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From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. This week is different. Daniel Cappellaro, known to most as D10, has a story big enough that we split it into two episodes. Part 1 is his journey as a player. Daniel did not touch a football until he was eight, on a family trip to Italy where his cousin played in Serie C. He came home to Perth, found two clubs on a school notice board, and chose Armadale Soccer Club purely because they trained twice a week instead of once. What followed was West Ham's Hammers Academy in Western Australia, a scholarship at John Curtin Soccer Excellence, and a pathway that barely existed. No academies. State teams that appeared and disappeared. His references were Stan Lazaridis and Harry Kewell, recorded off The World Game onto VHS. Then futsal found him at eleven, through a low bounce ball a coach had picked up from a guy in Leeds. It took him to Argentina, Spain, England, a Champions League campaign with a Scottish club, and eventually Melbourne. Along the way he became one of sixteen unlockable characters in FIFA Street, played against Falcao and alongside Douglas Costa, met Neymar in Brazil, and built an audience of hundreds of thousands without ever wanting to be an influencer. Part 2 lands next Monday and goes into the coaching side: skill acquisition, small sided games, and what a week inside the Melbourne City academy looks like. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this episode is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what a life in football can look like beyond the pro contract. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: "I was a professional futsal player and I travelled the world" 03:23 Who is Daniel Cappellaro: Melbourne City U14s coach and former pro futsal player 04:51 First touch at eight: discovering football on a family trip to Italy 07:31 West Ham's Hammers Academy and John Curtin Soccer Excellence 09:22 A critical father and the "what's next" mentality 10:21 The Perth pathway in the 1990s and Frank Arok's Future Glory 12:17 No clear path but real references: Stan Lazaridis and Harry Kewell 14:46 The Perth pathway today: NPL, Football West and two A-League academies 19:42 Why young players should still study Denilson, Rivaldo and Romario 22:23 A late developer obsessed with out-teching the next team 24:54 How he learned: watch it on VHS, then find street football 27:49 Futsal and NPL side by side, and four months in Argentina 29:44 FIFA Street, Spain, England, the UEFA Futsal Cup and Melbourne City 33:51 Champions League nights, video games, homesickness and money 35:06 Leaving Perth Glory for Spain with no European passport 41:34 Where social media fits into the story 46:12 The 2016 tutorial that hit 80,000 views and deals with Nike and Adidas 49:40 Consistency, timing and blind faith 51:09 Next week: Part 2 on coaching technical skills Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look.

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this development special, recorded back home in Frankfurt, Jan looks back at the first ten episodes of the podcast. Ten professional footballers who played in Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Croatia, Kuwait and Scotland. Every journey was different, yet the same lessons kept coming up. Lesson one is rejection. Jan explains why an academy spot at 12 is not the finish line, why so many professionals were late developers, and why the short window of a playing career is the strongest reason to keep going through the setback years. You will hear from Will Kennedy, Nicolai Müller, Marcus Younis and Alexander Fuchs, plus Jan celebrates Socceroos call-ups for former guests Marcus Younis and Kealey Adamson, and shares that Alexander Fuchs is joining the Eleade coaching team in Sydney. Lesson two is sacrifice. The version social media never shows, from Daniel Georgievski getting by on chewing gum and pancakes five years into his professional career, to finding the right balance as a teenager, to the loneliness that can come once you finally make it overseas. Lesson three is watching football properly. What young players in Germany absorb by watching live football every week, why watching the game is a reading skill, how to make it work from Australia, and how parents can watch and give feedback without adding pressure. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this episode brings together the most important lessons from our first ten guests in one place. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look. Find Eleade on Instagram or at www.eleadefussball.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: looking back on the first 10 episodes from Frankfurt 01:50 Lesson one: rejection is usually the beginning, not the end 03:13 Why an academy spot at 12 is not the finish line 04:11 Late developers and when your body makes the decision 06:00 Socceroos call-ups for Marcus Younis and Kealey Adamson 07:22 The short window: why you keep going through the setback years 08:27 Lesson two: the sacrifice nobody posts about 09:19 Sacrifice as a teenager and finding the right balance 10:37 The sacrifice that starts once you make it 11:48 Building a life outside football and using the setback years 12:43 Why loving the game comes before the sacrifice 14:24 Lesson three: what Germany teaches us about watching football 16:08 Watching football is a reading skill 17:15 Watching from Australia and rewatching your own games 18:46 How parents can watch and give feedback without adding pressure 19:30 Three lessons from ten episodes 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Enjoy your football journey!

