It's Only Kids Football
Episodes
We answer your toughest kids' football questions
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode, Ben and Mike tackle the realities of grassroots football through listener questions and stories from the community. They explor...
What we learned coaching our own kids this season
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the season wraps up, Ben and Mike take a brutally honest look back at the highs, lows, and everything in between — from standout performances and...
Why your child plays like two different footballers
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why does your child sometimes look like two completely different footballers? Ben and Mike explore the frustrating but fascinating reality of inconsis...
Why separating players by ability doesn’t work
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike welcome Chris Ramsey onto the pod. One of the most respected voices in player development and coaching in the English ga...
Should kids have set positions in grassroots football? Our response sparked a backlash
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Is advertising for specific positions in youth football the right approach for development? Ben and Mike debate whether recruiting for roles like “d...
6 lessons from a pro goalkeeper that will transform your child’s confidence
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What’s it really like for a child playing the most pressured position on the pitch? In this episode, Salford City goalkeeper Mark Howard shares hone...
When adults go too far at kids football… Do you step in?
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike, talk about their experience of loud adult spectators unintentionally overwhelming young players. The hosts reflect on b...
The ultimate defensive cheat code for grassroots football
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Every grassroots coach faces the same nightmare: a defence that’s "all over the place" and young players who just want to be on the ball.In this epi...
The sideline mistake most parent coaches don’t realise they’re making
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike break down two intense matches, from a muddy “battle” to a frustrating defeat after a brilliant first half and reflect on the fine ma...
The Premier League Insider who now manages under-7s
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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-7...
When kids want to quit football: Tough love or sympathy?
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 rais...
Academy coaches reveal what grassroots football must fix now
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this unfiltered episode, former academy coaches Michael Fox and Olly Porteous join Ben and Mike to tackle the biggest issues facing grassroots foot...
Why your child doesn’t need a “Braveheart” pep talk
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ex-Manchester United player reveals how to build confident young footballers
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike are joined by John Curtis — former Manchester United player and founder of NCE Soccer — for a wide-ranging conversat...
Why your kid listens to other coaches (but not you)
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike tackle one of grassroots football’s biggest false divides: the idea that fun and development can’t coexist. From debates around train...
The retreat rule: Is it helping or hurting player development?
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike welcome back Michael Fox, former Peterborough United academy coach and now head coach at Focusing on Excellence Football...
Why parents need to stop blaming the coach
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 respo...
World-renowned skills coach on developing technical players
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 N...
Cristiano Ronaldo’s former coach on how you can build a top-class athlete
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike welcome Mick Clegg, the former Manchester United power development coach who helped transform a young Cristiano Ronaldo into a...
The game our boys learned to play for each other
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
A smarter way to coach your team
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike kick things off by reliving their dramatic derby against the Blues — from a chaotic training session to touchline wobblers, goal-line d...
Am I doing enough? The question every parent-coach can’t escape
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How a message from Noni Madueke changed everything
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike relive a turbulent fortnight in their grassroots coaching journey — from a humiliating 7–1 collapse to an emotionall...
The secret to raising resilient young men
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, former Southend and Dagenham & Redbridge winger Damien Scannell sits down with Ben and Mike for an honest, vulnerable and often h...
Glenn Murray: When parents want the dream more than their kids
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, former Crystal Palace and Brighton striker Glenn Murray joins Ben to reflect on his childhood in grassroots football, the memories th...
Coaching your own kid should come with a warning label
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike deliver their most emotionally honest episode to date — a rollercoaster through three tough grassroots games, a confidence crisis for b...
Creating the right environment for player development
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike welcome Nick Green, Football DNA ambassador and seasoned youth coach with experience across England and Australia, for a...
When a sideline flare-up almost ruins our game
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 m...
The superpower all children need
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The brutal truth about wanting your kid to shine
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 n...
Dwight Gayle: Getting released by Arsenal saved my career
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a Premier League goal scorer goes back to where it all started — the grassroots pitches that shaped him? In this heartfelt episode...
Why grassroots management is emotional torture
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike return to the touchline for an episode that captures everything maddening and magical about grassroots football. One match leaves them qu...
Teach kids to love defending
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike sit down with Ross Clarke Brooks—UEFA A-Licensed coach at West Ham United and Football DNA content creator—to tackle...
Bad habits are creeping back into our behaviour
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike kick off the new season with equal parts optimism and exasperation. Pre-season friendlies brought slick football, impressive wins and a s...
When should kids start strength and conditioning training?
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike are joined by Neal Lattimore, strength and conditioning coach at Peterborough United and founder of Active Performance G...
Why parents are the biggest problem in youth football
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike sit down with renowned coach James Galanis, best known for his work with World Cup winners and elite US internationals, ...
Are we really ready for the new season?
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike gear up for the new season with a mix of excitement, dread and brutal honesty. They look back at the Essex Royal Tournament — a reminde...
Harry Kane’s grassroots coach on what set England’s record goalscorer apart
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike sit down with Dave Bricknell — long-time Tottenham coach and scout who first spotted Harry Kane — and Ben’s uncle, Arty, Dave's ass...
