Damian Scannell climbed from Sunday League to League One.

In this episode of the podcast, Micheal Hilton sits down with former professional footballer Damian Scannell for an honest, no-fluff conversation about how players actually make it, and why so many talented ones fall away.

Damian never went through an academy.

He started in grassroots football, tore a side apart one Sunday, and got an offer of fifty quid a week.

That moment built momentum that carried him up the non-league pyramid to Eastleigh, then a buyout clause to Southend United in League One. He also breaks down where it went wrong, the mindset switch when he felt he had "arrived," the mercenary move for money, and the chase for pay-ups that started the decline.

As a dad with two boys in the academy system, Damian talks about tough love done right, getting his son to run a hill alone, making his boys earn the right to play on the garden pitch, and the day he caught himself becoming "that dad." Micheal shares his own version, including the Ben Nevis climb with his seven-year-old and the moment he realised his son's behaviour on the pitch was a mirror of his own.

You will hear why "okay" gets a player nowhere, why other people's opinions are the biggest trap in youth football, and why being obsessed with the craft beats being obsessed with the academy badge every time.

If your child has ability but you want to protect their love for the game while building real resilience, this one is for you.

Follow the podcast so you never miss an episode, and share it with one football parent or player who needs to hear it. Follow Damian's journey on Instagram @SuperDadDemo.

• The craft beats the badge. Damian's whole career came from loving football and playing constantly, not from chasing academy status. Obsess over the game, not the label.

• Momentum starts with one moment. A single standout Sunday game led to a fifty quid a week offer, then a climb up the pyramid. You build on the first one.

• A dog isn't born, it's built. Damian at 11, 22 and 30 were three different people. Experiences and challenges create the drive; it is not something a kid either has or lacks for life.

• Footballer first, influencer second. A 15-year-old at a big club with a following is not a footballer yet; he is a boy with a fan base. The content can quietly drain the energy the game needs.

• "Okay" gets you nowhere. There are former Cat 1 players sitting on non-league benches. Okay is not a standard worth aiming a child at.

• Vet the messenger. Before you accept "he's not good enough" or "he's the next big thing," ask who is saying it and whether they have actually lived the game.

• Push with love, not ego. Hill runs alone, earning the right to play, weight on his back. Adversity built on love raises the bar for life, not just football.

• Rejection is a bigger part of football than success. Most kids won't sign pro at 18. The skill is how fast you get back on the horse, not whether you get knocked off.

• Mental burnout looks physical. Players carrying noise about scholarships and dropping out burn mental calories all day. Clear the rubbish and get back to playing.

• Three things derail most players. Other people's opinions become your reality, obsession with academic status over the game, and warped expectations of how the journey actually looks.