Football DNA Podcast
The Football DNA Podcast features interviews, Q&A sessions, and insights aimed at supporting and developing football coaches and players. It provides practical advice and strategies for improving coaching techniques and player performance.
Episodes
Football Coaching: Small-Sided Game Formats In Youth Football Development
Our guest on the podcast this month is Amy Kay. Amy is a well established and respected figure in Youth Development, currently working as the Lead Foundation Phase Coach at Brighton & Hove Albion Academy. Following an impactful career as captain and Academy Lead at Lincoln City, Amy joined Brighton in 2024. Renowned for her high-energy leadership and exceptional ability to connect with young p
Football Coaching: The Value Of The 3 v 3 Game
Mike Melvin is the Founder and Managing Director of 3v3 UK, one of the leading organisations driving the growth of small-sided football across the UK. Through his work with clubs, leagues, County FAs, the Premier League, and The FA, Mike has helped introduce thousands of young players to the benefits of the 3v3 format.Over the past decade, he has organised major grassroots and academy events, deli
Football Coaching: Tournament Football In Youth Player Development
Trophies are great, but individual development is the real prize. In this episode, we welcome special guest Ross O'Kane, former Foundation Phase Lead at Luton Town FC Academy, to break down the strategic value of tournament football in youth player development. Drawing from his extensive experience in the elite academy space, Ross shares how coaches can navigate pressure, fatigue, and rapid ta
Football Coaching: The Value Of Sports Pyschology In Grassroots Football
In this episode we are joined by sport psychologist Sarah Murray to discuss The Value Of Sports Pyschology In Grassroots Football.Sarah has over a decade of experience working in professional sport, education and business. 9 years of which include a full time role overseeing performance psychology at a premier league football club. Sarah has a passion for working with people, hence she can be foun
Football Coaching: Keeping Football Fun with Jonny Martin
In this episode of the Football DNA podcast we speak with Co-Founder & Director of the Football Fun Factory Jonny Martin. Jonny is a UEFA A Licensed Coach and previously worked at Cambridge United Academy for 9 years. He now is on a mission to support young people across the country. The Football Fun Factory was created to provide incredible childhood football experiences, for boys and girls o
Football Coaching: How To Become A More Effective Coach, Quickly
In the first episode of 2026, we are joined by David & Keith Mayer to discuss How To Become A More Effective Coach, Quickly. Insights are taken from the book they both published as co-authors. Keith has an extensive coaching background around the world and for the last decade with Liverpool FC Academy. David has also coached around the world as a UEFA A Licenced Coach, currently at Utah Red Wo
Football Coaching: Ross Embleton Podcast Talent ID & Recruitment In Grassroots Football
In the ninth episode of 2025 our host Paul Barry is joined by Ross Embleton to discuss Talent ID & Recruitment In Grassroots FootballRoss is a highly respected English football coach, currently serving as Academy Head of Recruitment at West Ham United. With a background in youth development at clubs like Tottenham and Norwich, he is best known for his time at Leyton Orient, where he held role
Football Coaching: How To Be An Effective Grassroots Goalkeeping Coach
In the eighth episode of 2025 our host Paul Barry is joined by Ben Bradford to discuss grassroots goalkeeper coaching.Ben Bradford is an experienced and sought-after goalkeeping coach, who is a former academy Goalkeeping Coach for West Ham United Football Club. He has numerous qualifications, including FA Level 2 goalkeeper, FA Level 1 in Talent Identification, and FA Emergency First Aid. His coac
Football Coaching: Individual Skill Development
In the seventh episode of 2025 our host Paul Barry is joined by Paul McGuinness to discuss Individual Skill DevelopmentPaul McGuinness spent 24 years at Manchester United, where he served as Head Coach of the Professional Development Phase. During his time at the club, he played a pivotal role in the development of players such as Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck, and Axel Tuanzebe, among many other
Football Coaching: Being An Effective Grassroots Football Coach With Chris Ramsey
In the sixth episode of 2025 our host Paul Barry is joined by Chris Ramsey to discuss being an effective grassroots football coach. Chris Ramsey MBE is a highly respected football coach and coach educator with decades of experience developing elite players and coaches. A former professional defender, he played for clubs including Brighton & Hove Albion and Swindon Town. He coached England’s yo
Football Coaching: Coach To Coach Developer
In the fifth episode of 2025 our host Paul Barry is joined by James Barlow to discuss the role of coach development. James is currently Head Of Coaching at Portsmouth FC, is a UEFA A Licensed Coach & has The FA’s Advanced Youth Award.
