The Raymond Wood Podcast

After squandering his opportunity at international rugby, Lachlan Stuart has spent much of his adult life setting himself new challenges. This next one's a MASSIVE one — Lachie is setting out to do 58 marathons in 58 days across 50 US States and the 8 States and Territory of Australia. He's raising money for mental awareness, and you can pitch in by either sponsoring or even joining him for one of his runs! Listen into the podcast for an inspirational chat about overcoming imposter syndrome and making your mark on the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boxing is one of the most physical sports imaginable, but it's also a mental game. For Connor Wallace, injury took him from an unbeaten streak to having to start again. This is a great chat with one of the world's greatest boxers about dealing with injury and finding your burning hunger to get back in the ring after a setback.Tickets to Connors Fight - https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/tasman-fighters-presents-xmas-cracker-wallace-brisbane-11-12-2024/event/13006166B4018166?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaWCkKrAIMehrX1W216mcmJG4Ib-FuygWdotogD94dCf5WyVHp2lyQrYpk_aem_pZildfGToMnxxyD9keoTygSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's first FREE football Academy is opening in Brisbane! In this episode, Raymond Wood talks us through the details about what you need to do to be part of this incredible opportunity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do a few British expats mad about watching sport decide to start a Brisbane outpost of the Barmy Army? We chat with George Gallantree, one of the founders of the ‘Brisbane Barmies', about turning his lifelong passion for sport into a charity fundraising machine. We talk about George's lifelong love of football and his bizarre encounters with some big clubs in his younger years — despite knowing pretty early that he wasn't going to make it as a pro. A great listen about how it's possible to make ‘being a sports fan' into a huge and meaningful part of life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to one of our newest recruits about his first few months on the Pro Player Pathway. What pushed him to sign up, what did his match analysis with a Tranmere Rovers coach uncover, and what changes has he already seen in his game? We talk diet, GPS trackers, and what the pathway is for Nathan to come along on European trials next year. Also, a tip for parents to help their kids with their scanning game, and Nathan genuinely surprises Ray with his pick of where he'd like to play in Europe. Tune in!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to Liverpool great John Barnes about his young life in Jamaica, and how his love of many sports contributed to making him the player that would one day represent England. We talk about his views on the importance of a long ‘apprenticeship' before moving to a bigger club, and his experience learning ‘the Liverpool Way'. Also, are we coaching our senior players too much — or should we just let our players, play? Tune in for all this and so much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's your dream for professional football? Lachlan joined our program at the end of ‘23, and he's got great vision for his footballing future- both on and off the pitch. We speak to Lachie about his time on the program so far and how he's getting ready for European trials in January. Listen in for a great chat with a young player with a promising future in the beautiful game. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This ep we're chatting to Kai Henning, one of the players from our program who has made it to the UK and is currently at Stephen Gerrard's Academy in Liverpool. He tells us about his experience on the Pro Player Pathway Program, his UK tours and trials, and what it's actually like to live, study, and play at a top academy in the UK- including what it's like to play in the National Youth League! We love bringing you stories of young players who have done our program and have made it to Europe, so tune in for a great chat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 months on our Professional Pathway Program, a move to Brisbane, and signing as an U17s player for Logan Lightning: it's been a pretty wild year for 15 year old Maya Allsop. But 2025 is going to be even bigger, as she takes on her European trials. We talk about her improvement on the Program over the last 12 months, how she went from 30% to 85% in her scanning scores, and why she feels that wearing a GPS is like having a coach right beside you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So much in this ep for players and parents- and a GIVEAWAY! We are very lucky in Australia to have an academy coach of the calibre of Luiz Ruiz. In this jam-packed chat we talk about how the South American game differs from the European and Australian, and how Luis' childhood challenges of poverty gave him a burning hunger for the game. We talk about why he sees Aussie kids going head to head with European players at age 7-13…but then sees the skill gap balloon out massively in the teenage years. How do we fix that, and the other issues plaguing Aussie football pathways? Tune in to find out in this fascinating conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does someone who admits she started out with ‘no talent, no skills, and no coaches' grow up to play with the Matildas and Liverpool? Find out in this EPIC podcast chat with one of Australia's football stars, as we discuss Emily Gielnik's obsession with repetition, why she still trains with the men's side, and how it felt to be on the sidelines with injury during the Women's World Cup. Plus, a barnstorming chat about building the next generation of Australian footballers through better pro pathways and programs like her Future Baller Clinic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to Jackson Booth, who joined our program a few months ago and whose game is going strength to strength as he works his way towards European trials. He talks us through his match analysis meeting with Danny Clarke that showed the issue with his scanning skills, and how wearing our GPS tracker has revealed the TRUTH rather than his opinion about how a game went. This ep is for someone who wants to understand the player experience inside our program and how it can dramatically and rapidly change your game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I started Euro Football Star, all I knew was that I wanted to help young people get better at football, and give them chances to play in Europe. But I didn't really understand the greater purpose of it yet. Today's guest, Cathy Dimarchos, helped me see that there was a much bigger picture at work —and that our job at Euro Football Star is not just about giving players their pathway to professional football, but also helping them use football to build a good life- on the pitch, off the pitch, and long after they've played their final game. Tune in for a great chat about finding your purpose. