This week, Ben and Mike, chat with Ben's old football manager Martin Skinner—a legendary (and unfiltered) former coach of the Brentwood Boys. In this episode, Martin unloads a treasure trove of memories: crazy van rides, dodgy leg rubs, makeshift training camps and a philosophy that mixed old-school discipline with raw devotion.

With his trademark wit and razor-sharp memory, Martin reflects on how he stumbled into coaching, what it was like managing Ben and the challenge of running a youth team while holding down a 3am fish market shift.

From fake poo pranks to coaching his own son, Martin explains that you don’t need to be a master tactician to get a group of boys to play for you — you just need to understand them, make them laugh and they’ll run through walls for you.

He also shares why coaching the kids’ football team was one of the greatest experiences of his life.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

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This week, Ben and Mike sit down with Paul Barry, head of coaching at Crystal Palace for U8–U12s and a 28-season veteran of the foundation phase.

Paul offers real insight on what really matters when coaching kids—from using words like "fireworks" and "magnets" to help the kids understand tactics and shape, to handling overzealous parents with clear communication and understanding.

Expect smart, practical advice on managing the jump from 5-to-7-a-side, improving player focus and how to set up a killer 60-minute session—plus why one-word feedback might be your secret weapon.

He also talks about coaching the parents, avoiding the "chimp brain," and why football is about shaping kids for the next 25 years—not the next 25 minutes.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

Paul Barry's children's books:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Mr-Paul-David-Barry/author/B08VCXJZJG

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

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In this episode of It’s Only Kids Football, Ben and Mike are joined by former Arsenal and England full-back Kieran Gibbs for a chat about the grassroots experiences that shaped his professional journey and the mission driving his post-playing career.

From Sunday mornings with the Purley Panthers to the pressure cooker of Hale End and winning trophies with the Gunners, Kieran shares vivid memories, hard lessons and the importance of keeping the joy in kids’ football.

He talks candidly about the emotional highs and lows—from missing a penalty as a kid to battling for his scholarship at Arsenal—and how having a twin brother by his side helped him reach the top.

Now based in Miami, Kieran explains how he's channelling those experiences into One FC, a youth academy aiming to shift the culture of American soccer.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

One FC

https://onefcmiami.com/

https://www.instagram.com/onefcmiami/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

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Ben and Mike mark 50 episodes with a tournament win that means way more than it should. They laugh, cringe and nearly cry as they relive the game, the chaos, and the goal that set off a celebration even more embarrassing than Mike’s tiny car.

They relive every kick from the tournament and talk about what these little moments really mean as dads and coaches. They also reflect on two recent friendlies: a dominant display against the Greens where everything clicked and a tough loss to the Blues that tested their mentality and their coaching egos. Plus, they look back on what they’ve learned across 50 episodes — the mistakes, the progress and the moments that make it all worthwhile.

Also in the mix: how training’s finally clicking, set-piece genius (sort of) and whether launching their own tournament is the best or worst idea they’ve ever had.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ben and Mike sit down with Paul Horwood, co-founder of PL One Goalkeeping, the leading goalkeeping academy in Essex.

From transforming our very own Alby into confident shot-stoppers to dealing with parents on the sidelines, Paul shares honest, practical advice for coaches navigating the unique challenges of developing youth goalkeepers.

Drawing on his extensive experience, Paul shares insights into spotting natural talent, prioritising confidence and bravery over perfect early technique and fostering mental development.

He addresses common coaching mistakes, emphasising realistic, game-related sessions and the power of quiet encouragement over shouting.

The discussion also covers developing passing and footwork and the crucial role of play and fun in a goalkeeper's growth. This episode is packed with actionable advice for anyone looking to help young keepers thrive.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

Where to find PL1: https://pl1goalkeeping.co.uk/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ben and Mike are joined by renowned neuroscientist and best-selling author, Dr Dean Burnett, to explore what’s really going on inside young players’ minds and why even the calmest parents can turn into full-blown lunatics on the touchline.

From daydreaming and memory lapses to executive function and emotional regulation, Dean unpacks the science behind how children develop and why grassroots football is a uniquely chaotic learning environment for players and parents alike.

They also dig into the long-term impact of sideline behaviour, the real risks of head injuries and how sport shapes social and cognitive growth.

Where to find Dean: https://www.deanburnett.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

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This week, Ben and Mike sit down with Josh Paul, the inspiring coach behind Fit4Football, to explore the power of the “three-second rule” to the simple, game-changing strategies that keep kids engaged.

Josh shares his no-nonsense wisdom on getting players to listen, talk and move with purpose. They unpack the realities of grassroots football—losing players, managing teams and dealing with social media trolls and dive into how to help kids build awareness, develop leadership on the pitch and bounce back from setbacks.

Josh also opens up about his own journey, from growing up playing in his local park to becoming one of the most relatable voices in youth coaching. This episode is packed with practical tools for parents and coaches who want to raise confident, self-motivated kids, both on and off the field.

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ben and Mike are joined by Danny Welch - Ben’s dad - for a brutally honest, funny and nostalgic deep-dive into youth football, fatherhood and tough love.

Danny reflects on his old-school approach to parenting, his sideline shouting and why he believed being hard on Ben was the only way to build resilience. They swap stories of freezing rain, tough tackles and touchline scraps, painting a vivid picture of what kids' football looked like in the ‘90s and just how much it’s changed today.

There’s laughter over managers who didn’t know what tactics were and touching memories of how football became the glue in their relationship. They tackle what it means to push your child, when to step back and how those muddy pitches shaped who they both are today.

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.