 Hello and welcome to season two of the Coach Emanuel podcast hosted by me Danny Mills Today, I'm joined by Nigel Quasci who made nearly a hundred appearances in the Premier League playing for clubs including QPR Portsmouth and Southampton. He also played 14 times for Scotland Which included a defeat to Marcello Lippi's Italy side in the San Siro the year they went on to win the World Cup in 2006 Nigel is now the founder of IP Development Academy in Birmingham In this episode, we'll be talking about Nigel's career at the top level What made his debut so unique and so special and some of the great coaches and managers played under and now his transition into coaching So Nigel, thanks for joining us on the Coach Emanuel podcast Let's go back to the very very beginning. What got you into football and and where did you start playing? Well, it was quite funny really because I didn't like football until I was about 12 years of age 11 and a half going 12 had no interest in and then all of a sudden I started playing at school and then it sort of materialized from there that I made it into a grassroots side into in the Surrey Keys area right next to Merewall and I was Just started playing and then all of a sudden I went into secondary school and Then started playing then played for the school and that's how it all sort of kicked into play really So you were quite a late developer in terms of the modern-day football when they're looking at you know kids at age 6 7 8 years old taking them into academies Yeah, I was It was strange really because when I look at it now then kids are starting at 6 and I wasn't aware of all of that at that age and I just thought it was something that I I've got a grip of when I started playing for school and I thought I like this and then it just materialized from there And then who took you first into that professional setup, you know, how did that step come about? Yeah, it was it was strange really because I was playing for the school and I went to school in Peckham played for it played in the school game and then a QPR scout had been watching the school game and Asked me if I'd like to come into QPR and it gave me a bit of information about you know, then training in In a they called it a center of excellence Which was in South London right next to Charlton football club on the other side of their fence on last sandy Astro to pitch And I didn't couldn't figure it out because I thought QPR was in West London when I did a bit of homework and research But then they had sent it and then they explained to me that they had sent us all around North South East and Western London And that was the closest facility to me back then so I went into there and It you know, I enjoyed it and I was only training once a week there Which was a Tuesday night and then it just you know, it started to sort of really progress regarding that the training and up in the training after The two years and then it just really sort of a little bit more serious So I mean it's jump a couple of years on so your rise really from Being spotted at you know, 12 13 years old not even interested in football till 12 13 years old Suddenly to make your debut at 17 in the first team Is quite sensational and I think even more interesting is how that debut came about and who was against to tell us about that Yeah, I was I was a YTS at the time and I Was I was you know gone in full-time and I was cleaning the kits like the old YTS game and Cleaning the kits boots and all of a sudden I was Coming up to Manchester where you had to sort of rotate on who was doing a what on a way game I remember I remember doing those games of standing on the bus for three hours making tea Cleaning up afterwards serving pizzas to the lads and basically you were you were a gopher, weren't you? in those days Definitely, I've done all that going all the way up there to Manchester and I'd gone to the stadium to put out all the kits and all the boots with that with the kit man and All the physio in the treatment room got back to the hotel and just took it as normal as to prepare for the game I'd gone early with the physio and the Kitman and everything to the stadium to make sure I think was all in place all the players had turned up Ray Wilkins and all the staff had all turned up the players got off the bus an hour and a half before kickoff and He called the team meeting and I was still putting stuff out on the sides and everything like that And then he named the team and I was in it and I was like what you talk I can't figure it out and Then he just said yeah, yeah, yeah, you're starting and I was like, huh? And then I just he just said just go work just play like you're playing it over the park And I thought yeah play at the park at Man United. Yeah, that's no no problems at all. So just cracked on with it played Then I wanted to call my mom at home and wanted to borrow his mobile phone and he He basically said call this number and I called the number and My mom picked up and I just told her that I'd made my debut and she said she was outside She knows and I was I was like how does that make sense because we didn't have a mobile phone And then when we got outside a kid basically told me that Ray Wilkins had bought bought a sort of a mobile phone and Which was one of our first mobile funds and that he had called her to give all the indications and all the information Of what was going on and the train ticket had been paid and everything like that and she was outside waiting for me So it you know without him None of this would have been possible. So I was I'm really really grateful for him as well Well, obviously sadly we've we've lost Ray now, but I mean that just goes to show how Incredibly one special he was thoughtful as a man, but what incredible sort of Man management skills, you know even back then, you know, clearly he knew you were gonna play But maybe didn't want to make you feel too nervous or give you too much build up to that He knew how important your family was to you and I'd arrange all that sort of behind your back If you like but I mean just incredible sort of man management, you know in this day and age where you know It's all seemed so spiteful at times. Oh You know, obviously The way that he had looked after me Was something that I'll never forget and he put me and my family You know put us first and really looked after us in the fact