Football Journeys Podcast
A B5 Consultancy podcast telling the untold stories of the beautiful game - the pain, the graft and the rejection. Media lawyer Matt Himsworth and former Luton, Stevenage and Newport County footballer Fraser Franks meet with those who have lived extraordinary football journeys. Not necessarily the top stars who have the accolades and the attention but those who have been through the mill, lived the struggles and come out of the other end to tell the tale. Series One focuses on the Academy journey at the Premier League champions, Liverpool FC, as we meet the class of 2013/14, a group of young men that came so close to living the Anfield dream but have had to come to terms with an alternative pathway. As well as interviewing the players and hearing their emotional stories we speak to those who knew the players and their journeys, including fans, coaches and a Liverpool legend.
Episodes
60 episodes
S03 Ep02: Allan Cockram
In the early 1980s Allan Cockram made two appearances for Tottenham Hotspur in a midfield featuring Hoddle, Ardiles and Perryman but it's not his football achievements, notable as they are, that make Allan a special man, it is his work after hi...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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1:31:00
S03 Ep01: Fraser Franks
It might be cheating a bit to start off with our very own, Fraser Franks, but he's had one hell of a year and there's a lot to discuss.He talks about open heart surgery but we then go on to discuss some of the incredible positive experie...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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44:47
ANNOUNCEMENT - WE'RE BACK!
This is just a quick word from us, with a couple of clips, to say that we are back with Series Three! Fraser is well and truly recovered from open heart surgery and we are so excited for you to hear the stories of some of our guests.We ...
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Season 3
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4:25
BONUS EPISODE - Fraser Franks
This Bonus Episode is also a bit of an announcement. Fraser is preparing to have open heart surgery and, unsurprisingly, that means he'll be out of action for a little while. In this episode he talks to Matt about his condition and the operatio...
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30:35
S02 Ep30: Troy Townsend
The campaigner.Troy Townsend's football journey is a remarkable one. From his own dreams of playing as a young boy, supporting his sons with those same aspirations, tragically losing his eldest boy Kurtis and, later, his tireless campai...
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1:23:30
BONUS EPISODE - David Clarke OBE
The Officer.In celebration of former guest David Clarke being awarded an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours List we had a Clarkie back on for a quick chat to discuss the honour but also his appointment this year as Chief Execu...
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Season 2
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24:15
S02 Ep28: Martin Sinclair
The Paralympian.This is the third episode we've badged the Paralympian and, like David Clarke and Jack Rutter before him, we could have given this episode with Martin Sinclair so many different titles.He talks about the "c...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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1:06:22
S02 Ep27: Hearing Loss and Football
This is a very personal breakout episode presented by Matt Himsworth about hearing loss and football. Matt speaks to former Watford Women FC player Emma Beckett about her hearing loss caused by a car accident at the age of 19 and he speaks to C...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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57:50
S02 Ep26: Peter Mitchell
The actor.We could have titled this episode so many things but it seems fitting to call Peter, or Mitch, the actor given that his accomplishment, in not even appearing in his school play, to having a regular part in Hollyoaks, sums up t...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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1:34:17
S02 Ep25: Manisha Tailor
The trailblazer.If your boss calls you a trailblazer, why argue? When that boss is Les Ferdinand, it is all the more complimentary. Manisha Tailor earns that tag and then some. As a little girl growing up in a South Asian family in the ...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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1:11:28
S02 Ep24: John McGuigan
The analyst.As a lad growing up in Merseyside John McGuigan was obsessed with football. Though a decent player, he knew he'd never grace Anfield, and so he set off on his journey to work in coaching and analyst. His passion and work eth...
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1:08:38
S02 Ep23: Jack Rutter
The Paralympian.Yep, another one, and what a special lad.Jack Rutter, a Man United mad kid from Gloucester, was at Birmingham City's Academy, close to signing his first pro deal and preparing to play in the Semi Final of the FA ...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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1:08:39
S02 Ep22: Shaun Whiter
The double amputee.If ever a title didn't do a guest justice it's this one. Shaun Whiter, a talented non-league footballer for Newmarket Town, was hit by a drunk driver in 2016 in an incident which very nearly killed him and robbed him o...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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1:11:29
S02 Ep21: Mikele Leigertwood
The player.In association with University Campus of Football Business this week we meet a man who was described by our previous guest and colleague Brian McDermott as a leader both on and off the pitch. Affectionately know ...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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1:13:14
S02 Ep20: David Winnie
The lawyer.In association with University Campus of Football Business this week we meet a man, David Winnie, who had a hugely successful playing career in Scotland, Iceland and Australia, but it was the end of his playing career and the...
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1:08:57
S02 Ep19: Michael Doughty
The entrepreneur.This week we speak with Michael Doughty, formerly of QPR, Peterborough and Swindon Town. Michael retired from football aged just 27, not because of injury or lack of opportunity, but because of his passion to create some...
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1:20:42
S02 Ep18: Tom Watt
Released a week early on Patreon.The storyteller.This week broadcaster, actor and Arsenal fan, who is so used to telling other people's stories, tells us his own. Those of a certain generation will naturally associate Tom with his...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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1:18:53
S02 Ep17: Brian McDermott
The manager. We're proud to say that the guest starting us back up after our break is now a member of the B5 Consultancy team.Making his debut for Arsenal aged 17, becoming Sweden’s player of the year at a young age, managing...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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1:18:08
S02 Ep16: Update Episode
This week we have an update episode. Fraser and Matt chatted, shared recollections, updates and thoughts about guests from across both Series One and Two. We also have some clips, a few short follow up interviews, and a few other little bits an...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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1:29:47
S02 Ep15: Georgie Kelly
The student.This week we meet Rotherham United striker Georgie Kelly. The 25 year old is no ordinary footballer as he combines his time at the New York Stadium with a Master's Degree in Renewable Energy and Finance.We talk to the ...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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58:10
S02 Ep14: Michael Caulfield
The sports psychologist.Often the role of a sports psychologist is misunderstood, many believing that it is about a win at all costs mentality but, in actual fact, as Michael says: "they just want someone to talk to".We talk to M...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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1:01:17
S02 EP13: If U Care Share
This is our third breakout episode and it deals with perhaps the most sensitive subject that could be dealt with in the game: suicide.The episode is in partnership with the wonderful charity If U Care Share and, as its founder Matty Smit...
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1:17:39
S02 Ep12: Yinka Tomori
The parent."See a man, diligent in his ways, he shall stand before kings ..."Those words from Yinka Tomori, to his son Fikayo, have echoed throughout the young man's life and have seen play, and succeed, with Chelsea, AC Milan and...
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1:14:06