The BackPage

In this latest episode, Daniel Geey is joined by immigration expert and fellow partner at Sheridans, Owen Jones. Dan and Owen talk about the old work permit regime, the new regulatory system and some of the nuances that will impact on players transferring into the UK.

To kick off series 2, Daniel Geey and Jonny Madill are joined by Tim Wigmore, award-winning journalist and co-author of the recently released book that so many connected to sport are talking about at the moment: “'The Best. How Elite Athletes are Made”. The book is an inside track on superhuman performance and how the world’s greatest athletes are made. It combines cutting edge science with exclusive insights from some of the world’s greatest athletes and coaches - to help us understand what makes them the best at what they do. Tim joins Dan and Jonny to talk about some of the themes running through the book, such as the ‘luck of birth’ and how that impacts who becomes successful, and why younger siblings have a significantly greater chance of becoming elite athletes than older brothers and sisters. He also explains why elite athletes are more likely to come from a certain place or school, and delves into the psychology of champions as well as what science says about the psychology of ‘choking’ - a concept so familiar and so widely described yet so poorly understood. Tim provides a fascinating insight into high performance sport and the mindset of elite athletes. “The Best. How Elite Athletes are Made”is available to purchase online: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-How-Champions-Are-Made/dp/1529304350

Daniel Geey is joined by Abdul to talk about his fantastic career as an elite athlete. We talk about his roots and growing up, adapting to university and training life at Loughborough, competing at international level and some of his early setbacks, the highs of qualifying and representing Team GB in his home London 2012 Olympics and pivoting from elite athlete into the financial services sector. 

Mark Pollock is no ordinary inspirational figure. In 1998 at the age of 22, he went suddenly blind. Mark dealt with this life changing moment by becoming an adventure athlete, competing in ultra-endurance races across deserts, mountains, and the polar ice caps including becoming the first blind person to race to the South Pole. He also won medals for rowing at the Commonwealth Games and became a now world famous motivational speaker. In 2010, however, Mark was dealt another devastating blow when he fell from a second story window and was nearly killed. Mark broke his back and the damage to his spinal cord left him paralysed. Since then, Mark has been on a new expedition, to find a cure for paralysis in our lifetime. To help achieve this goal and deal with the ongoing impact of his catastrophic spinal cord injury, Mark set up the incredible global running series called Run in the Dark 10 years ago. Run In The Dark is a mass running event that takes place simultaneously in cities all round the world: from Dublin to London to Belfast to Sydney. This year, because of Covid-19, Run In The Dark will be going virtual. As darkness sweeps around the globe on 18 November, 25,000 people worldwide will get up from their living rooms, slip on their red flashing armbands and put on their running shoes to complete a 5k or 10k. Running separately while connecting socially across 7 continents, this global movement will light up the night as people hit the road to Run in the Dark for the Mark Pollock Trust. All to enable Mark to pursue his personal mission to find a cure paralysis. Mark joins Andrew Nixon and Jonny Madill and talks about the incredible RITD journey and how it’s become a truly global brand, and the challenges this year of trying to run an international event virtually. Mark also talks about his inspirational journey and experiences in overcoming the sort of adversity that most of us can only begin to imagine. He talks about his mind-boggling achievements as an adventurist and explorer, most notably becoming the first blind person to race to the South Pole, which became the subject of a famous book by Ben Fogle and James Cracknell who competed in the event that same year. The other 8 competing teams had sight; Mark did it without that essential sense, in unimaginable conditions for 43 days and nights across the world’s most brutal terrain. Mark also talks about the subject of Stoicism and the teachings of Stoic philosophy, a mindset that has served him well and one he is well qualified to talk about. As a speaker, Mark is best known for his 2018 TED Talk. It’s called “A love letter to realism in a time of grief” and is delivered jointly with his fiancée, Simone George. It’s got over 1.7 million views and counting, and has inspired people in hundreds of organisations round the world. Mark is also the subject of the acclaimed documentaries ‘Blind Man Walking’ and ‘Unbreakable’. To have Mark share his story on The BackPage has been a true honour and inspiration. It makes us all reflect on what is truly possible – in sport, and in business – when we put our minds to it. Check out the Run In The Dark social channels or website for more info on the event on 18 November and for details of how you or your company can sign up: www.runinthedark.org. Mark’s inspirational 2018 Ted Talk (“A love letter to realism in a time of grief”) can also be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvfydcUeXls

In part 2 of this special two-part episode, Christine Ohuruogu talks to Andrew Nixon and Jonny Madill about the challenges facing both track and field and traditional sports more generally, especially making sport more attractive to a younger audience and increasing participation levels. She discusses the mental challenges facing athletes in the lead up to the rescheduled Tokyo Games, and also tells of how a conversation with a barrister some years ago led her to embark on a new career in the law, which culminated in her graduating from Queen Mary University with a law degree in July 2019. As well as being a true champion, Christine is open, honest and inspirational in how she talks about the sport she loves and the lessons she learned.