that I've made my debut but for my mom to turn up at a football match and in pay for a ticket and Have a mobile phone and pay for a mobile phone for us to have contact was something that I can't forget But he's man man management skills from then onwards It was always about me. It was never about the team Me playing in the team. He always put the players first. He spoke to us all Individually treated us right. He was just an absolute gentleman And he could put football aside to make sure that you was alright and what was going on in your life Is there anything that he can do to try and get the best out of you off the field and you know a Phone call pick the phone up and just say listen how you doing everything call right at home. Are you okay? Do you need anything and and that was on a regular basis? So You know with without people like that. I wouldn't be in the position that I am now How nervous do you think you would have been if he'd have told you I'm assuming the debut was on a Saturday Because all football back then was on a Saturday There was none of this sort of you know Monday, Tuesday night Sunday afternoon, whatever it is How nervous would you have been if he'd have told you maybe on the Wednesday and thinking I'm gonna make me debut Old Trafford, I know whatever it was back then 60,000 people in the stadium again Schmeichel Neville, but gigs Beckham Keane So do you think he definitely did the right thing by leaving it till the last minute? 100% I think it gives you it doesn't give you enough thinking time. It doesn't it doesn't give you you know the way that he put it was I Couldn't figure it out and I didn't understand it why why he did it that way but then now as I've sort of gone along now into sort of Coming through and basically going into different managers meeting different managers The way that they treat players the way that he treated players It all starts to add up all the all the way through your career and then you really get to understand why Certain people do certain things as managers, but for him to do it the way that he did I think it was possibly the best way and I think if I had the opportunity. I've sort of based a lot around him I'll probably do it the same way. It's interesting because a lot of the People that we spoke to here on the the coaching manual podcast, you know Everyone has always said actually just go out and enjoy it just go and have fun You know and clearly that's what he did the biggest moment of your career One of the probably the biggest games in your life ever the biggest days in your life ever And it was just dropped on you like that and he said you know what just go out and just enjoy yourself And that naivety of a young player is brilliant You know it on most okay, and we see it now with the likes of what Gareth has done with the England team and with Rashford and young players and said you know what just go enjoy yourselves And that's got to be the most important thing about football about coaching He You know one of the first things that he said to me on Monday morning after the game was He said you're just a kid. You don't worry about results You don't worry about what fans say or what people think just go and play football You know the first thing I'll always remember is he the first thing he said to me was was Football never chose you you chose football So respect you give everything that you've got because it's the best game in the world But you've got to play with fun You've got to go and enjoy it and don't have any fear or worry about anything that goes on out there I'm your manager. I take care of that. I've got to look after you I've got to treat you right and I just believe that that's the way that I am now and He's really had an effect on my life on my career and really give me a path into what I'm doing now So I'll say again without him none of this is is possible and where I'm at today Especially with the sports because they're the football club. They're the ones that make the football club and he always Emphasize that and made clear that Remember that there's people out there that work hard for their money All you need to do is give everything that you got and show them that you want to play football But you've got to enjoy it. So that's the way it is Clearly from what you've just said mentally and psychologically had a huge influence Not just on your career, but possibly on your your life as well. But what about as a player? I mean, how good was he as a manager? What did you learn from him? How good was he still on the training pitch in those days? Well put it this way He was probably one of the hardest players to get close to You know, even when he was he was an older players a plan manager at the time and he used to come into training and He used to train like it was his last training session no matter what it was He would move that ball so quickly that you couldn't get close to him and it he would a five-a-side go on and He'd call you over or stop you in that five-a-side while the game's going on and he'd ask you to show him certain things on a Football pitch you won't worry about what the game was going on our competitor. He'll stop it You as that individual and the game's going on around you and you want to move to go and get the ball And he's talking to you and you're just like he's trying to teach you things in the middle of a game And it was all those sort of things and Watching him as a player and his career, you know, Glasgow Rangers, AC Milan man United All the top-top clubs and there wasn't anybody better for me to learn off at that time So obviously you had an incredible grounding QPR fantastic you then moved on briefly to to Nottingham forest before you signed for Portsmouth And let's just say it was quite an unstable first season with three three different managers until Harry Redknapp came in Yeah, well, but not in them forest It was a difficult time for me because QPR would basically was going They got relegated and they were in a difficult financial situation and the chairman had said to me that I'd probably need to be sold to balance out the book So I said listen anything for the club because what it's done for me and I know that people will be disappointed But there's always a time and a place for people to really understand it So I've gone to Nottingham forest and it didn't really work out for me and I'm going to give