‘I'd gone from a club where I didn't know if I had a job week to week to a club at the top end of the championship'
In this episode, Rob is talking all things football with Bobby Mimms. Currently, they are both working within the coaching team who are in Bangladesh working with the next generation of football players who will forge a path in the Asian football arena.
They take the opportunity of a get together for coffee to reflect on Bobby's professional football career and the changing face of football in the UK along with an in-depth conversation about the work that's involved in moving from playing professional football to a coaching career.
Bobby was a professional player during some of the most interesting years in football to date listen in to hear what it was like on the inside.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- I played at a time and in clubs where playing a simple game with good players was what made the difference.
- I was part of a focused, sustained campaign with substance behind it aiming to reach the final and be on top.
- As a goalkeeper, I was used to the view of the pitch from end to end, as an outfield coach you view the pitch from side to side.
- At 38 I was beginning to find the training harder which was ironic because I was the one planning and delivering the training.
- Being a player and then being a coach is moving from one career to pursue a different career you have to be prepared to put in the work to train and gain experience in the new role.
- I got an introduction to Wolves and was offered the post I then stayed for 8 years.
- There is a historical precedent in the profession for dismissing goalkeepers early on but this is not productive they need time to develop in the role.
- A young goalkeeper is not the finished article as the coach it's your job to improve on what they have and are to create the finished article.
- If you can add something and make them a better goalkeeper then you have done your job.
- You have to have a conviction as a coach and believe in what you have seen in someone.
- Everyone needs someone to believe in them at some point in their lives.
- When someone's confidence has been knocked it's about building it back up.
- When you work with a senior it's about gaining their trust to be able to work with them successfully.
- It's challenging working in different countries but international football was something I wanted to work in. Not getting to play as international player had left something unfulfilled for me.
- When you come to somewhere new there are challenges but as a coach, you get what you were getting 20 years ago in the UK – respect as the coach and players who want to learn.
- In Bangladesh football is a way out so the young players listen and want to do well.
- You have to have the right mentality The football looks after itself but there are lots of things around the football you want to compare with back home but it isn't the same they are not working at the same level.
- You have to have the mentality of being able to understand what you can and can't affect.
- More than anything else here you have a set of willing players.
- I don't mind them making mistakes, if they didn't make mistakes I wouldn't have a job.
- This is a chance to move the game forward within the Asian arena.
BEST MOMENTS
‘He couldn't dive, catch or kick when he started but through hard work and perseverance he had a good career as a goalkeeper'
‘It was adversity that brought the group together'
‘We got promoted and challenged for the premier league training on a parks pitch,
you had to clear up the dog mess and stop to let traffic to the crematorium through during training'
‘I was told early on that they throw goalkeepers away too early on but it still happens today'
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Leader Manager Coach Podcast
ABOUT THE HOST
Rob Ryles is a UEFA A licensed coach with a League Managers Association qualification and a science and medicine background. He has worked in the football industry in Europe, USA and Africa; at International, Premiership, League, Non-League and grassroots levels with both World Cup and European Championship experience.
Rob Ryles prides himself on having a forward-thinking and progressive approach to the game built through his own experience as well as lessons learned from a number of highly successful managers and coaches.
The Leader Manager Coach Podcast is where we take a deep dive examining knowledge, philosophies, wisdom and insight to help you lead, manage and coach in football, sport and life.
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