In this episode of It’s Only Kids Football, Ben and Mike are joined by former Arsenal and England full-back Kieran Gibbs for a chat about the grassroots experiences that shaped his professional journey and the mission driving his post-playing career.

From Sunday mornings with the Purley Panthers to the pressure cooker of Hale End and winning trophies with the Gunners, Kieran shares vivid memories, hard lessons and the importance of keeping the joy in kids’ football.

He talks candidly about the emotional highs and lows—from missing a penalty as a kid to battling for his scholarship at Arsenal—and how having a twin brother by his side helped him reach the top.

Now based in Miami, Kieran explains how he's channelling those experiences into One FC, a youth academy aiming to shift the culture of American soccer.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

One FC

https://onefcmiami.com/

https://www.instagram.com/onefcmiami/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben and Mike mark 50 episodes with a tournament win that means way more than it should. They laugh, cringe and nearly cry as they relive the game, the chaos, and the goal that set off a celebration even more embarrassing than Mike’s tiny car.

They relive every kick from the tournament and talk about what these little moments really mean as dads and coaches. They also reflect on two recent friendlies: a dominant display against the Greens where everything clicked and a tough loss to the Blues that tested their mentality and their coaching egos. Plus, they look back on what they’ve learned across 50 episodes — the mistakes, the progress and the moments that make it all worthwhile.

Also in the mix: how training’s finally clicking, set-piece genius (sort of) and whether launching their own tournament is the best or worst idea they’ve ever had.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Ben and Mike sit down with Paul Horwood, co-founder of PL One Goalkeeping, the leading goalkeeping academy in Essex.

From transforming our very own Alby into confident shot-stoppers to dealing with parents on the sidelines, Paul shares honest, practical advice for coaches navigating the unique challenges of developing youth goalkeepers.

Drawing on his extensive experience, Paul shares insights into spotting natural talent, prioritising confidence and bravery over perfect early technique and fostering mental development.

He addresses common coaching mistakes, emphasising realistic, game-related sessions and the power of quiet encouragement over shouting.

The discussion also covers developing passing and footwork and the crucial role of play and fun in a goalkeeper's growth. This episode is packed with actionable advice for anyone looking to help young keepers thrive.

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

Where to find PL1: https://pl1goalkeeping.co.uk/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iokfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iokfootball/

X (Twitter): https://x.com/iokfootball

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iokfootball

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Itsonlykidsfootballpodcast/

Email: itsonlykidsfootballpodcast@gmail.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.