Sporting Chance are delighted to announce that former professional footballer Steven Reid is the third name to be a guest speaker at the 2023 Sporting Chance Summit. Joining Steven Finn and Nick Littlehales, Steven will discuss his experiences both as a player and coach in top level football at the Summit, which this year focuses on the effects wellbeing has on performance.
Steven Reid made his professional debut at 17 for Millwall, before moving to Premier League side Blackburn Rovers in 2003, going on to make 399 club appearances in a 17 year career that included spells at QPR, West Brom and Burnley. In 2001, Steven made his international debut for Republic of Ireland, and was part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Squad, in all making 23 international appearances including 2 goals.
Following his playing career, Steven stepped straight into a successful coaching career, with spells at Reading, Crystal Palace, AFC Wimbledon, West Brom and Scotland working alongside top level managers Steve Clarke, Roy Hodgson and Chris Hughton. In 2022, Steven stepped away from his role as assistant manager to Steve Cooper at Nottingham Forest, following their promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.
Despite his successful career as both player and coach, Steven has now stepped away from football to pursue a career in counselling, to draw upon his own experiences of mental health, and support players' mental well-being, confidence and leadership.
On his experience of panic attacks as a player, Steven has said:
"I can remember heading out to my car after going to a Premier League game to play, to start the game, and having a panic attack and having to go back inside and calm myself down. I had one on the pitch, on a couple of occasions I've experienced that on the pitch and it's a real tough moment that is to deal with, to manage, trying to find the tools, and you speak to the right people to get through those moments. But it doesn't really get much, much tougher than that in the Premier League games, experiencing those emotions on top of the actual performance of dealing with a Premier League game anyway, let alone the emotional side of it."
And on his decision to step away from on-the-ground football coaching to counselling:
“I’ve developed a real passion for helping people, and for helping the players I've worked with, and in connecting with those and building those relationships, it just feels like the natural next step for me.”
At Sporting Chance, we have worked closely with Steven Reid as one of our ambassadors, and we hugely value his experiences and knowledge of elite level football. The input and value he will bring to the 2023 Summit is second to none and we are delighted to announce his involvement.
The Sporting Chance Summit will be on 11th October 2023 at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, with tickets being released on 6th February 2023.
For info please contact: summit@sportingchanceclinic.com
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