Man Marking

Episode 66  Learning to love the person, as well as the athlete.  Jason Brown played over 200 matches as a professional footballer. He has played in the premier league, as well as representing his country, coaching at Arsenal Ladies, and managing in South East Asia. The list of players he has played alongside includes David Bentley, Brad Friedel, Gary Speed, and Gareth Bale. When Jason looks back at his footballing career he can rightly do so with pride. But there remains a sadness to the time Jason spent as a footballer. The internal conflict between Jason the person, and Jason the athlete, which caused him to suffer from depression, and an eating disorder, ultimately motivated his decision to retire from the game in 2015 at the age of 33.  Today we talk to Jason about childhood trauma, the death of his Charlton teammate Pierre Bolangi, his sadness at the suicide of Gary Speed, how Jason felt he lost himself to the wealth and fame that comes with being a footballer, and his ongoing relationship with mental health.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 65 Ensuring mental health support is easily accessible for footballers.  Michael Bennett is the current director of player welfare for the Professional Footballers Association (PFA). Before his professional career came to an end, Michael made around 200 appearances as a professional footballer for clubs including Charlton, Wimbledon, Brighton, Millwall and Brentford. A knee injury ultimately brought Michael's career to an end, and the difficulties he faced towards the end of his playing career has informed his role as the lead on mental health support for the footballers union.  Michael has held the position for just over a decade. Having qualified as a counsellor and psychotherapist, he was appointed director of player welfare in 2011. Since that time, Michael has researched, devised and implemented the PFA's current welfare strategy for all registered footballers.  In today's episode we discover what support is available for professional footballers, how they access it, and what barriers there are for players currently playing within the professional game. We have heard from numerous footballers over the past 14 months about their experiences with the PFA, both good and bad. Now it's time for a representative of the PFA to have their say, on the work they do to ensure footballers within the game have the appropriate mental health provisions.  ** If you are a footballer wanting mental health support the PFA has 24/7 wellbeing services available via a hotline - 07500 000 777 ** If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

** Trigger Warning: Child Sexual Abuse ** Episode 64 Vulnerability, confusion and acting in the public interest.  As I'm sure many of you watched back in March, the Footballs Darkest Secret documentary sought to expose the level to which child sexual abuse existed within football. One story you won't have seen in the BBC three part series was that of David Lean.  David was a victim of the infamous paedophile Barry Bennell, brought to public attention by the testimony of former footballers including Andy Woodward, Steve Walters, and Gary Cliffe.  Today we speak to David about his first encounter with Barry Bennell, his belief that he was groomed by football, and his subsequent abuse. We also hear how David dealt with learning that his truth was not deemed in the public interest by the crown prosecution service.  We cannot thanks David enough for taking the time to speak to Man Marking. His bravery, and the bravery of all other survivors of CSA, and their unwavering desire to help others, will undoubtedly have saved lives, and will continues to save lives for years to come.  ** We must warn you that today's episode features in depth descriptions of child sexual abuse, which may be uncomfortable for some listeners. ** The FA have commissioned a dedicated NSPCC helpline for adults who were abused in childhood within the football industry from grassroots to Premier League. If you would like to speak to somebody the free NSPCC helpline for guidance and support is available 24 hours a day on 0800 023 2642 If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 63  Out of the frying pan and into the fire: Mental Health and Hospitality   Kris Hall founded The Burnt Chef Project in 2019 with the sole aim of eradicating mental health stigmas within the hospitality industry. Having spent almost a decade working hospitality, Kris had seen first hand how common occurrences of mental ill health were. Combined with using his own experiences of depression, Kris has spent the last two years growing The Burnt Chef Project, and using the brand to promote better awareness of mental health within an industry he loves.  Today we talk to Kris about the difficult moments in his life, and hiw he has recovered from periods of depression that almost culminated in him losing his family. We ask him about The Burnt Chef Project, where it came from and what work they're now doing. We also take the opportunity to discuss the big C, whisper it, as today is the next stop on the road map. How has Covid impacted the work he's doing, and what is he most looking forward to once the lockdown measures are finally lifted for good.  Make sure to stick around until the end, as we see if Kris can better Alan Mahon's score of 3 on the mini quiz to take him to the top of the leaderboard.  To find out more about The Burnt Chef Project, head over to their website https://www.theburntchefproject.com/ and make sure when you're done with today's episode to check out the fantastic podcast Kris hosts called The Burnt Chef Journal, on all podcast platforms.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

You're worth taking care of #7 Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprogramming (EMDR) (Somia Zaman) As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, we will be releasing daily episodes discussing different types of treatments and therapies available for your mental health.  Approaching professional mental health support can be a leap into the unknown for a lot of people. For the last 13 months we have been asking you to open up and talk about your mental health, and we feel as though it is imperative for us to now demonstrate to you that when you are ready to talk, there is somebody that is ready to listen.  For a lot of people, therapy and medical treatment can feel scary and approaching it can often feel like a step into the unknown. We know that this process requires a significant amount of emotional energy. Therefore, in order to try and make this process more simplified and less intimidating, we are releasing seven episodes, each of which discuss a different variety of mental health therapy.  The final guest of the week is Somia Zaman. Somia is a CBT & EMDR/Trauma Psychotherapist. To find out more about Somia, head to her website  http://cbttherapyuk.com/ or find her on Twitter @CBTTherapyUK 

