PODCAST · sports
Ball at all Cost
by Ball at all Cost
This podcast dives deep into the world of grassroots football, offering insights and guidance to help parents navigate the often challenging and intricate landscape of youth sports. Each episode provides practical advice, tackling issues like player development, balancing commitments, managing expectations, and understanding the nuances of the grassroots football ecosystem.Join the grassroots football dads as they share their insights and experiences along with established guests sharing their vast knowledge on a weekly basis.
Episodes
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The Hidden Cost of Pushing Young Footballers Too Hard | Hans Martin
⚽ More training doesn’t always mean more progress. Sometimes, the real difference is knowing when a young player needs to push on and when their body needs a break.🩺 We sit down with Hans Martin Bjorkevoll , a physiotherapist from Norway whose own experience with two ACL tears helped shape his...
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From West Ham to Life After Football | Adam Newton’s Story
⚽ Adam Newton joins us to reflect on a football journey that took him from grassroots football to West Ham, professional football and eventually life beyond the game.🎙️ Adam opens up about making it as a professional, the pressure to succeed, earning respect in the dressing room, adapting to...
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Before They Become Footballers, They’re Just Kids | Damian Scannell
From grassroots football to the professional game at 22, Damian Scannell knows what it takes to make it against the odds.🎙️ On this episode, he joins us to discuss the pressures facing young footballers, the business of grassroots coaching and whether the modern game is taking the fun out of...
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He Joined the Army at 16… Now He Scouts Future Footballers w/ Dane Krafft
⚽️ Football development is never as straightforward as people think. Dane Krafft has seen that from several sides… as a player, a coach and now a scout.🎖️ He joined the British Army at 16, eventually found his way back into football and built a coaching career before moving into scouting. In…
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Elite Mindset in Youth Football: Parenting, Rejection & The Road to Newcastle
👀 What does it really take to develop an elite young footballer?🎙️ Leon Hall joins us for a deep and honest conversation about youth football, parenting, academy development and the realities behind trying to reach the highest level.🧠 From his own experiences of rejection as a young player to...
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Is Dubai the Next Big Destination for Young Footballers?
Could Dubai become one of the most exciting destinations for young footballers looking to develop, compete and find a pathway into the professional game? 🇦🇪⚽That’s one of the big questions we explore in this episode of Ball at All Cost with Bobby and Anthony from BJM Academy.Having worked…
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Academy Football EXPOSED w/Saul Isaksson-Hurst
🎙️ We sit down with football coach Saul Isaksson, who shares his experience working across elite academy environments and discusses what young players, parents and coaches need to understand about modern player development.🏟️ Saul talks about his coaching journey, including his time working…
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Former Pro Wayne Gray on Youth Football & Parents
🎙️ What does it really take to make it in football? 🏟️ Wayne joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey from grassroots football to the professional game and what young players and their parents can learn from his experience. 🚀 Wayne opens up about being spotted as a youngster,...
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Navigating Youth Sports: Tips for Parents and Coaches!
⚽ What does the journey through youth football and academy football really look like for a young player and their family?🎙️ Kunle Ojo joins us for an honest conversation about developing young footballers… from grassroots football and academy recruitment to player releases, extra training,...
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The Advice Every Football Parent Needs
Not every talented player gets scouted and not every academy is the right fit.Nicola Waxler, Talent ID Lead for East London & Essex, shares honest insights into player development, academy pathways, and what parents really need to know about helping young footballers thrive.From social media...
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What’s Really Wrong With English Football?
👀 Why does England continue to struggle despite having the biggest league in the world?🎙️ The panel takes a deep dive into the real issues affecting English football… from grassroots and academy recruitment to coaching philosophy, player development and the culture surrounding the game.🧠 We...
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Why Can’t England KEEP THE BALL? The Problem Starts Much Earlier…
⚽ England have some of the world’s best players, but why do they struggle to control games when it matters most?🎙️ Following England’s World Cup semi-final exit, we break down Thomas Tuchel’s comments about England’s football DNA, possession and mentality. Is the issue tactical? Psychological?…
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Are We Developing Footballers… Or Just Chasing Wins?
