In this episode, Rob Milsom shares an unfiltered account of his football career-from his early days at Fulham’s academy to navigating multiple clubs and overcoming serious injuries. He discusses the mental and emotional challenges players face, the importance of support and mentorship, and the need to prepare for life beyond the game. Only 1% of academy players make it to professional football, and the average first-team career at a single club lasts just 3.8 years. Lower-league players have less than a 2% chance of staying at their highest level after 10 years, and 40% of pros go bankrupt within five years of retirement. Rob’s story highlights the resilience and planning needed to thrive-on and off the pitch. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ-nwR5edMODelU3OsaVTNA/join TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 00:01:05 - Meeting Toby and Their Journey Together 00:02:20 - Nicknames and Team Dynamics 00:03:01 - Impact of Leadership in Football 00:04:17 - Rob's Early Football Dreams 00:05:56 - Navigating Challenges in Youth Football 00:07:59 - Mindset and Naivety in Pursuing Football 00:09:33 - Self-Belief and Its Importance 00:10:22 - Transferring Skills from Football to Other Areas 00:12:27 - Dealing with Rejection and Setbacks 00:13:41 - Coping Mechanisms During Difficult Times 00:15:25 - Rob's Professional Journey at Fulham 00:17:11 - Overcoming Personal Loss and Injury 00:19:07 - Misconceptions About Mental Strength and Injuries 00:21:52 - The Balance of Mental and Physical Strength 00:23:34 - The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Management 00:25:09 - The Need for Support Systems in Football 00:27:12 - Preparing Players for Challenges 00:29:02 - Experiences in Academy vs. Men's Football 00:30:37 - Reflections on Injury Recovery 00:32:09 - Pride in Achievements and Overcoming Adversity 00:34:41 - Advice for Young Players 00:36:49 - Planning for Life After Football 00:39:58 - Reflections on Premier League Debut 00:41:42 - Lessons Learned from Career Experiences 00:44:30 - The Importance of Staying True to Oneself 00:46:09 - Opportunities for Growth and Learning 00:49:03 - Conclusion and Future Aspirations ⬇️ REMEMBER TO LIKE & SUBSCRIBE TO US ON SPOTIFY HERE ⬇️ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondfootball/subscribe The Beyond Football Podcast PART OF EUROPES #1 SPORT SOCIAL PODCAST NETWORK 🧠 Insight to the journeys of Ballers 🚀 Having an Identity Beyond Football®️ 🎙️ @daniel.jinadu @tobisho_ 👨‍💻 @beyondfootball.uk AVAILBLE ON YOUTUBE, SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCASTS AND MOST MAJOR PLATFORMS! 🎙️ SEARCH 'THE BEYOND FOOTBALL PODCAST' FOLLOW MY SOCIALS: ➡️Instagram // https://www.instagram.com/daniel.jinadu/?hl=en ➡️Twitter // https://twitter.com/danieljinadu1 ➡️TikTok // https://vm.tiktok.com/ZS3d6QXF/ CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE 👨🏾‍💻 ➡️https://www.beyondfootball.uk OUR MISSION: To ensure every player has a second Plan A, creating an Identity Beyond Football™️ that is beneficial, necessary, and possible. ​ #BeyondFootball™️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices