You’ll never walk alone – from horses to huddles

Tonight, in the opening game of The Premier League, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” will be sung. 20 gaffers + squads carry their own hopes, fears + wishes.

2 years ago, I decided I wanted to (try to) understand the world of football. I’ll admit - I’m still hopeless and I was warned “you’re not a football man and will not be accepted”. Many don’t but I didn’t expect to find a friend and I did.

My curiosity/research took me to someone who not only understands the game but shapes it. He is called Michael Caulfield MSc.

I wrote to him. (Email below.)

Then I sent 2 follow-ups (my dad always said: never give up after the first try). On the 3rd chaser, Michael replied - and we arranged a dog walk. I discovered he lives just 20 miles from my home.

We now meet regularly for walks with Paisley and my elder dog, Poppy (see pic), down through the valley of racehorses.

He is a friend now. And no, he didn’t ask me to post this - these are just my reflections.

Michael’s story fascinated me – his move from another world into sport (which I could relate to) and then from horseracing into other sports, including cricket + football. I’ve seen plenty of performance coaches/sport psychologists/mental prep coaches in my work at Minute9. Many hide rigidly behind “their protocol”, “their system” or some textbook, sometimes missing the real point — the purpose of it all.

Not Michael. He’s “the glue” as I call it. I've seen Michael in action. He brings people together, creating time and space in a football world obsessed with rushing - rushing to finish the pre-game meeting within 12 mins, rushing out the door at exactly 14:05, rushing to tick off every performance metric. He slows things down. He listens.

The jockeys, including AP McCoy, once had a whip-round to fund their psychology training. Michael distilled 30 years of work into something deceptively simple:

1.      A bench (several, around the Bees' training ground, which he paid for himself)
2.      His dog, Paisley
3.      Time and space to “be there”

It’s not simplistic. It’s the work of an Italian artist who has stripped away everything unnecessary until what’s left is clear, beautiful, and human. Anyone can make things complicated (I am here still…) - only geniuses (my word, as MC is too humble) make them simple.

Now at Brentford Football Club, Michael strolls with players to a bench. Michael brings warmth, wit + self-deprecation.

"Football is still based around conversation, connection, emotion, understanding. I’ve got time and I create time for others to have time. I’m trying to keep that joy and soul in football." M.C.

If you’re new to psychology in sport, try to shadow Michael or read his book once he gets round to publishing it. He works differently. Players + staff move towards him when he appears - not away.

You’ll decide if it’s better or not - I made my decision.
So did Poppy (and my wife and kids).
Eamon

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