On Wednesday 19th March 2025, Burnley Football Club and Burnley FC in the Community hosted the second Clarets Connect event at Turf Moor, bringing together over 200 attendees for networking centred around ‘Mindset for Success’.
The event was hosted by Ben Bottomley, Head of Partnerships at Burnley FC in the Community, who lead a compelling Q&A with two special guests:
First up was Clarke Carlisle, former Burnley FC captain, Premier League defender, and ex-chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association. Clarke delivered an honest and thought-provoking discussion on his career highs and personal challenges, particularly his advocacy for mental health and wellbeing in football.
He spoke candidly about his lifelong struggle with ‘striving for perfection’, both on and off the pitch and shared how learnings in ‘cognitive distortions’ has helped him become more conscious of his decisions. He reinforced the importance of using tools to look after your mental wellbeing, before hitting difficult times.
The second guest was former Burnley FC player and assistant coach at Manchester United, Mike Phelan, who shared valuable insights from his time working alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and his journey from playing to coaching, both on and off the field.
Mike highlighted the role of a strong mindset in achieving success, drawing on his experience in elite football to develop leadership skills and break down barriers. Reflecting on his journey, he noted that “the best conversations happen outside the workplace.”
Following this, he introduced a groundbreaking leadership programme, Beyond Business—a fusion of top-tier coaching and business leadership insights designed to enhance mindset, resilience, and decision-making. The programme offers outdoor experiential learning for businesses, in a truly distinctive setting: Whitehough Outdoor Centre.
Sponsored by Holker IT, Clarets Connect was once again an unmissable event that provided valuable industry insights, and connections within the local business community.
Stay tuned for future updates, where networking meets inspiration at the heart of Burnley!
For more information on ‘Beyond Business’, please contact whitehough@burnleyfc.com