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to coaching for pace and performance, our latest podcast guest has done it all, with a standout career helping athletes succeed across American college football, basketball, football, AFL and more. We talk with Stuart Briggs of Acceleration Australia about the importance of pace— that crucial 0-20 metre acceleration— and working on a quality running form that is smooth and injury free. We talk about why Stuart doesn't like being called a strength and conditioning coach, about the revolution in training referees as athletes, and how you can use AI to learn your first-step quickness. This is a jam-packed episode full of good stuff for players and parents. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a treat we have in store for you with this one. What happens when the floodlights shut off on your football career, and no-one's screaming your name anymore? Or what happens when your life takes off in a direction you didn't plan for? Join us for this inspiring Q&A from Wembley Stadium with former Real Madrid player Sergio Carrallo and reality TV star Caroline Stanbury about football lessons for life, the value of hustle, and the joy of finding out your next chapter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes you just want to hear from someone who's done it, and the parent that's stood there beside them. We talked to Liam, a young player on our pro player pathway and his dad Colin about how the program has allowed him to identify weaknesses in his game, his diet, and his mindset as he worked towards his successful academy trials. Even better, this player was based in the OZ and is now living the dream in the UK! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we delve into the core principles underpinning professional success in football with our special guest, Danny Clarke. With over a decade of experience in the game, Danny shares his invaluable insights gained from working across various countries and cultures. We explore the six key pillars essential for thriving in the professional football landscape. From the significance of nutrition and recovery to uncovering the pivotal role of individual ownership, Danny offers a comprehensive perspective on what it takes to excel in the pro game. Whether you're already on the professional player pathway or considering joining, this episode provides essential guidance and inspiration for your football journey. Tune in as we uncover the secrets to unlocking your full potential in the world of football.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The remarkable journey of Sunaina Jaswal. From her roots in India to making waves in the Australian sports industry, Sunaina shares her inspiring story of advocating for gender equity and diversity in sports. She is a champion for women's inclusion, and offers her perspective on the challenges and triumphs of transforming sports culture.

How young is too young to get an agent? What does an agent do, and how important is it that they are across the intricacies of contract law? We talk about the versatile jobs of an agent from helping with brand management, social media, mental health, financial planning, and planning your life after sport.  All this and more in a cracking episode with sports agent Jamieson Doyle-Taylor, founder of G2G sports and agent for AFL players, Olympians, basketballers and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happened for Aussie kids in the 2000s who had the drive to go pro, but who had no access to professional player pathways, no scouts, and no route to European academies? Well, if you were like today's guest, Chris Chatholos, you picked up the phone, pretended to be an agent, and booked your own trials.And it very nearly worked…   For people like Chris, professional player pathways are the opportunity that he never had. We dive into fate, empty promises, and why pathways matter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Foster joins us to answer questions from around the world about how Reebok started, and the hurdles and lessons along the way. From his grandfather inventing the track spike in to starting the Reebok business in the 1950s with 250 pounds, this is a story of how a man started a company…and ran with it. Joe Foster will be coming to Australia in June to appear alongside actor Vince Vaughn at the Power of Success conference —book your tickets to hear more of his business insights in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's guest has seen all sides of football. First as a professional player, then the boss of the English FA, Mark Palios is now the owner of his own football team, the Tranmere Rovers. In a career that saw him stabilise the FA and save the Wembley Stadium build from crippling debt, this man is a testament to how wide-ranging a career in football can be if you just keep learning. From looking abroad to improve coaching and talent acquisition, to encouraging players to continue with education alongside their playing career, Mark Palios' view of academies and player pathways is a very different beast. He's doing things differently at Tranmere too, giving players not just one pathway into a life of football, but many. What a treat you have in store for you. Players and parents, listen up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're joined on the podcast by Bonnie Hancock- IronWoman and holder of the world record for paddling around Australia on a ‘tippy' eight kilogram carbon fibre ski. She shares the perils and terrors of the journey as she encountered sharks and crocs in the north, hypothermia in the south, and the fear and shock of falling out 3-5 times a day in the most dangerous waters in the world. Bonnie did all this to raise money and awareness for mental fitness —not