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PODCAST

It"s Only Kids Football

Ben Welch and Mike Clark

Ben Welch is figuring out how to be a decent kids football coach and a better Dad.He"s joined by coaching experts, ex-pros as well as football industry folk and internet friends to help him navigate the minefield of parenting and grassroots kids football.It"s meant to be for fun, but sometimes it"s hard to remember - It"s Only Kids Football.Links: https://linktr.ee/itsonlykidsfootballpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

sports soccer

All Episodes

1:11:19

The Premier League Insider who now manages under-7s

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2026/03/09

What happens when a football insider with 165,000 followers, Premier League contacts and a career around the game ends up managing his son’s Under-7s team?In this honest conversation, Ben and Mike, meet the man behind the famous @ExWHUEmployee X (Twitter) account joins the podcast to reveal the emotional rollercoaster of grassroots football.From overthinking line-ups and man-of-the-match decisions to the unexpected joy of watching kids score their first goals, this episode dives into the psychology,

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1:17:02

When kids want to quit: Tough love or sympathy?

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2026/03/02

Ben and Mike deliver an honest reflection on the reality of being a football dad, diving into the difficult balance between coaching a player and raising a son. They explore stoicism, discussing how to handle your emotions and unrealistic expectations.The conversation gets raw as they break down a gut-wrenching defeat played in "war zone" conditions, questioning why some losses stay with a coach longer than they do with the players. They challenge every parent to look in the mirror and ask: "Are you

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55:42

Academy coaches reveal what grassroots football must...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2026/02/23

In this unfiltered episode, former academy coaches Michael Fox and Olly Porteous join Ben and Mike to tackle the biggest issues facing grassroots football right now.From 3v3 formats, silent weekends and heading bans to kick-ins, league tables and parent behaviour, the conversation goes beyond surface-level opinions and into what’s actually helping — and what might be quietly harming — player development.Are we overcorrecting youth football? Are rule changes solving the real problem? And is adult

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1:16:42

Why your child doesn’t need a “Braveheart” pep talk

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2026/02/16

Ben and Mike are joined in the studio by Josh Paul, the social media powerhouse behind @fit_4_football to dissect the parental pre-game pep talk. Josh reveals why giving technical instructions to a young child is not only ineffective but also ignores the reality of how children actually learn and play.The conversation explores the dangers of comparing grassroots players to the "wonder kids" seen in highly edited social media clips. From managing chaotic training sessions to using professional

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1:04:25

Ex-Manchester United player reveals how to build...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2026/02/09

In this episode, Ben and Mike are joined by John Curtis — former Manchester United player and founder of NCE Soccer — for a wide-ranging conversation on what really drives youth football development.John reflects on his own journey from grassroots football to Manchester United, sharing how early environments, coaching culture, and emotional support shape confident, resilient players.Drawing on his experiences in elite academies and now working in the US, he explains why many development systems

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1:14:12

⁠Why your kid listens to other coaches (but not you)

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2026/02/02

Ben and Mike tackle one of grassroots football’s biggest false divides: the idea that fun and development can’t coexist. From debates around training more than once a week and mixed-ability teams, to the realities of repetition, confidence-building and unseen work away from the pitch, they unpack what actually helps kids improve — and enjoy the game more.The conversation weaves through emotional challenges of coaching your own child, managing expectations of volunteer coaches, the role of parents in

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1:08:56

The retreat rule: Is it helping or hurting player...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2026/01/26

In this episode, Ben and Mike welcome back Michael Fox, former Peterborough United academy coach and now head coach at Focusing on Excellence Football Academy, to tackle one of grassroots football’s most debated topics: playing out from the back.Drawing on his first season coaching in grassroots, Michael shares how academy principles can work at under-9s and under-10s level—despite the retreat rule, mixed ability squads and limited game time. The conversation explores how to teach children to stay

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52:43

Why parents need to stop blaming the coach

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2026/01/19

Ben and Mike reflect on a weekend that sharpened one of the biggest truths in grassroots football: coaches can guide, but parents carry the real responsibility for a child’s development.As training resumes after the Christmas break, the focus is on repetition, patience and building habits — passing, movement and decision-making that only improve through consistent exposure. The session reinforces a hard reality: one hour a week with a volunteer coach will never be enough on its own.The pair recount

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56:31

World-renowned skills coach on developing technical...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2026/01/12

This week, Ben and Mike are joined by Saul Isaksson Hurst, one of the world’s leading technical coaches and the man behind elite players including Noni Madueke and Antoine Semenyo.Saul breaks down what truly separates top academy and Premier League players from the rest, exploring mindset, work ethic, technical mastery and the environments that allow young players to thrive.The conversation dives deep into common grassroots coaching challenges — keeping players engaged, designing high-tempo

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1:00:20

Cristiano Ronaldo’s former coach on how you can build...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2026/01/05

This week, Ben and Mike welcome Mick Clegg, the former Manchester United power development coach who helped transform a young Cristiano Ronaldo into a global icon.Mick pulls back the curtain on the elite habits of the world’s best, revealing how grassroots coaches and parents can apply these same principles today.They dive into the biggest conditioning mistakes in youth football, the importance of "experiential knowledge," and practical ways to build athleticism without overcomplicating

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55:28

The game our boys learned to play for each other

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/12/29

Ben and Mike reflect on a defining mid-season episode that spans an academy test against Arsenal’s development squad and a local derby to close the year. Against Arsenal, the boys learn what real team football demands. Faced with sharper movement, quicker pressing and higher standards, individual moments stop being enough.They are forced to communicate, release the ball earlier and trust each other under pressure — lessons that carry into the following day against Leigh Ramblers Reds, where they

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1:17:18

A smarter way to coach your team

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/12/22

Ben and Mike kick things off by reliving their dramatic derby against the Blues — from a chaotic training session to touchline wobblers, goal-line drama and the boys’ grit in a scrappy 4–3 win.They’re then joined by Cambridge United’s Dario Seminerio, Youth Development Phase Lead Coach (U13- U16) at Cambridge United, who explains why great coaching is about teaching principles, not patterns. Dario speaks about the cultural differences between coaching in England and Italy — from parental behaviour

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1:00:58

Am I doing enough? The question every parent-coach...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/12/15

This episode dives into the nagging anxiety every parent-coach secretly carries: Am I actually doing a good job? Should I be doing more? Ben and Mike relive a chaotic comeback win featuring a spectacular warm-up wipe-out and a pre-match team talk that fell apart faster than a cheap pop-up goal.But beneath the muddy knees and over-enthusiastic touchline gesticulations lies something far more important: real progress. Raph and Alf bounce back from a crisis of confidence with maturity, Ollie finds his

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1:04:15

How a message from Noni Madueke changed everything

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/12/08

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

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58:38

The secret to raising resilient young men

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/12/01

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

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12:58

Glenn Murray: When parents want the dream more than...

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/11/27

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

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1:02:42

Coaching your own kid should come with a warning label

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/11/24

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

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56:05

Creating the right environment for player development

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/11/17

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

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1:07:09

When a sideline flare-up almost ruins our game

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/11/10

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,

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59:52

The superpower all children need

It"s Only Kids Football ·

2025/11/03

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

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