The Christians in Sport Podcast

Matthew Joseph is the man 'coaching the coaches' at Arsenal Football Club's Academy. Matthew played as an Arsenal and England youth team player, gaining an Arsenal pro contract at eighteen. However, at nineteen he was released by Arsenal, a decision that he says broke his heart. He went on to play over 400 games in English League Football for Cambridge United and Leyton Orient before retiring and becoming a coach at the FA. In 2022 Matthew completed a career circle, rejoining Arsenal to oversee the Academy Coaching staff.   Danno caught up with Matthew to talk about his playing career, his role now as Academy Coach Developer at Arsenal F.C. and what it looks like to live as a Christian in the high-pressure world that is professional football. (1:15) How do your sport and faith connect? (2:08) What's it like to be released from a Football Academy? (8:27) Coping with being released. (11:22) Identity in retirement and becoming a Christian (15:33) Why do you want to be a coach? (19:46) Arsenal's values and caring for young players (23:07) How has the process of releasing academy players changed? (27:00) Managing young players on a performance pathway (28:10) What would you say to a parent of a player who's been released? (31:32) Understanding your value in a world dominated by performance (33:45) Being part of the Christians in Sport coaches network

What does it mean to play my sport for God’s glory? We often see people on social media talk about ‘playing for God’s glory’ and ‘all for His glory’ but what does this actually mean?  In this episode of AskCIS we seek to understand what it means to glorify God and how this might play out for Christian sportspeople. (0:00) - Intro (0:22) - Today's question (0:34) - Answer (0:55) - God's goal is to show off His Glory (1:46) - But we often get this wrong (3:50) - So, how can we glorify God in sport? (4:21) - We glorify Him as we compete (5:50) - We glorify God by declaring his greatness  (6:36) - Summary

Anastasia Chitty (Née Posner) represented Oxford University in five Boat Race crews as well as representing Great Britain at World Cups, World Championships and the World University Games. In 2020 Anastasia retired from rowing to complete her medical studies, giving up her opportunity to compete for a spot in the British Olympic team for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Danno caught up with Anastasia at her rowing club in Oxford to talk about her journey to faith and what it looked like to live as a Christian at the top-level of rowing. (1:00) How do your sport and faith connect? (1:51) How did you come to faith? (2:50) Coming to Oxford and growing in faith (4:45) The Boat Race (6:52) Rowing in the first televised Women's Boat Race (9:12) The transition from student-athlete to potential Olympian (13:45) The pressure of competition to go to the Olympics (15:16) Can you ever escape the pressure to perform? (17:46) How did your faith develop during this period as a full-time athlete? (21:30) What would have been different if you weren't a Christian? (24:16) Four things in play for elite Christian athletes (25:45) What did witness look like as a professional athlete? (28:10) How hard was it to decide not to continue to Tokyo 2020? (33:17)The role of Church for elite athletes (35:16) Where did Christians in Sport fit in? (38:32) Continuing rowing after stepping back

Fitness tracking and activity sharing apps have completely changed the landscape of athletic sports in recent years. In this episode of AskCIS we explore the benefits and potential pitfalls of Strava for the Christian athlete. (0:00) - Intro (0:22) - Today's question (0:42) - Answer (1:20) - Strava connects (2:20) - Strava consumes (3:26) - Strava constricts (4:14) - Should you use strava?

Not making the team is a tough scenario for players and athletes, particularly professionals who are under contract and unable to seek any alternative competition to enjoy. So, how can you respond in worship when you're constantly left out of selection? (0:00) - Intro (0:22) - Today's Question (0:46) - A common frustration for top-level players (1:10) - Three principles (2:09) - How do these play out? (4:59) - Be bold & how to leave well

Steve Stenstrom is a former NFL quarterback who played six seasons with the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos. Steve was a standout quarterback at Stanford University before being drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1995 This week Greg caught up with Steve ahead of Superbowl LVII to talk about his journey to Jesus, his NFL Draft experience, grieving the loss of his brother, playing in the NFL and how his identity was key in managing the pressure there. (00:00) Intro (01:38) What does it mean for you to have your sport and faith connected? (3:30) How did you become a Christian? (7:10) Being drafted to the NFL during difficult season for Steve's family (14:20) Playing in the NFL and the challenge of living as a Christian in professional sport (16:40) Steve's first NFL game and facing serious injury (23:47) Dealing with retirement (26:50) Supporting today's NFL players

Karen Kennedy is one of Irish Hockey's most experienced campaigners, with over a hundred international caps including playing in two World Cups. Having retired from the top level seven years ago Karen is now getting back into playing alongside navigating the challenges that come with being the mother of two young sportspeople. Danno caught up with Karen in Belfast to talk about her hockey career - including two world cup tournaments - and what it looks like to live out faith in sport as both a top player and now a mother. (00:00) Intro (02:50) What does it mean to have your sport and faith connected? (04:30) How were sport and faith separate as you grew up? (7:02) How did your parents approach balancing between church and sport? (8:32) Would you take the same approach as your parents with your kids? (9:05) International debut in Italy and playing in the World Cup (11:20) Adapting during the transition to top-level sport as a university student (12:21) Did full-time study ease the pressure of playing at the highest level? (15:20) The journey to a second World Cup in Australia (17:45) How does faith in Christ shape your view of sporting disappointment (19:16) How long did it take to work out your identity as a Christian in sport (20:33) What was the transition like leaving top-level hockey (23:12) What was it like starting to play again? (25:40) How do you balance work, parenting, sport and life now? (27:34) Playing in the same team as your child (29:15) The opportunity of coaching

"I can do all things through the one who gives me strength." Really? Philippians 4:13 is a popular verse in the world of sport, and it's easy to see why - it sounds like the perfect motivation for sporting performance. But is that what the verse really means? (0:00) - Intro (0:22) - Today's Question (0:45) - Sportspeople are driven people (1:41) - Finding motivation in the Bible (2:30) - Can Christians really do all things with the strength of God? (3:15) - Why does Paul use these words? (6:07) - What is Philippians 4:13 really about?

Christmas is a time when most of us stop playing, taking time off work or study and sport to be with family and friends. But what if you're a professional athlete? Christmas is one of the busiest periods for professional football and rugby players, as well as many in other sports. So how can you take time out to celebrate the wonder of Christmas during a busy playing and training schedule? (0:00) - Intro (0:22) - Today's Question (0:40) - Missing out?  (1:49) - The first nativity (3:12) - How did the shepherds & magi respond to Jesus? (4:36) - How will you respond? (5:09) - Four practical tips

Michael Johnson is an experienced player and respected coach within English Football. Having played for Birmingham City and Jamaica he moved into coaching after retiring. Since then roles have included coaching England's U21 team for two years and head coaching Guyana's national men's team. Danno caught up with Michael at St. George's Park to chat to him about his coaching career and what it looks like to connect sport and faith at the top level of football. (01:30) What does it mean to have your sport, work and faith connected? (03:30) Mentoring for UEFA (05:08) Progressing as a coach against the backdrop of racism in professional football (08:44) What does it look like to mentor world-class players into coaching? (10:28) Why do top pro footballers struggle with retirement? (12:40) Facing retirement as a Christian (14:44) Coming to faith as a professional footballer (17:30) What does witness look like in top-level football (20:15) Michael's current role at England Football (26:38) Playing for Jamaica & the journey to head coaching Guyana (29:00) How has your faith influenced your career? (33:03) Peer support and mentoring other Christians within professional football (38:31) Thoughts on the England team and their world cup campaign