In this episode, Carolyn Kent welcomes a special co-host, Emily Howarth, an MSc Physiotherapy student, for her first podcast appearance! Together, they interview Erin Griffiths, a PhD researcher working with Manchester United on ACL injury risk factors in women's football. Erin shares her academic journey, her transition into research, and what it's like conducting an industry-based PhD in a professional football environment.

Whether you're interested in sports science, women's football, injury prevention, or pursuing a PhD, this episode has valuable insights on navigating academia and sports research.

🔹 Erin’s Background & Research Journey – How she moved from an MSc in Medical Sciences to a PhD focused on ACL injuries in women's football. 🔹 Why Women's Football? – The gaps in research and why she chose to focus on female athletes. 🔹 Challenges in PhD Research – Ethics, adapting research methods, and working in an elite sports environment. 🔹 ACL Injury Risk Factors – Monitoring muscle strength, movement quality, and hormonal changes in female footballers. 🔹 Industry-Based PhD vs. Academic PhD – Working within a professional football club while conducting research. 🔹 Funding & Application Process – Advice for students considering a PhD, including securing funding and writing strong proposals. 🔹 Balancing Research & Personal Life – How Erin manages the demands of PhD research, club work, and her own well-being.

✅ Building Relationships is Key – Researching in a professional club requires strong communication skills. ✅ Expect Research to Evolve – Initial plans often change, so adaptability is crucial. ✅ PhDs are Challenging but Rewarding – You need to be passionate about your topic to sustain long-term motivation. ✅ Women’s Football Needs More Research – Now is the time to contribute to evidence-based practices in the sport. ✅ Networking is Essential – Use LinkedIn and reach out to professionals in your field.

🔗 LinkedIn: Erin Griffiths (Search her name!)

🔗 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Podbean 📢 Follow Women’s Football Hub for more insightful episodes on research, injury prevention, and performance in women’s football.

📲 Connect with us on Social Media! 🌍 Twitter: @_WFootballhub 📸 Instagram: @Womens.Football.Hub 🎥 TikTok: @Womens.Football.Hub

🎙️ Interested in PhD research or ACL injury prevention? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Episode: The History & Future of Women’s Football with Clare McEwen

🎙️ Host: Carolyn Kent 🎙️ Guest: Clare McEwen – Freelance Sports Writer, Author of She Can Kick It, and Health Researcher at Oxford University

In this episode, Carolyn Kent welcomes Clare McEwen, author of She Can Kick It, a book that delves into the rich and often overlooked history of women's football. Clare shares her own journey as a football-loving girl growing up in Cornwall, explores key moments in the women's game, and discusses how history continues to shape the sport today.

📖 From bans and discrimination to the rise of the Lionesses, this conversation uncovers how far the game has come and where it’s headed next.

✅ How gender stereotyping shaped the history of women’s football ✅ The ban on women’s football and how it affected generations of players ✅ The role of the medical profession in restricting women’s participation in sport ✅ The impact of Title IX in the U.S. and how it helped grow women’s soccer ✅ How the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup changed the game forever ✅ Why the 2022 Euros was a game-changer for women’s football ✅ The future of investment in the women’s game and its business potential

⚽ Women’s football was deliberately held back for decades, yet still thrived despite restrictions. ⚽ Visibility matters – Young girls need role models to inspire them in sport. ⚽ Investment drives success – Without proper funding, the women’s game cannot grow. ⚽ The fight for equality isn’t over – Cultural and systemic barriers still impact the sport today.

📚 Clare’s Book: She Can Kick It – Available on Amazon 📖 More on Women’s Football History: Learn about Carol Thomas, Mia Hamm, and the 1999ers 📲 Follow Clare McEwen for updates on her latest projects

📌 Follow Women’s Football Hub Podcast for more expert discussions on the women’s game. 📌 Tag a football fan who needs to hear this!

🎧 Listen now – Available on all major podcast platforms!

#WomensFootballHub #WomenInSport #FootballHistory #SheCanKickIt #Lionesses #EqualGame #FootballForAll #Hergametoo

🎙 Guest: Dr. Amanda Jagielo 🎤 Host: Carolyn Kent

In this episode of the Women’s Football Hub podcast, host Carolyn Kent sits down with Dr. Amanda Jagielo, a sports medicine expert and researcher specialising in sports footwear. Dr. Jagielo shares groundbreaking insights into how football boots (or soccer cleats) impact female athletes’ performance, injury risk, and overall game experience. She also discusses her scoping review on cleat design and the crucial need for gender-specific football boots.