You're worth taking care of #6 Dramatherapy (Sam Lewis) As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, we will be releasing daily episodes discussing different types of treatments and therapies available for your mental health.  Approaching professional mental health support can be a leap into the unknown for a lot of people. For the last 13 months we have been asking you to open up and talk about your mental health, and we feel as though it is imperative for us to now demonstrate to you that when you are ready to talk, there is somebody that is ready to listen.  For a lot of people, therapy and medical treatment can feel scary and approaching it can often feel like a step into the unknown. We know that this process requires a significant amount of emotional energy. Therefore, in order to try and make this process more simplified and less intimidating, we are releasing seven episodes, each of which discuss a different variety of mental health therapy.  To explain and discuss Dramatherapy is Sam Lewis. Sam is a professional actor and trained Dramatherapist who currently works for Roundabout Drama. To find out more Roundabout you can head to their website https://www.roundaboutdramatherapy.org.uk/ or find them on Twitter @roundaboutdrama you can also give Sam a follow on Twitter @Samuel_EJ_Lewis 

You're worth taking care of #5 CBT (Seth Gillihan) As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, we will be releasing daily episodes discussing different types of treatments and therapies available for your mental health.  Approaching professional mental health support can be a leap into the unknown for a lot of people. For the last 13 months we have been asking you to open up and talk about your mental health, and we feel as though it is imperative for us to now demonstrate to you that when you are ready to talk, there is somebody that is ready to listen.  For a lot of people, therapy and medical treatment can feel scary and approaching it can often feel like a step into the unknown. We know that this process requires a significant amount of emotional energy. Therefore, in order to try and make this process more simplified and less intimidating, we are releasing seven episodes, each of which discuss a different variety of mental health therapy.  Joining us today is clinical psychologist Seth Gillihan. To find out more about Seth, head over to https://sethgillihan.com/ find Seth on Twitter @@sethgillihan or check out his podcast Think, Act, Be https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/think-act-be-podcast/id1419082632 

You're worth taking care of #4 Mindfulness (Harry Rice) As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, we will be releasing daily episodes discussing different types of treatments and therapies available for your mental health.  Approaching professional mental health support can be a leap into the unknown for a lot of people. For the last 13 months we have been asking you to open up and talk about your mental health, and we feel as though it is imperative for us to now demonstrate to you that when you are ready to talk, there is somebody that is ready to listen.  For a lot of people, therapy and medical treatment can feel scary and approaching it can often feel like a step into the unknown. We know that this process requires a significant amount of emotional energy. Therefore, in order to try and make this process more simplified and less intimidating, we are releasing seven episodes, each of which discuss a different variety of mental health therapy.  To tell us all about mindfulness we're joined by Harry Rice from Lagom Mind. Harry is a qualified mindfulness instructor through the British Psychological Society approved Mindfulness Now training course. To find out more about Lagom Mind, head to https://lagommind.com/mindfulness or find them on Twitter @lagom_mind

You're worth taking care of #3 Diet and Nutrition (Professor Julia Rucklidge) As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, we will be releasing daily episodes discussing different types of treatments and therapies available for your mental health.  Approaching professional mental health support can be a leap into the unknown for a lot of people. For the last 13 months we have been asking you to open up and talk about your mental health, and we feel as though it is imperative for us to now demonstrate to you that when you are ready to talk, there is somebody that is ready to listen.  For a lot of people, therapy and medical treatment can feel scary and approaching it can often feel like a step into the unknown. We know that this process requires a significant amount of emotional energy. Therefore, in order to try and make this process more simplified and less intimidating, we are releasing seven episodes, each of which discuss a different variety of mental health therapy.  We are joined today by Professor Julia Rucklidge, Professor of Clinical Psychology at  theUniversity of Canterbury in New Zealand. We'll be discussing diet and nutrition, and the impact it can have on your mental health. To find out more about Julia, you can find her on Twitter @JuliaRucklidge

You're worth taking care of #2 Medication (Thorrun Govind) As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, we will be releasing daily episodes discussing different types of treatments and therapies available for your mental health.  Approaching professional mental health support can be a leap into the unknown for a lot of people. For the last 13 months we have been asking you to open up and talk about your mental health, and we feel as though it is imperative for us to now demonstrate to you that when you are ready to talk, there is somebody that is ready to listen.  For a lot of people, therapy and medical treatment can feel scary and approaching it can often feel like a step into the unknown. We know that this process requires a significant amount of emotional energy. Therefore, in order to try and make this process more simplified and less intimidating, we are releasing seven episodes, each of which discuss a different variety of mental health therapy.  Today's episode is focused on Medication, in particular antidepressants. We're joined by Pharmacist Thorrun Govind. You can find out more about Thorrun here @pharmthorrun

You're worth taking care of #1 Talking Therapies (Jon Bell) As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, we will be releasing daily episodes discussing different types of treatments and therapies available for your mental health.  Approaching professional mental health support can be a leap into the unknown for a lot of people. For the last 13 months we have been asking you to open up and talk about your mental health, and we feel as though it is imperative for us to now demonstrate to you that when you are ready to talk, there is somebody that is ready to listen.  For a lot of people, therapy and medical treatment can feel scary and approaching it can often feel like a step into the unknown. We know that this process requires a significant amount of emotional energy. Therefore, in order to try and make this process more simplified and less intimidating, we are releasing seven episodes, each of which discuss a different variety of mental health therapy.  Today's episode is focused on Talking Therapies, featuring psychotherapist Jon Bell. If you want to learn more about Jon, and the work that he does, then head over to https://jonbellcounselling.co.uk/ or find Jon on twitter @JBellCounsellor

