{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Who's Your Captain?","title":"SE01E32 Reviving Community Sport I John Gillespie","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2518,"description":"How do you turn around a struggling business, rebuild customer trust, invest in your people, and create a platform for long-term growth?\nIn this episode, Mark Francis sits down with John Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer at Powerleague, to explore the remarkable transformation of one of the UK's best-known small-sided football businesses.\nJohn shares how Powerleague went from facing serious financial challenges in 2018 to building a stronger, community-focused business with a growing multi-sport offering. He explains why the turnaround started by going back to the basics - putting customers and the quality of the core product at the centre of every decision.\nThe conversation covers Powerleague's expansion beyond football into padel, netball, cricket and darts, as well as the role of partnerships, community engagement, charity initiatives and grassroots sport in the company's growth strategy.\nJohn also discusses leadership, developing talent from within, listening to employees, creating a strong culture, and the importance of being yourself as a leader.\nIn this episode, Mark Francis and John Gillespie discuss:\n1.The turnaround of Powerleague since 2018\n2.How investing in facilities helped rebuild customer trust\n3.Why customer experience must remain at the heart of business\n4.Powerleague's move from small-sided football to multi-sport\n5.The rapid growth of padel in the UK\n6.Introducing cricket, netball and darts into Powerleague centres\n7.Building stronger communities through grassroots sport\n8.Partnerships with major brands and charities\n9.Supporting mental wellbeing through sport and social connection\n10.Developing managers and future leaders from within the business\n11.How John Gillespie approaches his role as CEO\n12.Powerleague's growth plans across the UK, Ireland and Europe\n13.The potential opportunity for small-sided sport in the US\n14.How professional and former footballers can get involved in grassroots sport\n15. Managing strategy while staying close to...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/DEr-IAtWHV9YMrxJ2_IRicIqDxPo0brC8P7eLDiyYOc/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8zOGMz/ZTgyNTk4YjRkZTU3/M2E1MzdjOWYyNDg3/NWRlMi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}