Shows
#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#21 Grassroots stories with... Geoff OcranAnother week, another grassroots legend. This time, Rob and Anees are joined by Clapton CFC Manager, Geoff Ocran, to bring episode 21 of #JustTalk.
From being a fan favourite as a player, to managing the team he once captained... Geoff is the man at the helm of a club with a phenomal grassroots story of their own. Just how does Geoff deal with the weight of managing a team with 100s of Clapton CFC fans in attendance every home game, and 1000s following the team worldwide?
It seems like Geoff doesn't just "deal with it" but...2022-07-2529 min
#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#20 Grassroots stories with... Alam ZamanRob and... wait what? No Anees this week. Rob is on his own as he returns from a busy period at work to serve up episode 20 of #JustTalk. This time we invite Alam Zaman, professional sports photographer on to the show to talk to him about his work in grassroots football.
Just what inspired Alam to get involved in sports photography? From being a participant in sport growing up, he realised as he grew older that there were no pictures of him playing sport. He had an idea to do it for others and followed a passion...2022-05-1823 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#19 Grassroots stories with... April McGrathIt's episode 3 of the #JustTalk season and we invite April McGrath to give her Grassroots story to Rob and Anees. She first came on board the City East management team to help with the admin side of things but now she is the first aider, kit washer, and more recently joined the Hackney and Leyton Football League management committee.
Her story is one of a fired up City East side on their way to success but a side the values the love of the game more than the win itself. As one of the few female volunteers...2022-03-2728 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#18 Grassroots stories with... Aaron HunwicksSeason 3 of #JustTalk continues this week, with Aaron Hunwicks to give his Grassroots story to Rob and Anees! His Chadwell Heath Spartans side are a league rival of our own CSM London, but such is the relationship between the two clubs, we'll be cheering them on in a nailbiting title deciding run in for the Essex Alliance League Senior Division title.
Aaron's Grassroots story is one of family, commitment, and motivation to be both a player and manager of this new football club. Having founded the club with family members, the Hunwicks continue to push the Spartans...2022-03-1430 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#17 Grassroots stories with... Maamoon KhanWe kick off Season 3 of #JustTalk with Maamoon Khan to give his Grassroots story! Someone who has played with, been coached by, and played against our chief host, Rob, and his new co-host, Anees!
This story goes back to his semi-professional playing days with London APSA and Sporting Bengal where Maamoon tasted both the highs and lows of playing. But such is his positive attitude, he always made himself a person to want to be around.
That trait has made him such a well-loved team member for his current Saturday side, FC Baresi, and Sunday...2022-02-2826 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football storiesSeason 3 preview: Grassroots stories to return!We are back! This preview episode sees the return of our Grassroots Stories with host Rob, but he returns with a co-host... Anees! They chat about what they are looking forward to in Season 3 and what they have been up to in the break.
Season 3 is back underway so stay tuned for a Monday 6.30pm drop of episode 17 of #JustTalk!
CONTACT
Us: @csmlondonfc (Twitter and Instagram)
Rob: @robcrane93 (Twitter), @robert_crane93 (Instagram)
Anees: @mullahcorner (Twitter and Instagram)
#CSM #JustTalk
2022-02-2310 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football storiesSeason 2 recap with Rob and AneesHost Rob is joined by CSM London FC chairman Anees Ikramullah to recap their favourite parts of Season 2. We have been able to host some wonderful guests who given their Grassroots Stories from the perspective of being a chairperson, fan, media volunteer, coach, and player.
Such an amazing range of guests and we'll be looking to host another diverse set of individuals to share their Grassroots Stories in Season 3, which we'll look to kick off in time for the 2021-22 season. Thank you to Danny Owens, Nikhil Saglani, Tom Taylor, Daniel Merrix, Chris Knight, Nojeem "Jay Agbossa"...2021-11-0111 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#16 Grassroots stories with... William BrobbyWhat better way to close Season 2 of #JustTalk than to have Mr. CSM himself, Will, join host Rob to give his Grassroots Stories.
