It's Only Kids Football1 Dec 2025

The secret to raising resilient young men

In this episode, former Southend and Dagenham & Redbridge winger Damien Scannell sits down with Ben and Mike for an honest, vulnerable and often hilarious conversation about fatherhood, identity and the emotional minefield of kids’ football.

Damien reflects on his own childhood — growing up without parents on the touchline, finding freedom in grassroots football and watching his brother go through the academy system far earlier than he did. He explains why that contrast shaped his views on pressure, character and the true purpose of youth sport.

The trio dig into the hardest parts of being a modern dad: the guilt of losing your cool, the car-ride regret, the internal battle between wanting tough kids and emotionally intelligent ones, and how old-school masculinity often clashes with today’s expectations.

Damian shares how working on himself transformed his parenting, why dads project their insecurities onto their kids, and how to build habits, discipline and resilience without breaking their spirit. He also opens up about coaching his own boys, resisting academy FOMO, spotting when pressure becomes toxic, and why the journey matters more than the dream.

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