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this episode, Jan calls the US to sit down with Brody Sams, an Australian goalkeeper coach who never played at a professional level, but has spent over a decade coaching goalkeepers at the highest level in Australia and the US. From starting at the Brisbane Roar to signing with NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL, Brody proves that a full-time career in football does not have to go through a pro playing pathway. Brody talks openly about the imposter syndrome that comes from never playing at the top level, and the advice from an Ajax mentor (who grew up with Zlatan Ibrahimovic) that shaped his entire coaching philosophy: outwork everyone. We cover his years at the Brisbane Roar Women's, the random WhatsApp text from Gotham FC that changed everything seven years after his resume was passed on, and what it takes to walk into what was then called the "laughing stock of the NWSL" and turn it around. Brody is honest about the real differences between the A-League Women and the NWSL, why he thinks Australian football needs to be more open, and what the US does exceptionally well when it comes to marketing, community, and creating access. He closes with his best advice for every young goalkeeper: journal, reflect, watch the game like a student, and don't underestimate the mental game. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what a life in football can look like on the coaching side of the game. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look. Find Eleade on Instagram or at www.eleadefussball.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and meet Brody Sams 02:57 How the 2002 World Cup hooked him on football at 11 06:03 The Brisbane Roar years and being told to "get a real job" 08:49 How he silenced the imposter syndrome from an Ajax mentor 11:49 What matters most: the goalkeeper coach and player relationship 14:48 Why watching football is the goalkeeper's secret weapon 17:32 Why US players still don't watch enough football 20:29 The random WhatsApp from Gotham 7 years after Nadine passed on his resume 23:29 "Bring it on, let's go": accepting the NWSL's worst-ranked club 26:25 The real differences between the A-League Women and NWSL 29:20 Inside the daily life of an NWSL goalkeeper coach 32:14 How he tracks progress and development in his goalkeepers 37:51 Journaling and reflection: the goalkeeper's secret weapon 42:56 What separates the number one goalkeeper from the number two 48:45 Inside the NWSL boom: Kansas City, Portland, and Angel City 54:35 What Australian football could learn from US openness 1:01:33 Stoppage Time Questions 1:06:14 His advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Enjoy your football journey!

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this episode, Jan calls Perth to sit down with Daniel Solsky, a 23-year-old goalkeeper who grew up in Sydney, was never in an A-League Academy, packed up his life at 18 to chase a professional career in Spain, came home without a contract, nearly quit football altogether midway through last year's NPL season, and then got a phone call from Perth Glory that changed everything. Solsky takes us through the whole journey. From starting at Maccabi Lions at five years old as an outfielder, being turned into a goalkeeper at nine after another kid's injury, and joining Hakoah where he won the NPL 1 under 16s league. He talks about his 10-minute trial at ESFA, the goalkeeper coaches who shaped him (Trinity Allen, Dave Plowright), and modelling his game on David De Gea. We move through his FFA Cup first grade debut for Hakoah at 17, signing for Manly United under Adam Griffiths (now head coach at Perth Glory), and the move to Cultural Leonesa in Spain at 18. Daniel is candid about the reality of playing in a tiny Spanish town at Leon, coming back to Australia without a contract, and the Wollongong Wolves NPL breakout year that put him on Perth Glory's radar. He opens up about the moment he almost quit football midway through last year, the Sydney-to-Wollongong commute five times a week, and the Perth Glory trial that led to breaking down in tears with his grandparents when the contract came through. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what the pathway to professional football looks like when you don't go through an A-League Academy. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 03:54 Starting at Maccabi Lions at 5 06:35 The injury at 9 that turned him into a goalkeeper 09:22 The 10-minute ESFA trial 11:56 David De Gea: the goalkeeper who shaped his mentality 14:45 Why clean sheets are everything to him 17:17 A family of goalkeepers: dad at Hakoah and grandpa's FFA role 22:00 The parents who drove him everywhere to chase the dream 23:57 Winning the NPL 1 under 16s league with Hakoah 25:26 The COVID year and getting split into the under 18s 28:40 First grade FFA Cup debut for Hakoah at 17 30:32 Signing at Manly United under Adam Griffiths at 18 35:33 What he'd do differently looking back on his youth career 39:17 Life in Spain: 42:57 The lessons Spain taught him about becoming a pro 45:08 Coming back to Sydney and searching for the next step 48:10 Signing for Wollongong Wolves and finding his form 49:45 The breakout NPL year 50:33 The Sydney-to-Wollongong commute five times a week 51:49 The moment he almost quit football 54:04 The Perth Glory trial and the 3-3 draw that almost ruined it 56:13 Breaking down in tears with his grandparents when the contract came 59:37 The circle that kept him going: 1:02:17 The message from Griffo that got left on read 1:04:56 Stoppage Time Questions 1:10:28 His advice for young players chasing the dream