Episode 62  Then importance of positive influences.   Alan Mahon moved to Birkenhead as a teenager, turning down offers from Chelsea and Middlesborough amongst others. Heavily influenced by his Father, Alan wanted to move somewhere where his first team opportunities would be plentiful. At the time, Tranmere were a high flying Division 1 (championship) side, and had players in their ranks such as Pat Nevin, John Aldridge, and Liam O'Brien. During his five years with Tranmere, Alan played over 100 times, and was a crucial part of the 1999/2000 team that reacher a Worthington Cup Final, and Fa Cup 1/4 final.  Mahon moved to Lisbon, playing in the champions league, before returning to England and appearing for Blackburn, Wigan, Burnley, Ipswich, Cardiff and Blackpool, before returning to Prenton Park in 2009. What felt like a fairytale return to the club, quickly turned sour as the clubs performances on the pitch under manager John Barnes saw the club floundering at the bottom of the table.  By 2011, Alan Mahon had hung up his boots, and terminated his contract with Tranmere 12 months early. The loss of his father, combined with the difficulty he was having competing physically, Alan decided he didn't want to be blocking the path for young players like Aaron Cresswell if he had nothing to contribute. Alan spent some years out of the game before returning as a coach at Manchester City women's team, stepping is as interim manager last year before resuming his current role as assistant to former Tranmere man Gareth Taylor.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 61  In memory of Ross McCarthy. Mike McCarthy is a respected and experienced journalist, who's previous employers include Sky News and BBC. In February of this year, Mike's son Ross (31) tragically lost his life to suicide. Mike and his family have spent the last few months grieving, whilst also trying to raise awareness of suicide, and try to improve mental health provisions.  We are incredibly humbled to welcome Mike onto the podcast today to tell us about his son Ross.  Mike's daughter Laura McCarthy is raising money for CALM in memory of Ross. If you would like to donate then you can do so by following the link below: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/r-macca If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Fears over footballers mixing sleeping pills with alcohol to get legal high  Today we're joined by Mike McGrath, a journalist from The Daily Telegraph, to discuss a dangerous and insidious trend emerging from professional football. Back in May 2020, Mike wrote this article linked below: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/05/25/exclusive-fears-footballers-mixing-sleeping-pills-alcohol-get/ In March of this year, the story was developed on following a report by a tabloid newspaper that highlighted an unnamed England international as one of the players implicated, and even went as far to suggest that scores of premier league players were addicted to sleeping pills.  On this week of all weeks, it becomes apparent that stories of such potential significance can often be lost in the turbulent and relentless world of professional football. So we contacted Mike, and asked if he would be up for talking to us about the findings of his article, how prevalent an issue it was, and whether it was indicative of a footballing culture that put player welfare at the bottom of its list of priorities.  We also took the opportunity to talk to Mike about some of the themes he raised in his interview with Tyrhys Dolan, the best friend of Jeremy Wisten, and his thoughts on the current academy system in this country.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/03/30/best-friend-jeremy-wisten-offer-released-youngsters-care-army/ If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/

Episode 60  We need purpose, not just pills.   Since he was a child Alex Staniforth has spoken with a stammer. Given his current role involves public speaking, and his appearance on this podcast as an intelligent, and articulate young man, that may come as a surprise to you. As a child Alex's stammer restricted his ability to communicate and lead to bullying, the consequences of which were periods of severe anxiety and depression for Alex.  As a teenager, Alex discovered a love for the outdoors, and in particular endurance activities. Through his new found passion, Alex was able to overcome his anxieties, and now finds himself as a campaigner for better understanding and treatment options for mental ill health.  Along the way Alex has continued to battle with depression, as well as an eating disorder, and also feelings of survivor guilt after he encountered two near death experiences whilst attempting to summit Mount Everest.  The charity Alex co-founded, Mind Over Mountains, can be found here https://mindovermountains.org.uk/ If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 59  If you want to deliver your personal best, more often than not, then it’s got to be down to sleep Back in the late 90's, Nick Littlehales contacted Alex Ferguson to offer his unique skillset in order to assist the Manchester United players with their sleep. Ever the forward thinker, Ferguson took Nick up on his offer and invited him to Carrington to work with the squad. Subsequently Nick has worked with some of the most renowned athletes in the world, and has assisted the likes of Team Sky, and the England national team.  We talk to Nick today about his work in professional sport, the importance of sleep for recovery, as well as the impact sleep can have on your mental health. We also touch on the immense pressure and scrutiny that top athletes are under, and what effect that has on their sleeping patterns.  You'll also discover why pillows might not as important a bedroom accessory as you might have thought, and what actually happens when you eat cheese before bed.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 58  Male victims of domestic abuse are almost three times less likely to tell anyone about it.  In May 2017, Paul Lavelle was murdered by his partner of 12 months, in his home in Rock Ferry, Wirral. Paul's death was the result of months of domestic abuse, largely kept secret from his friends and family.  Following his death, Paul Gladwell, along with a large group of Lavey's friends founded the Paul Lavelle Foundation, in order to help male victims of domestic abuse.   Today we talk to Paul Gladwell about his friend, the tragic circumstances surrounding his death, and some possible explanations for why Lavey like so many other men stay quiet about domestic abuse.   If you want to find out more about the foundation then head over their website: https://paullavellefoundation.co.uk/ If you are suffering from domestic abuse, you can call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 047. If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

