Simon Clifford - CEO at Integer Football, High Performance Coach and Futsal Pioneer Sport Stories Podcast

An incredibly open, honest and vulnerable conversation where Simon shares in his calm and humble way his story from being a passionate sports person and having an early career as a sport teacher right through to bringing Brazilian style football principles to the UK as well as influencing football worldwide, consulting on films and working with some of the most famous footballers the world has seen.
In his own words he was a ‘man with a mission’.  This brought its highs as well as its lows. In my mind Simon is a student of football as well as life and gives great insight into how you can rise from hitting rock bottom. He gives living proof you can change the way you approach your life if you take responsibility and action.
It is a heartfelt story that will definitely make you think about who you are, what you do, how you do it and ultimately what success is in life and sport.
It was a real privilege and honour to have Simon as the 50th Sport Stories Podcast guest. A must listen!!!
 
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It only takes a minute and really makes a difference in helping to convince new listeners. Thanks so much it - is much appreciated!!
For show notes and past guests, please visit www.sportstories247.com
Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Please make contact at: hello@sportstories247.com
Follow Sport Stories:Twitter:            twitter.com/sportstories_Instagram:       Instagram.com/sportstories247Facebook:        facebook.com/sportstories247LinkedIn:         https://www.linkedin.com/company/sportstoriesYouTube:          Sport Stories YouTube Channel
Find out more about Dave at: www.thesummitpartnership.comFollow Dave:Twitter:    https://twitter.com/SummitDaveLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davelevine3
 
Success quotes or sayings:
Middlesbrough and football were my love at a very early age.
Due to an experience of being ‘dropped’ I decided to take up something that was just reliant on the watch (running)
My hero was Terry Cochrane  - as a footballer he liked to run at people and take them on.  I therefore saw football as running at people and taking them on was the way to play football (not everybody liked this!)
I decided to take up Athletics – but wasn’t very good or by any means the fastest.
After a knock back of not being included in the school cross country team – I become very determined.
At times I wish I had carried on with football but Athletics taught me a life lesson – implementing key performance principles consistently and routinely irrespective of talent will get you somewhere.
Stoics and Spartans
I enjoyed reading from a young age and finding out about people and their lives
My edge for training dropped at university but I threw myself into my studies
I applied the principles developed in my early years and gained a 1stt in my degree. If you apply yourself to things you find hard and work at them – you can be successful.
I became a teacher – a bit by default. I re discovered my interest and passion for football (and coaching) by taking the U8,9,10, 11 in the school I worked at.
I became great friends with Juninho when he played at Middlesbrough due to a shared love of football.
I was not satisfied in ‘dishing up for them’ what everyone else did. I wanted to find out the best way and provide it where I could
I wanted the absolute best. I hunted here there and everywhere for those children
Being the best was my attitude to sport for many years – it wouldn’t be today.
I looked back into the history of sport. I really liked working hard and winning. This view has changed as the years went on
It was an amazing 5-6 weeks in Brazil….
The detail and work ethic in Brazil was clear to see and was not what I was led to believe it would be (people just playing on the beach)
Coe had intrigued me as he was an early user of sport science and built a team around him. Brazil had bette