Mentoring in the Fire: 18 Months With a Premier League-Bound Leader By Drewe Broughton | Sweat & Courage
As Russell Martin goes back into Management at Rangers Football Club , I take this 20-minute reflection, to share the deeper story behind one of the most intense and transformative leadership journeys I’ve ever walked — 18 months supporting a head coach through crisis, criticism, and ultimately, a 34-game unbeaten run and a return to the Premier League.This is not a tell-all. I hold the deepest respect for every client I work with — and confidentiality is sacred. This conversation is about what every leader faces behind closed doors. It’s about the emotional cost of carrying the weight. The fear. The ego. The shadow. And the rare moments when it all aligns — when presence, truth, and courage meet in the middle of the fire.This is a window into the truth of elite leadership:Why logic is the last mask before a breakdown.How pressure strips back personality and reveals soul.What the very best do when the spotlight gets hottest.And why the sweet spot — that rare zone of calm clarity — is so hard to stay in.It’s not about one man.It’s about the burden, brilliance, and bravery of leadership at the very top.This is what I see. This is what I live.This is Sweat & Courage.
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Episode 15 - Healthy Disrespect
In his teachings, Broughton describes healthy disrespect as a form of wise skepticism—a refusal to compromise one’s instincts and values for the sake of conformity or approval. He illustrates this with the example of a child who, despite being told to listen more during training, internally maintains his sense of self, thinking, “Whatever… Healthy disrespect, Dad!” Broughton believes that this mindset is vital for talent development and mental health. He asserts that individuals who lose this sense of healthy disrespect often struggle with addiction and mental health issues, as they become disconnected from their true selves.Furthermore, Broughton advises being selective about whom you share your truths with, advocating for boundaries that protect one’s inner world. He states, “Be disrespectful. Healthily. Be selfish. Healthily. Be very careful WHO you share your truths with.” In essence, Broughton’s philosophy encourages individuals to honor their inner voice, set firm boundaries, and maintain a healthy skepticism toward external influences that may compromise their authenticity.
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Episode 14 : Pride; Why it’s a lack of humility.
On this Easter Monday I talk about pride and how it’s absolutely identified with Ego.Pride is the opposite of humility.
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Episode 13- Authenticity, The ‘ I AM’
This week Drewe breaks down a word that he has a deep understanding of: AuthenticityHis understanding and daily pledge to live this has led an him to an understanding of the great teachings in philosophy and religions, that all leave signposts for Authenticity being the highest measure of courage.
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Episode 12 - Dealing with the pressure
In this episode Drewe breaks down pressure and how he helps top performers understand it and navigate it. Drewe has a fascinating understanding of this area and as always he brings it back to his three step system
In 2020 Drewe’s work as ‘ The Fear Coach’ outgrew him and he founded ; ‘ Sweat & Courage’
A high performance consultancy with accredited coaches offering education, executive coaching, camps and workshops globally with coaches from the US to the far east. The company’s app allows teams and organizations to have private areas to support their staff and was a concept created by Drewe has he started to support College teams and athletes from the US back in 2020
As a former Professional Footballer tipped for the top, Drewe, 46, admits his career was dogged and undermined by soul searching and Fear. After a 17 year playing career and nearly 600 professional matches representing a host of clubs in the EFL, It culminated in the big centre-forward going into rehab for addictions and an emotional breakdown after retiring in 2011.
In the 14 years since l leaving that rehab clinic, Drewe has created incredible success.
Using his vast experiences coupled with an exceptionally high natural emotional intelligence and sensitivity, to educate and guide hundreds of athletes and founders on how to cope with the daily pressures of the high performance but, most importantly to fulfil their potential. His Heard earned wisdom and ability to nurture players has helped Drewe build a portfolio of clients including PGA Tour golfers, MLB and NFL players as well as international and Premier League stars.
Articulate Drewe has also become a go-to person for media to interview as more players start to publicly admit to mental health problems. Appearing on Sky Sports to features on his work in The New York Times, Drewe believes it is the tip of an epidemic in the game, which chews up and spits out talent and is still woefully lacking in coach education leaving so many leaders in the dark.
He has strong opinions he will share after more than a decade guiding some of the nation’s best footballers.
He entered the corporate world in 2016 mentoring CEOs and senior management on how they can master that inner battle to win on the outside. He found that the leaders who were contacting him all had the same traits. That strong moral compass, sensitive yet fiercely driven, traits Drewe hugely relates to having to battle that himself for so many years.
Many of his lessons in his book’s ( ‘And Then What?’ ) chapters on self-belief, ego, winning and vulnerability are as applicable to life and to business as they are football.
Today Drewe combines his athlete mentoring work with coaching in corporations in the city of London, motivational speaking, which has taken him around the world and since 2022 he was been the mentor to Premier league and International head coaches.
The Leadership education that Drewe wrote in 2018 in Advanced Emotional Intelligence was integrated into two Postgraduate level courses by the PFA which Drewe teaches the next group of Head coaches and leaders in the industry.
Ireland