realising just how much this challenge would test her own. This is a story about following your gut, digging deep, and scrapping like hell until you make it to your goal. A message that can be applied to success in football or any sport, but more importantly, in life itself. It's a cracker of an episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this ep, we talk to Sammy Lee about the importance of rising to a challenge—whether that's overcoming being ‘vertically challenged' at just 5"3, facing supporters after a loss, or the difficulty of winning the European Cup in the era of straight knockouts. Lee is a big believer in letting kids do the work. Of parents needing to let go a bit and let the coach, coach. The importance of facing failure in the face- whether as a player or a coach, and what you can learn at the pub from a die-hard armchair supporter. It's a ripper of an episode with one of the greats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We bring you the legendary Phil Thompson, and what an episode it is. Growing up in Liverpool in the era of the Beatles, Phil spent his childhood playing football between the lampposts on the streets of Kirkby, before being scouted and ultimately picked up by Liverpool. We talk about what it was like growing up in a town where so much football talent emerged from, his truly extraordinary career, and some wild tales from his era as a player — including the time he left the Champions League trophy on the bus.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us for a great chat with Anthony Klarica, as we discuss the rise of sports psychology and athlete wellbeing and the importance of getting your mindset right to become a champion. We cover treating failures like hurdles, getting off the emotional rollercoaster of wins and losses, and mindset being the difference between maintaining your motivation at different phases of life. What makes one teen stick at football when their mates start falling away? Why don't athletes throw in the towel when they miss out on the Olympics, or when a string of injuries keeps them off the pitch? How do you assess your own performance in a way that doesn't make you spiral into self-criticism? It's all about mindset, and we've got one of the best in the biz here to talk to us about it.  Let's get into it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to an absolute belter of an episode with Leicester and Liverpool legend Emile Heskey. We chat about Emile's childhood love of athletics, and how his life took a different track when a football scout came to watch him play at school. We also get his views on Australia's untapped talent, and how we need to stop holding the kids back in an outdoors nation where everyone could grow up with a ball at their feet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're not wearing a GPS tracker, you're not keeping up with the most basic expectation of any academy in Europe. In this episode, we explain our decision to give every member of Euro Football Star their own Statsport tracker. Find out how your GPS stats can integrate right into your objectives in our portal and keep you accountable, as well as how you can use them to compare yourself to players around the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this ep recorded in the UK at the home of the Bolton Wanderers, we talk to Neil Pointon, former left-back for Man City and Everton and now a coach at Bolton Wanderers Academy. We talk about his young start, the huge importance of game time as a junior, —and how, as a coach, it only takes a session to spot it: that rare level of motivation and game sense that will make a kid a pro.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this mini episode, we talk about the football plan that we use in our professional player pathway. We're thrilled to announce that our players will be able to access their data at a touch of a button via our Football Plan Portal — including their GPS tracker data, match analysis, objectives, and nutrition results — plus a whole lot more. Listen to find out more about how this great bit of tech will help you develop your game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At Euro Football Pathways, we believe that Mums and Dads shouldn't be doing the heavy lifting for their kids to succeed on the field. Sure, parents are there to support, but in our system, we use better technology and practices to build personal responsibility in the players themselves and develop their game. Find out what we do differently in this ep.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflammation in the body is the enemy of performance. In this mini-ep, we talk about how intolerance testing can help players identify the foods and products that are causing inflammation, leading to injuries and stopping them from reaching their potential. The Player League has been using this tool to individualise player nutrition for years, now our players can get this advantage too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're all about player pathways here at Euro Football Star, so we thought it was time to introduce one of the young players who have experienced a free trip to Europe thanks to our program. We speak to 11-year-old Charlotte Ainsworth, who has already gotten to play at Liverpool, Manchester United and The Bolton Wanderers after she blitzed our objective testing program and won the trip of a lifetime. Charlotte and her dad Ben chat with us about what it was like to get to train with these big UK clubs, the differences they could see with the Australian system, and how far Charlotte has come since those early days when her talent wasn't so apparent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk to former Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Robert Kolak about his young start in Western Sydney, the advantages of playing up an age bracket, and the ‘lucky' and ‘unlucky' breaks that would shape his career. After an incredible start that led to him getting offers from European clubs, a collapsed contract sent him on a different path. These experiences showed Rob the importance of giving young players the mental preparation so they are truly ready for their big break—as well as the tools to cope when things don't work out as planned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Cup and Champions League player Kew Jaliens delivers a storm of insight from his 20 years as a professional