diligent in his ways, he shall stand before kings ..." Those words from Yinka Tomori, to his son Fikayo, have echoed throughout the young man's life and have seen play, and succeed, with Chelsea, AC Milan and England but, more than that, the words of his father have taught him humility, responsibility and to focus always on …

1
Easter Break 2:26

2y ago2:26

2:26

We're taking a short break for Easter, so that we can catch up, spend some time with our families, and come back with some exciting pods afterwards. In the meantime, we've got a request. Can you help us? The podcast is a labour of love for us but we do need funds to help the cost of making it. Please do support us on Patreon - patreon.com/footballj…

1
S02 Ep11: Brendon Batson 1:12:15

2+ y ago1:12:15

1:12:15

The pioneer. Most famously one of West Bromwich Albion's so-called Three Degrees Brendon was part of the Windrush generation who came to the United Kingdom to work and to live but found a country that was often inhospitable and unaccepting. He had never played football when he arrived here but he quickly developed as a talent which resulted in a sc…

1
S02 Ep10: LGBT and football 1:19:54

2+ y ago1:19:54

1:19:54

This is the second of our breakout episodes dealing with an issue rather than one guest and their football journey. This episode is on LGBT people and how football, particularly men's football, deals with those people. We hear from sports lawyer, and talented amateur footballer, Jamie Feldman who talks about his experiences as a young man, his time…

1
S02 EP9: Conor and Ryan McLaughlin 1:04:03

2+ y ago1:04:03

1:04:03

The brothers. Imagine having a career in professional football but there's still debate about whether you were the best footballer in your house growing up. The McLaughlin brothers, a charismatic pair from Belfast, know exactly what that feels like. Whilst Ryan grabbed early headlines as a youngster coming through Liverpool's Academy, Conor was the…

1
S02 EP8: David Clarke 1:35:26

2+ y ago1:35:26

1:35:26

The Paralympian. Who holds the record as the male footballer with the most caps and goals for England? Peter Shilton and Wayne Rooney? Wrong. David Clarke holds both. Born to two Scousers in Wigan, David is a lifelong Red but, having been born with glaucoma he can't have imagined that he would ever have been able to emulate his Anfield heroes. Howe…

1
S02 EP7: Damien Comolli 1:09:50

2+ y ago1:09:50

1:09:50

The Sporting Director. "In 10 years time, every club in England will have a Sporting Director". That was Damien Comolli's view when he was at Tottenham Hotspur and he was not far off. A talented youngster at Monaco, he was though perhaps far off his contemporaries like Emmanuel Petit and Lilian Thuram, and he followed his passion for coaching, trai…

1
S02 EP6: Zafar Iqbal 1:13:26

2+ y ago1:13:26

1:13:26

The doctor. As a British Pakistani, growing up in Rochdale, there was only one thing drummed into young Zaf by his Dad: education. That work ethic, and education over everything else, meant that he was able to beat a path as a successful doctor but it was the combination of that career with his other passion, football, that brings him to the pod. S…

1
S02 EP5: Ashleigh Goddard 1:13:54

2+ y ago1:13:54

1:13:54

The survivor. Ashleigh Goddard's is a remarkable story. A supremely talented footballer, all she ever wanted to do was kick a ball. She excelled at Arsenal's famed women's Academy and an idle summer brought her to Wayne Rooney's Street Striker and the exposure that a prime time Sky One tv programme would bring. But it is in her adult years that her…

1
S02 Ep4: Trolling 1:23:12

2+ y ago1:23:12

1:23:12

During the course of this series we intend on breaking away, every now and then, from telling someone's journey and, instead, focusing on an issue that impacts football. This is our first breakout episode - on trolling. The episode is produced in partnership with Slateford Law. For more information about the firm visit their website www.slateford.l…

1
S02 EP3: Jawahir "JJ" Roble 54:27

2+ y ago54:27

54:27

The referee. As the civil war raged for years in Somalia a football mad girl, Jawahir, fled with her family to England and, more particularly, to Wembley. In the shadow of that famous stadium she dreamed of only one thing - football - but a Muslim girl in a headscarf isn't supposed to play football, is she? This is a girl who won't take "no" for an…

