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Life Through Ball: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Tarek
Life Through Ball (formerly Life in Sport) is a storytelling platform exploring life, identity, and purpose through football. Hosted by Tarek Moustafa, the podcast features honest conversations with players, coaches, staff, and people across the football world about the journeys behind the game. From academy football to life after the pitch, these conversations go beyond performance to explore pressure, transition, belonging, and growth. Football is the home base, but the stories reach far beyond it.
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- 2 weeks ago1h 42m
How Anas (GrassrootsAB3O) turned Sunday League Football into a Career
What happens when the football you play for fun becomes the thing that pays your bills?In this episode of Life Through Ball, I sit down with football content creator AB30 (Anas), who has turned playing Sunday League football into a full-time career through content creation.We explore how a hobby became a job, what that transition has been like, and the challenges that come with relying on the game you love for your livelihood.But this conversation goes far beyond content creation. We discuss grassroots football, the elitism that can exist within the game, the pressure of social media, fatherhood, injuries, burnout, changing priorities and trying to hold onto the enjoyment that made football special in the first place.Whether you’re a football fan, a creator, or simply someone trying to build a career around something you love, there’s plenty to take from this conversation.
- Aug 19, 20261h 45m
The Hidden Side of Professional Football Nobody Talks About
What really happens in a footballer’s life away from the pitch? Life Through Ball is back, and for the first episode of the new season I’m joined by Jack ‘Tebbs’ Tebbutt, Head of Player Wellbeing at Charlton Athletic. Tebbs has spent years working closely with players inside professional football, including his time at Burnley and now Charlton. But as he explains in this conversation, most of the conversations he has with players have nothing to do with football. LinkedIn +1 We get into the side of the game supporters rarely see: the challenges players can experience away from the pitch, dealing with setbacks, pressure and difficult periods, the importance of having a strong routine and a “default” to come back to, and why understanding someone is often more valuable than judging them. Tebbs also explains his approach to player wellbeing and why he believes that every person needs a champion — someone willing to understand the person behind the player. A conversation about football, but even more about people. Follow Jack Tebbutt: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-tebbutt-4bb369111?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tebbs__?igsh=ZWU4Y2hpYWE5eDU=&igsi=ZWU4Y2hpYWE5eDU= Follow the Person First: https://www.instagram.com/thepersonfirst_?igsh=MWU5NG0xMHd4dTI4bw==&igsi=MWU5NG0xMHd4dTI4bw== 00:00 Introduction & What Does Player Wellbeing Really Mean? 02:17 Dealing With Stress, Routine & "Being Middle" 06:36 The Pit of Doom & Building Resilience 10:46 Becoming Head of Player Wellbeing at Charlton Athletic 13:48 Growing Up, Football & Finding Purpose 19:41 A Career in Education Before Football 30:23 Misconceptions, Bias & Understanding Young People 35:36 Building Trust With Young People 40:37 What Is Player Care Really? 47:06 Why 80% of Player Care Has Nothing To Do With Football 52:16 Role Play: Helping a Young Player Through a Relationship Problem 57:57 Academy Players vs First Team Players 01:00:34 The Hidden Challenges Footballers Face 01:05:29 Losing Your Identity as a Footballer 01:08:02 Working With Coaches & The MDT Approach 01:12:11 Why Players Don't Always Open Up 01:17:13 Why Player Wellbeing Should Be the Heartbeat of Football Clubs 01:19:45 Building Person First 01:26:21 Can You Measure the Impact of Helping People? 01:29:39 Is Behaviour Really Communication? 01:33:16 Social Media, Young People & Modern Education 01:40:25 Final Reflections
- Jun 7, 20262h 5m
The Football Career Trap Nobody Talks About | Ft. Dr Chris Platts
What if the biggest challenge in football isn't making it… but staying there? In this episode of Life Through Ball, I sit down with Dr Chris Platts to discuss the realities of academy football, career transitions, identity and the decisions that can shape a young player's future. Whether you're a player, parent or coach, this is a conversation worth hearing. Dr Chris Platts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchrispl... Website: www.chrisplatts.co.uk Email: info@drchrisplatts.co.uk Follow us on all platforms @lifethroughball.
- May 24, 20261h 33m
Released At 20… The Reality Of Leaving Football | Paddy Gamble
Former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Paddy Gamble joins Life Through Ball to talk about the realities of football beyond the pitch.Released at just 20 years old, Paddy reflects on the emotional side of leaving the professional game, rebuilding identity beyond football, and the lessons that shaped his journey after the academy system.We also dive into the unique pressures of being a goalkeeper, player wellbeing, transition, and why support systems in football matter more than ever.A powerful conversation around football, identity and the human side of the game.You can find Paddy on LinkedIn and through his platform, Person Before Player.#LifeThroughBall #Football #PlayerCare #Goalkeeper #MentalHealth #NottinghamForest
- May 11, 20261h 35m
The Hidden Side Of The Football Industry | Lifethroughball
The Hidden Side Of The Football Industry
- Apr 26, 20261h 23m
Players Get Lost In The Academy System… So He Built His Own
In this episode, we sit down with the founder of Tekky FC to explore his journey from Preston to London, and how he built a platform focused on developing young players beyond just football.We dive into the realities of the academy system, why it doesn’t work for everyone, and the importance of creating environments where players can grow both on and off the pitch.This conversation goes beyond the game — touching on identity, development, and what it really takes to support young people in football today.
- Mar 29, 20261h 6m
Where Football Meets Culture | Johnny Kay on Versus, Identity & Mental Health
In this episode, we sit down with Johnny Kay, the mind behind Versus, to explore where football meets culture. From the power of identity in the modern game to the often-unspoken realities of mental health, Johnny opens up on what it really means to navigate life in and around football today. We dive into how Versus is reshaping storytelling in sport, why culture and community are inseparable from the game, and the pressures that players, creators, and fans carry behind the scenes. This is more than football it’s about people, purpose, and perspective. 🎧 Tune in for an honest, thought-provoking conversation.
- Mar 28, 20261h 6m
Guillem Balague: Storytelling, Identity and Life Beyond Football
In this episode of Life Through Ball, I sit down with renowned football journalist and author Guillem Balagué for a conversation about his journey through the world of football. Known for his work covering some of the biggest names in the game, Guillem shares a perspective that might surprise many fans, football itself was never his true passion. Instead, it has always been storytelling. We discuss how his career developed, the lessons he has learned from decades working around elite football, and how storytelling sits at the heart of the sport. From covering the biggest clubs in the world to writing books and shaping football narratives, Guillem reflects on what the game has taught him about life, identity and purpose. This episode is a deep dive into the human side of football and the stories that shape the game. If you enjoy conversations about football journeys, identity in sport, and the people behind the game, make sure to subscribe to Life Through Ball. Follow Life Through Ball: Follow Life Through Ball: YouTube: @lifethroughball Instagram: @lifethroughball Twitter/X: @lifethroughball Tiktok: @lifethroughball
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About Life Through Ball
Life Through Ball (formerly Life in Sport) is a storytelling platform exploring life, identity, and purpose through football. Hosted by Tarek Moustafa, the podcast features honest conversations with players, coaches, staff, and people across the football world about the journeys behind the game. From academy football to life after the pitch, these conversations go beyond performance to explore pressure, transition, belonging, and growth. Football is the home base, but the stories reach far beyond it.
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