Is modern academy football really developing better players, or has the game become too focused on winning, branding and social media?🎙️ We sit down with Wez from Pass Move Grin (PMG) to discuss the realities of player development, academy football, grassroots coaching and what parents often get...
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How ENG Sports Is Changing Youth Football Forever!
Can technology transform grassroots football?We sit down with James from ENG Sports to explore how technology is reshaping youth football.From live statistics and match highlights to player market values and digital performance tracking, ENG Sports is building a modern football experience that…
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Academy Coach Reveals What Parents Get WRONG
What does it really take to succeed in academy football?We sit down with Coach Ali, an experienced academy coach, to uncover what parents, players and grassroots coaches need to know about youth football development.From academy trials and football IQ to the role of parents, mental resilience and...
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The Reality of Academy Football: A Parent’s Honest Story on Retain & Release
What really happens when a young footballer is released by an academy?In this powerful episode, Mel Harrison shares her family’s emotional journey through youth academy football, from being scouted by top clubs to dealing with injuries, setbacks, and the difficult retain-and-release process.Mel...
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What Happened to Brazilian Football? Why Brazil Stopped Producing Legends
What happened to the Brazil that gave the world Pelé, Romário, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar?In this fascinating episode of Ballatallcost, Brazilian coach Alex joins the panel to explore why one of football’s greatest talent factories isn’t producing the same level of iconic players as…
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How DS Coaching Is Redefining Player Development in East London
DS Football Coaching has become one of the most respected player development programmes in East London, but how did it all start?In this exclusive episode of Ball At All Cost, we sit down with founders Dean and Sam for their first-ever podcast appearance. They share the story behind DS Football...
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Can England Finally Win the World Cup? 🏆 | Are the Three Lions Ready for Glory?
England have the talent. They have the depth. They have world-class players across the pitch.But can the Three Lions finally end nearly 60 years of hurt and win the World Cup?We break down England’s chances of lifting football’s biggest prize. From the strength of the squad and key players to...
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Grassroots Football Debate: Are 1-to-1 Coaches Charging Too Much?
The panel tackles one of the biggest conversations in grassroots football right now: the rising cost of private coaching sessions and whether they’re actually worth it for young players.From £50 sessions to coaches charging £150+, we break down:Why 1-to-1 coaching has become so popularThe…
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The REAL Academy Journey: A Parent’s Honest Story
What’s it really like raising a child in academy football?In this episode, we sit down with David to talk honestly about the journey of supporting his son through the academy system, from grassroots football to earning a two-year deal at Reading FC.This is a real look into the sacrifices…
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The Rise of LSFC: How Nana Built a London Football Powerhouse
How do you build a football club from the ground up and turn it into a real movement?In this episode, we sit down with Nana, founder of LSFC, to talk about the journey behind one of London’s fastest-growing grassroots football clubs.From starting with just a handful of players to building a full...
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What’s Your Beef? What’s REALLY Wrong with Grassroots & Academy Football
Unfiltered Football Talk No filters—just real opinions from across the game. Biggest grassroots frustrations—what players, parents & coaches are fed up with. Academy reality check—the gap between expectation and truth. Parents vs coaches—where it breaks down. Development vs winning—what actually...
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What Scouts REALLY Look For / Inside Academy Recruitment
In this episode of Scout’s Corner, we sit down with Timi Sossa, a Premier League academy scout, to break down how the system really works, from talent ID to recruitment and everything in between.We talk about: What scouts really notice during games The difference between scouting boys vs girls...
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What Scouts & Coaches REALLY Want in Young Players
What does it really take to make it in youth football today? We sit down with Coach Neev, just 18, but already working across grassroots, academy setups, and semi-pro football to talk about what’s actually happening behind the scenes.This isn’t one of those polished, sugar-coated conversations....
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What Parents Get Wrong w/ Alex V. Nita
If you’ve got a child in football or you’re thinking about academies, this is a conversation you need to hear.In this episode, we break down the reality of youth football. Not just the training side, but everything around it… decisions, pressure, parenting and what actually helps kids develop.We...
