#12 Simon Clifford

Southampton's former Head of Sports Science and the man credited with introducing futsal to the UK, Simon Clifford, stops by for a fascinating discussion about the psychological characteristics of the 'perfect footballer'.

Simon talks to us about the players he's worked with, including Juninho, Gareth Bale and Micah Richards, who display some of the mental attributes you might expect to find in the 'player of tomorrow'.

He also explains what it was like to manage Socrates, during his spell at Garforth Town, and tells us about his latest venture, Integer Football.   

Running order: 
Part 1: Introduction - Socrates' spell at Garforth Town (00:14)  
Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Simon Clifford (04:06)
Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Simon Clifford (48:30) 

Get in touch:
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Newsletter: https://beatthepress.net/2020/10/11/sign-up-to-the-beat-the-press-newsletter/
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#11 Nick Littlehales (’The Sport Sleep Coach’)

Nick Littlehales, aka 'The Sport Sleep Coach', drops by for a discussion about the impact of sleep on players' performance. 

We talk about Nick's career, spanning spells with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and England, discuss the role that sleep coaching can play in improving performance and look at the effect of COVID-19 on fatigue in football.  

Running order: 
Part 1: Introduction - sleeping through the international break (00:14)  
Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Nick Littlehales (05:28)
Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Nick Littlehales (48:40) 

Get in touch:
Website: https://beatthepress.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beat_press
Newsletter: https://beatthepress.net/2020/10/11/sign-up-to-the-beat-the-press-newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatthepressfootball/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Beat-The-Press-107997247371696/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beat-the-press

#10 Professor Marc Jones

Renowned academic Professor Marc Jones joins us for a discussion about the impact of stress on performance, as we continue to look at how footballers, coaches and the people around them respond to pressure.

We talk about Marc's work with academy players, the potentially positive role that fear of failure can play in motivating athletes, the impact of the absence of crowds on performance, how players respond to ‘in game’ setbacks and psychology’s evolving role within football.   

Running order: 
Part 1: Introduction - fever pitch in Fantasy Football (00:14)  
Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Professor Marc Jones (03:25)
Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Professor Marc Jones (46:43) 

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#9 Lisa Fallon

London City Lionesses manager Lisa Fallon drops by to talk about the role of leadership in football.

Drawing on her experience of being the first woman to manage a men's football team in Ireland and her spell as part of the Northern Ireland backroom team during Euro 2016, Lisa talks to us about handling pressure at different levels of the game.

She also discusses the support needed for players recovering from injury, helping her squad through COVID and mentoring the next generation of football coaches.    

Running order: 
Part 1: Introduction - rewinding to 2013, with Bale, Rodriguez and Holtby (00:14)  
Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Lisa Fallon (02:55)
Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Lisa Fallon (20:45) 

Get in touch:
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#8 Peter Varney

Former Charlton chief executive Peter Varney stops by for a chat on the latest episode of the Beat The Press podcast.

We talk about the pressure facing clubs and players during the summer transfer window and the possible impact of the salary cap on teams in League One and League Two.

Pete also tells us about the secrets behind his success during his two stints at The Valley and speaks about about the changes he'd make to scrutinise potential football club owners more effectively.

Finally, we discuss possible Parliamentary intervention in football and hear Pete's view on the ongoing takeover talk surrounding Charlton. 

Running order: 
Part 1: Introduction - the Moss Rose players bar and summary of the EFL salary cap (00:14)  
Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Peter Varney (04:00)
Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Peter Varney (41:58) 

Get in touch:
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#7 Richard Dobson

In the latest episode of the Beat The Press podcast, we speak to Wycombe assistant manager, Richard Dobson.

We discuss the club's pioneering psychology programme, established by Richard and responsible for helping to support players such as Jordan Ibe and Anthony Stewart.

In Richard's first in-depth interview on the subject, he reveals the secrets behind what was described as the 'biggest psychology programme in Europe'. 

He also talks to us about the club's promotion to the second tier of English football, for the first time in its 133-year history, and his hopes for 2020/21 season.

Finally, you can check out the two Gareth Ainsworth stunners we mention in the episode, by taking a quick trip to Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miNDVuRjS-U

Running order: 
Part 1: Introduction - pub bands and a Wycombe love-in (00:14)  
Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Richard Dobson (03:13)
Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Richard Dobson (31:13) 

Get in touch:
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#6 Mike Calvin

We’re back! In the latest episode of the Beat The Press podcast, we speak to award-winning journalist and author, Mike Calvin.

Mike talks to us about leadership in sport, drawing on his experience of co-writing Gareth Thomas’s and Alistair Cook’s autobiographies.

He also gives us a rare glimpse of the realities of football management, recounting interviews with managers from his many years as a reporter and, latterly, an author of ‘Living On The Volcano’, a book about the pressure managers face, which was shortlisted for Sports Book Of The Year.

