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The world of football has changed. The development we have seen over the past decade is breathtaking. For a long time, professional football has been evolving far beyond a Saturday afternoon beer with the mates, willing your team on to excellence and triumph on the pitch. It unites people from the most diverse backgrounds and gives purpose to so many, but it is a hard-fought industry. A world full of glory and recognition but also one filled with disappointment and pain. A world in which financial gain often prevails over a player’s well-being and in which a good performance outweighs the mental stability of the individual. A world in which the development and growth of women’s football is breaking records everywhere we look, but yet, these athletes are still fighting for acceptance, recognition and equal opportunity every single day. What is it truly like to be a professional athlete in this environment? How do you deal with your worth so often being sought to be dependent on your performance on the pitch? In this podcast we are ready to tackle bold topics in sport, highlight the women's football industry and speak about the unspoken. If you are ready to get an insight into what really goes on behind the scenes, join us on our journey and listen in to The Bold Tackle.
40 Episodes
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Recently, more and more professional athletes have shared their stories and experiences with mental health struggles. Their willingness to shed light on these internal battles is significant and has likely helped many people facing similar challenges, both on and off the pitch. But who supports these athletes during these tough times? Who is there for them when they are left alone with their thoughts?
Is there a connection between mental well-being and performance psychology? What if we told you that confidence isn't always necessary for peak performance? Jess Thom, the head of performance psychology for Team GB at this year’s Olympics, sat down with us to discuss these very topics. From the importance of training your brain to think positively to distinguishing between feelings and behaviors when discussing confidence, Jess provides incredible insights into her work. She also shares how everyone can use performance psychology to elevate their game.
With the last game for the 2023/24 season just having passed, in this week’s episode we will be taking the time to review and reflect on the past twelve months. As much as it’s fair to say that Leicester City’s women did not reward their performances with enough convincing results throughout the season, Sophie insists that, yet, it was a season that indicated that the club and team are moving in the right direction. A season with many challenges, that however was defined by and will be remembered for the team’s togetherness, resilience, and fight.
"What do you actually want to do with football?" That’s all it took for Christie to plot her path to get to where she wanted to be. It is this encounter with her PE teacher that challenged her to think about where she wanted to take 'this whole footballing thing' and to locate the stepping stones she needed to become the elite level athlete she is today.
This week, we were joined by Scotland international and Birmingham City captain Christie Harrison-Murray. After sharing her own journey that took her across the world and back again, we will be digging deep into Christie’s secret to performing at the elite level year after year. Further, we will be discussing Christie’s absolute team player mentality and how she manages to deal with challenges and setbacks. Lastly, Christie will be sharing her drive to give back to the next generation and will leave all listeners with her advice on what it takes to become a professional athlete.
Time to pass on the mic and switch sides. In this episode, we have turned the tables and give Oli a go on the hot seat. Oli will be answering a bunch of quick-fire questions to give us an insight into his life and way of thinking. From his hypothetical very first team meeting as manager and his journey and drive behind self-employment to the biggest lesson life has taught him in recent years – an episode full of remarkable insights. Thank you, Oli, for your vulnerability and for sharing your stories and knowledge. A slightly uncomfortable experience for the man usually in charge of the questions, but one that has given our listeners an incredible insight into who Oli is and what we can all learn from the eldest of us four.
Looking to close the gap to the teams above or wanting to increase the gap behind? This year, the table standing for Leicester’s Women is very different to last year’s and after Bristol’s loss at the weekend, the team mathematically is safe and has nothing to do with relegation. How does this change your mindset or even playing style? What are the feelings in camp? And, given last year’s history, did relegation play any role throughout the season?
In this week’s episode, we will be looking at the current league standing for Leicester and will herewith discuss the different existing feelings compared to this time around last year. Further, we will be highlighting the misalignment of performances and results for the team and will be addressing the importance of the final three games – collectively and individually.
It’s been an absolute rollercoaster of emotions for the Leicester Women these last couple of days. Excitement, nerves, joy, heartbreak, disappointment, and pride. They’ve been through it all. In this week’s episode we will be discussing and analysing last weekend’s FA Cup semi final between the Foxes and Spurs. Here, we will be discussing the present battle between disappointment and pride and will be hearing a few new voices sharing their thoughts on the game and messages for the fans.
