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!