During these episodes we will take a look back at examples of mental ill health in football from yesteryear.   Today we're doing something a little different, and featuring a footballer widely regarded as the greatest Austrian footballer of all time.  Matthias Sindelar.  I was joined by Avram Liebenau to tell the story of the man who was the talk of Vienna's infamous coffee shops in the 1920's, took on the Nazi party in the 1930's, led the Wunderteam, and remains one of the most influential footballers in the games history.  If you enjoyed this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 57  Care, Compassion, and coaching outside of your comfort zone.   Football coaching is a competitive business, especially for those who aren't former, or current footballers. For many prospective coaches, the first few years are awash with late nights, early mornings, expensive qualifications, and often, making a potentially risky decision.  For Marc Joyce, that decision came when an opportunity arose in The United States to coach full time, as part of the Lexington Soccer Academy. Marc left his home on the Wirral and a steady job, and pitched up 4000 miles away in South Carolina. We talk to Marc about his first coaching role in grassroots football, the transition to life in America, his core beliefs for coaching, and the difference in transatlantic approaches to youth football (or Soccer). If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 56  Relays, recovery's, and racism.   On 5th August 1992, Derek Redmond tore his hamstring whilst running in the 400m mens semi final of the Barcelona Olympic games. This wasn't the first time Derek had endured Olympic injury heartache. However this time, his determination to finish the race, despite his injury, led to one of the most iconic Olympic images of all time. As Derek stood and hobbled round the track, his father joined him, and arm in arm, they crossed the finish line. The 65,000 supporters inside the Montjuïc Stadium stood and applauded the two brits in the purest sign of Olympic spirit. Whilst Derek is still remembered to this day for that iconic moment, there is an awful lot more to the man. Derek has a vivacious attitude to life, the competitive spirit encouraged by his Father from a young age, regularly comes spilling out.  We talk to Derek about his life as an Olympic athlete, that incredible day in Barcelona, and the tough period that followed. We also hear about the other sporting ventures in Derek's career, and how he managed to motivate himself to battle back time and again against injury setbacks. We also have an opportunity to ask Derek about his work trying to change the language we use when talking about racism, through his 'is this you' campaign.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 55  Understanding the behaviours of elite athletes.   Dan Abrahams has an impressive resume. He has worked with Eddie Howe at Bournemouth, Eddie Jones at England Rugby, as well as providing sports psychology services to footballers including Richard Keogh, and Yannick Bolasie. His career as a sports psychologist stemmed from his time as a professional golfer. The solitude of an individual sport allowed him a unique insight into the thinking required to become an elite athlete. Since that time, Dan has gone on to become one of the most renowned sports psychologists working in professional sport.  Here at Man Marking, we had long wished to speak to a sports psychologist. The position, whilst commonly accepted as an integral part of modern day sporting environments, is still one that is shrouded in mystery to most fans. We were curious to find out what exactly a sports psychologist did, how much of an impact they could have on a sportsperson or a team, and how their work improving mental performance crossed over with mental wellbeing.  We couldn't have chosen a better person to speak to than Dan. Not only extremely well qualified, and with a broad range of experiences in various sporting environments, Dan has an ability to articulate the knowledge he has acquired in his field into terms a layperson can easily understand. So grab yourself a seat, plug in, and enjoy, we promise you won't be disappointed.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Misplaced masculinity, noisy minority, or misunderstood?  Today we're joined by The Guardian journalist, Barney Ronay, to discuss themes he wrote about in his article from October 2019, entitled 'England right to call out racism but noisy minority is sending a different message' https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/oct/14/england-racism-euro-qualifiers-barney-ronay Why do England fans garner such an uncomfortable reputation abroad? Does their behaviour discourage women and children from attending? Is it a masculinity issue?  There is no doubt that over the past five years, the behaviour of a certain section of England fans has raised red flags about football hooliganism. Behaviour we thought had been consigned to history has reared its ugly head again in cities such as Lille, Marseille, Prague, and Amsterdam. We ask Barney about how big the problem is, where it's come from, and what it means for the future of following England abroad.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/