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this episode, Jan sits down with Sammy Iredale, a 24-year-old German professional footballer freshly signed for the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League Women. Sammy takes us through her journey from a tiny village club in Leipzig called SC Pulens, being one of the only girls in the school playground, and getting spotted by the DFB Mobile scout truck at eight years old. We move through her years at the Leipzig sports elite school under former East German international Detlef Schussler, her time at FF USV Magdeburg in the under 17s Bundesliga, and the youth national team callups that followed. Sammy is candid about her move to Wolfsburg's first team, the mental battle of not getting game time as a young player, and the ACL rupture against Ingolstadt at 19 that changed everything. She opens up about the rehab that reshaped her approach to strength training, her move to Fortuna Hjørring in Denmark where she played Champions League football, and why she believes every young girl should play with boys as long as she can to develop the physicality that so many female players struggle with when they step into senior football. She closes with what it means to sign for the Western Sydney Wanderers, her goals for her first A-League Women season, and an honest prediction on the friendly between Germany and the Matildas coming up in October. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who wants a real look at what it takes to build a professional career in women's football today. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look. Find Eleade on Instagram or at www.eleadefussball.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:45 Welcome and meet Sammy Iredale 03:19 Starting football with the boys at SC Pulens in Leipzig 05:06 The DFB Mobile scout truck that changed her path 06:45 Why she tells every young girl to play with boys as long as possible 13:48 The pasta rule from Detlef Schussler that stuck for ten years 15:51 Making her weakness her strength as a physical player 17:05 Ball marks on her bedroom wall: how she trained at home 18:51 Two years at FF USV Magdeburg's under 17s Bundesliga 20:29 Getting scouted into the German youth national teams 31:52 The move to Wolfsburg's first team and the reality check 34:21 The mental battle of not getting game time as a young player 41:06 The torn ACL against Ingolstadt at 19 43:32 "Everything happens for a reason": her rehab mindset 49:22 The move to Fortuna Hjørring in Denmark 54:28 Signing with Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League Women 1:02:23 Stoppage Time Questions 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this episode, Jan sits down with Abdul and Thomas from UBF, one of the fastest-growing independent football media brands in Australia. Two football-mad kids from Western Sydney who met at a Westfield Parramatta food court two and a half years ago and turned a conversation about Alexis Sanchez versus Eden Hazard into a media brand that now works with A-League clubs, NPL clubs, Football Australia, and covered the FIFA World Cup with the Socceroos. This is the second episode in the series on building a full-time life in football without ever playing professionally, because the game has far more to offer than just becoming a pro player. We cover the state of Australian football and where it is heading, why NPL teams are outperforming the A-League in the Hahn Australia Cup, the pay-to-play barrier that keeps talented kids out of the game, and why football is the most participated sport in Australia but still gets underfunded compared to table tennis. Abdul and Thomas open up about interviewing Gary Cahill, Matheus Tell, and Kevin Prince Boateng, the Australia versus Turkey World Cup moment that united the country, why A-League players need more character like Irankunda and Adrian Segesic, and Thomas's simple mantra for consistency: shut up, suit up, show up. They close with their best advice for every young player, content creator, and football fan trying to build something in the game: back yourself, be yourself, and put yourself out there. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what it takes to build a life in and around football. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look. Find Eleade on Instagram or at www.eleadefussball.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and meet UBF: Abs and Thomas 02:20 How UBF started at KFC over an Alexis Sanchez vs Eden Hazard debate 04:50 Why NPL teams are outperforming the A-League in the Australia Cup 07:32 Why Australian football fans could learn from European crowds 09:59 Just put yourself out there: advice for young football fans 12:50 Interviewing Gary Cahill, Matheus Tell, and Kevin Prince Boateng 15:37 Why Australia's most participated sport is underfunded 18:21 The pay-to-play barrier holding Australian football back 30:29 The Irankunda character effect and why A-League players need personality 38:25 The Australia vs Turkey World Cup moment that united the country 43:50 "Shut up, suit up, show up": Thomas's mantra for consistency 45:39 Stoppage Time: A-League predictions for the upcoming season 52:50 The best players they've ever played against 55:27 Their advice for young players: back yourself, be yourself 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Enjoy your football journey!