Football Coaching: Managing Behaviour In Youth Football Coaching
In the fourth episode of 2025 our host Paul Barry is joined by Merfyn Roberts to discuss Managing Behaviour In Youth Football Coaching.Merfyn is an education consultant, specialising in behaviour management and applied learning, and has been an FA tutor for a number of years. His latest role at St George’s Park has been as the lead tutor for the Social Corner on the Advanced Youth Award.
Football Coaching: The Value Of Specialist Coaching With Pete Sturgess
In the third episode of 2025 our host Paul Barry is joined by Pete Sturgess. Pete is synonymous with Grassroots football development within England, in particular his focus on supporting junior coaches to provide enjoyable and inspiring football experiences.He has committed his whole career to improving the coaching of our youngest players. A former teacher and academy assistant director, Peter wo
Football Coaching: Bridging The Coaching Gap From Youth To Adults
In the second episode of 2025 our host Paul Barry is joined by Steve Sallis. He supports 20 Premier League and Football League Players with mental conditioning support. Steve delivers Leadership Seminars on the UEFA Pro and A’ Licence for the Scottish Football Association. He is the author of "Educating Football" which has received national and international press coverage, which includes intervie
Football Coaching: The Challenges Of Coaching In A Different Country
In the first episode of 2025 our host Paul Barry is joined by Connor Horrocks. Connor is a British national who moved to Spain as a young child and developed a love for coaching. As an UEFA A Licensed Coach he challenged himself further by now coaching in South Korea.
Football Coaching: The Value Of Throw Ins In Youth Football
In the tenth episode of 2024 our host Paul Barry is joined by Thomas Gronnemark. Thomas has made a career in coaching throw ins for professional clubs including Liverpool FC under Jurgen Klopp! Here we dive into the topic of throw ins especially in the youth phases of the game.
Football Coaching: From Grassroots Coach To Academy Coach "The Journey"
In the ninth episode of 2024 our host Paul Barry is joined by Temisan Williams. Temisan has experience coaching at 3 different premier league clubs and has completed the route of starting in grassroots to academy football.
Football Coaching: Planning Effective Coaching Sessions
In the eighth episode of 2024 our host Ross Brooks is joined by Shamus Beaglehole - YDP Coach at Leicester City. Take a listen to get some knowledge on how to plan your coaching sessions.
Football Coaching - How To Coach On Match Day
In the seventh episode of 2024 our host Ross Brooks is joined by Nathan Thomas - Head Of Coaching U13 - U16 at Crystal Palace. Take a listen to get some knowledge on how to manage players on a match day.
Football Coaching - Coaching Mixed Abilities
In the sixth episode of 2024 our host Ross Brooks is joined by Elliot Head - Head Of Foundation Phase (AFC Bournemouth). Take a listen to get some knowledge on how to manage this challenge in coaching.
Football Coaching - How Can Coaches Have Positive Relationships With Parents
In the fifth episode of 2024 our host Ross Brooks is joined by experienced coach Matt Dunn (Brighton & Hove Albion). Take a listen to get some top insights into creating and managing relationships with parents.
Football Coaching - Managing Player Behaviour
In the fourth episode of 2024 our host Ross Brooks is joined by experienced coach Mark Lyons (Leicester City). Take a listen to get some top tips for managing player behaviour in coaching sessions.
Football Coaching U13 - U16 Age Group
In the third episode of 2024 our host Ross Brooks is joined by U13 - U16 coaching specialist Sam Cox. Take a listen to get some top tips for coaching those teenage age groups.
Football Coaching U9 - U12 Age Group
In the second episode of 2024 our host Ross Brooks is joined by U9 - U12 coaching specialist Pawel Guziejko. Take a listen to get some top tips for coaching 8,9,10,11,12 year olds.
Football Coaching U5 - U8 Age Group
In the first episode of 2024 our host Ross Brooks is joined by U5 - U8 coaching specialist Michael Fox. Take a listen to get some top tips for coaching 5,6,7,8 year olds.
