In this episode, Ben and Mike relive a turbulent fortnight in their grassroots coaching journey — from a humiliating 7–1 collapse to an emotionally charged comeback win built on grit and passing football.

What starts as a defensive nightmare spirals into soul-searching: confidence crises for both boys, sideline meltdowns, overthinking, burnout and the heavy emotional load that parent-coaches quietly carry.

But woven through the chaos are powerful moments of connection: an unexpected message from Noni Madueke that lifts Alfie from rock bottom, a North London Derby that wipes away a painful morning and two boys showing maturity beyond their years as they confront their weaknesses head-on.

On the pitch, the team rebounds with discipline, teamwork and resilience — and off it, Ben and Mike learn to manage their own expectations, rein in catastrophising, and let their kids simply be who they are.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

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In this episode, former Southend and Dagenham & Redbridge winger Damien Scannell sits down with Ben and Mike for an honest, vulnerable and often hilarious conversation about fatherhood, identity and the emotional minefield of kids’ football.

Damien reflects on his own childhood — growing up without parents on the touchline, finding freedom in grassroots football and watching his brother go through the academy system far earlier than he did. He explains why that contrast shaped his views on pressure, character and the true purpose of youth sport.

The trio dig into the hardest parts of being a modern dad: the guilt of losing your cool, the car-ride regret, the internal battle between wanting tough kids and emotionally intelligent ones, and how old-school masculinity often clashes with today’s expectations.

Damien shares how working on himself transformed his parenting, why dads project their insecurities onto their kids, and how to build habits, discipline and resilience without breaking their spirit. He also opens up about coaching his own boys, resisting academy FOMO, spotting when pressure becomes toxic, and why the journey matters more than the dream.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

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Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

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In this episode, former Crystal Palace and Brighton striker Glenn Murray joins Ben to reflect on his childhood in grassroots football, the memories that shaped him and the pure joy of playing with friends before the pressures of the professional game took over.

He opens up about the car-ride home truths that built his resilience, the emotional tightrope parents walk, and why honest feedback matters — but only when delivered with care. Glenn also reveals what he’s like on the touchline watching his own sons play, how he navigates being “the professional in the crowd,” and why modern youth football sometimes forgets its purpose.

Glenn Murray is the 2025/26 Utilita Kids & Girls Cup ambassador. The annual football competition sees more than 20,000 schoolchildren each year take to the pitch for the chance to represent the 72 EFL Clubs across England and Wales, bolstering the existing ties between Clubs and their local communities.

The Utilita Kids & Girls Cups inspire children to be active, healthy, and develop a strong sense of teamwork, while offering the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at Wembley Stadium ahead of major EFL finals.

The competition helped discover stars such as Adam Wharton, Jamal Musiala, and Scott McTominay. Find out more here: www.efl.com/competitions/utilita-kids-girls-cup

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Ben and Mike deliver their most emotionally honest episode to date — a rollercoaster through three tough grassroots games, a confidence crisis for both of their sons, a sideline flashpoint and a revealing look at the hidden strain of being a parent-coach.

They talk honestly about shouting, pressure, overthinking, the pain of watching your child struggle and the moments that make you want to walk away from coaching completely. But this isn’t just about their team.

The episode widens into the bigger picture of grassroots football as they break down the results of their new nationwide survey — revealing how widespread sideline abuse, parent tension, lack of volunteer support and emotional burnout really are. From shocking anonymous stories to why coaches feel isolated, under-appreciated and overwhelmed, the survey becomes a backdrop to everything the boys experience on the pitch.

Amid the chaos comes hope: breakthrough conversations, growth in the toughest moments and a reminder that kids’ football is about building resilience, not protecting egos. This episode asks the uncomfortable question all parent-coaches face sooner or later.

Our latest research, in partnership with LoveAdmin and GoCardless, reveals a community full of passion, but stretched thin by patchy support, time, and financial pressure: Read the full report here.

New research highlights the need for calmer, more supportive sidelines in youth football - read more here.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

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Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

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In this episode, Ben and Mike welcome Nick Green, Football DNA ambassador and seasoned youth coach with experience across England and Australia, for a deep dive into the emotional and tactical side of coaching young players.

Drawing from his work in academies and grassroots football, Nick shares how to create a positive environment that builds belief and resilience in kids—especially when confidence dips or results don’t go their way. From using reflection and delayed feedback to managing “car-ride emotions” as parent-coaches, the conversation explores how to keep football enjoyable while fostering growth and grit.

Nick also offers practical insights on helping smaller players thrive, developing defensive skills, handling positional challenges and creating club-wide coaching plans that align players, parents, and coaches.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

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Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

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Ben and Mike are back with their most explosive episode yet — a day that should’ve been all about wonder goals and winning football turns into a masterclass in how not to behave on the sidelines.

After a brilliant first half, a confrontation between parents spills over, forcing Ben to face the uncomfortable truth: for all his talk about calm and composure, he’s just as capable of losing it when the kids are caught in the crossfire.

With the dust barely settled, the pair welcome their fiercest rival, Rhys — the larger-than-life manager everyone has an opinion on — for a brutally honest chat about passion, perception, and why every dad-coach ends up shouting at their own kid.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

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In this episode, Ben and Mike welcome clinical psychologist, performance coach and author Dr Kate Lund to unpack one of the hardest balancing acts in youth sport—how to build resilience in children without turning them into emotionless robots.

Drawing from her work with young athletes and parents, Dr Lund explains why modern resilience goes beyond “toughen up and get on with it.” She shares practical strategies for coaches and parents to help kids manage frustration, recover from mistakes and thrive under pressure—from relaxation and visualisation techniques to the “daily wins” exercise that shifts focus from failure to growth.

The trio dive deep into the contrasts between old-school grit and emotionally intelligent resilience, how parental behaviour on the sidelines shapes a child’s response to setbacks and why communication and self-awareness matter as much as skill drills.

Dr Kate Lund's new book: https://www.katelundspeaks.com/book

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

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Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

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Ben and Mike return with one of their most honest episodes yet, tackling a feeling every parent-coach knows but few admit: the desperate, irrational need for your child to play well when someone’s watching.

What begins as a normal weekend of grassroots football — a couple of big games and the usual sideline chaos — spirals into a raw reflection on pride, pressure, and parenting. When Ben’s son Alfie picks up an injury and struggles through a match with a friend in the crowd, it triggers a wave of guilt, frustration and self-awareness that hits harder than any defeat.

Between the laughs, match analysis and familiar coaching highs, the dads ask the real question: are we pushing our kids to enjoy the game — or to protect our own egos?

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.