Episode 26 - Barry Galvin “Bring the Guitar” Barry is someone that I have got to know through us working together on the Orient Hour through Phoenix FM and what a great guy he is.   A fan of Leyton Orient that through a delayed order in the club shop got to know the Commercial Team, ended up sponsoring the club and eventually was offered the role of Stadium Announcer on match days.   Baz's musical background and experience of playing to crowds and working the stage meant that he made a seamless entry to the role and whom soon became a firm favourite within the club and with fans and visiting teams alike.   We talk about his start at the club, his game day routine, his sprints up and down the stairs, pre match, half time and post match their is a lot to take care of and make sure he gets done for the club and its sponsors.   We talk about the worst names to pronounce, his favourite days with the mic and the recent Manchester City cup tie.   A lovely bloke whom's passion and love for the club can be felt and his pride of doing this job always shines through. I thorughly enjoyed this chat and we ended on one of the best memories of the last Division Two title win which involved Baz and his trusty guitar.   I hope you enjoy the episode and if in doubt “Turn it round the corner”. 👊🏻⚽️

Introduction to Episode 26. Barry Galvin “Bring the Guitar” 👊🏻⚽️ 

Episode 25 - Scott O’Donoghue “Both sides of the Game” “OD” is someone that I played with and against growing up and is someone that I still call a friend and talk regularly aboit the game we both love. A good youth career and after the academy journey came non league and all levels of football both as a player and then as a manager of his local side Hertford Town. After starting out in the city working in recruitment he changed careers and started his own football agency combining his recruiting skills and his network in football. After the ups and downs of running his own agency and concentrating on younger players in the pro game and others that were playing at the higher levels of non league trying to break into the full time game he left the dark side so to speak and entered club player recruitment. His first role was at Colchester United before leaving this summer to join Coventry City to take up the role on a national scale as Emerging Talent Co Ordinator. Loads of experience in the game both sides of the fence and a really thoughtful chat. I hope you enjoy the episode and if in doubt “Turn it round the corner”. 👊🏻⚽️

Introduction to Episode 25. Scott O’Donoghue “Both sides of the game” 👊🏻⚽️ 

Episode 24 - Mark Nash.  “All things Soccer stateside”  “Nashy” is someone that I would kick about with at the local pitch growing up. He was part of our football group who would play doubles Wembley until it got dark and also attended the same senior school as me. He emigrated to the US well over 20 years ago, where his first love was always football or the dreaded soccer word but he worked in other industries before the financial crash of 2008. It was then that he decided football coaching was a viable option for himself and he started to take it seriously and ramp up his involvement with the game stateside. Nash has been part of the Long Island soccer scene since 2003 and is currently the Girls Director of Coaching at Stony Brook-LGN Soccer Club. In addition, Nash has also worked on the Regional Staff for the Eastern Olympic Development Program and has served two years with the Stony Brook Seawolves Women's Soccer Program. As if he wasn't busy enough Mark also joined the women's soccer coaching staff at Molloy University in NY ahead of the 2022 season as an assistant coach. Nash currently holds a USSF B License, alongside USC Advanced National Diploma as well as UK qualifications. I hope you enjoy the episode and if in doubt “Turn it round the corner”. 👊🏻⚽️

Introduction to Episode 24. Mark Nash “All things Soccer Stateside” 👊🏻⚽️ 

Episode 23 - Tom Connolly “Fair Game” Tom Connolly’s photographic collection reveals the beautiful truth behind grassroots football. For anyone who craves fairness in life and wants fairness in sport, modern elite football offers a confusing, love-hate relationship, one which sent Tom Connolly in search of the game he had fallen in love with as a boy.  Connolly’s journey into non-league football unearthed something bigger than sport. The result is a collection of stunning photographs recording the lives lived on the perimeter of the pitch. This book is about the human beings to be found in the beautiful game. Telling its story through a collection of remarkable black-and-white and colour photos of the people who make the game what it is, Fair Game reminds us that in community-minded non-league football clubs, the heart and soul of sport is alive and well, against all the odds and despite those running and owning the upper reaches of the game.