A Coaches Journey with Nick Dye
In this episode we are joined by Nick Dye who is an experienced coach from the UK currently coaching in the USA at United Soccer Coaching Inc. Nick has substantial experience in the US though a range of director of coaching roles.
Setting Objectives For The New Football Season
In this podcast Ross Brooks from West Ham United speaks with Cambridge United Academy Coach Dario Seminerio on how to develop and establish objectives for players and teams for the upcoming season.
Exploring Talent ID - Lúðvík Gunnarsson
In this podcast we speak with Lúðvík Gunnarsson - UEFA Pro Licence coach and has experience as Head of Talent ID at Icelandic FA and various coaching roles.
Planning & Delivering For The Individual.
In this podcast Ross Brooks and Jack Matthews discuss planning & delivering for the individual.
Jack joined the AFC Wimbledon Academy in 2016 as a coach in the Foundation Phase (U9-12) having previously held roles at Coerver Coaching and Barnet Football Club.
Jack combined his role in the Academy with his role as a tutor in the foundation department at Fulham FC, and from 2018 as a coach
Using The Coaching Lab MatchPlay Cards For Your Coaching
In this episode we speak with Jack Rolfe from The Coaching Lab who discusses how can support player development using MatchPlay Cards!
thecoachinglab.org/matchplaycards
Developing A Grassroots Football Club with Charlie Hyman (Bloomsbury Football)
In this podcast Charlie from Bloomsbury Football shares their story of growing a grassroots football club and gives ideas and support on developing your own.
Coaches Insight: Pitch Sizes With Sigrid Olthof & Ross Brooks
A sport scientist at Liverpool John Moores University, Sigrid Olthof's research has made a lasting impact on the sport of football. Listen to Ross and Sigrid discuss the importance of considering pitch sizes in training sessions and matches.
Football Freestyle - 3x Current World Champion, Aguśka, Expression and Creativity Through Freestyle!
Today we speak with the 3x Current World Champion, 2x European Champion, World Record Holder and Tiktok sensation, Aguśka!
Rick Fenoglio - Using Small Sided Games In Your Coaching Sessions
Take a listen to Ross Brooks and Rick Fenoglio talk about the importance of using small sided games in your coaching sessions! ⚽
Coaches Insight - Ross Brooks & Karl Marius Aksum: The Importance of Scanning for Football Players
Ross Brooks talk to coach Karl Marius Aksum about the importance of scanning for football players.
Coaches Insight - Ross Brooks: Common Challenges In Grassroots Football
Ross Brooks of West Ham talks all about the common challenges in grassroots football!
Coaches Insight - Brad Miller: The Key Focuses In The Foundation Phase
Brad talks all about how he got into coaching and how he creates the right atmosphere at Exeter.
Coaches Insight - Mark Roberts: Planning for life after being on the pitch
Ross Brooks talks to former professional footballer Mark Roberts all about planning for life after being on the pitch.
Coaches Insight - Fiona Wilson: The Importance of Player & Coach Wellbeing
Fiona Wilson talks all about The Importance of Player & Coach Wellbeing.
Coaches Insight - Sally Needham: Understanding the Journey of the Brain as Children Develop
Sally is passionate about the Psychological and Social aspects of life through a Neuroscience Lens, Sally is also a Coach, Coach Developer & Consultant.
Coaches Insight - Mark Bennett: Needs Centred Approach
Mark Bennett MBE has spent the last 30 years developing robust and scalable strategies and tools to help organisations, teams and individuals maximise the performance potential of themselves and the people they are influencing.
In this episode:
- Objectives as a coach (process v results)
- Creating an environment (inclusion philosophy)
- Player centred v needs centred
- Play station coach v playe
Coaches Insight - Richard Shorter: Non-Perfect Dad
In the third Coaches Insight episode we speak with Richard Shorter: (The Non-Perfect Dad) on how the role of the parents is so important and ways you can promote good behaviours.
Coaches Insight - Tom Statham: Insight into the games programme and 26 years of coaching
The second in our Coaches Insight Series. This week we speak with Tom Statham of Manchester United.