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this episode, Jan calls London to sit down with Kealey Adamson, a right back who grew up on Sydney's North Shore, never played in an A-League Academy, and worked his way from Northern Tigers NPL 2 first grade to winning the Australia Cup with Sydney FC, his first A-League contract with MacArthur Bulls, and now Queens Park Rangers in the English Championship. Kealey talks about growing up at Linfield FC, the coaches who shaped him (including Adam Griffiths, now head coach at Perth Glory), and getting the Sydney FC email through his TD's connection with Kelly Cross. He is candid about the "delusional confidence" that convinced him he'd play for Sydney FC before there was ever a real chance, and the tibia fracture that ended his first season three games in. He opens up about winning the Australia Cup while being released simultaneously, the MacArthur Bulls offer that came through his agent while he was in a kebab shop, and how the QPR offer came in through an unexpected email. He also talks about representing Australia at the Olyroos in China, Qatar, and South Korea, and the reality of moving to London alone as a young Australian. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what the pathway from grassroots Australian football to the European game really looks like. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look. Find Eleade on Instagram or at www.eleadefussball.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:53 Welcome and meet Kealey Adamson 04:15 Growing up on Sydney's North Shore and starting at Linfield FC 06:39 From Linfield to Northern Tigers and playing NPL 2 first grade at 18 09:02 The Colombian carer, Adam Griffiths, and the two-touch drill 11:45 The neighbour who inspired him to do the extras 14:17 Playing two games a weekend and jumping age groups at Tigers 17:02 First grade at Northern Tigers and the Sydney FC email through Kelly Cross 19:52 The delusional confidence that got him into Sydney FC 22:17 Why he wishes he'd said "I want to be a pro" louder as a young player 24:43 First year at Sydney FC: tibia fracture and learning off the pitch 33:32 The MacArthur Bulls offer that came in a kebab shop 36:13 Coaching kids on the North Shore between A-League matches 38:28 What coaching kids taught him about his own game 42:11 How the QPR offer came in through an email 47:31 Playing for the Olyroos in China, Qatar, and South Korea 52:08 The reality of moving to London and playing in the Championship 1:00:19 Stoppage Time Questions 1:04:39 Kealey's advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Enjoy your football journey!

The professional playing career is only one path in football. This episode marks the start of a new angle on From First Touch to First Team, where we show young players and parents that the game offers far more opportunity than just becoming a player, and that a full-time life in football is possible in many different forms. Claudio Fabiano is the perfect example. Host Jan Schmidt sits down with him to trace a career that started at Sydney NPL club Pagewood Botany FC, took him to Hoffenheim in Germany at 16 and Accrington Stanley in England at 19, and pivoted after two serious injuries ended his pro playing hopes. What he built next is a full-time career in football media, most recently presenting the FIFA World Cup for SBS in front of millions of Australian viewers. Claudio is honest about the hip labrum tear at 19 and the ACL rupture at 20, the two years away from the game that followed, and how a barbershop interview with Alex Brosque turned into a full-time media career. From simulated FIFA broadcasts during COVID, to BeIn Sports, to becoming the face of Optus Sport. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone wondering what a life in football can look like beyond the pro contract. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Growing up in an Italian migrant family and joining Pagewood Botany FC ▸ Captain of Sydney Olympic and called into Steve Corica's Sydney FC youth team ▸ The Hoffenheim trial at 16 and the Accrington Stanley trial at 19 ▸ The hip labrum tear and ACL rupture that ended his pro dream at 20 ▸ From a barbershop interview to becoming the face of Optus Sport ▸ Presenting the FIFA World Cup for SBS ▸ Why the NPL is one of the best semi-pro leagues in the world CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 02:02 Welcome and presenting the World Cup on SBS 05:00 Growing up in an Italian family and joining Pagewood Botany FC 08:03 The juggling story: from 12 to 1,000 in a Christmas break 10:39 Captain of Sydney Olympic and getting called into Sydney FC 13:54 Missing the Joeys and getting a Hoffenheim trial through his uncle 19:41 Inside the Hoffenheim football school at 16 26:23 Why he watched what defenders did off the ball 28:02 Hip surgery, Accrington Stanley trial, and the ACL rupture 40:16 From denied at Optus to becoming the face of Optus Sport 52:44 Joao Pedro, Kevin Prince Boateng, and the human side of pros 54:49 Why the love for football should never die 56:42 The UNSW culture that took them from NPL 4 to NPL 2 1:05:07 Why the NPL is one of the best semi-pro leagues in the world 1:10:28 Stoppage Time Questions 1:12:31 His best advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey.