Introduction to Episode 23. Tom Connolly “Fair Game” 👊🏻⚽️ 

Episode 22 - Harry Seaden “Earn your Stripes” A local lad whose dad played CH for Southend United under Bobby Moore. H was still turning out for Rayleigh Boys Club at u14s and following in his dad’s footsteps, playing at the back whilst dabbling with some time in goal.  An injury to the academy GK whilst he was training in goal for the foundation saw a suprise call up and he never looked back. Two years of playing in goal for the academy earned him his apprenticeship with the team he used to watch on a Saturday.  Even more accolades happened at u16s level where he was picked for England at the Toulon tournament, quite remarkable really given two years ago he was still playing on pitch at grassroots level.  At 17 level he was involved further with England and was included in the squad for the European Championships.  A pro deal at Southend followed but appearances were sporadic and I think he went 250 games as an unused substitute. I think this period coincided with the clubs troubles off the pitch and also with COVID and the protocols around football.  A young man that wanted to play he left the club for regular men’s football regardless of the level and took over the number shirt at Billericay Town. I would say his experiences in non league since then have been up and down but he has the determination to earn his stripes and move back up the leagues. The current Concord Rangers stopper has so far seen action in League one, League Two, Conference National, Conference South, Isthmian Prem and Isthmian North. Time to see the big lad get back to where he deserves. I hope you enjoy the episode and if in doubt “Turn it round the corner”. 👊🏻⚽️

Introduction to Episode 22. Harry Seaden “Earn your Stripes” 👊🏻⚽️

Episode 21 - Jon Benton. “Go Play Games” A lad that has lived every young boys dream joining his local professional club at the age of 9 and progressing through to a first team debut. He saw a lot at Southend and enjoyed some great highs and the lows but unfortunately due to the embargo had to leave the football club. He has played lots of games for his age at varying levels, ranging from academy, u23s, Isthmian North, Premier, Conference South and National. Never afraid to go out and get games to prove his worth and put himself in the shop window with the old adage of one step back for two steps forward. His big move away from Roots Hall ended in a play off spot with Solihull Moors and two Wembley finals within a week. Unfortunately both finals were lost on penalties but he had performed well in both games and took a successful spot kick in the Trophy final. After that summer of what if for the football club he left on loan to Maidstone where after another successful spell he was recalled and sold to Boreham Wood. His transfer to Wood coincided with a big upturn in form and a long unbeaten run that culminated in sitting top of the tree. After a couple of recent losses they got back to winning ways on Monday at Hemel. Jon is an outstanding young man with a great outlook and positive attitude for the game and I look forward to watching his career flourish for years to come. This episode is dedicated to Jon’s brother Ed.  I hope you enjoy the episode and if in doubt “Turn it round the corner”. 👊🏻⚽️

Introduction to Episode 21. Jon Benton. “Go Play Games” 👊🏻⚽️

Episode 20 - Steve Tongue. “Turf Wars” A sports journalist and broadcaster for 45 years, Steve was the voice of London football from day one of LBC and later the BBC radio football producer. He has worked for three national newspapers, covering nine World Cups and two Olympic Games. His first book was on David Beckham – Fifty Defining Fixtures, his current book released late last year is the latest in his Turf Wars series documenting the football history in Yorkshire. I hope you enjoy the episode and if in doubt “Turn it round the corner”. 👊🏻⚽️ 