a full indication of that and the reasons why at that time And with my partner at that time, I'd lost my son at 20 20 years of age and I was in a I never had anybody else around me to to guide me I didn't have that influence like I did out at QPR and I was sort of looked at as a main player And I could sort of deal with certain things and I lost my son and I was I was in a bad place at that time And I think that's that's difficult for people in the outside world to appreciate Going going back to those days when there wasn't really probably social Well, there wasn't social media. It probably wasn't in the press people just assume that you've turned up You know the a good, you know high profile player just expect you to turn up and be brilliant every single week They've got no idea what is actually going on in your personal life the fact that you've had to move You know 200 miles north, you know of the country all those types of things Personal issues your family lose you said all those types of things No one's got a clue about that But you get judged you still get judged almost inappropriately at times and I think that makes it even harder 100% and and the fans didn't know because it was kept really quiet And I didn't want to put my family in that situation at the time And the main thing I was I didn't want to really play and I Performance is I wasn't playing very well and that was the reason why but I still tried to sort of balance it out a little bit because I wanted to occupy myself But I've got back into training and David Platt was great with me, but I still struggled so What happened then was I had I said to him that I probably might need a change I might need something to get me closer back to london to family to Really sort of get a grip of it. But then I got a phone call from Tony Pulas And totally the first thing totally Pulas has said to me is how am I everything okay? And it had been made aware of the situation and he said I've got somebody for you to meet And I was thinking why is this guy calling me up and saying am I okay? I've got somebody for you to meet So he said listen don't worry about football I want you to jump on a train and I want you to come down to Portsmouth and I want you to get to this hotel the Solent Hotel I'll never forget it and he said I've got somebody for you to meet So I thought okay, I'll do that because he's take the time and effort to to call me So I've gone down to Portsmouth got into the hotel He's he's there With a gentleman he said listen I'm not interested in football. I'm more interested in you as a person and what you've been through So I was like this guy is unbelievable. He said I've got sports psychologist for you I know you've been through a lot here's somebody that wants to help you started talking to this guy and I I'd sort of Built up a relationship with this guy where we were I was going I went back to Nottingham and I was still doing a bit of training And talking to this guy over the fountain and basically Tony Pulas has said listen We're going to do a transfer for you to come to Portsmouth. Don't worry about playing We're going to get you right and then we're going to get you back playing and then I built up the relationship with him And the sports psychologist and after a period of time he got me back into football. So without him I don't think I'll be playing football Again, so there's two important people at that time that have really taken Their time to really get me right as an individual not as a footballer I mean and that's an incredible story really and and also You know those those two people that that helped you out that got you back into it That probably don't get any praise for that. No plaudits or again, they get judged on what they do Especially Tony Pulas in their professional life, you know what they do how to cut all those types of things People don't often see what really happens behind the scenes and it's I don't think it gets highlighted enough in this day and age that actually the amount of good work that a lot of football people do behind the scenes No It's surprising because These are two people that you know You look at and you and people just think that footballers of you know They turn up and train in the mornings and you know, everything's all right You can go off in the afternoons and do whatever you want, but The management side of this is so important You're listening to the coaching manual podcast hosted by me, Danny Mills So obviously later that year, obviously you went through Again, not just personally but in terms of football wise Quite a traumatic time at Portsmouth going through a lot of issues at the time Obviously, Harry Redknapp came in. What was it? We all know about what Harry's like on the surface But what's he really like to work under? Well The first thing that he puts Puts forward to you is what he what he expects of of you as Individuals and as a team It was all about the team that his man management skills towards me Was another person that I got at the right time and obviously with the issues that went on at Portsmouth He came in and made it clear to everybody that he was going to get promoted that year And he said you're either with me or you're not and uh I was I was quite fortunate enough to be one of those players that he wanted to keep And he his man management skills towards me was was was unbelievable And I was you know, really a sort of a mainstay in in in the squad and really really enjoyed playing underneath him Of course, you got promotion to the Premier League in 0 2 0 3 I mean, how good was that season? Um, it was unreal Because in a short space of time he he gave us that belief to just go and play All right, I'll set you up as a team, but you're professional footballers You should understand the game at this age. These are certain things that I want from you, but you've got to go and play Same as going back to when I made my debut going have fun Go and play show people that you enjoying it But the willingness to work hard and make sure that you know, you give everything to the group. So that that he wasn't Over the top of anything his team talks are very short And he was good. We were given the belief to uh, just go and play really Of course in the in that season. Oh, I got promotion the next season 0 3 0 4 Incredibly well finished 13th great season in the Premier League. I'm beating