Despite joining CSM London FC as Saturday team manager, Will's playing career has not yet come to an end as he still plays for the Sunday IIs team at the club. He talks through some of the challenges faced with coaching players on a Saturday, some one whom are his teammates on a Sunday and the interesting dynamics behind this.
Also, we get to take a look back at what made Will...2021-10-1822 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#15 Grassroots stories with... Anees IkramullahAnees joins Rob Crane to give his Grassroots Stories for episode 7 in Season 2 of the #JustTalk podcast.
Having moved to Liverpool for 3 years, Anees has returned to London and is closer to the CSM London club he setup. But his story is one of a shared journey with friends to help make football accessible through the club and various community projects he has helped setup alongside his friends.
A new challenge is set now though, as he has very recently become a father. Rob asks what now motivates Anees football and how becoming a dad h...2021-10-0423 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#14 Grassroots stories with... Nojeem "Jay" AgbosasaJay joins Rob to give his Grassroots Stories. From New York to London. The story of Jay and Football is touched with an international flavour. However, his sporting story is one that begins with basketball, with a love for football coming later in life. But the quality he had took him to the heady heights of semi-professional as high as the National League North.
But it was "pick-up" games with other quality players that grew his love of the game in North. Having moved to London and recently becoming a father and playing for Walthamstow Reserves, somehow J...2021-09-1822 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#13 Grassroots stories with... Chris KnightChris Knight joins Rob to give his Grassroots Stories. Chris is a passionate fan of football who now supports his local team with a season ticket taking him to Walthamstow FC home and away. As well as this, he plays Monday nights with fellow Leyton Orient fans which is where you'll find host Rob most Monday nights too.
Aside form his involvement as a fan and player. Chris is an advocate for LGBT rights in society (as well as football). Having had some negative experiences in the game he talks about how the game can be more...2021-09-0631 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#12 Grassroots stories with... Daniel MerrixDaniel Merrix joins Rob to give his Grassroots Stories. We know the life of volunteer is incredibly busy but Daniel truly is a man on the go with heavy involvement in 2 football clubs. Coach at Newbury Forest FC, a brand new men's side set up post lockdown and also the Chairman/Manager of Upton Park Ladies, a ladies side now in their 2nd season. No full season has been played for either side so it's an exciting time for Daniel.
Fascinating to hear about the challenges and differences faced between the grassroots game in men's and women's...2021-08-2325 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football storiesS2 EP4 Grassroots Stories with Daniel MerrixThis week we speak with Dan on how hard it can be to balance Working in the Mens and Womens game along as life it self! I enjoyed this one! im sure you will too!2021-08-2224 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#11 Grassroots stories with... Tom TaylorTom “rubbish at football” Taylor. His words not ours. Tom joins old friend and host Rob Crane to discuss the life of a young man working in marketing and communications with Kick It Out and Fans for Diversity. Of course we get to listen to Tom's own grassroots stories as he shared his experiences in grassroots football as well as his professional career working which now sees him working at Made By Sport who support grassroots clubs with funding for their ongoing projects.
Thanks again to Comic Relief and Groundwork who are supporting the #JustTalk project!
So...2021-08-0824 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#10 Grassroots stories with... Nikhil SaglaniWhat is a non league hero? Look (or listen) no further! Host Rob is joined by Nikhil Saglani to talk about all things non-league and why volunteering at a club is so important to him. He has stayed with Wingate and Finchley FC as a volunteer for 7 years. Players and coaches have come and gone but Nakhil has been there through it all! Nikhil talks through his time as a press officer and some of his grassroots playing experiences and some of the best feelings he has had volunteer and playing in the beautiful game.
Social Media2021-07-2523 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#9 Grassroots stories with... Danny OwensIt’s okay, to feel okay right? Easy to say. We're back kicking off season 2 with Danny Owens sharing his Grassroots Stories with Rob. They discuss what it’s like growing up not being up to talk about stuff and how Danny is making change happen with his football club, Men For Mind FC.
