On this week's episode we speak with Laurie Walker, Goalkeeper at Solihull Moors. We discuss family dynamics and the impact it had on his career and personal life growing up. 

Football was a great escape but it didnt come without its challenges some of which were the most extraordinary experiences we’ve heard in a while.

A real feel good story from being let go at a club in your teens to then making your debut for the same club a decade on. 

A ‘you’ll never be good enough’ comment left Laurie striving to prove them wrong and more himself right this episode will showcase how one simple comment can carry such an incredible impact and burden on someone’s life.

Listening to Laurie talk about his time at Kettering and how they didn’t get paid for months and months will give you an insight to how strong his desire was to succeed at being a footballer.

When going through his tough times he highlighted how important it is to have a partner alongside you that can help guide you the testing moments and in Lauries case how his partner help him to find purpose outside of football and find himself again.

This episode has highs and lows, twists and turns but highlights Lauries resilience in tough situations and his desire to not allow past comments to dictate what he can achieve

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by former professional footballer Aaron McLean.

From the very start of the episode, it becomes clear that a central theme in Aaron’s journey is how embarrassment and early setbacks shaped his drive and decision-making. He opens up about his formative years at Chelsea, the unexpected release from the club, and the deep sense of shame that followed. Looking back, Aaron reflects on how that early disappointment became a powerful motivator—fueling a successful career both on and off the pitch.

Aaron also speaks candidly about his experiences with racism throughout his career, both as a player and now as a broadcaster. His openness, resilience, and perspective on life, football, and personal growth are truly inspiring. It's a remarkable conversation with someone who continues to be a powerful role model on and off our screens.

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Todays guest joining Craig Mackail-Smith and Jim Burnside is John Bitting whose current role is at MK Dons as PDA Academy lead and interim manager of the ladies team who is an ex player and strives to improve the wellbeing and productivity of young players. JB has played an incredible part in some players progression into their professional careers whilst not forgetting some who haven’t been able to go as far as they would have hoped. JBs approach and bespoke model to this has been packaged for each individual players wants and needs in terms of support. JB came into football aged 11 and started playing for the year above teams). After turning 16 and being in some football programmes he found he enjoyed the coaching aspects. He shares his journey with dyslexia and the support he had by teachers & coaches. He started his coaching qualification at 15 and that lead him to getting B License at 19, working in schools & learning how to adapt and delegate in different scenarios such as dance routines! Going back to the college JB played at, he then made his way through grassroots, non league. In his mid 20s he suffered 2 ACL injuries as well as a few other injuries but he spent a long time coaching, gathering his badges at MK Dons and some other football clubs gaining so much experience. As JB had a front row seat watching the coaches facilitate the progression the likes of Dele Ali and the other team members go through and how they brought out a different side of the players positively. Jim Burnside and JB meet each other at a step 5 team and Jim recalls how he was mesmerised by how JB held the training session as a coach even with Jims lack of attention! Putting the players needs and requirements have been at the forefront of training sessions and Craig Mackail-Smith, Jim and JB talk about how coaches have different styles of how they session plan and how much there really is to learn when putting ego to the side. JB likes to take a different approach to getting a response from players and management. It hasn’t always been right but it does get noticed and results follow! Learning to listen to players and coaches enabled a new level of care into his career by understanding players levels and expectations. JB shared that he came back from injuries quicker than he should have done and how it impacted his confidence and how he felt with football. Signing up for marathons or ultra marathons helps him find his inner strength of going into thoughts and feelings that he may not have experienced. 2021 prompted JB to ask himself what direction he saw his career going in and if he was happy about it. He talks about a particular moment where he just couldn’t continue doing his job how he handled taking some personal time out and how it impacted his son, partner Carly and those around him. In a strange twist of circumstances JB saved a family members life and he found his purpose of how he wanted to moved forward. Question Time - A follower of the show asks JB How he prioritises progression over winning which takes Craig, Jim and JB on a journey of discussing supporting the player, their family and the club through grassroots. Academy and through the ranks and what is actually really important.

Jim Burnside and Craig Mackail-Smith reflect on how the podcast is being received by people from all walks of life and it allowing them to open up about their own experiences. The previous episode with Barry Fry showed us an insight to how he lives his authentic life and how this has enabled him to live out his version of a dream life. Barrys key message was to embrace being yourself. This episode really takes a focus on how the media can make or break a footballer (or anyone) with their own process of how stories should be told and from what version. Mental health can really take its toll on those impacted and how people can be negatively impacted with those opinions shared in the media. Non league teams are typically displayed as relatable people with day jobs and the further up the leagues you go there appears to get a wider divide and detachment of footballers not being relatable or having ‘normal’ lives & routines. As Jim and Craig discover both of them have never been trained in media (responses to interviewers) Craig explains how he leant as he went along to say certain things to have a good rapport but nothing that could be taken out of context and used against himself or his teammates. This was then an automatic response he provided straight after games and talking to anyone which resulted in his true thoughts and feelings to be suppressed. This is then looked into with more common stories that Craig and Jim talk about. Craig shares a personal heartbreak story of his time at Brighton & Hove Albion where his partner, Amber Fry experienced a miscarriage whilst they were out shopping for the day. Craig tells his version of events and the challenge they both faced being in a public place with no-one who could help in that moment. Minutes after, Craig was live on Talk Sport national radio to discuss an upcoming game of Scotland vs England and Craig once again switches his emotions and focus into work mode for media. Not long after Craig suffered a breakdown whilst playing a game and on the pitch where this time his emotions couldn’t be suppressed and he cried in the changing room once the game had finished. Jim holds space for Craig to share these never before told stories about how Craig & Amber navigated their way through this situation. Craig reflects back in that moment, they highlight there are so many other men that may be going through their own personal pain and its not to compare stories with pain but acknowledge that they have gone through something and they may have not yet unpacked it for themselves. Craig asks Jim about players going against the grain and the possibility of consequences as a result of doing so. Was there a difference in senior players vs youth players? There’s some great players thrown into this and for reasons. You may not think! Embracing individuality is key and although it is tricky with so much media and social media around to distort real stories, is knowing what is your own truth and learning to stand in your own power. Be sure to tune in for all the details on this weeks episode, lastly please subscribe and follow if you enjoy each episode.