against Arsenal's invincibles Um at that stage But you played with some great players at Portsmouth at that time. I mean your kubu up front I mean, how good was he and and how what made him special because a lot of times you watched him and just thought This guy never runs. He doesn't he doesn't go anywhere Well, they they formed a Nice chart for him, which was just feeding feed the yakinille score and He was deadly in training that when he first comes to come to the club it was touch goal touch goal and he any any sign of those You know the goals he he was just he was deadly and at that time it formed a great partnership with otterhoff and they both had that combination that that They could really really take chances quickly without really having to think about it and really put that You know that finishing touch the moves that really and that's so important sometimes, isn't it though? Just having it's not always about just having the best players It's about having the right players that fit together and I often say that about the the lead team that I played in Everybody in that team. It was a jigsaw puzzle Everybody just fitted together and it worked Pretty much pretty good most of the time But the moment you started taking one or two pieces out It didn't quite work and we weren't all we weren't all the best players in the world You know, we weren't always the most gifted, but we we just worked Together and that's one of the key things as a manager nowadays, isn't it? It's making sure that it's about the team and the team works not just going out and buying all the best players That's right. I was you know, I've been I've been told but I was told by harry redknapp. It's uh Team first individual second And the players that put the work in were always the ones that made the team sort of function better for the flair players And the more talented the gifted players to go and express themselves in certain areas of the pitch And that's where sometimes it goes a lot unnoticed, but Like you said, you know, you've got players that can fit together You've got players that are like a jigsaw, but you do take those pieces out and sometimes it just doesn't function right and You know, that's what happened towards, you know as as teams do go along You know, there is one or two players that do gets old and and sometimes it just dismantles a group a little bit And you've got to try and find a way to get that back. So You're 100 right there so then I suppose you make quite a controversial move to go from Portsmouth to Southampton Along with harry. I mean just to describe that the rivalry between the two Is absolutely enormous and you must have I suppose you would obviously living in the area. Yeah, that must have been quite difficult at times Well, I've been offered a three-year contract to extend it and then all of a sudden Harry left and they took it away and and and I I was I couldn't believe it because I was happy to sign the contract And then they said to me no, you know, uh, we're gonna You know, we want to sell you and they wanted to sell me to Southampton And I was playing for Scotland at the time So Glasgow Rangers showed an interest in possibly going on loan for the remainder of the season That's a that's a long way from Portsmouth It's definitely a long way from Portsmouth But it was a way it was it was a long way that I thought that I could get away from the controversy of of moving down the road They had said to me that I won't be going to Glasgow Rangers that they would want the money for me to go to Southampton and I'd said well You know, I'm putting myself at risk in Having the supporters that I've played for for such a long time and then going down the road and maybe not being accepted I was basically at a game The manager at the times I had said we're not going to play. Yeah, I said I wanted to play He said no We're not playing all of a sudden I'm sitting in the stand and basically I'll get everybody Doing charts and calling me names and I basically got I felt that I've got hung out to dry that that they had Put me in a position where that was no longer to stay at the club And then I went to Southampton and took what to be fair at Southampton. The supporters were Fantastic towards me. They they Really took me in But then I still had the off the field problems in pulling up in a petrol station and then people threatening to pour petrol over my car And set me on fire So it was it was it was it was horrible living in between the two and the night to move closer towards London and sort of travel Up than the M 27 to get to Southampton training ground as well. So And again, it was nice. It goes to show how difficult sometimes things Off the field can be the the issues that you have to deal with everyone just sees the 90 minutes of a football match and thinks Oh, that's easy. Anyone can play. We all have to play football. It's just kicking the ball about People don't often see those hardships. And also that must have been difficult for family and stuff at times as well It was it was it wasn't nice and I had security drive driving me and I was I was on edge all the time and then all of a sudden it sort of It died down a bit because Southampton I was playing well and I really played well And then I was captain. So I was vice captain at Portsmouth Then I've gone to Southampton and then I was captain there and I was really enjoying it and I felt that I wasn't wanted but I went somewhere and then I was wanted and then I played well then a new manager come in And if a new manager comes in he doesn't fancy There's nothing you can do about it and you've got to respect it. And like I say It's all about the football club. It was never about me. It's about the football club It's about what's got best for the team. And then they sold me to Westbourne Ridge Albion and You know, I didn't want to leave but the manager had come in at the time and one of his own players And sometimes you just have to accept it and and move on That that time you had at Southampton. They're obviously now renowned for having a fantastic academy I mean was that in it's Was that starting to be developed when you were there or did it come a little bit after? Yeah, we used to plan on a Thursday And we used to do team shape on a Thursday to prepare for the weekend And I'll tell you what they might have all turned up on the Saturday because you had um