Episode 54  The power of vulnerability.   Early in the 1990's, Luke Chadwick was plucked from his home in Cambridge, and inducted into the world famous Manchester United academy. His peers in the youth team included Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea, Danny Pugh, and Kieran Richardson. Following a successful loan spell at Royal Antwerp, Luke was brought into the first team picture, eventually making his premiership debut in November 2000 in a 2-1 win against Middlesborough, replacing Dwight Yorke as a substitute.  Luke was a part of the United first team until 2004, when he moved to West Ham United. Over the next 12 years Luke would go on to play over 500 games as a professional, across the top five divisions of English football. In May of last year, Luke spoke publicly for the first time about the abuse he had received for his appearance as a young footballer, and the impact it had on his mental health. Following the tweet that prompted Luke's admission, Gary Lineker publicly apologised for his role in the abuse Luke suffered, when Gary was part of a programme called 'They think it's all over', alongside Nick Hancock.  We spoke to Luke about his time at Manchester United, the insecurities and anxieties he suffered as a result of the abuse, how he learnt to harness the power of vulnerability, and the work he is now doing with The Football Fun Factory.  To find out more about The Football Fun Factory, head to their website: https://www.thefootballfunfactory.co.uk/ If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 53  Once you’ve had an injury, it’s hard to convince a club that you’re going to be of worth to them. Before Jason Lampkin had even started his GCSE's, Manchester United had paid Tranmere Rovers a fee to take him to their storied and historic academy. By the time Jason was in his late teens he was on the brink of the first team at Aston Villa, having moved there from United a few years earlier.  As a youngster his pace, direct style and finishing had Jason dubbed the new Michael Owen, before his 20th birthday however, his career as a professional footballer was over. A horrific knee injury, followed by 12 months of rejection and abandonment, saw Jason leave Aston Villa with both his career and his mental health in disarray.  In today's episode we get an insight into what can befall a young player beset by injuries, and how damaging that can be to their mental health. We also hear about how Jason recovered from the most difficult period of his young life, including a spell playing football again in New York.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/  

Episode 52  Addressing the mental health epidemic, and finding better male role models.   Louis Weinstock is a child psychotherapist, and the founder of an app called 'apart of me', designed to help youngsters cope with grief. Steven Chatterton is a filmmaker who recently wrote and directed a film called Adnan, centred around a Syrian refugee who's Mother is suffering from PTSD.  We have an engaging and informative conversation about mental health in young people, mentoring, social media, male communication, and so much more. Louis and Steven both tell us personal stories about a time when suicide has become a part of their life, and how they reacted to those events.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

During these episodes we will take a look back at examples of mental ill health in football from yesteryear.   There are only six players to have scored more goals across the English and Scottish leagues than Hughie Ferguson, and two of those men are named Dixie Dean and Jimmy Greaves. That should give you some idea of the gravitas of the man who scored the only goal that secured Cardiff City's first and only Fa Cup win.  However, I would imagine that if you picked 100 random football fans from the street, and asked them to tell you who Hughie Ferguson was, you'd be hard pushed to find more than a handful. That possibly has something to do with the fact that in 1930, just three years after that Fa Cup final goal, Hughie was dead.  We are joined today by author Neil Palmer, to discuss the incredible career of Hughie Ferguson, and reflect on the sadness and tragedy of his untimely death. Neil is currently in the process of writing a biography about Hughie, and you can find out more about Neil and the other books he's written by following the link here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neil-Palmer/e/B004D4J802 If you enjoyed this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 51  No matter what situation you’re in, we can always decide how we feel, and how we are going to behave and respond.   Paul McVeigh grew up in Belfast in the late 1970's, early 1980's during the troubles. Passing by soldiers and tanks on his way to school was a regular occurrence. As a teenager, he then found himself at the academy of Tottenham Hotspur, and very quickly in the first team alongside Teddy Sherringham and Jurgen Klinsmann. Paul's professional career last just over 14 years, and saw him make over 300 club appearances, as well as 20 international appearances for Northern Ireland.  In later life he has qualified as a sports psychologist, and now works a keynote speaker. Paul is an avid learner, something he picked up from his Dad. That lust for knowledge taught him from an early age that he has the ability to control how he feels, and how he responds to any given situation. That is the focus of today's interview. If you take anything from today's episode, it's that everyone should be aiming to be an active participant in deciding how you react to setbacks, and how your feelings impact your mental health.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 50  It's okay for me not to be okay, but I have to do something about it.  You'll most likely know Ollie Ollerton from his stint as one of the Directing Staff on Channel 4 show, SAS Who Dares Wins. Before that Ollie served for a number of years in the Royal Marines, before leaving to serve as part of the special forces. His time in the military saw him experience combat scenarios and war zones. But following his departure from special forces, he faced his toughest battle yet. Lacking direction and structure for the first time in his life, Ollie found himself succumbing to alcohol and drug addiction, and falling into depression.  Since that time Ollie has written a number of books, and talked openly about his mental health. Our aim at Man Marking is to demonstrate that no matter how tough the exterior, the man inside can still be suffering, and Ollie is a perfect example of this.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 49  Recovering from injury, physically and mentally. Simon Haworth's scored over 100 goals in a career may that lasted 10 years. His style of play, and likeable personality left an indelible impression on the supporters of the clubs he played for. But a horrific injury during a Nationwide Division 2 match between Brentford and Tranmere Rovers in January 2004, cut Simon's career short.  After being shunned by manager Brian Little, and denied access to the immediate medical attention he required to save his career, Simon walked away from football. What followed was years of anger, and bitter disappointment. Over a decade later, Simon returned to the professional game as a coach under former teammate Micky Mellon at Shrewsbury in 2014. He is now the manager of Northern Premier League side Stalybridge Celtic.  During today's episode, we talk to Simon about losing his father at a young age, recovering from his double leg fracture, and how he overcame the anger that saw him leave professional football.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