1
S02 EP2 (Part 1): Leigh Nicol 54:41

2+ y ago54:41

54:41

In partnership with the Revenge Porn Helpline. The co-host. With two football journeys within B5 Consultancy, and inspiring stories at that, it was inevitable that we would feature Leigh Nicol for episode two. As a kid she was known as "the football girl" in her home town of Motherwell and would go on to play for Celtic girls, follow her grandfathe…

1
S02 EP2 (Part 2): Leigh Nicol 36:32

2+ y ago36:32

36:32

PART 2 - go and listen to Part 1 first. In partnership with the Revenge Porn Helpline. The co-host. With two football journeys within B5 Consultancy, and inspiring stories at that, it was inevitable that we would feature Leigh Nicol for episode two. As a kid she was known as "the football girl" in her home town of Motherwell and would go on to play…

1
S02 EP1 (Part 2): Fraser Franks 49:58

2+ y ago49:58

49:58

PART 2 - go and listen to Part 1 first. In partnership with the British Heart Foundation. The host. Getting this guest was a big coup for us .... Fraser's is a story that deserves to be told. It is the ultimate challenge for identity for a football player when your career is taken away from you in an instant. A Battersea boy brought up playing cage…

1
S02 EP1 (Part 1): Fraser Franks 48:04

2+ y ago48:04

48:04

In partnership with the British Heart Foundation. The host. Getting this guest was a big coup for us .... Fraser's is a story that deserves to be told. It is the ultimate challenge for identity for a football player when your career is taken away from you in an instant. A Battersea boy brought up playing cage football on his estate. His journey too…

1
S02 Trailer Episode 12:05

2+ y ago12:05

12:05

We're back! Episode One is out next week but, in the meantime, here is a 10 minute chat between hosts Matt Himsworth and Fraser Franks and our new co-host Leigh Nicol about what we have in store - plus a few little snippets from the series ahead. This series is about identity. We talk to an incredibly diverse group of people who have had different …

1
S01 Bonus EP06: The Business End 50:14

3y ago50:14

50:14

Now that the season is over, we caught up with three more lads. Pedro Chirivella, fresh from a relegation play off and beating Kylian Mbappe and his PSG teammates, Louis Robles, who came so close to the Welsh championship and Corey Whelan, who had a whirlwind spell at Wigan Athletic and ultimately helped keep them in League One.…

1
S01 Bonus EP05: The Business End 1:09:47

3y ago1:09:47

1:09:47

Now that the season is drawing to a close, with Sergi Canós chasing promotion to the Premier League with Brentford and Pedro Chirivella fighting relegation from Ligue Un with Nantes, we've been catching up with some of our Series One guests. In this episode we have a chat with Dahrius Waldron about fatherhood and how the pod changed things for him,…

1
S01 Bonus EP04: Dean Hammond 1:16:52

3y ago1:16:52

1:16:52

Our fourth bonus episode, recorded via Zoom during the lockdown, is with Dean Hammond. Dean had a successful career, starting at his local club Brighton and Hove Albion, achieving promotions with Southampton and Leicester City and ultimately achieving his lifelong dream of playing in the Premier League. From a review of his Wikipedia page a fan cou…

1
S01 Bonus EP03 (Part 1): Scott Davies 56:51

3+ y ago56:51

56:51

Our third bonus episode, recorded via Zoom during the lockdown, is with Scott Davies. It would be tempting to regard Scott's story as a sad one: a super talented young footballer with Reading FC, gripped by an addiction to gambling at a young age, and squandering his chance to play at the top level of English football, however, his is an uplifting …

1
S01 Bonus EP03 (Part 2): Scott Davies 58:13

3+ y ago58:13

58:13

Our third bonus episode, recorded via Zoom during the lockdown, is with Scott Davies. This is Part 2 discussing Scott's struggle with an addiction to gambling, the end to his time at Reading FC, his addiction spiralling further out of control and then ... redemption with help from Sporting Chance and his employers at EPIC Risk Management. Hold on t…