In part 1 of this special two-part episode, Andrew Nixon and Jonny Madill are joined by former world and Olympic 400m champion and one of Britain’s greatest and most decorated athletes, Christine Ohuruogu MBE. Christine looks back at how she first got into athletics and her memories of growing up in Newham, the backdrop of the London 2012 Olympics. She talks about the highs and lows of her career journey on the track including what it was like to become the first ever British woman to win 400m Olympic gold in Beijing 2008, as well as her silver medal at London 2012 and her double world championship gold. She also talks openly and honestly about the setbacks during her career, including the intrusive media attention after she was suspended for missing three out-of-competition tests in 2006, a ban that was later overturned. As well as being a true champion, Christine is open, honest and inspirational in how she looks back at her career and the lessons she learned.

This episode is in partnership with the DfY Foundation set up by Nick Robinson, founder of leading sports talent agency ISC. DfY uses elite athlete ambassadors to help inspire kids who don’t have access to good role models, mentors or the same privileges in life as others. In this episode Daniel Geey is joined by two of Nick's professional athlete clients, Zoe Smith and Freddie Burns, to discuss their role in the DfY Foundation, their career journeys and some of their setbacks and challenges along the way. DfY is right in the middle of a fundraising campaign, and you can donate here: https://natwestbackherbusiness.co.uk/dfy and find out more about DfY here: www.dfy.org.uk. Read more about the brilliant ISC here: www.weareisc.com.

In this episode Andrew Nixon and Jonny Madill are joined by guest Steve Martin, the global CEO of world-renowned sports marketing agency M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment. As one of the leading figures in the industry for the past 20 years, Steve talks about his recent relocation from London to Australia to launch M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment’s new Sydney office and explore other growth opportunities. He also talks about the opportunities for brands and rights holders now that the ‘reset’ button has been pressed, and lessons from lockdown when it comes to using digital to activate creative partnerships. Steve also gives his insight on Tokyo 2021, the empowering online influence of athletes like Marcus Rashford, opportunities for brands within esports, and a host of other takeaways from recent months for the industry. He finishes with a chat with Andrew and Jonny about his emotional ties to Northern Irish and Irish sport, his plans for the future and his favourite sporting autobiographies.

In this episode Jonny Madill and Daniel Geey are joined by Adrian Bevington, one of the football industry’s most experienced communications and senior leadership executives to discuss everything from Project Restart and how the football industry can navigate the current crisis, to opportunities for sports clubs and brands to think creatively and stand out from the crowd, and the importance of leadership and effective comms in challenging times like these. Adrian, who spent 17 years at the FA as first Communications Director and then Club England Managing Director, and has worked at 5 World Cups and 3 European Championships, also talks about England’s “golden generation” and shares his memories with Jonny of England’s infamous World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in 2005!

In this episode Andrew Nixon talks to Joanna Coates, CEO of UK Athletics on a range a topics including a new chapter for athletics, “that match” against Australia, leadership in sport, women’s sport and “the Last Dance”. It is a fascinating conversation.

In this episode Andrew Nixon and Chris Paget talk to Simon Dent, Founder and CEO of Dark Horses, on a range a topics including setting up a different type of sports creative agency, building an incredible team, leadership, mental health in sport and the 5am club . It is a fascinating conversation.

In this episode Daniel Geey was joined by Adam Osper and Pete Hackleton to talk about the conversations they are having with their clients from a practical financial and tax perspective. We discussed issues relating to: the Government putting pressure on players to give up 30% of their salaries, and what would be the wider implications of this; key tax and financial investment considerations for Premier League players in the current environment; wider issues to consider with regard to a salary deferral at Premier League clubs; and issues that clients are facing in the current climate and the typical conversations/concerns they are having.

Daniel Geey talks to ISC Founder Nick Robinson about his time as a sports agent including insight on: - working across football and rugby;  - his great tips on how to leverage contract and transfer negotiations;  - his satisfaction in getting a deal across the line; and - why he set up his fantastic charity DFY. You can follow Nick, ISC and DFY using the below handles. Twitter: @weareisc  @dfysports Instagram: @weareisc  @dfysports @nickrobinsonisc

Jonny Madill chats to Drew Townley, CEO and co-founder of global esports and gaming agency Kairos Esports, about the opportunities for traditional sports, athletes and brands to explore esports and gaming as a means of engaging a new audience. Drew talks about the recent rise in esports viewership and engagement in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and how athletes and brands are increasingly turning to esports and gaming activations as a means of filling the void left by the absence of live sport.

Andrew Nixon⁠ recently sat down for a conversation with ⁠Dame Tracey Crouch⁠, former MP for Chatham and Aylesford and a former Minister for Sport, and of course the former chair of the now famous Fan Led Review which resulted in the White Paper on Football Governance.In this second part, Andrew and Dame Tracey covered everything from the Fan Led Review, and the Football Governance Bill, to the future of women’s sport (and why women’s football wasn’t part of the Fan Led Review) and Dame Tracey’s transition from the public to private sector.Dame Tracey also answered the question we ask all our guests: “what trends do you predict will impact the sports sector over the next few years?”.