footballer in Holland and around the world — and how the way things are done in Europe might hold some lessons for developing players here in Australia. Now a mindset coach for athletes and entrepreneurs in Australia, Kew chats about the value of playing on the streets growing up, and testing yourself against players who are older, bigger and stronger. Above all, this one's about mindset, and the value of setting your goals as high as you can, and chasing them down. It's a great ep with something for everyone. Have a listen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when you realise the pro track might not work out for you as a player, but you know that no matter what, your career is still going to be in football? Our special guest today is coach Stuart McClarty, who made a back-up plan as a 14 year old and put his efforts into training as a coach. He's proved that instinct right, with an illustrious youth development coaching career including at Manchester United Soccer Schools and Leicester City's Foundation Program. Join us for a great chat about one of the other incredible pathways into an elite football career, and how to keep building your coaching craft.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this ep we talk to success mindset coach and motivational speaker, Pamela Millican, about some of the most common obstacles she sees to success, both on and off the pitch. From helicopter parents affecting their kids' confidence to challenging your deepest fears, Pamela offers us her mindset-changing wisdom, alongside personal stories about her drive to never be homeless again.What's the quality of your thinking? Where does the fear that holds you back come from? Who are the five people you spend the most time with, and how do they think? And if you're scared of spiders…is it actually a logical fear if not everyone else is? Join us for this epic chat that will get you thinking about what scares you…and how it's limiting your life. @resetwithpamela https://pamelamillican.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During this episode, we explore the 6 x elements of the Pro Player Pathway and one of the benefits of Match Analysis which is one of the 6 x sections of the Pro Player Pathway. We take a deep dive into the benefits of Match Analysis, key findings, driving out objectives and how to identify the key elements of Objectives. We assist players and family members to become accountable for their own journey through Objective results gathering. Finally, we talk about David Beckham and the link between David Beckham and our program and how David helped us develop our secret recipe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This ep is about mental health in high-pressure situations and escaping the shackles that are holding you back from being the best person, performer, and player you can be. We're thrilled to welcome Dane Christenson, founder and CEO of Survive to Thrive, a program designed for veterans that's now also being launched in the corporate world.Dane talks about his journey to overcome his own mental health problems after serving as infantry in East Timor and Iraq, and how he has now dedicated his life to helping others reach their full potential. Have you got the right people around you? Are you holding yourself back with alcohol or other coping mechanisms? Is anxiety stopping you from reaching peak performance? This ep is for anyone who wants to be better. https://survivetothrivenation.com/ https://www.instagram.com/survivetothrivenation/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to sports naturopath and lymphatic specialist Chelsey Jean about how to get that lymph moving to beat lactic acid buildup and give you those valuable last few minutes out on the pitch when everyone else is cramping or fading away. We talk through all the latest in this field — the benefits of lymphatic gloves and compression suits for recovery, why you should be ditching ice packs for injury, plus intolerance testing to individualise your diet to your body for peak performance. The big European clubs are starting to get on board with this radically different way of managing player health, so it's time to get onto it. Website  LinkedIn Instagram  Lymphatic EducationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We bring this podcast to you from the home of the Bolton Wanderers, where we're speaking with the Head Coach of Bolton Wanderers International Football Programme, Danny Clarke. We talk to Danny about his work travelling the globe showcasing their Academy programs, and some of the differences between coaching in Australia and the UK that might be holding some of our young players back. We answer questions from parents like ‘What is the Bolton Wanderers program looking for in a 7 year old'? ‘What age should football players choose their positions?' And ‘How many hours a week should a young footballer be training?' Tune in for a great chat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us on the Raymond Wood podcast as we discuss a secret weapon every aspiring footballer should know: the power of performance breathing. Our guest, Andrea Bulow, a breath performance coach, Andrea unveils how optimized breathing techniques can boost on-pitch stamina, focus, and overall athletic performance. Learn about the benefits of increasing lung capacity, red blood cell saturation, and how they translate to on-field prowess. Whether you're aiming for the Champions League final or just getting started, this episode offers invaluable insights to elevate your game to the next level. Andrea's links - https://linktr.ee/thebreathperformancecoach Our links Pro Player Events - www.eurofootballstar.com/pro-player-events Objective Testing - www.eurofootballstar.com/objective-testing-1 Our Website - www.eurofootballstar.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born or made? How does talent get derailed? How can we stop other kids from missing out on opportunities to go pro? And what's it like to coach the Matildas? We talk about this and more with our first guest, ex-Socceroo and Matildas coach Greg Brown, as we hear about his career highlights and the ‘could-a-beens' — like if only he'd had the right advice around him as a young'un at Man United. We also talk about the power of pathways, and what Australia needs to do next to avert a crisis of talent coming through the ranks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.