fio walker in there You had Dexter Blackstock. You had garrif bow. You had Adam Lallana So we used to used to do a bit of team shape and that and I'll tell you something now They were unbelievable players and and they were playing their youth structure Was was fantastic I used to love going to watch and play because the ability and the talent that they had in the work ethic was was phenomenal And and they were they were really really talented players that have now gone on to really have fantastic careers and Like I said at that age the way that they were playing they could have any one of them could have went in the team and then That's when fio walk up came in and and and really took the first team by the scruff of the neck You then went on to play as you said you then moved to west brome west ham birmingham wolves mk dons um And then you finished your career in iceland Not not not the supermarket. Uh, I hope not Uh, wasn't wasn't a test goes or a saying breeze, but what what made you suddenly go to iceland? Well, they asked me to play Would I come over and play and there's been a few players that have gone over there in the past and the first thing I said to them is this and I might be you know, I'm not really interested in Coming all that way. I'm more interested in what's your youth system like What should what was your structure of your youth system? And they they said no I think my first question about how cold is it? I'll be honest with you in the winter. It is cold, but the summer it's it's a beautiful place It's it's it's great for the kids. The summer football is great And and you know, I'd recommend anybody to go there if they've got an opportunity to go there to play football as well Or go there for a break as a as a um a holiday I'll go because it's it's a beautiful country But you said that so a lot of it was about, you know, their youth system and um bringing players through and obviously we've now seen that Come to fruition in the last few years in in euros and world cups Yeah, definitely. They've got so many alternative players there, but they're You know, they're work ethic and their willingness to learn and the willingness to get better and really really developed You know, they've got a great system over there and I was lucky to go over there and they wanted my sort of You know input into it And we come to an agreement and me looking at the youth system And they gave me the sort of the free reigns of basically Developing the players there and I sort of gave them my ideas and what I wanted to do and how to do it And and it all fitted into place at the time Just want to touch on your international career Briefly and we had a quick chat before you came on We play I think we played together at some stage for England under 20 ones Yeah, but you ended up playing for scotland. Yeah Um, how did that happen you can't you can't leave England Everybody asked the question and what happened was at the time I've come through the 20 ones and and then I've gone into I played a game for the b team for england Be at the time when they'd be the b team and you know It was going really really well And then all of a sudden they I think they brought in this new world where you could go And if you hadn't played for the full national team that you could then go on and You know pick another country if you wanted to play and I've got a phone call from birdie vaults And I thought birdie vaults that guys won the world cup and You know, he's one major tournament and then he was a scotland manager and it basically called me and said Listen, we've we've dug deep and found that you you know, you're background and you know What have I interested in coming into training and having a look and see if I'll be interested in playing and and it and it worked because A grandfather is full blown Scottish my mum surnames McFarlane. So it all made sense and I was given an opportunity by them and I just thought it was the right time and And competition in the England side at that in England squad was was huge wasn't it at that point? It was fierce, you know lampard gerrard skulls Um, you know, all of those players playing at the time You know, it was It was something else and and this gave me an opportunity but this Scotland national team and the federation and the players Were were were fantastic tours being and I can't thank them enough especially, you know playing in front of those In front of the tartan army and I assume I'm going to a guess here Probably one of the biggest games that you played most memorable games although you're lost was against Italy before They won the world cup and just a name drop again I'm just going to name the side that you played against Bufon, Benera, Chilini, Cannavaro, Matarazzi, Cameranesi, Catooso, Casano, Geladinho, Pirlo and Totti Who's shirt did you get? Come on, who's shirt you must you must have got a decent shirt out of that lot? Yeah, I've got a Totti one out of it. Oh, that's incredible I think it was a I'm sure it was because there was a big debate and a change of about who was getting what was there? Please tell me there was a big fight afterwards Yeah, I'll put this when I sat down on the bench and I was thinking to myself I wouldn't like to chase them around every week. Yeah, I'd put some mileage in and I was sitting there and I was thinking That was a shift and a half. Didn't really see the ball I was just I thought it was better just to turn up with a pair of Azix and just over a run because It was non-stop. They won the world cup later on that year didn't they in 06? I mean yeah, they that was a An unbelievable team and you know, I still talk about it now and say that it was proven that they would go on and win the world cup But yeah, there's some there's some poor players on that team sheet. I can guarantee you that So what what do you think's happened to Scottish football because it's been a terrible decline in the last 10 15 20 years and you know look back when you used to play there and even before that There was always great Scottish players and they'd always be competitive and they just seem to have Have lost that now Yeah, it's it's it's quite hard because obviously You know, I think it's I think a lot of players have sort of when you had Glasgow Rangers and you got Celtic And then obviously Rangers have gone down into the lower leagues. A lot of players were based from