⚽ Football Boots and Injury Risk

• Dr. Jagielo’s research highlights how current boot designs can contribute to common injuries like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, and even other injuries.

• Many female players experience increased ground reaction forces and higher plantar pressures compared to men, which could be linked to boot design.

👟 Why Women's Boots Are Just ‘Shrunk’ Men’s Boots

• Historically, women’s football boots have been scaled-down versions of men’s boots, ignoring anatomical differences.

• Most cleats are based on an adult Caucasian male foot shape, which doesn’t accommodate the wider forefoot and narrower heel seen in female athletes.

🧐 The Importance of Stud Configuration and Boot Stiffness

• Bladed studs may increase rotational torque and risk of injuries, while conical studs may provide better force distribution.

• Increased bending stiffness in boot design can limit natural joint movement and shock absorption, potentially leading to more injuries.

🏟️ The Impact of Artificial Pitches on Footwear

• Artificial turf increases plantar pressures, exacerbating issues with current cleat designs.

• Many players don’t switch to artificial turf-specific boots due to access, cost, or habit, increasing their injury risk.

🚀 The Future of Women’s Football Boots

• Ida Sports is leading the charge in designing gender-specific boots with wider toe boxes, increased arch support, and better traction.

• Dr. Jagielo advocates for more investment, research, and changes in industry standards to prioritise injury prevention and performance.

📌 LinkedIn: Dr. Amanda Jagielo 📌 Twitter: @TheVeganAT 📌 Live Presentation: Isokinetic Conference, Madrid, 2-5th May 2025

🎧 Catch this episode and more on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review to support women’s football!

📢 Join the conversation: What do you think about the current state of women’s football boots? Let us know in the comments on social media! #WFHPodcast #WomensFootball #FootballBoots

In this special episode of Women's Football Hub, host Carolyn Kent welcomes back Mark McGuigan, a mental health occupational therapist and founder of Willow Grove Consulting, after our launch of the Mental Health and Recovery Toolkit — a free resource designed for athletes at every level.

Together, they explore the why behind the project and the how behind using simple but effective tools to manage mental health challenges in sport — from pre-match nerves to post-game disappointment.

🛠️ The toolkit includes four short audio/video resources:

• Dealing with Emotions

• Dealing with Negative Thoughts

• Guided Progressive Muscle Relaxation

• Dealing with Poor Performance

Whether you're a player, coach, or part of the support team, this episode offers insight into managing anxiety, increasing emotional regulation, and enhancing recovery.

📲 All tools are available in podcast and video format on the Women's Football Hub YouTube channel and podcast feed.

Mark is a registered Mental Health Occupational Therapist with over 15 years' experience across secure services, inpatient wards, and community mental health. Through Willow Grove Consulting, he works directly with elite and grassroots athletes to support their mental health, performance, and recovery.

• The link between mental health and performance

• Managing anxiety and panic in high-pressure situations

• What is the “window of tolerance”?

• Using breathing and grounding techniques for performance and wellbeing

• When to use proactive vs. reactive tools

• Why normalising mental health conversations matters in football

🔗 Watch the Toolkit on YouTube: [Insert YouTube link] 🎧 Listen on Spotify/Apple Podcasts: [Insert podcast feed link] 🌐 Follow Mark McGuigan: @WGCmentalhealth | www.willowgrove.consulting

Follow us on social media for more tools, episodes, and updates: 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @womens.football.hub 🐦 X (Twitter): @_WFootballhub 📘 Facebook | 🧵 Threads | 🔗 LinkedIn | 🌐 womensfootballhub.com

Episode Summary: Feeling tense? Need to switch off after a match or long day? This calming session, led by Occupational Therapist Mark McGuigan, guides you through a full-body Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) to help release stress and support recovery.

It’s perfect for use before bed, during injury rehab, or any time your body feels tight and your mind won’t slow down.