Lloyd Owusu takes us through his professional football journey while constantly shifting perspective between how it was for him as a player and how it looks now watching his own son go through it. His story becomes a live case study for every young player and parent at any age and career stage. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with Lloyd to build one of the most useful conversations we have done on this show. The format is unique. At every stage of Lloyd's career, we pause to look at the same stage through his son Ty's journey, showing what has changed, what has stayed the same, and what today's players and parents should focus on right now. We begin with Lloyd at 10 years old, joining his first team in Slough through his best mate Gary Byrne, and put that next to Ty starting football at 6. We move to Lloyd trialing at Crystal Palace at 15 and scoring four goals on his Slough Town debut at 18, and reflect on what parents should look for in their kids at those same ages today. We work through his rise to a first professional contract with Brentford at 21, the agent who nearly cost him the deal, and the mentor Danny Bailey who stepped in to save it, then look at Ty's move to Sparta Rotterdam in Holland at 14 and what it takes for a young Australian player to get to Europe today. Lloyd talks about the Brentford Division Three title-winning season in 1999, the years at Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Yeovil, and Luton, and what real professional culture looked like inside those change rooms. He closes with the extra 1% that separates young players who make it from those who don't, the change room culture Australia is missing, and his best advice for every young player chasing the dream. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this conversation walks you through every stage of a football career from both sides at once. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Lloyd at 10 in Slough and how Ty started at 6 in Sydney ▸ Crystal Palace trials at 15 and what parents should watch for at that age ▸ Four goals on his Slough Town debut at 18 and the mentality that got him there ▸ The Danny Bailey mentor call that saved his Brentford contract ▸ Turning pro at 21 with Brentford and winning the Division Three title ▸ Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Yeovil, and Luton ▸ His A-League move to Adelaide United and playing in China ▸ Ty's move to Sparta Rotterdam and why the European pathway matters ▸ The extra 1% that separates young players today ▸ Why Australian football is missing a real change room culture ▸ His best advice for every young player chasing the dream CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:35 Welcome and meet Lloyd Owusu 06:50 Crystal Palace trials at 15 and 4 goals on his Slough Town debut 12:39 Scouts coming weekly and turning pro at 21 with Brentford 18:07 Multiple sports, Ty's development, and building an athlete 23:21 The agent who almost cost him his Brentford contract 28:54 The extra 1% that separates young players today 36:35 Ty at Sparta Rotterdam and why he backs the European pathway 44:42 Why coaches need to be honest and open with their players 50:49 The change room culture Australia is missing 56:37 What it really means to be a professional footballer 1:01:54 Stoppage Time Questions 1:04:24 His best advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey.

Nicholas Olsen takes us through one of the most well-travelled careers in Australian football, from starting at Sutherland Sharks at 13 to playing professionally across Kuwait, the A-League, Vietnam, and the Maldives, and returning home as NPL NSW Player of the Year. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with Nicholas to trace a career that took him well beyond the standard Australian football pathway. Nicholas talks about starting his football at Sutherland Sharks in the under-13s, moving to the Western Sydney Wanderers academy in 2012 where he trained under Tony Popovic, and being released in 2015 without an A-League appearance. We move through the NPL NSW years that followed at APIA Leichhardt, Sydney United 58, and back to Sutherland Sharks, and the decision to sign for Al-Jahra SC in Kuwait rather than wait around for an A-League opportunity that might never come. Nicholas is candid about what daily life looked like as a professional in Kuwait, moving between Al-Jahra and Khaitan SC, and the honest comparison between the Kuwait Premier League and the A-League. He talks about finally landing that A-League contract with Brisbane Roar in 2021, and the move to Vietnam that followed. Signing a professional contract in a torrential downpour with Saigon FC, the wage dispute that ended it, and moving between SHB Đà Nẵng and Becamex Bình Dương in the V.League 1. He also opens up about his AFC Challenge League year in the Maldives with Maziya S&RC, and the misconception that going overseas somehow doesn't count as making it. We close with his return to NPL NSW and a career-best 2025 season at Wollongong Wolves that earned him NPL NSW Player of the Year, his return to Sutherland Sharks for 2026, and why he now believes the NPL is closer to the A-League than most people realise. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone questioning what making it really means. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Starting his football at Sutherland Sharks as an under-13 ▸ Joining the Wanderers academy and training under Tony Popovic ▸ Being released without an A-League appearance and rebuilding through NPL NSW ▸ Signing for Al-Jahra SC in Kuwait and moving to Khaitan SC ▸ Playing Kuwait Premier League and AFC Cup football ▸ The A-League contract with Brisbane Roar ▸ Signing for Saigon FC in a torrential downpour in Vietnam ▸ Moving between SHB Đà Nẵng and Becamex Bình Dương in the V.League 1 ▸ AFC Challenge League football in the Maldives with Maziya S&RC ▸ Winning NPL NSW Player of the Year with Wollongong Wolves in 2025 ▸ Returning to Sutherland Sharks and the coaching path ▸ Why the NPL is closer to the A-League than most people think 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey.

