We have wanted to chat to a student - athlete on the podcast for a while and are grateful to have had the chance to learn more about this dynamic through guest Conor Doan. Like so many, Conor was released from an academy set up in his late teens. Thankfully, he was given an opportunity to play full time football with the University of Stirling 1st team whilst studying there. After completing his undergraduate, Conor signed for Bonnyrigg Rose whilst completing his MSc in Psychology of Sport at Stirling Uni (a course familiar to Brad and Toni). We chat to Conor to find out how he managed to successfully balance full time education with an intense football schedule for 5 years. We believe that Conor's journey is one that players being released from academies could aspire to replicate and want to raise awareness on how useful football scholarships can be for athletic, personal and professional development. As always, our guest Conor provides tips for young players based on his own experience and knowledge.
For more information on Stirling Uni's scholarship programme click here: https://www.stir.ac.uk/student-life/sport-at-stirling/performance-sport/football-men/
To connect with Conor follow him on:
Twitter: @doanconor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conor-doan-34473b150/
Talking Points:
1. Intro and welcome to episode (00:00 - 2:59)
2. Conor's experience in sport growing up (2:59 - 5:16)
3. Experiences with wellbeing as an athlete (5:16 - 10:49)
4. Being released from Montrose (10:49 - 19:21)
5. Club support for released academy players (19:21 - 24:16)
6. Balancing full time uni and football (24:16 - 31:36)
7. Playing for Bonnyrigg Rose (31:36 - 43:30)
8. What is 'making it' in football? (43:30 - 48:26)
9. How football can shape your development (48:26 - 52:17)
10. Biggest influences (52:17 - 55:35)
11. Tips for looking after your wellbeing (55:35 - 58:37)
12. Tips for academy players (58:37 - 1:00:01)
13. Closing thoughts (1:00:01 - 1:02:58)
14. Brad and Toni's key takeaways (1:02:58 - end)