You can read a review of Living On The Volcano by visiting the Beat The Press website: https://beatthepress.net/2019/07/11/book-review-living-on-the-volcano/

You can pre-order a copy of Mike’s latest co-written book, ‘The Hurt’, Dylan Hartley’s autobiography, here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hurt-Dylan-Hartley/dp/0241348951

Look out for our interview with Wycombe’s assistant manager, Richard Dobson, which will be released shortly!

Running order: 
Part 1: Introduction - La Manga, Richie Humphreys and news on Beat The Press (00:14)  
Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Mike Calvin (04:38)
Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on the interview with Mike Calvin and a trailer for our discussion with Richard Dobson (59:21) 

Get in touch:
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#5 Leo Pearlman (Sunderland ‘Til I Die exec producer) - Part 2 of 2

The second part of our discussion with Sunderland 'Til I Die executive producer, Leo Pearlman.

We talk through Sunderland supporters' opinion of Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven, the remarkable relationship between Peter Farrer - taxi driver and arguable star of the series - and River Plate, and answer listeners' questions, with Leo giving his view of the possibility of returning for a third series.

We also run through our top five football documentaries, which you can find via the links in these show notes.

To listen to the first part of this interview, download the previous episode of the podcast: https://podfollow.com/beat-the-press-football/episode/5d83c2c241c22fb01798c33beb1df854f20e6528

Running order:

Part 1: Introduction - half-time oranges and the hairdryer treatment (00:14)
Part 2: Interview - the second part of our discussion with Leo Pearlman (04:39)
Part 3: Reaction - the Peter Farrer fan club and our top five football documentaries (30:30)
Part 4: Pressure Cooker Corner - failing to beat Spurs in the mid-90s; the ultimate bottle job (46:09)

Documentary links:

Club For a Fiver: https://youtu.be/fvdCNgHKCwY
Chester City: An America Dream: https://youtu.be/gBRGkxdKhaE
Take The Ball, Pass The Ball (not available free of charge): https://youtu.be/T_Iil6rob9I
One Night in Turin (available on Apple TV): https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/one-night-in-turin/umc.cmc.76ptsme15ap581ugmlevpl6xk
An Impossible Job: https://youtu.be/VAke3P4hKZA
Maradona (available on Prime): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Diego-Maradona-Armando/dp/B07YJ9V2TP?ref_=d6k_applink_bb_dls
The Four Year Plan (available on Prime): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Four-Year-Plan-Amit-Bhatia/dp/B0778NJDQK?ref_=d6k_applink_bb_dls
There's Only One Barry Fry: https://youtu.be/hMx6LDc4-Nw
Premier Passions: https://youtu.be/IbPKFiKE4-A

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#4 Leo Pearlman (Sunderland ‘Til I Die executive producer) - Part 1 of 2

In this episode of the Beat The Press podcast, we speak to Leo Pearlman, executive producer of Sunderland 'Til I Die.

Join us for a discussion that starts with Leo's time on the Roker Park terraces, supporting the club he would go on to make a documentary about.

We look at the driving factors behind the second series of the programme, with first-hand insight into the thinking of owners Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven.

Leo talks to us about the 'rotten' culture they inherited, the transfer plans which were scrapped to sign Will Grigg and the lessons that both men could have learnt from Mike Ashley.

Coming soon: Part 2 of our interview with Leo, covering reaction to the documentary, his answers to listeners' questions and the latest on the unlikely star of the programme, taxi driver Peter Farrer.

Running order:

Part 1: Introduction - the sport documentary appreciation society (00:14)
Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Leo Pearlman (05:06)
Part 3: Reaction - pressure puts paid to the best-laid plans (31:47)
Part 4: Pressure Cooker Corner - waiting for the penalty spot to be painted before taking a spot-kick (39:00). Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdFwl11WUAg

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#3 Dr Misia Gervis

In this episode of the Beat The Press podcast, we speak to Dr Misia Gervis, leading sports psychologist and academic.

Join us for a fascinating discussion about her time working for the England women's team and the role she has played in supporting academies at Wycombe Wanderers and QPR. We look at how clubs are supporting their players during the coronavirus outbreak and explore how isolation, and a subsequent loss of identity, can lead to players suffering from conditions such as anxiety and depression. We also discuss the impact of returning from injury without the requisite psychological support and examine how football may need to challenge long-standing issues such as confidentiality and existing perceptions of psychology.

Running order:

Part 1: Introduction - the right-back union and reminiscing about Euro 96 (00:14)
Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Dr Misia Gervis (06:57)
Part 3: Reaction - the psychological support at the heart of Athletic Bilbao's flourishing academy (52:26)
Part 4: Carlos Carvalhal's analogies - from transfer targets and lobsters, to substitutions and barbecues (60:27)

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