Apr 20, 2026
Welcome to episode 247 of Sports Management Podcast.
Today’s guest is Geoff Wilson, sports consultant, former Irish FA executive, and author of the new book Leading a Grassroots Sports Club.
In this episode, we spoke about:
- Why grassroots sport is the foundation of the entire sports ecosystem
- The biggest mistakes clubs make when building their structure
- How to create a strong culture and environment for young athletes
- Practical strategies for funding, growth and long-term sustainability
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome Back &
Background
01:06 Journey Across 104 Countries
02:51 Learning from Global Sports Cultures
05:03 Why Some Countries Excel
06:17 Why Geoff Wrote the Book
08:12 Biggest Grassroots Mistakes
10:03 Importance of Coaching
11:14 Parent Coaches & Development
13:29 Building Club Culture
16:03 Creating Long-Term Culture
17:51 Why Grassroots Matters
21:05 Funding & Revenue Strategies
25:07 Community & Fan Engagement
30:37 Writing the Book Process
38:41 Advice for Young Professionals
SPONSOR:
Listeners of the Sports Management Podcast get an exclusive 20% off
on SportsPro+ with the code SMPOD20. All you need to do is head to
sportspro.com/membership and start exploring today.
Follow Sports Management Podcast on social
media
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
YouTube