What pro clubs don’t want you to know about the academy system
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike are joined by Chris Platts—a career coach working with professional clubs, parents and young players—to explore what...
How to teach kids shape, positioning and movement
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike tackle one of grassroots football’s trickiest challenges—teaching positioning—with the help of Michael Fox, a seas...
Charlie Austin: What coaching my son taught me about fatherhood
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a Premier League striker swaps stadium roars for Sunday league sidelines? In this emotional and brutally honest episode, Charlie Aus...
Old-school grassroots gaffer reveals the secret to man management
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike, chat with Ben's old football manager Martin Skinner—a legendary (and unfiltered) former coach of the Brentwood Boys. In thi...
Powerful words every coach should say to their players
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike sit down with Paul Barry, head of coaching at Crystal Palace for U8–U12s and a 28-season veteran of the foundation phase. Pa...
Kieran Gibbs: What it really takes to survive at Arsenal’s Academy
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of It’s Only Kids Football, Ben and Mike are joined by former Arsenal and England full-back Kieran Gibbs for a chat about the grassr...
This is what makes grassroots football so special
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike mark 50 episodes with a tournament win that means way more than it should. They laugh, cringe and nearly cry as they relive the game, the...
How parents and coaches can build confident young goalkeepers
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike sit down with Paul Horwood, co-founder of PL One Goalkeeping, the leading goalkeeping academy in Essex.From transfor...
Neuroscientist explains how playing football impacts a child's brain development
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike are joined by renowned neuroscientist and best-selling author, Dr Dean Burnett, to explore what’s really going on inside you...
The coach who teaches kids to listen and find their voice on the pitch
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike sit down with Josh Paul, the inspiring coach behind Fit4Football, to explore the power of the “three-second rule” to the s...
Ben's dad talks tough love, crunching tackles and touchline brawls
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike are joined by Danny Welch - Ben’s dad - for a brutally honest, funny and nostalgic deep-dive into youth football, fatherhood...
Presentation night: Risky jokes, lost car keys and brutal hangovers
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on It’s Only Kids Football, Ben and Mike are crawling out of the wreckage of presentation night to relive the laughter, logistics and tear...
When kids' football takes over your life
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike are joined by Mike's wife and Raph's mum... Estelle Clark, for a refreshingly honest conversation about what it’s like when ...
Proud mum on son's rise from struggling player to super shot-stopper
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike are joined by Gemma Davies, proud mum of Alby, the goalkeeper who went from pirouettes and daydreaming to a fearless shot-stop...
The meltdown that sparked positive change
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike dive into a tournament day full of sunshine, thrilling football and a semi-final face-off that left everyone in shock. But thi...
10 years coaching my son and why I had to walk away
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike sit down with Dave and Billy, father and son, coach and player, for a raw and emotional look back at their 10-year grass...
The mindset coach every kid (and parent) needs
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike sit down with elite mindset coach Matt Baxter for an episode that digs deep into the emotional lives of young athletes and the...
The three-second rule that changed everything
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike wrap the final three games of the season. From a triumphant win overshadowed by tears to a painful derby defeat, this episode ...
The coach that transformed the way our kids play football
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike are joined by Frankie Hession-Harris, the mastermind behind Ballers Elite. In this episode, we hear about Frankie’s experien...
When coaching your kid breaks your heart
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike are back and this one gets messy. Fresh from an unforgettable visit to Tottenham’s training ground, where their sons squared off agains...
Why your behaviour could make your child quit football
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike are joined by some actual experts this week – which is a first. Ex-pro Katie Chapman and psychologist Dr. Simon Moore are here to drop ...
Social media meltdowns, touchline tantrums and a box of chocolates
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike are buzzing after a couple of wins – turns out, it only takes a sniff of success to turn these two into emotional wrecks planning birth...
The fine line between pushing too hard and not pushing enough
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The lads are back, and this week, it’s all about the minefield that is coaching your own kid. Ben’s convinced he’s holding his son to impossible...
Bald managers, touchline rivalries and a derby day clash
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike are back and this week they’re breaking down two big games: one where they were unlucky and one where they were actually good (a rare m...
What's the secret to coaching kids? Ex-Prem coach answers
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben and Mike call in the big guns, elite coach Edu Rubio, to help them crack formations, teamwork and how to stop their lads from bunching. Along the ...
Do our training sessions confuse the kids?
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ben’s losing his voice, Mike’s losing his mind, and the kids are losing their markers. A 5-1 win had them dreaming, but a 7-4 battering brought th...
The absurdity of teaching 8-year-olds gegenpressing
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike and joined by The Athletic's Rory Smith. Rory has spent his career dissecting elite football, interviewing some of the g...
Full-blooded on the pitch, snide comments off it – can we break the losing streak in a tense local derby?
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mike’s been on the Guinness, Ben’s on the edge and the kids have been on the wind-up. A losing streak hangs in the balance… but at what cost?We ...
What to shout from the sidelines? Ex-Man United academy coach explains
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Ben and Mike are joined by Neil Harris, a coach who spent 21 years at Manchester United, helping bring through stars like Scott McTominay an...
