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MA CITY : Robin Stafford
Peak Performance Specialist

Welcome to another issue of Ma City' where we get closer to the city that some of the top people in our footballgirl world call home.

This month we sit down with not a player or coach but a special talent who has been making noise in the male and female football world, with his skill in getting the top players to perform at their best.

We always want to talk to the fresh new talent in female football and when it comes to finding player's Peak performance at the Olympics, EURO's or World Cup there is one name we were told about. Robin Stafford.

Which city do you live in and why?
Currently in London, UK! Why am I here? Travel, opportunity, change of lifestyle, excitement. FOOTBALL!! Coming from Sydney, Australia it really is a different pace and style of life. Super exciting and loving every second of it!

Has any other city caught your fancy where, why and what were the circumstances?

New York! It’s strange because I have never visited NY but know that I would love it. The excitement, size and opportunity, over the top vibe, city that never sleeps.

Everyone seems to be doing so much there and it is somewhere you have to be when you are young. Can’t wait to get over there and check it out. I imagine it to be sensational.

Otherwise cities I’ve visited pretty much anywhere in East Asia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, the food is so good and so cheap, the place is spectacularly beautiful especially the islands… damn it is making me want to get there!!

What advice would you give to a tourist visiting your city and country?

London: Scratch the surface. Go beyond the tourist attractions and find the quirky little hubs that make the city buzz. Check out east London and some out of the way art galleries; go to Broadway market on a Saturday.

Find what personally interests you and search it out in London, not just visiting Buckingham palace etc.

Sydney: Visit the Tilbury and have lunch there. Bloody good little spot that no one really knows about.

What have been your most memorable meals?

Most of them would have been at the Tilbury in Sydney. We used to know some people there so they would look after us with drinks etc... Always makes for a good Sunday lunch.

Otherwise Paris. Anytime the fiancé and I are in Paris we have a great meal, find a cute out of the way spot and sit and eat and drink the night away!

What is your earliest football memory?
When I was growing up there was a stadium near our house. This stadium was regarded as the most beautiful stadium in Sydney with a massive oak tree towering over one end of the ground that you could sit in and watch the match.

Northern Spirit FC made it their home ground and it was truly spectacular. Watching the best players in Australia at this ground is my first memory of football, great!

If you could change female football what would you do?
Increase participation at the grassroots level through schools, clubs and development squads.

What do you miss most when you are out of the country?
Routine. I know that isn’t the most exciting answer but I do enjoy having structure and being organized during the week. Helps to get best results I find!

What items do you pack in your suitcase when on peak performance duty?

Laptop is always essential, a couple of the latest books on peak performance and neuroscience, music.

''Work hard...

Love lots. Be patient...''

What would you do if you were mayor of your city for a day?
Make sure that it was a weekday. Then I would let everyone know that they are free to have the day off from their jobs on ONE condition… They must spend that day truly 100% engaged with their passion.

Spend the day doing what they love to do rather than what they need to do to get money to pay the bills etc. We need to be focusing on passion and life… it’s not all about the cash money!

What would you do if you were footballgirl.com editor for a month?

I’ve been following the evolution of football girl over the past month and think the current editor is doing a fine job; the site is really looking great at the moment! Leave them to their strength!

What is the best meal you have had in your city?
Meeting Metallica at Claridges after lunch was pretty great. But the best meal I’ve had in this city would have to be… After I got my current job as Peak Performance Manager at Ki Performance we went out to celebrate at the Cat and Mutton on Broadway Market. That was a great meal… memorable for a few different reasons!

What would you save from a fire?
My fiancé… and laptop.

What animal would you like to be and why?
Shark. We went a little bit turbo hippie on the islands off Thailand a couple of years ago and I found out from the local Sharman that this is my power animal so gotta respect that!

''Gritty, dirty, exciting, people live to work..''

What is your earliest city memory?
Aren’t I meant to be the one that asks those kinds of questions?

What is your life philosophy?
Work hard. Love lots. Be patient. Be inspired. Be excited and trust that you will always get what you ask for (both consciously and unconsciously manifested in some way),

Who gives you/is inspirational to you?
Kerry Spackman: Inspirational neuroscientist that is pushing the boundaries and frontiers of performance through conditioning the brain and examining learning, neuroplasticity and what makes great sports people from a neuro-scientific perspective.

John Wooden: inspirational UCLA basketball coach that seems to always know the best things to say!

For example - Coach Wooden knew his players, and he could tell when they weren’t giving 100 percent at practice. Instead of calling them out where everyone could hear, he would go over and put his arms around them and say,

“I know you’re probably tired or you were up late studying for exams, and I know what you’re thinking.You think tomorrow you’ll come back and you’ll give a little extra, and you’ll try to make up for what you didn’t do today.

I just want you to understand you can never give more than 100 percent. So if you give me 60 percent today, you can’t give me 140 percent tomorrow. If you give 60 percent today, you leave 40 percent on the table. And you’ll never get it back.”’

Sum up your city in one sentence?
London: Gritty, dirty, exciting, people live to work.

Sydney: Chilled, expanding, laid back, people work to live.

How do you get around and whats it like to in your city?

Mountain bike. It is just the best way to get around London. Good for you, cheap and fun!

Describe a memorable night out you had.

Where to begin?? Halloween last year was fantastic, first one in a city where they actually celebrate Halloween properly with pumpkins, outfits and the full kit and caboodle. That night seemed to go on forever (in a good way!)

Which fragrance or cosmetic product do you wear?

Nothing special but pheromones are a scent best left untouched!

What are your favourite home comforts?
Laptop. Ricotta and cheese tortellini with eggplant and olives – cant seem to get enough of that stuff.

How do you unwind/relax?

Kick back with the girl. Talk about life, plans, love. Have a great meal and laugh lots.

Thank you Robin

( for more information about peak performance and how the people at KI Performance help the best sports people in the world: click here )

The views and opinions expressed in this article and from external websites and/or links are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of footballgirl or www.footballgirl.com

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