Ex-Manchester United player reveals how to build confident young footballers

In this episode, Ben and Mike are joined by John Curtis — former Manchester United player and founder of NCE Soccer — for a wide-ranging conversation on what really drives youth football development.

John reflects on his own journey from grassroots football to Manchester United, sharing how early environments, coaching culture, and emotional support shape confident, resilient players.

Drawing on his experiences in elite academies and now working in the US, he explains why many development systems prioritise results, money, and status over long-term growth — and the damage this can cause to young players’ belief and enjoyment.

The discussion dives into coaching children at different ages, managing emotions when confidence dips, the challenges of parent-coaches and positional changes.

John also outlines the philosophy behind NCE Soccer, how it differs from traditional club models, and what aligned players, parents, and coaches can achieve when development — not winning — is the priority.

Benny is 4 years old 💙 and fighting stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma. His family are raising funds for life-saving CAR-T cell therapy in Rome. Follow his journey: https://www.instagram.com/stand_by_benny/. Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/benjaminahmanizad

Football DNA is the ultimate platform for coach and player development: https://footballdna.co.uk/sessions/

Football Discount Kits supplies quality football kits at prices that actually work for grassroots clubs — no nonsense, no hard sell, just reliable teamwear that arrives on time and looks the part on matchday: https://www.discountfootballkits.com/

LoveAdmin takes the admin off your plate so you can spend more time coaching and less time chasing parents: https://loveadmin.com/

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