You're not fit to Referee! A study conducted by Dr. Tom Webb, a Senior Lecturer at University of Portsmouth, found that more than nine in 10 referees in England have been verbally abused, with 59.7% experiencing some form of abuse every two games. The research was collated in Dr. Webbs book, Referees, Match Officials & Abuse. Dr. Webb told BBC sport in November 2020, "Abuse is still a significant issue, probably the biggest in refereeing. Mental health within referees is intrinsically tied to abuse." Referee abuse is nothing new, but it has perhaps gained new found notoriety in recent weeks following the incident involving Darren Drysdale and Alan Judge. We wanted to take a look at why referee abuse occurs, what are the implications, and what can we do as fans to help improve the situation.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/  

Episode 48  We don’t need to have the answers, in order to be willing to have the conversation. Mental Health First Aid England's objective is to have 1 in 10 people trained in mental health first aid skills. To date, their figures have them at 1 in 70. The pandemic has brought the importance of wellbeing in the workplace, and mental health in general, to the fore. In 2018, Simon Blake was hired as the CEO of MHFA England. Upon his appointment, MHFA stated: "Simon has dedicated his career to working with young people and has a long track record of championing difference and creating platforms for people’s voices to be heard." We talk to Simon about the role of MHFA England, the importance of talking and listening, as well as rights for the LGBT+ community, and the impact of the pandemic to the countries collective mental wellbeing. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) - https://mhfaengland.org/ If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 47  Finding the confidence, and the courage to speak out.   Isla Buchanan was just 12 years old when her Mum suffered a devastating stroke. The incident changed the dynamics of her family, and shaped her subsequent teenage years. As Isla grew older her feelings of anxiety, and subsequent depression took hold, and she found herself feeling more and more isolated from her friends and family. Following in the footsteps of her Grandad, Isla took up refereeing, an unusual step you might think for a young woman. But Isla cites football as the most positive influence on her mental wellbeing, and believes it saved her life.  Today's interview is a moving story about tormented teenage years, battles with anxiety and loneliness, and how success with the whistle gave a young woman the confidence and courage to speak out.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 46 Crisis negotiation, and suicide prevention.  I'm sure you have an idea of what a crisis negotiator does. You'll have seen them in films, and tv shows, talking with hostage takers, and those on the brink of suicide. Well today's guest, Lance Burdett, was a crisis negotiator, in fact he was New Zealand's go to crisis negotiator.  Lance talks us through what he calls 'the long, dark walk', the moments immediately before he opens a dialogue with someone on the edge of a bridge, or the side of a building. We also find out more about the person behind the crisis, as Lance explains to us his own personal crisis negotiation, and suicidal ideations. This a fascinating interview, and one like nothing we've done before.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

During these episodes we will take a look back at examples of mental ill health in football from yesteryear.   Between 1925 and 1930, Hughie Gallacher scored 143 goals in 174 matches for Newcastle United, at a rate of 0.82 goals per game. He sits behind only Len White, Jackie Milburn and Alan Shearer in the all time scoring charts of the Magpies. All in all, Wee Hughie scored over 400 goals in his career, including 24 in just 20 matches for Scotland.  There is no other way of describing the feisty centre forward, than a true Newcastle, and football legend. However, Hughie's goals were not the only notable thing about him. His temperament, on and off the field, often landed him in trouble.  His life away from football was tumultuous, and sadly it ended in tragedy, when Hughie took his own life in June of 1957, aged just 54 years old. I am joined by Newcastle United historian Paul Joannou to take a look back at the life, and death, of Hughie Gallacher.  If you enjoyed this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/ The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123 https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 45   “For me to be happy, I need to be in the team.”   James Coppinger is now approaching the final months of his 22 year career. For any fan of a football league side, James has probably scored against your team, and it was likely to have been a belter. He has spent 17 seasons at Doncaster Rovers, amassing over 650 appearances, achieving promotion three times.    Reflecting on just shy of 800 matches as a professional footballer, James talks to us about the anxieties he felt as a young player, how working with behaviourist Terry Gormley turned his career around, his happiness at Doncaster Rovers, and what he plans to do following retirement.    If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828   You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads    If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk:   Samaritans  Call 116 132  https://www.samaritans.org/   Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41   Papyrus Website   CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58   https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/   MIND 0300 123 3393   https://www.mind.org.uk/   The Kaleidoscope Plus Group 0800 059 0123   https://www.kaleidoscopeplus.org.uk/

Episode 44  Being honest with yourself, and recovering from a mental breakdown. Jordan Cranston graduated from the Wolves academy in 2014. Despite spending almost his formative years playing in old gold, he departed without making a first team appearance. Since leaving Wolves, Jordan has turned out for Notts County, Lincoln City, Cheltenham Town, Morecambe, and currently holds the number three shirt for national league outfit, Solihull Moors.  During Mental Health Awareness Week in May of 2020, Jordan bravely spoke about the darkest period of his life, during which he fell into a painful battle with depression. Even in 2020, when more and more former footballers are opening up about difficulties they had during their career, Jordan's honesty, as a current player, is still somewhat unique.  We talk to Jordan about the anxiety during those early days at Wolves, homesickness, and his experiences of depression, all the while maintaining his career as a professional footballer.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/