Celtic Rangers and then Aberdeen and Is it too easy to say it's just about money and those clubs been out of track some of the the best talent and inspirational talent Yeah, you've taken the word straight out of my mouth there and I was going to say that on the financial side of it in Scottish football It's very very difficult. It's very very tough and with the tv money as well What's what benefits it a little bit more is Celtic have been playing in the champions league And and they've made and been able to generate more money Whereas Rangers have had to come back up the leagues with the the financial difficult that they've been in Aberdeen haven't got that financial power to compete with Celtic and it basically sort of I think it just takes away that little bit more of the the youth side of things as well regarding players with the distances and the And the the level of of play whereas a lot of players are trying to come down into England and really build up their careers on that front. So you think I mean Really between the lines a big part of the problem is Not how successful English football has been but maybe how successful the Premier League has been And the money it's generated for players that everyone wants to migrate south as as soon as possible Definitely the Premier League's on another level. It's uh, it's really really Generated money beyond belief They'd be obviously the tv's the networks is and and it's really really I think taking a foothold in what goes You know, obviously north of the border with scotland it overtakes that I think by by miles And and that's where it is difficult for players and players do want to come down here and showcase their abilities And compete at the ice level You're not very old, but obviously you've retired now And you've sort of moved into the coaching world Tell us about idpa and why you got involved why you started it Yeah, I've always believed in youth It's the only way that I know and what I did was I I've gone twice and done on my coaching I've got international players over there that I did developed And when I restructured the whole youth system of one club I went to another club and I dealt with small numbers I put a boy in the first team the fourth team and I thought that it was right to You know push players and players are very very talented And I just felt that one player could play With 10 older players I always believed that there's enough quality and enough You know for a boy to go into a first team and play with 10 players That are very grown up and very can take control and look after the player And I gave the manager an indication that get rid of lone players Just tell you young players play young players Build up your old youth system build players up then you can sell players to them the leagues above And I could say could you could you do that? Because the league over there is a little bit more technical because I often think that of of Spain holland Germany to an extent that actually the the game over there is far more Of a technical basis and that means that you can give young players an opportunity Whereas when you start going through league two league one even the championship Physically it is still to this day and age incredibly brutal at times Yeah, the ice the Icelandic league is technical But they are physically strong. They are they they want the Vikings aren't they? Of course. Yeah. Yeah, they They do prepare well They want to play they've got the right attitude and the the mentality to play and and I was Given the free range to redevelop the whole youth system and I just I went around the football pitch one time And I said with the chairman and he said what do I think and I said well I'm looking at your players and I pointed at a kid and I said that boy will play in the first thing And he said to me he laughed at me. He laughed. I said, I'm telling you You're gonna say and I trained him trained him with his group He was developing a lot quicker than the other players were developing And then the manager put me in the first thing It's spoken to me about him. He trains with him and then he went into the first thing And then I started developing the players and I started giving the first team an influx of players Instead of taking on lone players as well and they fit it into the into the squad And I restructured the whole youth system and then I formed that then going towards the first team And then it built up with relationships with the uh, the Icelandic FA and and I chalked the training session for the under 14 Icelandic under 15 Icelandic national team And took the training and built up a relationship and really really took hold of it and I was there for four years and It was great. But the IPDA I wanted to come back because my son plays My fiance has basically said listen, you need to come back now and They were traveling. We all get ruled by them. Don't worry. The other half We all like to think we're in charge, don't we but we're not really No, no, well, I'll be honest with that and say probably not But you know on the football inside I said, I'll only come back If I can give back to the community if I can give something to kids out there that Is really going to benefit the community really benefit that we can combine something with You know really giving back and really making it affordable for for kids. So not only well, you've done that and More than done that you've come back, you know, you've set up your academy That you've got in in the midlands Yeah, and then and you recently saved a power league Facility from closure, which again will have saved jobs or that type of thing, you know the facilities You know again was that we compelled to do that just because you wanted to give back or is that now I think your fiance's involved in business and and that sort of thing as well Was it just actually we can do this together and make a real difference to the community? I tried to get we've tried to get power league for over a year and a half And basically we were we were coming to a We were getting there with basically back to take it over and then obviously they're you know certain things change it from their side with the All the back room and the finance directors change or whatever it was and all of a sudden we With the academy it It was just moving along with different. I was I was traveling to different centers and I