Man Marking

Man Marking - Episode 15 - Mike Kinsella

Episode 15:

Incarceration, rehabilitation, and education.

As a teenager, Mike Kinsella was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Jamie Carragher, and David Thompson, under the tutelage of Steve Heighway at Liverpools centre of excellence. After falling out of Liverpool, Mike ended up at Tranmere, via a short stint at Bury. Once more he was training with legends, John Aldridge, Ronnie Moore, Jonny Morrissey, under the watchful eye of the late John King. 

You may assume at this point that Mike went on to have a long and successful career as a footballer, but over the next ten to fifteen years of his life, Mike saw the inside of prison cells in three different countries, eventually leaving the prison system for good in 2012. 

Since that time, Mike has educated himself, tuned his life around, and is now using his experiences to guide the young boys and girls at the Tranmere development college. 

We take a look behind the scenes at what led Mike down a dark path, as well as hearing first hand, what his role entails at Tranmere Rovers. 

Under flat caps and bowler hats: Robin Friday

New! During these episodes we will take a look back at examples of mental ill health in football from yesteryear. 

Robin Friday, described as footballs first rockstar, tragically died aged 38, from a heart attack caused by a heroin overdose. The Reading and Cardiff City cult hero spent just three years as a professional footballer, retiring in 1977. But over forty years later, his legend still looms large. 

Dan Read is joined by Paolo Hewitt (Author of 'The Greatest Footballer you never saw') and Paul Fennessy (Journalist at The 42) to discuss the man behind the legend. 

Was Robin Friday's story, ultimately, a sad one? Has the aggrandising of his off the field antics, led to a misrepresentation of an addict, born in a generation that lacked the understanding of addiction to help. We take a look behind the myth and the tall tales, and try to find out, who really was Robin Friday. . .

Man Marking - Episode 16 - Chris Iwelumo (Part One)

Episode 16 (Part One)

Scotland, scoring and SSRIs. 

"Do you want me to answer the question or do you want me to just rabble on? Because I talk for fun mate." This was how our conversation with Chris began, and he wasn't lying.

Chris Iwelumo's eclectic career started at St. Mirren, the first of his 18 clubs, that included spells in Denmark and Germany, as well as a period in the Premier League, and four international caps for Scotland. 

In the first half of our interview, we spoke to Chris about his childhood, an often testing childhood in the suburbs of Glasgow in the 1980s, his relationship with his Mother, and his colourful career. 

Man Marking - Episode 16 - Chris Iwelumo (Part Two)

Episode 16 (Part Two)

Scotland, scoring and SSRIs. 

In the second half of our interview with Chris, we speak at length about troubles he had with anxiety, his two years on Anti-Depressants whilst at Watford, and the difficulties of being open about mental health, whilst maintaining your playing career. 

We also delve into the end of his career, his transition into media work, including gaining a degree in Journalism. 

Chris talks so openly, and honestly, about his life and the low times he's had, as he's passionate about encouraging other people to do the same, when they go through tough periods. 

Not for me Clive: How much football, is too much football?

Football, Football, Football, it's always happening and it's always live!!!

Dan, Ryan and Ant are back and taking a look at the hectic world of football. It's round the clock, 24/7, never ending. Is televised football harming attendances, and is anyone actually even watching? The players are all exhausted, mentally and physically, when will they ever get a break??? How has social media changed the way people consume football? And the burgeoning relationship football has with gambling is potentially a dangerous one. 

Man Marking - Episode 17 - Gary Souter

Episode 17

Taking an academic look at mental health in football. 

Gary Souter started his career as a mental health Nurse, he now works as an associate professor in Nursing at The University of Leicester. 

Having already completed his masters, Gary embarked on an ambitious PhD to study mental health within football, by interviewing current professional footballers about their experiences of mental health, sound familiar? 

During this episode we discuss the findings from Gary's interviews, players feigning injury instead of admitting their mental wellbeing wasn't stable enough to play, stories of changing room bullying, and an environment that despite the obvious progress, still finds itself playing catch up to other major sports. 

Under flat caps and bowler hats: George Harrison

During these episodes we will take a look back at examples of mental ill health in football from yesteryear. 

George Harrison (not that one) played for Everton between 1913 and 1923, as well as playing for Leicester, Preston and Blackpool, he also made two appearances for England.

His career was a long and proud one, but it was disrupted by the first world war, during which he served in Belgium and Northern France on the front line. Around twenty years after the war, George took his own life, and became one of many WW1 veterans to do so. 

Dan Read is joined by Kieran Smith (Everton Heritage Society), Evan Roberts (University of Minnesota), and Judith Beastall (Western Front Association) to discuss George's life and career, as well as the impact WW1 had on the mental health of veterans. 

Join us as well tell the story, of the winger who went to war. 

Man Marking - Episode 18 - Jonny Sharples

Episode 18

Suicide: Spotting the signs, grieving, and raising awareness. 

If you are a football fan and you use Twitter, you'll know Jonny Sharples for his incredibly humorous tweets, highlighting the lighter side of the beautiful game. What you might not know, is that in 2014, Jonny's older brother Simon, died by suicide. 

In this interview, we ask Jonny about how he acquired his twitter fame, the difficulties he faced when his brother died, and what he is doing now, as a CALM ambassador, to raise awareness of male suicide prevention. 

This is the final episode of series six, and it's a really special one for us. Jonny epitomises everything we're striving to be at Man Marking. Give it a listen, you'll laugh, you'll cry and hopefully you'll learn. 

Man Marking - Episode 19 - David Cox

Episode 19

Male role models, uncomfortable conversations, and self harm. 

David Cox came to prominence in Scotland late in 2019, when he spoke out about the abuse he had received from players and supporters, whilst playing in the lower leagues in Scotland. 

Since a young age, David has suffered with depression, and during that time has attempted to end his life on several occasions. It was his willingness to talk openly about his difficulties that led to the abhorrent abuse he endured. 

We have an honest conversation with David about his upbringing, his relationship with his Dad, his suicide attempts and self harm, and ultimately the stigma that still remains in some areas of the beautiful game, when it comes to mental health. 

** Disclaimer: This episode contains graphic details about suicide attempts. If you are affected by any of the content, please contact one of the following organisations**

Samaritans: 116 123

Breathing Space: 0800 83 85 87

Shout: Text 'shout' to 85258

 

Man Marking - Episode 20 - Andy Greenway (Andy's Man Club)

Episode 20

"Whoever you are, come through the door."

Andy's Man Club is a peer to peer support group for men of all ages. AMC was started in 2016 by rugby league player Luke Ambler, after his brother Andy died by suicide. 

We spoke to Andy Greenway, a young lad from Yorkshire, Leeds United mad, who first attended an AMC meeting in Halifax, in 2017. Nowadays, AMC welcomes over 1000 men a week into its clubs all over the UK, all with the express aim of convincing men, that it's ok to talk. 

Andy is now a Project Development worker for AMC, and spoke to us about the amazing work they do, and the positive impact it's having for men.