Coaches Insight: Ep.1 Brain Training in Football with Thomas Carpels
Stewart & Ross talk to Rangers Football Academy coach, Thomas Carpels. They talk all about Brain Training in football and where it could be leading to!
Shaun Derry Talks: Ep. 12 - Paddy McCarthy
Paddy McCarthy is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a centre-back, most recently for English club Crystal Palace. He currently serves as the Under-18s coach at Crystal Palace. Born in Dublin, he began his football career as a junior with Manchester City before joining Leicester City in 2005 where he spent three seasons before jo
Jimmy Walker Talks: Ep. 11 - Jamie Lawrence & Robin Shroot
Jamie Lawrence is a former professional football player having made 70 appearances in the Premier League. He played as a right winger for Sunderland, Doncaster Rovers, Leicester City, Bradford City, Walsall, & Wigan Athletic. He also has 24 caps for the Jamaican National team. His route to professional football was very different to many others, having led a very troubled lifestyle as a teenag
Jimmy Walker Talks: Ep. 10 - Martyn Margetson
In this interview Martyn Margetson the current England National Team Senior Goalkeeping Coach sits down with Jimmy Walker to discuss his career, goalkeeping topics and individual England goalkeepers!
“Marge” started his playing career with Manchester City, joining their youth system in 1988.He went on to make 60 first-team appearances for the Maine Road side, while also having loan spells with Bri
Jimmy Walker Talks: Ep. 9 - Matthew Gill
Matthew Gill is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He began his career in 1997, notably representing Peterborough United, Exeter City, Norwich City (Achieved League One promotion) and Bristol Rovers, Walsall & Notts County. He made 451 appearances and scored 21 goals. Gill was the club captain for Bristol Rovers for the 2011/12 season.
Following his ret
Jimmy Walker Talks: Ep. 8 - Jamie Lawrence: Part 2
Jamie Lawrence is a former football professional player featuring in the Premiership for Bradford City & playing for his national side Jamaica. Jamie had a troubled start to life having spent time in prison. In this part Jamie follows on from Part 1 and his career after Leicester City where he moved to Bradford City where he enjoyed a brilliant time playing in the Premier League. He
Jimmy Walker Talks: Ep. 7 - Jamie Lawrence: Part 1
Jamie Lawrence is a former football professional player featuring in the Premiership for Bradford City & playing for his national side Jamaica. Jamie had a troubled start to life having spent time in prison. In this part Jamie follows on from Part 1 and his career after Leicester City where he moved to Bradford City where he enjoyed a brilliant time playing in the Premier League. He
Jimmy Walker Talks: Ep. 6 - Matthew Etherington
Matthew Etherington is a former footballer who played as a winger. He currently manages the under-18 team at Peterborough United which is his first coaching role in professional football. Matty started his career at the club before moving onto Tottenham Hotspur where appeared 45 times before moving to West Ham United. He made 165 appearances scoring 16 goals over a 6 year spell including help
Jimmy Walker Talks: Ep. 5 - Marlon Harewood
Harewood made his league debut for Nottingham Forest in 1998. In the same year, he acquired experience abroad with a successful loan spell at Haka in 1999, he had a further loan spell with Ipswich Town, scoring one goal in six appearances. Harewood went on to forge a reputation as one of the most lethal strikers in the First Division. He scored 51 goals in 124 league games and
Jimmy Walker Talks: Ep. 4 - Dean Ashton
In this interview Dean talks in detail about his career path from getting into football at a young age going through the ranks at Crewe Alexandra to retiring early due to a serious injury. Dean gives a fantastic insight into how he adapted his game throughout his career and had to improve on certain aspects. He further goes onto explain how he developed his game by learning from older experienced
Jimmy Walker Talks: Ep. 3 - Shaun Derry
Shaun Derry is an English former professional footballer and manager . He previously managed Notts County and Cambridge United, and played for Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers among other clubs. In this interview Shaun speaks about his professional playing career and the transition into management whilst he was still playing!
Jimmy Walker Talks: Ep. 2 - Danny Cowley
A while back Jimmy interviewed a young and inspiring manager, Danny Cowley.
Jimmy Walker Talks: Ep. 1 - John Motson
A while back Jimmy interviewed a true legend of the game, John Motson.
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