first started with three kids And I drove I was driving and getting there and it was poor in your reign three kids They basically told a friend told a friend told a friend and he just built up from there And then all of a sudden now i'm at a point now where we've we've got a facility Which fits in with the community because on my fiance's side. She's got trampoline parks Uh an inflatable park and we've got a yoga studio So everything that i'm coming down I'm moving. Yeah, I'm telling you it's you know It all fits into into place, you know So what I do now with the academy is they come in and train we give them a football kit at the centers We give them a football kit They come in and train and a bag and at the end of each course they can jump at the trampoline park or the inflatable park You know I incorporate the yoga into the football as well so the kids can go and do yoga So everything now is all sort of fitted into place for the community not just football But activities for kids as well the special needs in those facilities But now it leads up to the football side of it as well where I can Have an infrastructure now where the academy is going to be based there to grow everything's there For the community we've saved jobs You know we're going to do special needs We're going to do walking football. We're doing disability disability football as well We're doing all things for outside the mental health side as well that fits into you know having opportunities for kids to play football But with the yoga all the special needs in the other centers as well It sounds like you've almost developed The perfect business plan if you like and and is that I said probably is is the biggest part of that The facility Is that what we lack in this country to for people to do what you've done? It is actually being able and you've obviously worked very very hard to get that facility But is that the most important thing do you think? Me being as a footballer I don't miss it at all Me coaching and me being able to see people In the area coming to a facility Knowing that they're going to enjoy it and making sure for everybody not just football But everybody outside that they can come somewhere with other activities that we're going to be doing So really give them something to be proud of and knowing that they can find somewhere to go Enjoy themselves be happy, you know, I'm having a gym there I'm having a physio there. I'm having a sports psychologist there We're going to have everything tying in with the mental health side of things there You know, we're having a sports bar there where people can come and watch the football with sky sports bt You know everything that I want to do As well Is to give them something that they know they can go somewhere know that they're in an environment where they can be happy and enjoy what they're doing I'm The football side of it I don't miss at all coaching And and giving back and really enjoying Seeing that people are going to benefit from what we want to do not just with the football But with the trampoline parts we do everything there for them Is what it's all about and I really am More happy than I am I'll be honest with you than what I was towards the end of my career because I was losing my mum in the last five years of my career and I lost interest in that and I wanted to Really, you know, I'm I'm starting to do things with charities now and I really need to sort of Look back of all the things that I've been through and try and give that guidance and Information and help people and and give back to every everybody in the community and try and do everything I can to really make it a better place I mean, I think it's absolutely amazing what you're doing for grassroots football. You can hear the passion That you've got for it the passion for the community for business, you know to Invigorate give these kids an opportunity whether they go on to play professionally or not Doesn't matter. You can I mean that the passion that you've got. I think a lot of people can Learn an awful lot from what you're doing. So just give out the the website and a few details that if they want to go On and have a look on it. Yeah, the website is www.ipda-quasi.co.uk Then obviously we've with the facility it's just all starting to be up and running as well. So that will be a term www.soccasone.football And then obviously we've got the yoga rooms as well, which is www.yogarooms.co.uk With my back in these that's more my thing these days whenever you're in the area You're more than welcome to any time and then you know with the trampoline parks as well You know, we're all on social media on instagram and and everything like that You know, it's it's you know, everything that that's going on and I'm For the kids for the the grown-ups and you know, I'm I'm I'm really enjoying it really looking forward to the future for All of the all of the community and and I'm grateful to everybody because without the parents in the academy And giving me that trust to coach kids, you know, none of this will be possible So I've got to thank everybody for that and I've got to thank all the people that have really sort of played a part in my career in my life and and really Everything that I'd learned I'm being able to reverse that now and give back to them to to everybody that's involved I think what you're doing is is absolutely fantastic very humbling And very inspirational as well But just to move on now you've you mentioned briefly earlier. You've got a son that plays I think he's at the the wolves academy Yep I've got some I think slightly older than that But from your point, how difficult is it as a parent to manage a kid with talent that is an academy? Uh, well he's one takes him I go I drop him on It's it's it's crazy damn because now He trains on a Monday night It'll go all day on day release from Wednesday to Wednesday eight o'clock eight o'clock eight thirty till five thirty train Thursday night train saturday play sunday I've never known anything like it and The first thing I say to him is Just go and play play You're a kid. Enjoy your life play I don't get involved with him On the on the review front his mum goes I let his mum go and speak to him. I'm not really I don't really interact with him when I'm there So watching play I say hello to everybody anything like that But all I have to do for my son is when he's in the