Some football conversations begin with goals, assists and memorable matches.
This one quickly becomes something much bigger.
Originally released in September 2022, my conversation with former Sutton United winger Damian Scannell starts by looking back at his time in amber, but it soon turns into a discussion about purpose, community and life after football.
For Sutton supporters, Damian was part of an exciting side under Paul Doswell. He remembers joining a squad chasing promotion, a remarkable unbeaten run, the characters that made the dressing room special and a team that wanted to play football in an era when many opponents preferred a more direct approach.
He reflects on captaining the side, the influence of Dos and why the togetherness within the squad was every bit as important as the quality on the pitch.
There are plenty of stories from those days too.
Damian shares memories of teammates, dressing room personalities, away trips and the kind of moments supporters rarely get to hear about. It’s a reminder of just how close players, staff and fans were during that period of Sutton’s history.
He also speaks openly about leaving the club.
Rather than dressing it up, Damian admits his move to Bromley was largely driven by money. Supporting a young family meant making difficult decisions and, looking back, he is refreshingly honest about the realities professional footballers face when careers are relatively short and financial security isn’t guaranteed.
That honesty becomes one of the defining themes of the conversation.
Since retiring through injury, Damian has built a new career around helping others. Through personal training, coaching and community projects, he now focuses on improving men’s physical and mental wellbeing, encouraging people to find structure, accountability and routine in everyday life.
At the time of this interview he was also preparing to launch a new community initiative with Sutton United, bringing together fitness, wellbeing and support for local dads and men looking to improve both physically and mentally.
It’s clear throughout that his passion for helping people has become every bit as important as football once was.
We also discuss the pressures many footballers experience away from the pitch. The expectation to look successful, own expensive cars and keep up appearances can create financial pressure that supporters rarely see. Damian talks candidly about learning to move beyond that mindset and why real success isn’t measured by what people see on social media.
Perhaps the most inspiring part of the conversation centres on his charity work.
Following the pandemic, Damian organised fundraising that helped provide a free summer school for local children, supplying meals, educational support and technology for families who needed it most. For him, the biggest achievement wasn’t simply raising money, it was making sure young people knew that somebody cared about them.
Listening back today, some references belong to 2022. The community project was just beginning, Sutton were in a different place as a club and football has naturally moved on.
But the wider themes remain just as relevant.
This is an episode about resilience after setbacks. About finding a new purpose when one chapter closes. About the value of community, family and creating opportunities for others.
It’s also a fascinating insight into one of Sutton United’s popular former players, whose biggest impact may ultimately have come after hanging up his boots.
Whether you’re revisiting this conversation or hearing it for the first time, it’s one of the most thoughtful episodes in the Sutton Podcast archive.
Share this post