The dramatic start to Scotland’s Euros qualifying campaign, the anticipation of the upcoming FA Cup semi-final and a whole load of listeners’ questions – it’s safe to say we had a fair bit to catch up on. In this episode, recorded almost immediately after Scotland’s win over Slovakia, Sophie will be talking you through her thoughts on the past Scotland camp and will re-iterate the importance of and her excitement for this upcoming weekend. Further, she will be taking the time to answer all your questions and will herewith be discussing topics ranging from the importance of mental preparation for the big occasions to how the fear of regrets and complacency have driven her career in many moments.
In this week’s episode we will be putting Sophie on the hot seat as she will be answering a collection of quick-fire questions which Oli has put together. And let’s just say, he knew where to start digging. A slightly different conversation but one that's equally insightful and honest.
Every football team will most likely at some point go through a transition phase in which many senior players are replaced by younger, upcoming talents. The question herewith often lies in the timing of such transition. When is the right time for such a transition and what value does experience play over energetic feistiness. How would you look to put together your squad if you had the choice and what role does actual footballing skill play in your composition?
In this week’s episode, we will be taking a closer look at the men’s German National Team that has quite clearly undergone a fair few transitions in the last couple of years. Here, we will be discussing the importance of the balance between senior and junior players within the squad and will be addressing the importance of anticipating and allowing for a re-build phase. Lastly, we will be highlighting the value of communication and clarity regarding the players’ roles and responsibilities in fostering healthy competition and high performance behaviours.
Women’s football has greatly advanced in the latest decade to the point that nowadays, girls wanting to start and pursuit their footballing journey can do so in fully established girls teams, leagues and competitions. This was obviously not the case about 15 years ago where many girls that wanted to start playing football had to start with “the boys”. This was also the case for Sophie when she started all those years ago back in Germany.
In this episode we will be discussing Sophie’s early footballing days. Here, Sophie will be sharing how these early years playing in boys’ teams and leagues had an immense impact on her as a person and player nowadays. Further, we will be addressing potential challenges and barriers Sophie had to face and will be discussing the importance of the great character of the group of guys within her team and more importantly the role her twin sister played in embracing these challenges to reach her full potential.
Another historic weekend for the Leicester Women! After a big FA Cup quarter-final battle on Saturday against Liverpool which ended in a 2-0 win for the Foxes, Leicester’s Women advanced to the semi-finals for the very first time in the club’s history. Now, they’ve been drawn Spurs for the semi-finals mid-April. In this episode, we’ll be discussing Leicester Women’s historic win last weekend and will be highlighting the semi-final draw. Further, we’ll be discussing the celebration around international women’s day and will lastly be discussing and celebrating Sophie’s latest achievement. All around, an episode full of appreciation and congratulations.
Sarah Green is a performance coach developer currently working for England Netball. She describes herself as a disruptive thinker who is passionate about helping others become better. But what really is a coach developer? How do you become one and what does the role entail?
In this episode, Sarah will be giving us an insight into her career as a performance coach developer. She will be sharing her own journey that got her to the role and position she currently has and will be highlighting her motivation to support and assist coaches to become the best they can be.
Think back to a time in your life where you encountered a person that had a remarkable impact on you. A person that inspired you. A person that earned your respect and trust. A person that got the best you out of you. Who is this person for you? Maybe this person was somebody at work. Maybe it’s someone in your family or maybe it’s a complete stranger that had the ability to captivate you and for some reason you were suddenly all in.
In this episode we will be discussing the meaning of leadership and the value of great leaders in sport. Further, we will be highlighting the importance of recognising and fostering various leadership types and will discuss our non-negotiables and fundamental attributes of leaders nowadays. Lastly, we will be giving our opinions on current leaders in sport and will share our very own experiences of great leadership in our professional and personal lives.