This new team was established just in June 2021 to raise awareness for Mind BLMK, creating a safe space environment for men to come together and play football whilst raising awareness for a great cause. With this podcast being centred around mental health and well...2021-07-1126 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football storiesSeason 1 recap with Rob and AneesHost Rob is joined by CSM London FC chairman Anees Ikramullah to recap their favourite parts of Season 1. We have been able to host some wonderful guests who given their Grassroots Stories from players to referees, coaches to goalkeepers, and educators to physios.
Such an amazing range of guests and we'll be looking to host another diverse set of individuals to share their Grassroots Stories in Season 2, which we'll look to kick off in time for the 2021-22 season.
Our work behind the scenes continues though (call it pre-season!). So if you are looking to sh...2021-05-0908 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#8 Grassroots stories with... Russell HarleyThis week on the #JustTalk podcast, Rob is joined by Russell Harley. Mistakes made by outfield players often get lost in the midst of a game, but goalkeepers do not have that luxury. Russell talks about how he deals with those high pressure situations as a goalkeeper who has played semi-professionally and in the Sunday League circuits of Essex.
We also discuss once having trials for a Champions League club and draw from this as we find out more about Russell's grassroots football story.
Don't forget, as well as grassroots stories, this podcast is centred...2021-04-2524 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#7 Grassroots stories with... Morgan ConnThis week we dive into one of grassroots football most unspoken of roles... the referee! Morgan Conn joins host Rob to educate our audience on the day to day life of a referee.
Just what took Morgan the route of the whistle in the beautiful game and how tough is it to be a ref? We often overlook the referee in football but they are always that 23rd body on the pitch during the 90 minutes of football. Without them, there is no game. It's an unforgiving task with abuse regularly sent their way. Rob opens dialogue with Mo...2021-04-1130 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#6 Grassroots stories with... Steve ClarkSteve Clark (not the Scottish national team manager) joins host Rob to talk about his career in football. His adventures through the game started late as a schoolboy but always had a love for fitness. As his first entry to football began, little did he know that he would end up in the professional game. With plenty of experiences in the game Steve has been involved in the game at all levels which has helped shaped the person he is today, as a grassroots football coach giving back to the game that gave so much to him.2021-03-2928 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#5 Grassroots stories with... Imran RehmanHost Rob welcomes physio Imran Rehman to #JustTalk. Imran has had recent experiences as a physio with Glenn Tamplin's enigmatic Billericay Town and Romford FC projects. Having also played Sunday League football, Imran has experienced the highs and lows of the changing rooms from a range of football levels. With his insight we explore how the dressing room culture affects young players' mental health and some thoughts for the future of the grassroots game.2021-03-1420 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#4 Grassroots stories with...Craig HeskeyCraig Heskey has been around the grassroots circuit for some time. With experience at all levels of the game, he has played the local parks, the small semi-professional stadiums, and also involved in the professional game as an academy coach at Leyton Orient FC. He joins host, Rob Crane, to talk about how there can be improvements in the youth game, alongside his own personal experiences growing up in the beautiful game.2021-02-2830 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#3 Grassroots stories with...Sabah MahmoodSabah Mahmood is a coach with FC Leytonstone. This week she joins host Rob Crane to discuss women's football and the opportunities (or lack theirof) for females at a young age to enter the game as players and coaches.2021-02-1419 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#2 Grassroots stories with... Mark Anthony SmithAnother side of the game is explored with Mark Anthony Smith. How an unexplained injury can effect you mentally and how to adapt by moving behind the scenes of clubs and leagues.2021-02-0127 min#JustTalk - Grassroots football stories#1 Grassroots stories with... Jordan MeikleHost Rob Crane is joined by Jordan Meikle as we discuss how missing football can effect your mental health and how working in grassroots football has become a hobby for him2021-01-1720 min