Would our sons have more fun if we didn't coach the team?
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After eight defeats in a row and a mental state that’s circling the drain, Ben and Mike have finally hit rock bottom. In this episode, they unravel ...
Former Arsenal winger turned scout reveals what pro clubs are looking for
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike are back, reliving their latest touchline dramas. From celebrating Alfie’s newfound resilience to bemoaning yet another defe...
Is there a secret to coaching marking? Because it’s driving us insane
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever tried teaching kids to mark in football? It’s like herding cats—with shin pads. This week, Ben and Mike, try to deal with kids who think “m...
How will changes to youth football impact your players? Elite coach answers
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike return with a thought-provoking episode featuring Saul Isaksson-Hurst, also known as My Personal Football Coach. Saul is an el...
Ex-Prem striker reveals secrets to movement off the ball
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of It’s Only Kids Football, Ben and Mike are joined by goalscoring legend Adam Le Fondre to tackle one of the hardest skills to teac...
Why one win could solve everything (and why it probably won’t)
30 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Three losses, five wins, five losses. On this week’s It’s Only Kids Football, Ben and Mike struggle to cope with the team’s erratic form. As die...
Asmir Begovic: How my dad's tough training methods turned me into a Premier League winner
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike are joined by Asmir Begovic—a Premier League-winning goalkeeper who’s faced Messi, endured Tony Pulis’ gruelling pre-sea...
Stuck in a losing streak, derby day defeats and burying a hamster
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike find themselves deep in the trenches as the team endures a streak of disappointing defeats, including tough losses to their in...
Arne Slot's sport psychologist on how you can develop your child's mental skills
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike bring in a guest guaranteed to change your perspective. Our clueless duo welcomes renowned sports psychologist Dan Abrahams to...
This valuable lesson helped our sons perform at their best
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 18, Ben and Mike relive the highs and lows of their latest two games, which left them planning European tours and doing victory dances in t...
Ex-Prem Star: Nutrition secrets every parent should know
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ben and Mike sit down with ex-Premier League star Marc Pugh—once a flying winger, now the king of kale. While Mike confesses his love for...
Can Mike's son impress Premier League scouts?
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Leigh Ramblers Black U8s are back in form and Ben and Mike are absolutely buzzing—well, mostly. While the kids are smashing it on the pitch, the dad...
Matt Jarvis: How my childhood turned me into an England international
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of It's Only Kids Football, former West Ham and Wolves winger Matt Jarvis joins hosts Ben Welch and Mike Clark to share his journey fr...
Essential advice for parents navigating the academy system
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With Mike living it up in Dubai, Ben is left to hold down the fort alongside Adam, the dad of Leigh Ramblers’ very own grassroots Gazza, Ollie. They...
How to support your child after a poor performance
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join host Ben Welch in this fun and heartfelt episode as he sits down with Dean Russell, the dad behind the viral father-son goalkeeping duo that’s ...
How the parents helped turn our season around: Tactics, teamwork and positivity
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike take you through the emotional highs and lows of youth football coaching—complete with sleepless nights, frustrated sh...
Ollie Watkins’ striker coach changed how I coach my son
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Ben Welch talks to striker coach Scott Chickelday about his experience coaching his own son and provides insights into teaching ...
Are we rubbish coaches? Our poor start has got us soul-searching
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Mike discuss their experiences coaching youth football, reflecting on their emotional responses to losing games and the impac...
Charlie Austin: Tough love parenting and how to score more goals
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 of this interview, Charlie Austin, a former professional footballer for QPR, Southampton and Burnley, shares his experiences and insights on...
How do you stop bunching and make training fun? | Q&A Session
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send us your questions by signing up for the newsletter and emailing us.In this episode Ben Welch and Mike engage in a Q&A session addressing vari...
Team talk fails and tournament triumphs
14 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Ben Welch and Mike Clark discuss their experiences and challenges of coaching and managing at summer tournaments.They talk about...
Charlie Austin: Coaching, ADHD is a superpower and reffing kids' football
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Charlie Austin, a former professional footballer for QPR, Southampton and Burnley, shares his experiences and insights on coachi...
A spicy pre-season ‘friendly’ and introducing Assistant Manager Mike
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Welch introduces his assistant Mike to discuss their experiences coaching together.They talk about the joys and challenges of coaching, the compet...
Is it wrong to want to win? With coach and analyst Harry Brooks
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben Welch is joined by Harry Brooks,Follow Harry on his social channels:https://x.com/hbrooks_coachhttps://www.instagram.com/hbrooks_...
Elite youth coach on how to develop players and coach your own children
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Welch and Jimmy Galustian discuss their experiences with coaching kids' football.They talk about the impact of Coerver Coaching on their coaching ...
Advice from a former Premier League player on coaching kids and being a football dad
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben Welch is joined by former pro footballer and seasoned coach, Paul Robinson, for a candid chat about the challenges and triumphs o...
How Jamal Musiala trained and developed his elite 1 v 1 skills
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this conversation, Ben Welch interviews Saul Isaksson-Hurst, a former coach in the Premier League Academy system, about coaching young football pla...