The About Going Blind Show

Sam Hird spent almost a decade at Leeds United without making a first-team appearance. Years later, he returned to face them at Wembley and helped Doncaster Rovers secure promotion to the Championship.I sit down with Sam to explore the resilience, self-belief and work ethic behind his career in professional football.We discuss his six years and nearly 250 appearances at Chesterfield, changing Paul Cook’s mind after being placed on the transfer list, battling serious injuries and eventually being released by text message while he was still recovering.Sam also shares the story of helping Barrow return to the Football League, being unexpectedly placed on furlough after being told how important his experience would be, and the opportunity that followed to begin his coaching career.He explains why he ultimately left coaching at Bolton Wanderers and how his current role with the PFA allows him to support players through contracts, disputes, setbacks and the realities of professional football.This is an honest conversation about rejection, loyalty, difficult decisions and believing in yourself when your career does not go to plan.The AGB Show is hosted by me, Joe Edwards, produced by ODGE MEDIA and sponsored by Intec Office Systems.Follow and find out more:ODGE MEDIAhttps://odgemedia.com/Intec Office Systemshttps://intecoffice.co.uk/About Going Blind on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/aboutgoingblind/Subscribe for more honest conversations with people who have faced adversity, navigated change and found a way forward.

Ryan Oldfield cried nearly every day at school, but it wasn’t until his twenties that he understood he had been living with anxiety since childhood.After becoming increasingly isolated while working from home, a panic attack in Tesco made Ryan realise he needed help. Football became a vital part of managing his mental health and eventually inspired him to establish Mental Health FC.In this episode, Ryan joins Joe Edwards to discuss his experience with social anxiety and generalised anxiety disorder, the importance of seeking support and how gradually facing difficult situations helped him rebuild his confidence.Ryan also shares how a Facebook post looking for people to join a casual five-a-side game grew into Mental Health FC, which now runs seven relaxed football sessions across Doncaster, Sheffield and Scunthorpe.They discuss:Ryan’s experience of anxiety from nursery into adulthoodThe panic attack that led him to seek helpHow football supported his mental healthWhy relaxed, pressure-free sessions matterUsing exposure therapy to manage anxietyBuilding confidence through networkingMental Health FC’s plans to support more communitiesCreating accessible football experiences for familiesThe importance of time, patience and supportive peopleThe AGB Show is hosted by Joe Edwards, produced by ODGE MEDIA and sponsored by Intec Office Systems.Follow and find out more:Mental Health FC
https://www.mentalhealthfc.org/ODGE MEDIA
https://odgemedia.com/Intec Office Systems
https://intecoffice.co.uk/About Going Blind on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/aboutgoingblind/Subscribe for honest conversations with people who have faced adversity, adapted to change and found a way forward.

Everyone faces challenges.Some are personal. Some are professional. Others completely change the direction you thought your life was heading in.After losing my sight, I began sharing my experiences online. Along the way, I discovered how much it can help to hear from people who have faced difficult moments of their own.That is why I created The About Going Blind Show.I’ll be speaking with guests from sport, business and everyday life about the challenges they have faced, what helped them through and how they found a way forward.Each guest has a different story, but every conversation will offer something you can take away and apply to challenges in your own life.Despite the name, this isn’t simply a podcast about sight loss. It is about the experiences that shape us, the setbacks we face and the different ways we learn to move forward.The AGB Show is hosted by me, Joe Edwards, produced by ODGE MEDIA and sponsored by Intec Office Systems.Follow and find out more:ODGE MEDIAhttps://odgemedia.com/Intec Office Systemshttps://intecoffice.co.uk/About Going Blind on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/aboutgoingblind/Subscribe for full episodes, clips and honest conversations with people who have faced adversity and kept moving forward.