Episode 5

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Published on:

25th Sep 2023

Ross Preston - Challenger Mindset: Psychology, Resilience and Confidence in Grassroots Football

Ross Preston of Challenger Mindset, joins FMHA founder, Danny Matharu on this episode.

Challenger Mindset is a sport psychology and mindset training consultancy founded by Ross Preston (SEPiT).

Ross is passionate about empowering amateur to elite athletes and performers to manage their minds, perform to their potential and become the version of themselves they want to be.

He has experience supporting youth and adult athletes from amateur to elite level, following placement roles in Manchester United's Academy and in the match officials department in the Rugby Football League. Alongside this, Ross has worked with young people in education for several years. 

​Education and Training

  • SEPAR Training (Ongoing)
  • ​MSc Sport Psychology

Placement: RFL Match Officials - Sport Psychology Support

  • BSc Sport and Exercise Psychology

Placement: Manchester United - Academy Performance Support

Ross and Danny discuss:

What sports psychology is and why it's crucial for footballers at all levels, particularly at the grassroots level.

What are some common psychological challenges that young players face and how coaches and parents/carers can recognise them.

What resilience means in a football context.

What exercises or practices grassroots coaches can use to build resilience in their players.

How parents and caregivers can support the development of resilience in young footballers.

What are some signs that a player might be struggling with low confidence and how this could be linked to their mental health.

"Quick wins" that coaches or parents can implement to boost player confidence in the short term.

How longer-term strategies for building confidence can be integrated into regular training and parenting methods.

Some practical takeaways that coaches, parents, and players can start implementing immediately to improve mental health.

Ross can be found at: https://www.challenger-mindset.com/

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About the Podcast

The Football Mental Health Alliance
Mental Health Tools for Grassroots Football
The Football Mental Health Alliance podcast is dedicated to delving into the topic of mental health in the football world. Each episode features well-known experts and ex-professional athletes who share their knowledge and personal experiences with mental health. Our guests will provide advice and insights on how to support yourself or those in your care who may be experiencing mental health conditions. 

This podcast is for you if you are a fan of professional football clubs, a member of a football community, or involved in grassroots football at any level. We believe that mental health is an important topic that deserves to be addressed and understood in all aspects of the football world.

We will cover a wide range of mental health topics in each episode. Our guests will share their experiences and provide practical advice on how to deal with these challenges while also supporting those around you.

So come along with us as we investigate the relationship between mental health and football. Listen to our podcast to gain valuable insights, helpful tips, and important information that can assist you or someone you care about in managing their mental health and thriving both on and off the pitch.

About your host

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Danny Matharu

Actor. Model. Stable Genius. Public Figure. Social Influencer.


Not really... I'm simply someone who is interested in personal development and learning how people have become successful.


The road to success is often a lonely, narrow one, littered with mistakes, learnings, scars and disappointments.


This project is purely a selfish one. It gives me a reason to get myself in front of people who have walked the Narrow Road and learn from them. With this, I reckon that I find this type of person interesting, then other people will also.