Episode 43  A return to refereeing, after losing everything. In August of 2018, Premier League Bobby Madley suddenly quit his position as a match official for the PGMOL, stating a change in personal circumstances had caused his decision. In December of 2019, Bobby revealed the truth behind his sudden departure, whilst also announcing plans to return to refereeing.  In today's episode, Bobby talks us through the 10 years of commitment and dedication it took to become a Premier League and FIFA referee, his decision to step away, the depression and anxiety that followed, and his excitement about returning to the field.  If you enjoy this episode, or any of our other episodes, please pop over to apple podcasts, and give us a rating and a review.  https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/man-marking/id1506661828 You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/

Episode 42 Today's episode is with a man who needs no introduction, the one and only Pat Nevin.  Enjoy.  You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/

Episode 41 Understanding grief, tackling racism, and signing for the Football Ramble.  Midway through 2020, Vithushan Ehantharaja (AKA Vish) announced he was signing for the Football Ramble, as part of a new 8 presenter lineup. The podcast, the biggest independent sports podcast in the UK, had lined up with the famous four of Luke (who we spoke to in May 2020), Marcus, Jim and Pete since its inception over a decade ago. It was the biggest adjustment the loyal listeners had heard to the successful show, and one that has allowed the show to develop its genre defining output even further. It is a credit to Vish, as well as Kate Mason, Jules Breach and Andy Brassell that their signings have somehow managed to make the best football podcast in the world, even better.  Outside of the ramble, Vish is a successful and well respected journalist who works for the Independent as their sports feature writer.  In this episode, we talk to Vish about his anxieties as a young man, his difficulties in dealing with grief, signing for the ramble, and tackling racism in sport. You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/

Episode 40 Running, writing and taking the weight off.  Between 2015 and 2017, Kristian Walsh dropped almost 10 stone in weight. In the years prior, despite an impressive and exciting professional career, working as a professional sports journalist, behind closed doors, Kristian was struggling with his mental health. His weight was causing him significant issues with self esteem, leading to anxiety and depression.  As part of his effort to improve his physical, and mental health, Kristian raised over £2000 for the mental health charity MIND, by running his first ever 10k in 2016. He attributes a significant amount of his ability to overcome the difficulties in his life to the support he was given by the charity, and felt a strong desire to give something back.  In this episode, we talk football obsession, studying at Oxford, life as head of sports audience engagement, weight loss, and depression.  You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ MIND 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk/

Episode 39 The reality of fame, and making your parents proud.  If you are of a certain age, you will probably have first come across Rick Edwards on channels 4's T4, where he worked as a presenter alongside the likes of Jameela Jamil, Nick Grimshaw, and Matt Edmunson.  Following his four years on T4, Rick has presented a litany of TV and radio shows. Recently, Rick has co-hosted a podcast called Science(ish), with quantum physicist Dr. Michael Brooks, and has co-written two books of the same name.  In our first episode of 2021, we talk to Rick about his relationship with football, his life as a maths student at Cambridge University, learning the tools required to open up more, and the realities of fame.  You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/  

Under Stahlhelms and Brodie Helmets Merry Christmas!! Our Christmas Special is set on Christmas Eve, a Grandson asks his beloved Grandad to tell him a story whilst they wait for dinner. Something a little different from the Man Marking Podcast for you to enjoy on the big day. Have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. 

Episode 38 Stamford Bridge, Sky Sports News and Scuba Therapy.  In October 1998, the landscape of sports broadcasting in the UK changed forever, with the arrival of the first 24 hour rolling sports news channel, Sky Sports News. Rob Wotton, one of the original presenters during the early days, still works as a presenter to this day.  Aside from being a mainstay of the UK's primary sports media outlet, Rob is also a registered scuba diving instructor, and possibly even more surprisingly, a counsellor with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Rob is also a life long Chelsea fan, but try not to hold that against him.  In our final interview of 2020, we discuss the early days of Sky Sports News, its impact on the football industry, Rob's role as a therapist, and his innovative alternative form of treatment, Scuba Therapy.  You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ We will have one final special episode out on Christmas Day, we'll then be taking a break until mid January. To everyone who has listened and supported the Man Marking podcast over the past eight months, we wanted to thank you. It means an awful lot that people are listening and engaging with something we're all incredibly passionate about. 2020 has been a truly awful year for everybody, but hopefully the podcast has been able to provide at least some comfort and entertainment during low and difficult moments.

Episode 37 There's only one Ernie Moss.  Ernie Moss played over 500 matches across three spells at his boyhood club, Chesterfield. During that time he scored just shy of 200 goals, and remains the clubs all time leading goalscorer.  In 2014, Ernie was diagnosed with Dementia, and has been cared for by his family ever since, as the debilitating disease has sadly taken hold. In this episode, we talk to Nikki Trueman, Ernie's daughter, about his career, his dementia, and the links between dementia and football.  Nikki, along with other footballer's children, such as Dawn Astle (Daughter of Jeff Astle) have worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the propensity for footballers of a certain generation to develop early onset dementia, and demand further investigation and support from the various governing bodies.  This is an emotional, and informative discussion, with a Daughter, who loves and adores her Father.  You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Jeff Astle Foundation http://www.thejeffastlefoundation.co.uk/ Alzheimers Society Call 0333 150 3456 for free https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/ Dementia UK Call 0800 888 6678 https://www.dementiauk.org/ Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/