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The Truth About Football Academies: Development or Just Profit?
Are football academies really developing players… or is there more going on behind the scenes?In this episode, we get into the reality of kids football, the pressure on young players, the tough decisions parents have to make, and what the academy pathway actually looks like when you’re in it.We...
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What It Really Takes to Develop Young Players
We sit down with Alex Benjamin for a proper, honest conversation about football, the journey, the setbacks, and what it really takes to develop players.From his early days in grassroots football to stepping into coaching, Alex shares how his love for the game came back and what shaped his…
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What Premier League Scouts REALLY Look For w/ Timi Sossa
Welcome to Scout’s Corner on the Ball At All Cost podcast. We sit down with Premier League academy scout Timi Sossa to break down what scouts are really looking for when they watch young players.From grassroots matches to academy pathways, Timi shares honest insight into how talent is identified,...
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The Realties of Academy Football w/Nana Adarkwa
In this episode of Ball At All Cost, we sit down with Nana Adarkwa to talk about the reality behind football dreams.Nana shares his journey through grassroots football, academy trials, injuries, and rejection and how those experiences eventually led him to start Ambition FC, a club focused on...
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Kevin Lisbie - Trust The Process
In this exclusive episode of Ball At All Cost, former Premier League striker and Jamaican international Kevin Lisbie joins us for an honest, in-depth conversation about football, family, and life beyond the headlines.From scoring a Premier League hat-trick against Liverpool to netting the winner…
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Racism in Football | Will It Ever Really Go Away?
Recording of our Live Stream from 23/02/25 Racism in football, will it ever truly go away? Or are we still pretending it’s improving while players continue to deal with it at every level of the game?From professional stadiums to grassroots pitches and academy setups, the experiences are real.…
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What’s Your Beef in Grassroots & Academy Football?
Recording of our Live Stream on Feb 15th 2026! What’s your biggest frustration in grassroots or academy football right now?Is it coaching decisions? Playing time? Academy trials? Parent pressure? Politics? Development being ignored for results?No filters. No scripts. Just real conversation.This...
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Real Talk on Emerging Talents, Coaching & the Born to Ball Journey
This one means a lot. For our 50th episode of Ball at All Cost, we sit down with the Born to Ball coaches, Junior, Jevaze and the wider team for an honest conversation about grassroots football, coaching, and what it really takes to support young players properly.We reflect on why Born to Ball…
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Empowering Girls in Football w/Tom McDermott
It is another podcast episode and we delve into the grassroots development of football, particularly focusing on the remarkable growth of girls' football. Special guest Tom McDermott shares his coaching journey, the philosophy behind TM Development, and the importance of nurturing young talent…
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Does Size Matter in Football?
Are smaller players being protected or are teams just protecting results?In this episode of the Ball At All Cost Podcast, we’re joined by Coach Brandon from Lambbeath Tigers to unpack one of grassroots football’s most debated topics: how the game treats smaller players.We discuss bio-banding,...
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How Futsal Builds Confident Footballers
In this episode of the Ball at All Cost Podcast, we sit down with Diego Pagliuso, also known as The Confident Footballer, to break down how futsal, mindset, and intelligent coaching shape confident young players.Diego shares his journey from Brazil to football coaching in the UK, explains why...
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How to Get Your Daughter Into a Football Academy
In this Christmas special edition of the Ball at All Cost podcast, we welcome Tom Wright, a football coach and talent ID scout, who shares invaluable insights into navigating the girls' football academy pathway. Learn about the importance of playing boys' football, how to get scouted, balancing...
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Changing the Game for Young Footballers
In this episode of Ball at All Cost, we chat with Jermaine Fagan from We Make Footballers about his journey in football. From playing and refereeing to scouting and running football academies. He shares honest stories about grassroots football, the challenges refs face, and why futsal could be a...
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From Reject to Premier League Pro w/Dwight Gayle
In this down-to-earth chat, Dwight Gayle opens up about his rocky start at Arsenal’s academy, the struggles of being a smaller player, and how he kept the dream alive to play in the Premier League. He also shares honest advice on coaching kids today, balancing pressure with fun, and why playing...
