'We're moving an entire league up a division. It's first time it's ever happened in the USA'. United Soccer League President Jake Edwards outlines an historical project taking place in American sport as the USL gains Division Two status. 'We're going from 10 teams to over 30. There's almost $10 million being invested in connecting every single stadium and making them suitable for broadcast. We'll have cameras everywhere', he adds. Edwards joined Dave O'Grady and Gareth Morgan on #SportdecSpeaks as the USL prepares for its biggest ever season.

Sportdec Speaks

Jake Edwards | Expanding soccer in the USA

It takes courage for any player to leave their homeland in order to test themselves in a foreign environment. Scott Jamieson sought his new challenge in a very unfamiliar territory - Sweden. The former Australian international swapped Sydney sunshine for Scandinavian shores in a bid to expand his footballing horizon. After enjoying a successful career in his native country, the 28-year-old defender joined IFK Göteborg in August of last year. He joins Dave O'Grady and Gareth Morgan on #SportdecSpeaks to explain his unusual path to the European stage. We hope you enjoy it! If you like what you hear on the show, please let us know by tweeting @SportdecApp.

Scott Jamieson | The Socceroo starring in Scandinavia

'To say it's remote would be an understatement. You're completely locking yourself away and just focusing on the job. The wind has caused my hair to be completely horizontal at this stage'. Former Rangers star Maurice Ross describes his day-to-day life as he gets to grips with managing Tvøroyrar Bóltfelag in the Faroe Islands. As a player, Maurice won 9 trophies in 5 years at Glasgow Rangers but the former Scottish international now sees his progressive steps in coaching as a welcome rejuvenation of his career in football. 'I never had the talent to be a proper Rangers player. But I took so much from training with some of the best players in the world. If my career had been in reverse, it would be celebrated by now', stressed Ross. The 36-year-old joined Dave O'Grady and Gareth Morgan on #SportdecSpeaks to tell a fascinating story of his meandering career in football.

Maurice Ross | Reigniting a career in football

'I was really in a bad place. It was a horrible time for me. The harder I worked, the more injuries I seemed to get. As a footballer, when you're trying everything and doing all the right things, but your body lets you down, it's not nice'. Former club captain and Crystal Palace legend, Paddy McCarthy, opens up about the struggles professional footballers endure when dealing with career-ending injuries. The 33-year-old Irishman tells a compelling story about overcoming the physical and mental challenges he faced during his playing career. From his cosy academy life at Manchester City to slugging it out for Boston United, a club he initially thought was in the USA, when Kevin Keegan sent him out on loan. Paddy's incredible experience in football has energized his passion for coaching as he now applies the impressive Crystal Palace philosophy to improving the club's thriving successful academy. He joins Dave O'Grady and Gareth Morgan on #SportdecSpeaks to tell his amazing story.

Paddy McCarthy | The Eagle who guards the nest

'Show me the money' and 'you had me at hello' are famous lines from the award-winning 90's rom-com Jerry Maguire, staring Tom Cruise. However, this stage of the movie is one that British football coach Matt Ward hasn't reached just yet. In fact, the dynamic ex-soldier has been rubbing shoulders with some of football's greats out in Asia. And this all came after a unique once-in-a-lifetime night, similar to that in the Hollywood movie, where Ward was tossing and turning and couldn't escape one single thought. He joins Dave O'Grady and Gareth Morgan on #SportdecSpeaks to tell his incredible story. We hope you enjoy it! If you like what you hear on the show, please let us know by tweeting @SportdecApp.

Matt Ward | The 'Jerry Maguire' of British coaches

Dave O'Grady and Gareth Morgan present the Sportdec Speaks weekly podcast. With a wide range of guests, listeners are treated to the most incredible football stories from around the world. Get in touch, tweet us @SportdecApp.

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Sportdec Speaks

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