Introduction to Episode 20.  Steve Tongue. “Turf Wars” 👊🏻⚽️ 

Episode 19 - Part Two. Darren Blewitt - “No Haribo’s Allowed” Strap yourselves in for this second part of our discussion and again as a *WARNING* this episode comes with an explicit language warning for all you mums and dads getting there kids to listen for their football education.  Part two with Darren focuses on his troubles away from the pitch and this is an episode centred around the serious subject of addiction. Blew talks openly and honestly about alcohol and how social drinking turned into something that became more of a problem than fun. We talk about how this started to affect his everyday life and how with help from the PFA he went to Sporting Chance for help. I must commend Darren how he talks so straight about the disease and the steps he’s taken since his stay to turn his life around and make a good home for his family. He spent time volunteering and doing work within his local community before he went back to his first love and started coaching. If anyone in and out of football that listens to this podcast and that needs some help my DMs are always open. You can contact Darren on @j_kicks3 And if you are a PFA member you can contact them for help on +44 0330 2368850 and wellbeing@thepfa.com As always I hope you enjoy the episode and if in doubt “Turn it round the corner” corner” 👊🏻⚽️ #turnitroundthecorner #podcast #football #footballpodcast #premierleague #efl #nonleague #westham #southendunited #herefordfc #billericaytownfc #aveleyfc #brentwoodtownfc #harlowtownfc

Introduction to Episode 19. Part Two Darren Blewitt “No Haribo’s allowed” 👊🏻⚽️

Episode 19 - Part One. Darren Blewitt “Where’s your shin pads” Strap yourselves in as we haven’t had an episode like this one as yet and as a *WARNING* this episode comes with an explicit language warning for all you mums and dads getting there kids to listen for there football education.  I talk with my old teammate Blew about his current football school he has opened up and the work he is doing in his local community both with and without the ball.  We then scrape it back and talk about his start in grassroots football quickly being spotted by Norwich and after that regional centre closing being given the opportunity to sign for his family club and a team he could hear from his back garden on match days. We talk about his rise through the junior ranks, regularly playing up and excelling in the academy.We progress to his youth team days and how he waited by the phone of his house to find out he’d been given a two year pro deal with the club he loved. At this point events off the field are starting to become a distraction and we talk about those years as a pro, the missed debut at Upton Park and subsequent loan deals at both Southend United and Hereford. Following his release from West Ham we talk about how he dealt with that rejection, how he moved into non league and started work at Fords car factory.  We then come full circle and talk about his appearance and top corner penalty at Mark Nobles testimonial that laid a few demons to rest in a football sense but maybe opened up others that lead to issues with addiction and something we cover and dig into in part two. As always I hope you enjoy the episode and if in doubt “Turn it round the corner” 👊🏻⚽️ #turnitroundthecorner #podcast #football #footballpodcast #premierleague #efl #nonleague #westham #southendunited #herefordfc #billericaytownfc #aveleyfc #brentwoodtownfc #harlowtownfc 

Introduction to Episode 19. Darren Blewitt “Where’s your shin pads” 👊🏻⚽️

Episode 18 -  Mick White “34 countries and counting”. Part Two As always I hope you enjoy the episode and if in doubt “Turn it round the corner”. 👊🏻⚽️ This Episode is sponsored by: Essex Supplies https://www.essexsupplies.co.uk Essex Supplies has been established for over 30 years in a very competitive field. Their success has been down to a prompt service, reliability, good quality products and extremely competitive rates. They have a skilled team of sales advisors who will offer expert advice along with personal back up and support ensuring that all your requirements are met. Please contact Danny with all your enquiries, dan@essexsupplies.co.uk  

Episode 18 -  Mick White “34 countries and counting” Part One. I talk to Mick about his life travelling the globe coaching the game that he loves. From starting grassroots coaching after finishing playing early he got his break with AC Milan as an International coach. He then used his holiday allowance to travel the world with them which again got him an opportunity with FC Valletta in Malta running school camps that got him his chance to work with there academy for the next three years. His next big adventure took him to the US the same year Beckham arrived and he worked for the league and affiliated clubs raising the profile of the game for the next couple of years. Over the next ten years he would travel to Iceland (two stints), South Korea, Nigeria, Russia and India amongst others. During these spells he also spent time back in the UK working for Bolton Wanderers, Accrington Stanley and Rotherham United. His last few opportunities saw him work in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and back to India where unfortunately his wife got sick and led to them returning to Scotland where he currently resides in Livingston. Unbelievable experiences, such differences in the country’s he has visited, methods and coaching that changed, profiles of player’s that would alter but through it all is the unwavering love of improving clubs and players and his massive affection for the game. As always I hope you enjoy the episode and if in doubt “Turn it round the corner”. 👊🏻⚽️