Episode 36 Life After Professional Sport.  Robbie Simpson played over 500 games as a professional player, for clubs like Coventry City, Brentford, Oldham Athletic, Exeter City and MK Dons. However, it was his time at Cambridge United, in 2006, that has really shaped his life.  During the first year of his professional football career, Robbie was studying full time at Loughborough University. He had always been encouraged to continue to pursue education alongside football by his parents, ensuring he had other options should his football dreams not become reality.  Robbie realised that vast majority of his fellow footballers weren't in the same position he was, and that once their career came to an end, they would find themselves struggling to find work outside of the game. So, he set up LAPS (Life After Professional Sport) to try and bridge that gap. LAPS are a careers platform that assists professional sports people to find vocation, once their sporting career is complete. We speak to Robbie about his early career, juggling football and study, starting LAPS, and the vulnerabilities footballers have when their career ends.  If you want to find out more about LAPS, then head to https://www.laps.careers/ or find them on Twitter @LAPSCareers You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/

During these episodes we will take a look back at examples of mental ill health in football from yesteryear.  Unless you're a Swansea City fan of a certain age, Alan Davies may be a name you're unfamiliar with. That may in part be due to the fact that he died in 1992, and played the majority of his football career in the fourth division.  It may come as some surprise that Alan Davies once set up two goals for Manchester United in an Fa Cup Final, and also scored against Juventus in a Cup Winners Cup Semi Final. Had his career not been hampered by injuries, he may have become a household name alongside his United teammates, that included Bryan Robson, Ray Wilkins and Norman Whiteside.  Sadly, this is not an episode about a long and storied career, at the top level of English football. Unfortunately, Alan's life ended when he was just 30, as he took his own life. Featuring journalist and author Oliver Kay, and Keith Haynes from the Swansea Independent, we take a look back at the man and the footballer, that was Alan Davies.   

Episode 35 Being awoken from your childhood dreams; by the realities of adulthood. At 14 years of age, Rhodri Jones signed schoolboy forms with his boyhood club, Manchester United. For most teenage boys, this would be a time of unbridled joy and excitement. But for Rhodri, a thoughtful and sensitive young man, his anxieties about what would be the biggest change to his life so far, were making him question what had always been his dream.  By the time he was 16, Rhodri had moved to Manchester and was playing as full time footballer at Manchester United. He was living in digs and working his way towards the United first team.  By age 20, Alex Ferguson, the man who had stood over his shoulder as he signed for United, told Rhodri he was being let go. Rhodri had suffered a number of serious knee injuries, and he had found himself now looking for a new club, and a new home. Rhodri ended up at Rotherham, under the tutelage of Ronnie Moore. Despite getting himself to full fitness, his knee, and more increasingly his mental health wasn't right. Rhodri would spend less than a year at Millmoor before moving back home, eventually retiring at the age of 24.  We talk to Rhodri about his time at United, his move to Rotherham, and the final few difficult years of his football career.  You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/

Is football becoming a more LGBT+ friendly environment? And what can we, as fans, do to help? A study by stonewall discovered that 72% of people who had attended a football match had witnessed some form of homophobic abuse. However, the same study revealed that the majority of those asked felt homophobia at football was a problem.  Abuse of any kind is unacceptable, abuse that is also a hate crime, even more so. I think the majority of football fans agree that racism, homophobia, sexism, transphobia, have no place in a modern day football ground. However, the question often comes, what can we do to help? Particularly from heterosexual male fans, a demographic that make up the vast majority of football crowds. Unless you've been subject to discrimination, it's sometimes hard to understand the impact it can have on your mental health.  So, as three, straight, match going football fans, in our late 20's, we wanted to ask ourselves what we could do to help.  You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Be Gamble Aware 0808 8020 133 for free https://www.begambleaware.org/ Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/  

Episode 33 Loving the game for what it is, rather than what it can give you. Pete Lowe worked as a youth coach for Manchester City for over a decade, helping to develop players such as Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joey Barton, Micah Richards, Michael Johnson and Phil Foden.  During that time, he learnt an enormous amount about some of the problems football has with player welfare and wellbeing within an academy setting. We discuss the good and the bad about that environment, and why so many players come out of the game to such difficulties.  You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads  If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk: Samaritans  Call 116 132 for free https://www.samaritans.org/ Papyrus UK Call 0800 068 41 41 Papyrus Website CALM ZONE 0800 58 58 58 https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/

During these episodes we will take a look back at examples of mental ill health in football from yesteryear.  "George inspired me when I was young. I actually think we were very similar players - dribblers who were able to create moments of magic." Diego Maradona It took George Best two separate attempts to finally convince himself to stay in Manchester as a homesick teenager. The Manchester United scout Bob Bishop told Matt Busby he had found himself a genius, he wasn't wrong.  Best would go on to become one of the most celebrated and enjoyed footballers of all time.   But off the field, an eccentric and expensive lifestyle was quickly becoming his primary focus, as George's addictions took over. Joined by Rob Blanchette of The Bleacher Report, and Barry Shmeizer, a Manchester United fan who met Best in his hometown of Johannesburg in 1974, we discuss Best the player, as well as his addictions and turbulent lifestyle.  In a world where mental health didn't exist, his lifestyle was the source of judgement, derision and amusement. What have we learnt from George Best? If anything.