car just can't play mate be a kid have fun You know, enjoy your life. You know everything, you know, you're playing the best game in the world and remember you know Just just play and that's how I've always been That's an amazing piece of advice I've got a son that's that's 15 in the academy system and I go and watch him every time You know as often as I possibly can in games and yeah, I'm on the sideline similar I don't say anything from the sidelines and keep very very quiet, you know, try and sort of Stay out the way as much as possible But then afterwards sometimes I get in the car. He's like how did I play? And I'm I'm sort of like I'm biting my tongue and I'm like I'm like where do you could have worked a bit and it's like and I find it difficult sometimes because I think I want to be out of him advice But I don't want to be over critical and I think as a parent that's been there and done it It is it's too easy at times to be over critical as a parent Yeah He gets in the car and asks me exactly the same thing and the first thing that I say to him is no You've played football all week. You've trained all week. You've played football. What do you want to go and do? Do you want to go cinema? Do you want to go do you want to go to the trampoline park? What do you want to do as a kid? What do you want because? I'm a firm believer that you're only going to be young once You've got to be a kid. You've got you've got to switch off from playing football and I don't get that time to be in there to watch to watch the training but I You know, I'm very Chilled out about it. I don't really You know take any really insight into it with his games They deal with him on all of that front and and the thing is he does come into the academy and train with me But I'm like, well just be a kid, mate You're 11 years of age You've got your life in front of you don't worry about anything Do you think that will change as he as he gets a little bit older and maybe if he develops to what you expect It starts to get a bit more serious Do you think then you might change and start to Offer him because obviously might say my lads now sort of 15. Yeah starts to get a little bit more Serious. He's there. He's in the academy full-time basis. Yeah, and you know, and he will ask from time to time He'll say, oh dad, you know, watch my game. What did you think? Yeah, and then do you think you might shift a little bit to offering a little bit of advice? um This is what I say to him Until you're getting paid to play football, mate enjoy it The way it's going at 12 years old that might not be too long Well, you know, you know, I just believe that until you go full-time Then they start giving you that sort of, you know They start getting you to understand the importance of how serious it starts to get And and nobody knows where kids are going to be at that age. Nobody knows and I don't know where he's going to be I don't know where another kid in the academy is going to be and the first thing that I have to say to him is listen You've just got to enjoy what comes your way. You're going into great facilities But don't take it for granted learn listen to your coach The first thing I always say to me is don't let me be told you're not listening Don't let me be told that you're not behaving you You go in there and you're in you're in an environment where you're told certain things to help you get better Other than that he's in their hands. They've got to make him better My responsibility is to be a parent, which is to Bring him up the right way and educate him and give him a little bit of guidance and understanding but until he goes full-time And he might not go full-time. I just have to say well, you know is what it is son just play I think what you've just said there is almost the perfect piece of advice to young players young coaches and parents as well I think that's absolutely spot-on and you've summed that up Pretty perfectly In my opinion So just to finish now Flip quickly flip back to your career Yep, briefly Best manager that you played under and why I mean when you played under wilkins rednapped pulis bryan robson one or two Legends in there not necessarily maybe as managers, but certainly as players Yeah You know if you can't pick one don't you know, but you know, I mean It's that that's a hard choice because The the managers that I loved and enjoyed playing were the ones that could put football aside and put you first and That's why I want to be that coach that guy that can help people Forget football. Are you all right as a person? Do you need anything? Are you that? Is there anything out there that I can do that can get the best that of you? And make you come into a training ground and enjoy it and with those sort of managers harry rednapped ray wilkins bryan robson john holland's wide temporary ray harford Looking down on us now you know, those are the sort of managers that You want to play for yeah, it was all about me On an individual basis now they treated me and that's how I try to treat the kids and I can't thank those guys enough because all of that Transforms into my academy and transformed into the community and treating people right if you treat people right in whatever walk of life You're in don't want to do anything for you. So They're the sort of managers that I can say I can't pick one out of them because they're all great men They're not they're not just coaches or managers. They're great people Well, thanks nijal. Thanks for coming on. I have to say that is there is some incredibly good advice in there for players coaches Parents incredibly well put Very very eloquent as well. Hopefully it all goes well Good luck with your lad. Hope that goes well. Good luck with your academy. Hope that goes well We'll plug it as well and hopefully see you in the future Yeah, thanks very much for having me and everything that you're doing as well. Yeah, it's fantastic and you know I have to say thank you for the time you're giving me So I appreciate it and good luck with everything because it's a great platform for everybody out there to To enjoy and get experiences from from ex players as well and you're doing a great job Top man. Thanks nijal Thanks very much to nijal for joining us for the sixth episode in season two of the coaching manual podcast Thanks everyone for listening. 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