What You’ll Learn: ✅ How to connect mind and body through muscle awareness ✅ A step-by-step guide to progressive relaxation ✅ When and how to use PMR in your routine ✅ How to activate your parasympathetic nervous system for recovery

Who It’s For: Ideal for footballers, coaches, and athletes dealing with physical tension, match-day nerves, or stress-related fatigue. Use it as part of your self-care or recovery toolkit.

Resources: 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube 🎧 Explore the rest of the Mental Health and Recovery Toolkit 🌐 Visit Women’s Football Hub and Willow Grove Consultants for more tools

🗣️ “This is your moment to breathe, reset, and let go.”

#ProgressiveMuscleRelaxation #AthleteRecovery #MentalHealthToolkit #FootballWellbeing #PMRForAthletes #WomenInSport #WillowGroveConsultants #WomensFootballHub #ResetReflectRecharge #RelaxationInSport

Episode Summary: Emotions are part of football — but sometimes they can feel overwhelming or out of control. In this episode, Occupational Therapist Mark McGuigan offers a calming and reflective tool to help you make space for difficult emotions without letting them take over.

Designed for players and coaches alike, this short session helps you understand and regulate emotional responses in high-pressure moments.

What You’ll Learn: ✅ That emotions are valid — even the uncomfortable ones ✅ A simple strategy to process feelings without judgement ✅ A moment of calm when you need it most

Who It’s For: Ideal for footballers navigating high-pressure games, emotional injury recovery, or off-pitch challenges. Also useful for coaches wanting to support their players’ emotional wellbeing.

Resources: 📺 Watch the video version on YouTube 🎧 Listen to more Mental Health and Recovery Toolkit episodes 🌐 Visit Women’s Football Hub or Willow Grove Consultants for more support

🗣️ “You don’t have to ignore your emotions. You just need tools to sit with them.”

#MentalHealthToolkit #EmotionalRegulation #MentalWellbeing #WomensFootball #AthleteSupport #ResetReflectRecharge #SportPsychology #WillowGroveConsultants #WomensFootballHub #PlayerMentalHealth

Episode Summary: In this focused session, Occupational Therapist Mark McGuigan offers a grounding reflection to help players recognise and interrupt negative thoughts.

Whether it’s self-doubt, overthinking, or inner criticism, this tool guides you to pause, shift perspective, and take back control of your mindset.

What You’ll Learn: ✅ Why negative thoughts are normal — and what to do with them ✅ A simple reframing strategy to stop spirals ✅ How to respond with self-awareness, not judgement ✅ A quick mental tool to reset in the moment

Who It’s For: Perfect for footballers, coaches, and support staff looking to build mental resilience and reduce the noise of inner criticism — before, during, or after matches.

Resources: 📺 Watch this episode on YouTube 🎧 Explore more from the Mental Health and Recovery Toolkit 🌐 Connect with Women’s Football Hub and Willow Grove Consultants

🗣️ “You’re allowed to have negative thoughts”

#MentalHealthToolkit #DealingWithNegativeThoughts #AthleteMindset #PlayerSupport #ResetReflectRecharge #SportPsychology #WomensFootballHub #WillowGroveConsultants #FootballWellbeing #AthleteMentalHealth

Episode Summary: In this short, reflective episode, Occupational Therapist Mark McGuigan offers a powerful mindset reset for players who are struggling after a poor performance.

Whether you’ve had a tough match, made a mistake, or are feeling overwhelmed by expectations, this tool helps you let go, learn, and move forward with self-compassion and control.

What You’ll Learn: ✅ How to separate who you are from how you performed ✅ A simple mental reframe to stop negative spirals ✅ Tools to build emotional resilience after tough moments ✅ A reminder that one game doesn’t define your worth

Who It’s For: This episode is for any footballer, coach, or athlete who’s ever walked off the pitch feeling defeated — and wants to learn how to bounce back stronger.

Resources: 📺 Watch this episode on YouTube 🎧 Listen to the full Toolkit series 🌐 Learn more about Women’s Football Hub and Willow Grove Consultants

🗣️ “You are more than your last performance. This is just one moment in your journey.”

#MentalHealthInFootball #PerformanceRecovery #DealingWithMistakes #PlayerSupport #MindsetReset #WomensFootballHub #WillowGroveConsultants #AthleteWellbeing #SportPsychology #ResetReflectRecharge