Zac Sapsford takes us through his journey from an NPL 2 kid at Hakoah in Sydney to signing his first professional contract with Western Sydney Wanderers, and now scoring goals for Dundee United in Scotland's top division. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with Zac to trace one of the most relatable pathways in Australian football. Zac talks about growing up playing grassroots football at Maccabi, spending his youth years at Hakoah without ever being in an A-League academy, and the trial at Huddersfield at 16 where he came face-to-face with Liverpool and Man City academy players and realised how far the gap was. We move through the years that followed. Zac is candid about his time at Chester FC in England during COVID, being unable to play for a full year, and coming back to Australia so disillusioned that he asked Hakoah for a spot in the under 20s. He talks about the breakthrough that followed, the move to Sydney FC and then his first professional contract at Western Sydney Wanderers, and the derby goal against Sydney FC that helped land him on Dundee United's radar. He is honest about the reality of moving to Scotland alone, the mental approach that keeps him relaxed under pressure ("I don't even think about the game until I walk out"), why picking up golf changed how he handles bad games, and what it feels like to walk out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time. He closes with his advice for young players still chasing the dream, and a reminder that a coach not believing in you doesn't have to be the end of your journey. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this conversation is essential listening for anyone in the Australian NPL system. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Growing up playing grassroots football at Maccabi in Sydney ▸ Trialing at Huddersfield at 16 and versing Liverpool and Man City academies ▸ A year at Chester where he wasn't allowed to play ▸ Coming back from COVID and breaking into Hakoah first grade ▸ The move to Sydney FC and playing NPL 1 against the best in NSW ▸ Signing his first pro contract with Western Sydney Wanderers ▸ The Dundee United offer he couldn't turn down ▸ Walking out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time ▸ Why he doesn't think about the game until he walks out ▸ Life away from home and picking up golf as a mental reset ▸ His advice for young NPL players still chasing the dream CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:37 Welcome and meet Zac Sapsford 03:24 First touches with dad and joining Maccabi in Sydney 05:51 Trialing at Huddersfield and versing Liverpool and Man City academies 10:07 Coming back from Chester and breaking into Hakoah first grade 13:13 From Hakoah to Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers 16:35 Signing his first pro contract with Western Sydney Wanderers 18:28 The Dundee United offer he couldn't turn down 21:09 Walking out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time 23:15 Why he doesn't think about the game until he walks out 25:04 Life away from home and picking up golf 26:46 What "professional football" really means beyond the top leagues 31:36 What comes next for him at Dundee United 35:49 Stoppage Time Questions 40:41 His advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. @firsttouchtofirstteam And remember: enjoy your football journey.

Erin Nayler takes us through her journey from a nine-year-old goalkeeper in New Zealand to 85 caps for the Football Ferns, Olympique Lyonnais, Bayern Munich, and ten years playing professionally across five countries. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the former New Zealand international to trace one of the most well-travelled goalkeeper careers in the women's game. Erin talks about growing up as the only girl in a boys team, being cut from youth national teams for lacking confidence, and how discovering Hope Solo on YouTube changed her mindset ahead of a U20 World Cup where she was named the starting goalkeeper on the day of the opening game. We move through the ten years that followed. Erin is candid about her first professional contract at Sky Blue in the US that lasted three weeks before she was sent home, signing for Olympique Lyonnais at 21 alongside Wendie Renard and Sarah Bouhaddi, and the moves that followed to Bordeaux, Reading, Umeå IK in Sweden, and Bayern Munich. She talks openly about losing her mum while playing in France, the reality of missing weddings and birthdays as a New Zealand-based player in Europe, and how her identity became tied to being a goalkeeper. We also cover her move to Sydney and UNSW FC in the NPL, her honest assessment of Australian women's football, and Your Story, the pilot program she is launching in Sweden in January 2027 to support elite athletes navigating retirement. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is a rare look at the reality of a decade in European women's football and the challenges that come after. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Starting in goal at 9 and playing on a boys team in New Zealand ▸ Being cut from youth national teams and how Hope Solo changed her mindset ▸ Getting cut after three weeks at Sky Blue in the US ▸ Signing for Olympique Lyonnais at 21 alongside Wendie Renard and Sarah Bouhaddi ▸ Moving through Bordeaux, Reading, and Umeå IK in Sweden ▸ Losing her mum while playing in France ▸ Two World Cups, the Rio Olympics, and 85 caps for the Football Ferns ▸ Signing for Bayern Munich after almost retiring in Sweden ▸ Facing Alex Morgan, Eugénie Le Sommer, and the US national team ▸ Moving to Sydney and signing for UNSW FC in the NPL ▸ Why the Matildas' success isn't reaching the A-League Women ▸ Your Story: her program supporting athletes after retirement CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:43 Welcome and meet Erin Nayler 03:53 Starting in goal at 9 and playing with the boys 06:39 Hope Solo, mindset shift, and going to the U20 World Cup 08:51 Cut after three weeks at Sky Blue in the US 11:18 Signing for Olympique Lyonnais at 21 14:08 Bordeaux, COVID, and moving to Reading 19:06 Coping with challenges and family loss 21:34 The reality of being far from home as a professional 24:13 Playing in the snow in Sweden 30:13 The best football culture: England, Sweden, or Germany 31:12 The best players she faced, from Alex Morgan to Le Sommer 32:19 Retiring at 34 and what comes next 34:11 Moving to Sydney and signing for UNSW FC in the NPL 36:52 How NPL football actually compares to Europe 40:08 The young Australian talent she thinks can play in Europe 41:46 Why the Matildas' success isn't reaching the A-League Women 44:15 Your Story: her project supporting athletes after retirement 50:16 Stoppage Time Questions 52:57 Advice for young footballers 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question.