1
S01 Bonus EP02: Natasha Dowie 1:10:52

3+ y ago1:10:52

1:10:52

This is the second of our bonus episodes, recorded via Zoom during the lockdown. We're delighted to have secured Natasha Dowie, the first (but hopefully not the last) female player we have interviewed. This episode is sponsored by St Mary's University, Twickenham and, particularly, the suite of Football & Performance Analysis programmes. If you are…

1
S01 Bonus EP01: Ákos Onódi 55:20

3+ y ago55:20

55:20

This is the first of our bonus episodes, recorded via Zoom during the lockdown, as we prepare for a studio recorded Series Two post-lockdown (hopefully!) . In this episode we met a hugely impressive young man, Ákos Onódi, a 19 year old Hungarian goalkeeper, who had his first taste of men's football with his home town club of Győri ETO FC before he …

1
S01 EP9 (Part 2): Pedro Chirivella 46:50

3+ y ago46:50

46:50

This is Part 2 of a two part episode. Series One sees us meet Liverpool FC's Academy class of 2013/14. Episode Nine is with Pedro Chirivella. Born and raised near Valencia and from a family which supported Los murciélagos, his move to Liverpool proved controversial at the time and resulted in the teenager, and his family, suffering abuse online and…

1
S01 EP9 (Part 1): Pedro Chirivella 56:37

3+ y ago56:37

56:37

This is Part 1 of a two part episode. Part 2 will be released on 4th February 2021. It is available immediately to Patreon subscribers. Go to - www.patreon.com/footballjourneys Series One sees us meet Liverpool FC's Academy class of 2013/14. Episode Nine is with Pedro Chirivella. Born and raised near Valencia and from a family which supported Los m…

1
S01 EP8: Corey Whelan 1:01:10

3+ y ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Series One sees us meet Liverpool FC's Academy class of 2013/14. Episode Eight is with Corey Whelan. A Cheshire boy who grew up a Red, influenced by his Irish father. He captained Liverpool at u23 level and lived his grandad's dream when he pulled on the green of Ireland at u21 level. Loan moves to Yeovil and Crewe saw him get a taste of the harsh …

1
An Update and a Very Merry Christmas from Football Journeys 6:35

3+ y ago6:35

6:35

After 8 episodes and a bonus episode we are having a Christmas break but we will be back strong in the new year with new episodes for Series One and exciting plans for Series Two. So far the whole podcast has been self-funded and advertising free. We are asking listeners and supporters to help out, where you can, by signing up to our Patreon Member…

1
S01 EP7: Sergi Canos 54:49

3+ y ago54:49

54:49

Series One sees us meet Liverpool FC's Academy class of 2013/14. Episode Seven is with Sergi Canos. A prodigious talent signed by Liverpool from Barcelona's world famous La Masia Academy. Sergi talks about settling in to the English culture and language and the remarkable lengths gone to by Team Canos, his parents and sister, in order to give him t…

1
S01 EP6: Connor Randall 59:48

3+ y ago59:48

59:48

Series One sees us meet Liverpool FC's Academy class of 2013/14. Episode Six is with Connor Randall, a local boy who managed 8 first team games for Liverpool FC. He talks brilliantly about the intense pressure that comes with fulfilling the boyhood dream of playing for the Reds, about how it impacted him mentally and how outside influences from soc…

1
S01 EP5 (Part 1): Dahrius Waldron 58:18

3+ y ago58:18

58:18

Series One sees us meet Liverpool FC's Academy class of 2013/14. Episode Five is about Dahrius Waldron and it is an incredible story. Born and raised in Manchester, Dahrius had a very difficult start in life which football, and particularly the Liverpool FC Academy in Kirkby, took him away from. A special relationship with his "digs" parents whilst…

1
S01 EP5 (Part 2): Dahrius Waldron 49:57

3+ y ago49:57

49:57

Series One sees us meet Liverpool FC's Academy class of 2013/14. Episode Five is about Dahrius Waldron and it is an incredible story. Born and raised in Manchester, Dahrius had a very difficult start in life which football, and particularly the Liverpool FC Academy in Kirkby, took him away from. A special relationship with his "digs" parents whilst…

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