After a busy time for Sophie at the King Power stadium last weekend, we sat down to discuss the role and importance of the Foxes supporters for the team, the club and Sophie herself. In this episode, we will be highlighting what the fan’s support means to Sophie and how this strong connection has developed and evolved over the years. Further, we will be addressing the unique fan base of women’s football and will be discussing the importance of building relationships and connections with the community to further grow the game and build a strong supporters base. Last, but certainly not least, Sophie expresses her gratitude towards a community that has allowed her to feel at home and build a life in a once foreign place, and leaves a personal message around appreciation and encouragement for all the Foxes fans.
After last week’s win over Birmingham, Leicester City have now been drawn Liverpool in the FA Cup Quarterfinal. A hopefully exciting game that both teams will be looking to advance from. But what about league? And international?
In this episode, we will be discussing the latest ongoings at club and country for Sophie. After discussing the latest FA Cup fixture against Birmingham, we’ll be discussing the quarter final draw and will be looking ahead to what’s next for Leicester in the WSL and for Scotland in the upcoming international window. Further, we’ll be discussing Emma Hayes’ departure from Chelsea, what her exit means for the WSL and we will be highlighting the need to support female football players taking the first step towards coaching during their playing career.
As a professional athlete you travel the world and get to know different cultures. Surely, as you’re part of a team you’re never lonely and seemingly always happy. You benefit from sponsorships and preferential treatment – in the end, you’re a professional.
In this episode, we will be discussing the clichés of the game and profession. Have we maybe developed an untrue perception of overall glory and fame, of benefits and perks? As much as football in Sophie’s eyes is the best job in the world and she is immensely grateful for the life football has given her, we are keen to address external assumptions that are made and voiced far too hastily.
I think it’s fair to say that it’s been very sad news for every single Liverpool supporter this past week – Jürgen Klopp has announced that he will be leaving the Reds at the end of the 2023/24 season. After an incredibly successful spell at the club, Klopp will be departing as one of the greatest. But what makes Klopp so good? Why is he so loved by the fans and the community and how come his players - present and past - speak so highly of their manager? In this episode we will be discussing managers in the game. What does it really mean to ‘manage a team’ and what are fundamental values and attributes a manager needs to display. What role does communication play when leading a team and how can you foster team togetherness despite the challenges of team selection and individual disappointment.
From crying in the changing room wondering what she was doing ‘here’ to winning the Women’s Champion’s League twice and being Belgium’s most capped women’s player - It’s fair to say Janice Cayman is an incredible athlete who used her passion for the game to overcome frustration and disappointment and to go and pursuit her dreams. Now, Janice is part of Leicester City’s set-up and is looking to bring her top-class quality and experience to this ‘exciting project’.
In this episode Janice shares her own story that led to her prosperous career. She gives us an insight into the foundation behind Lyon’s success, what it meant to play for the world’s biggest club and will share her motivation to publish an autobiography early last year. If not obvious before, after this discussion it’s safe to say that Jancie is not only an amazing football player, but an incredible person whose attributes will be embraced by both our current mission and future generations.
There’s no doubt that Women’s Football has come a long way in recent years and has undergone an incredible development to get to the stage that it’s at now. But what really are the biggest changes from a decade ago? What does a professional set up entail and what support is offered to the athletes to reach their potential? In this episode we will be discussing the impressive development of women’s football and will compare current set -ups with those from ten years ago. Further, we will be highlighting the demands of athletes on and off the pitch and will discuss how becoming a professional athlete is not simply a job but more a commitment to a lifestyle fully dedicated to the sport. And lastly, we will be addressing the importance of feedback for the development as a player and person and will be discussing the idea of a mentorship program that in Sophie’s eyes could be a missing piece to the professional set up.
Head knocks and head injuries – a topic close to Sophie’s heart and a topic that she is not only passionate about but unfortunately also has a fair bit of experience with. Soph received her latest concussion during the last game in 2023 before the Christmas break and has fortunately managed to recover smoothly and quickly and is back on the pitch working hard. In this episode we will be discussing head injuries in football and will be highlighting Sophie’s experience herewith during her career. Finally, we will be looking at the impact of heading load on training management and why Sophie demanded to see a head trauma/brain specialist after a conversation with her family.
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