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.

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Football Journeys Podcast

S03 Ep08: Keith Barker

June 18, 2025 • B5 Consultancy • Season 3 • Episode 8

Born to a Bajan father who had represented Guyana at cricket it was no surprise that Keith Barker picked up a bat at a young age (he was playing under 13s cricket when he was 6!). But growing up in Manchester, and talented with his feet as well as his hands, his head was turned by football and he signed a scholarship, followed by a pro, with Blackburn Rovers (then an established Premier League side). He went on to play in Belgium with Cercle Brugge, for Rochdale and in Ireland with St Patrick's Athletic, before a stint at Northwich Victoria and his head turned back to cricket. More than 500 first class wickets and 5,000 runs later, he reflects on what both these great sports taught him.

This series we are partnering with University Campus of Football Business and have recorded episodes at their Media City studios in Salford and at their studio next to Wembley Stadium. This episode was recorded on Zoom out of necessity.

For more information on UCFB visit their website here - https://www.ucfb.ac.uk/

You can follow us on our social media @journeyspod on Instagram and Threads and we're still hanging around on X for a while! You might even find us on TikTok too!