What’s it really like being on both sides of academy football — as a coach and as a parent?

In this episode we sit down with Leroy McIntosh, a former professional academy coach turned academy dad.

Leroy’s journey started at Huddersfield Town before moving into a senior role at Barnsley FC, giving him a front-row seat to the realities of youth development in English football.

Now, he’s living it from the other side of the pitch as a football parent.

His son has spent time at Leeds United, Manchester United, and Manchester City, before signing for Man City Academy U9s.

Leroy joins us to share his unique perspective: the lessons he’s carried over from coaching into parenting, the challenges of academy football, and the advice he’d give to other mums and dads supporting their kids in the system as well as grassroots football in general.

In this episode we discuss:

• What Leroy would change about the academy system
• The key lessons he learnt as a coach that now help him as a football parent
• Practical tips for mums and dads navigating academy and grassroots football

• How to support your child without adding pressure

If you’re a football parent, grassroots coach, or just curious about life inside the academy system, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.