Daniel Georgievski takes us through his journey from Western Sydney to Dinamo Zagreb's academy, Steaua Bucharest, and Champions League nights against Chelsea, Schalke, and Ajax. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the former professional footballer to trace one of the most unlikely paths in Australian football. Danny talks about growing up in Blacktown as a rugby league fan, wearing his dad's work socks to play at Marion FC, getting cut from Blacktown Demons at 14, and how a highlights reel his mum burned onto a CD ended up landing him a trial at Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia. We move through the eight years that followed. Danny is candid about being 18, jet-lagged, and crying outside the Dinamo Zagreb stadium after a horrible first trial, the daily grind of morning and afternoon training that became his football education, and the reality of five years as a professional with no money to his name, chewing gum so his stomach thought he was full. He talks about being captain at 21 in Croatia, breaking his leg and fighting back to play Europa League and Champions League football in the same season. He is honest about the moment the Champions League anthem hit him playing in front of 60,000 fans, what it felt like to line up against Eden Hazard, and why every Australian player thinking about Europe needs a serious reality check before they go. We close with his message for young players thinking about quitting, the honest truth about agents, and what he tells parents who dream of their kids playing overseas. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is one of the most honest conversations on this show so far. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Growing up in Blacktown, Marconi, and being a rugby league fan first ▸ Being cut at 14 and finding his own way back into the game ▸ The highlights reel his mum burned onto a CD that led to Dinamo Zagreb ▸ Crying outside the Dinamo Zagreb stadium after his first trial at 18 ▸ Five years pro with no money to his name and chewing gum to feel full ▸ Captain at 21 in Croatia and signing for Steaua Bucharest in Romania ▸ Champions League nights against Chelsea, Schalke, and Ajax ▸ Signing for Melbourne Victory and winning three titles in one season ▸ His honest truth about agents in football ▸ The reality check every Australian player needs before Europe ▸ His message for young players thinking about quitting CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:28 Welcome and meet Daniel Georgievski 04:06 Growing up in Blacktown, Marconi, and being a rugby league fan 06:49 Pele on cassette, backyard training, and his parents' approach 12:20 The highlights reel that took him to a Dinamo Zagreb trial 15:04 What Croatia's daily training taught him about football 18:34 His first pro contract and captain at 21 in Croatia 21:45 Signing for Steaua Bucharest 23:46 Champions League nights against Chelsea, Schalke, and Ajax 25:49 Signing for Melbourne Victory and winning three titles 30:52 What he would do differently if he could go back 33:19 His hard truth about agents in football 36:35 The Champions League anthem moment he'll never forget 40:08 Retiring the day his son was born 42:27 Learning to coach Australian kids after playing in Europe 45:12 What John Toshak and his Croatian coaches taught him 49:32 The reality check every Australian player needs before Europe 57:05 "Don't give up" - his message for players thinking about quitting 59:13 Stoppage Time Questions 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember:Enjoy the journey!