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Ballon Dor Football Academy
We sit down with Neil from Ballon D’Or Football Academy to explore how they're nurturing young football talent with passion, skill, and a fresh approach. From technical training to real pathways into professional clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, Neil shares what makes Ballon D’Or stand out and how...
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Behind The Gloves w/Nicky Eyre
In this episode of Ball At All Costs, we sit down with Nick – The GK Coach to chat all things goalkeeping. From his journey as a keeper to the ups and downs of grassroots football, what it really takes to be a great goalie, and how coaching has changed over the years. Plus, Nick opens up about…
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The Pressure Behind The Dream w/Mustapha Carayol
Tune into the Ball At All Costs podcast as Mustapha Carayol shares his inspiring journey from grassroots football in Peckham to over 400 professional games. Discover his struggles with anxiety, safety challenges, and the pressures of pro football. Mustapha offers unique insights for parents and...
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The Inner Game w/ Phil Roberts
Phil “PJ” Roberts is back on Ball At All Cost to talk about the side of football we don’t always see, the inner game. From academy trials and rejection to resilience, mental health, and parenting in sport, Phil shares his journey from professional footballer to mentor and founder of The Inner...
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30 MILLION VIEWS! Ireland’s Viral Football Dad
Welcome back to Ball at All Cost! We're doing it big this week with a very special guest, Danny O'Reilly, the father of Instagram-famous football talent, Mason O'Reilly.Danny breaks down the crazy story of Mason's simple garden drills going viral and getting comments from stars like Neymar! Why…
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The Truth About Raising Young Footballers Today
We break down the real challenges young footballers face today, especially young girls pushing through mixed football, elite academies, and pressure-filled environments.We speak with Chris, a parent whose daughter is thriving in Echo League, Arsenal and Finesse setups, and explore what it really...
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The 18-Year-Old Coach Changing Football Coaching Forever
We sit down with Coach George, an 18-year-old who’s already making serious noise in grassroots football. From being an average goalkeeper to managing and scouting, his journey is proof that passion, emotional intelligence, and experience beat age every single time.We dive deep into: Why enjoyment...
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Academy Series - With Jason Johnson
We sit down with Jason Johnson, whose son signed for a Category 1 academy at just eight years old.Jason shares a deeply insightful journey into academy football, from the early days of lockdown kicking a ball in the garden, to joining Tigers JFC and catching the eye of professional scouts.We...
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Youth Football Development Explained w/Fin Fletcher
We’re joined by Fin Fletcher, the founder of F7 Coaching, to explore what truly drives success in youth football.We dive into the power of game analysis, how self-reflection and player feedback can shape understanding and performance, and why enjoyment and development should always come before...
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Beyond Football - w/Kenzer Lee & Philip Roberts
It’s another episode, and we sit down with Kenzer Lee and Philip Roberts for an honest and powerful conversation about grassroots football, parenting, and the real journey behind the dream of going pro.We dive deep into the philosophy of Balance, developing great footballers, but even better…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This podcast dives deep into the world of grassroots football, offering insights and guidance to help parents navigate the often challenging and intricate landscape of youth sports. Each episode provides practical advice, tackling issues like player development, balancing commitments, managing expectations, and understanding the nuances of the grassroots football ecosystem.Join the grassroots football dads as they share their insights and experiences along with established guests sharing their vast knowledge on a weekly basis.
HOSTED BY
Ball at all Cost
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Ball at all Cost have?
Ball at all Cost currently has 81 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Ball at all Cost about?
This podcast dives deep into the world of grassroots football, offering insights and guidance to help parents navigate the often challenging and intricate landscape of youth sports. Each episode provides practical advice, tackling issues like player development, balancing commitments, managing...
How often does Ball at all Cost release new episodes?
Ball at all Cost has 81 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Ball at all Cost?
You can listen to Ball at all Cost on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Ball at all Cost?
Ball at all Cost is created and hosted by Ball at all Cost.
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