Craig and Jim have a review of how well the podcast has been received and what responses they have had which has left them with moments of imposter syndrome. They both go on a journey sharing stories of how they have had good moments but expecting something bad to follow - is this normal/common? Exhausting pre game rituals, knowing it’s ok to have highs and lows. Exploring how recovery and recharge looks to their bodies when they allow themselves to be ‘rewarded’ for working hard or reaching an achievement. In a world full of unpredictables and a sport with many unknowns to, Jim and Craig talk about trying to control the outcomes and how this takes them away from reaching Flow state which is where the magic happens in performance and life. Authenticity becomes the main conversation point towards the end of the episode and explored in depth when Craig talks about his time at Wycombe and how the individuals were championed at being their authentic self which ultimately made the team and players more successful. Leading Wycombe to achieve 2 portions in 3 years from league 2 to the Championship. Trigger Warning - this is an open, raw conversation that goes in every direction possible. Jim, Craig and Barry openly share and discuss aspects around suicide thoughts & attempts, drugs, alcohol, gambling, addiction, seeking mental health support (and at times not seeking support). Want to connect with the lads? Instagram: Craig @craig_mackail_smith Jim @jimburnside13 Twitter: Craig @12CMS12 Jim @Jimburnside10 Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Drop us a message info@assist-uk.co.uk

What an incredible opportunity and one Craig and Jim couldn’t let pass! An experience talking to Barry Fry (who has held almost every role in football over 65 years) about the start of his journey playing for England school boys, signing for Manchester United aged 16, ‘growing up’ with George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Matt Busby amongst some additionally equally gifted football heroes in the 1960s that he has held as close friends - decades later!

Barry shares his stories on how mental health has impacted himself, his friends, players and others around him. He shares experiences on addictions such as alcohol, drugs, gambling (his addiction) and what he has lost because of it.

Barry’s honest views on Governing Bodies and their stance on players mental health is interesting to discuss, as is when he talks about the importance of young scholars getting an education alongside their apprenticeship and why he has such a strong opinion on this matter.

The support and chances Barry has given people over the years comes from one place - he wants them to believe in themselves - he discusses this about Craig and Jim’s personal stories when they were at their rock bottoms as well Barry signing players who have moments before been released from jail…

One thing in this episode is clear - Barry believes in The Assist Mission to make changes to the game and individuals so they don’t feel they are on their own and for people to recognize there is always someone who cares that you are still here today. Even on the hard days when you don’t believe in yourself, someone believes in you and is by your side rooting for you.

Trigger Warning - this is an open, raw conversation that goes in every direction possible. Jim, Craig and Barry openly share and discuss aspects around suicide thoughts & attempts, drugs, alcohol, gambling, addiction, seeking mental health support (and at times not seeking support).

Want to connect with the lads?

Instagram:

Craig @craig_mackail_smith

Jim @jimburnside13

Twitter:

Craig @12CMS12

Jim @Jimburnside10

Interested in sponsorship opportunities?

Drop us a message info@assist-uk.co.uk

Introducing Assist. It’s time to change the narrative around Men’s mental health and the sporting world.

We’re ready to help guide men (in particular) in their journey to exploring and improving mental health and the journey of life - buckle up for some raw, heartbreaking confessions of their toughest moments and how it shaped them and their loved ones!

So who are @craig_mackail_smith & @jimburnside13

From grassroots to international football, Craig and Jim bring years of experience from their playing careers and work with athletes, coaches, and business leaders. Craig, a former pro for 13 years and debutant for Scotland against Brazil, is now Head of Performance Coach at Woking FC and runs Elev8tionUK, focusing on striker performance and holistic coaching.

Jim, a fitness studio owner, trains everyone from everyday fitness enthusiasts to international athletes, and has a great network of inspiring clients and friends. He also has a memorable story from playing at Wembley, ending up in a clinic just hours after the match!

Trigger Warning - in typical Craig and Jim style they provide a brutal honest first episode and openly share and discuss aspects around suicide thoughts & attempts, drugs, alcohol, addiction, seeking mental health support (and at times not seeking support). Of course there is also discussions around spells in prisons/cells, posing a threat to society, mental health diagnoses and medications to name a few!Introducing Assist. It’s time to change the narrative around Men’s mental health and the sporting world.

We’re ready to help guide men (in particular) in their journey to exploring and improving mental health and the journey of life - buckle up for some raw, heartbreaking confessions of their toughest moments and how it shaped them and their loved ones!