Alexander Fuchs takes us through his journey from the 1860 Munich youth academy to a Bundesliga debut with 1. FC Nürnberg, multiple hip surgeries, and what it taught him about the mental side of professional football. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the 29-year-old German professional to trace a path through one of the most competitive development environments in world football. Alex talks about growing up in Munich as a Bayern Munich fan, getting scouted by 1860 at eight after winning a tournament playing up an age group, what daily life looked like inside the academy's specialised football school, and the U17 and U19 years when serious knee injuries nearly cost him everything. We move through his rise to a first professional contract with 1. FC Nürnberg, his Bundesliga debut at Olympiastadion Berlin, and the experience of playing in front of 80,000 fans at Signal Iduna Park. Alex is candid about the spiral that followed when Nürnberg started losing games, the impact of social media criticism at 21, and how it pushed him to start studying psychology while still playing professionally. He opens up about the tools that now anchor his approach to the game, including journaling, habits, controlling the controllables, and preparing the brain like a muscle. We also cover his move to Austria Klagenfurt in the Austrian Bundesliga, the hip injuries that have shaped much of his recent career, and what kept him coming back after surgery on both hips and over a year on the sidelines. He closes with his advice for young players chasing the dream, the 1860 Munich teammates who went on to play for the German national team, and what his six-year-old self would say about the journey so far. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is a rare look at what it actually takes to survive in the German football pathway. IN THIS EPISODE: ▸ Growing up in Munich as a Bayern fan and being scouted by 1860 at eight ▸ Inside the 1860 Munich football school and a five-times-a-week training schedule ▸ Knee injuries through the U17 and U19 years and how the club waited for him ▸ Teammates Felix Uduokhai, Florian Neuhaus, and Benny Henrichs who reached the German national team ▸ Signing his first pro contract with 1. FC Nürnberg ▸ His Bundesliga debut at Olympiastadion Berlin and playing at Signal Iduna Park ▸ Why he started studying psychology while still playing professionally ▸ Journaling, habits, and the tools he uses to control the controllables ▸ Moving to Austria Klagenfurt in the Austrian Bundesliga ▸ Surgery on both hips and the long road back to the pitch CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 01:17 Welcome and meet Alex Fuchs 03:09 First touches at SV Lohhof and being a Bayern fan in Munich 06:52 The tournament that got him scouted by 1860 Munich at 8 10:40 Inside the 1860 Munich football school 19:03 What he wishes he had done differently in the youth academy 24:33 Signing his first pro contract with 1. FC Nürnberg 29:09 The coaches and parents who shaped him 31:48 His Bundesliga debut at Olympiastadion Berlin 35:27 Why he started studying psychology while playing pro 38:31 Journaling and the habits that build mental toughness 42:15 Moving to Austria and signing with Austria Klagenfurt 44:21 Hip surgery on both sides and the road back 50:14 His advice for young players chasing the dream 51:06 Stoppage Time Questions 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey.

Kiara De Domizio takes us through her journey from her first kick at Bankstown Sports to training alongside Matildas at Sydney Olympic, signing her first professional contract with Western United, and earning a reputation as the "clutch queen" in the A-League Women. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the 24-year-old Australian winger and the show's first female guest. Kiara talks about growing up in an Italian-Australian family with no football background, idolising Cristiano Ronaldo, and playing in all-boys teams until she joined Bankstown City Lions at 13. We move through her climb up the NPL Women's ladder at Inter Lions, MacArthur Rams, Sutherland Sharks, and five seasons at Sydney Olympic alongside Matildas internationals including Courtney Vine, Jada Wyman, Teresa Polias, and Courtney Nevin. Kiara is candid about the Sydney FC preseason chances under Ante Juric, how COVID delayed her breakthrough, the Mark Torcaso call that took her to Western United, and the FaceTime that delivered her first professional contract in the A-League Women's. She opens up about what changes when football becomes your job, the reality that almost every female pro in Australia juggles a second job, and where the women's game is heading. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is a rare look inside the realities of being a professional female footballer in Australia today. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Growing up in an Italian-Australian family with no football background ▸ Idolising Cristiano Ronaldo and trying his step overs in the backyard ▸ Playing in all-boys teams until 13 and joining Bankstown City Lions ▸ The NPL Women's ladder through Inter Lions, MacArthur Rams, Sutherland Sharks, and Sydney Olympic ▸ Training alongside Matildas at Sydney Olympic including Courtney Vine, Jada Wyman, Teresa Polias, and Courtney Nevin ▸ Sydney FC preseason training under Ante Juric and how COVID delayed her breakthrough ▸ The Mark Torcaso call that took her to Western United ▸ The trial match and the FaceTime that signed her first professional contract ▸ Why almost every female pro in Australia juggles a second job ▸ Her advice for NPL Women's players when A-League stars come back CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:16 Welcome and meet Kiara De Domizio 02:25 The Cristiano Ronaldo obsession and a family with no football background 09:24 First training sessions and joining Bankstown City Lions at 13 14:14 Dreaming of being a pro when there was no women's pathway to follow 17:13 Moving up to NPL2 with Inter Lions 23:36 NPL1 at MacArthur Rams, Sutherland Sharks, and Sydney Olympic 25:02 Training alongside Matildas at Sydney Olympic 30:11 The Sydney FC breakthrough that COVID delayed 34:20 The Mark Torcaso call that took her to Western United 37:09 The trial match and the FaceTime that signed her first pro contract 39:01 Moving cities, going pro, and balancing work 44:13 How women's football in Australia is evolving 47:20 Her advice when A-League stars come back to NPL teams 49:57 Stoppage Time 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey. GUEST Kiara De Domizio, 24-year-old Australian winger. Came through Bankstown Sports, Inter Lions, MacArthur Rams, and Sutherland Sharks before five seasons at Sydney Olympic. Signed her first professional contract with Western United in the A-League Women, where she's known as the "clutch queen" for scoring late and decisive goals.