Cass' Story

empowering people to make the right choices through real life experiences of resilience, redemption and success.

My Story

I am a former professional footballer with Liverpool FC. I represented Liverpool boys U11s and U14s and I left home to attend the national School at Lilleshall for 2 years.

I also represented England at U15s, U16s and U18s youth level. I signed for Liverpool and was an integral part of the team that won the FA youth cup in 1996.

Terry Venables, the then England Manager, was so impressed with me he invited Me to train with the full squad at Euro ‘96, for 2 weeks.

I was part of the first team squad at Liverpool and I was given the number 22 shirt. In 1997 I was sub against Sheffield Wednesday at Anfield and I made my debut against AC MiLAN in the Amsterdam Arena tournament, at 18.

I had just signed a new 2 year pro contract at the end of the season. I was ready to make my Premier League debut at the start of the next season, then injury struck, I broke my leg and ruptured my A.C.L. in my left knee, and my career ended.

I was totally lost when I retired aged 24, I began to suffer mentally and emotionally, followed by life’s challenges and poor life choices that led me to prison.

I was jailed for my role in a Multi Million pound drugs conspiracy in November 2020. I was jailed for 13 years + 3 Months

Life has humbled me deeply. Since My release I have been working with a host of Premier League clubs, I‘ve now turned my life around, set up my own company and I am committed to helping the next generation avoid the pitfalls I faced both on and off the pitch.

"I think everybody has a turning point in life. A marker or aN event, that says I'm going to change and grow as a person or I'm going to stay this way forever."

I’m Jamie Cassidy an ex professional footballer. I’m working with football clubs like Liverpool FC, Manchester United and Everton FC. I also offer myself to Schools, Prisons and any other sports that requires any of my services.

I believe my story can help your players and students make better decisions, value their opportunities and prepare for whatever their life journey brings.

Resilience and bouncing back from setbacks
Injury and career transition preparation
Lifestyle choices, peer pressure and avoiding negative influences
Planning for a life after football
Trained by Samaritans, worked with them for over 5 years
Addiction, social media, gaming, gambling and pressure of first team football

At The Cass Group, we believe resilience, teamwork, and personal growth are the foundations of success - in football, business, and life.

Drawing on my journey as a professional footballer and my experiences beyond the game, I now deliver powerful workshops, coaching, and training that inspire lasting change.

Through a mix of motivational storytelling and professional coaching, I help people realise their potential, strengthen their resilience, deal with emotions and achieve meaningful results.

If you’re a football academy, school, or business looking for inspiration, let’s chat.

Life Experience

What I Offer

Motivational talks and workshops.
One-to-one or small group mentoring.
Honest discussion about injury, rejection and lifestyle.
Inspiring real-life examples of overcoming adversity.
Counselling sessions: person-centred, EMDR, psychodynamic therapy, trauma work.
Plan B education and life after football.
Manipulation, temptation, desperation, gangs, guns and drugs.
Suicidal thoughts, self-harm and mental health.
Transitions from Academy, Professional Footballer to life after Football
Money Management
UEFA C Coaching

Why It Works

First-hand experience of football at the highest level.
Helping players deal with fame, money and agents.
Lived experience of choices and prison.
Pitfalls of life in jail – I’ve been in their shoes and players can relate to me easily.
Authentic connection – players listen because I’ve lived it.
Being released from a club: how to deal with it, discipline, motivation, the voice inside your head and managing emotions.
Talking and dealing with parents and partners expectations.
Failure is success in progress.

Ted Smith, Liverpool FC, U18s Education Officer

Today we had the pleasure of inviting our former academy graduate Jamie Cassidy in to deliver one of the most powerful and poignant presentations we have ever hosted within our Life Skills & Personal Development Program. The learnings from Jamie’s story and life experiences are of immeasurable value to our young players.

He has walked in their shoes, he knows how they are thinking and he knows how they feel. This first-hand experience gives him credibility and relatability with the young players that you simply cannot attain elsewhere. We met Jamie in 2022 when he was in custody at HMP Liverpool.

That day he spoke from the heart and with a rawness that gave his words great significance. We kept in touch from that day as I knew his message needed to be heard by our future players. Today that came to fruition and his messages of resilience, determination, hope and redemption left a lasting impact on our players. Jamie delivers with a passion and his story is hard-hitting. We look forward to working with Jamie for years to come and would thoroughly recommend his services.

Sue O'Malley. BPSO Samaritans (Liverpool Branch)

Jamie is the Listener Coordinator for the Samaritans' Listener Scheme at HMP Liverpool. He is an outstanding member of our team. As a Listener, he shows great wisdom and compassion to callers. On many occasions, he has supported callers on the wings in times of crisis and has been able to prevent callers taking their own lives by giving them time to talk through their feelings.

- Anonymous Student

'Jamies story was really interesting and has made me realise that prison is somewhere I don't want to be. But you can change the way you behave to become a better person and help other people out.’

- Isaac. Warrington Wolves

“Jamie was amazing in his presentation which was very well planned out and he was very well spoken. His story left a real impact on the group who still talk about his story almost 2 week later! He answered all questions well which were asked by the students and has opened their eyes to the consequences for engaging in criminal activity."

- Leanne Shaw. Total People

“On behalf of Total People I would like to take the time to express my sincere gratitude for allowing Jamie to visit our provision. His motivational speech had a profound impact on our young people. Hearing his story about transitioning from a professional footballer to involvement in drug dealing was both eye-opening and thought-provoking. His honesty and willingness to share his journey have sparked important reflections among our learners, prompting them to think more carefully about the choices they make in their own lives. The session was truly inspirational.”

- Scott. Prison Officer, HMP Thorncross

“Again, Jay performed brilliantly and didn't refer to his cue cards once. He asked the teachers if there were any topics he should avoid before he began but they reassured him nothing was off limits. He then pitched the talk perfectly. The kids listened intently and asked several questions at the end of the talk (Jay gave them 5 minutes break at the end so they could think of questions - a very good idea!). He answered all questions comprehensively and used humour when appropriate. He never swore either - he was professional throughout.”

Motivational Talks

My motivational talks and presentations would be very valuable to your organisation / business. Businesses often bring in speakers to inspire their teams, strengthen resilience, and give perspective outside of the corporate world.

My journey — from being one of the best young footballers in the UK, training with England at Euro 96, experiencing career-ending injuries, setbacks, and then rebuilding myself — carrying strong lessons that transfer directly into business settings.

Some people call it fate, Some people say your life is planned out for you, But every choice we make in our lives, Has consequences, good and bad, But ultimately the choice is yours, So, choose carefully, Because it’s your life!

Sectors

Trained Samaritan
C.G.L drug and alcohol mentor
Life skills coach
UEFA C coaching badge
Ex pro footballer
Neurodiversity mentor
Restorative approach mentor
Football academies
Rugby academies
Cricket academies

Get in touch

“for a long time I thought my story was over. Redemption isn’t about erasing the past. I can’t change the mistakes I’ve made, but I can make sure others don’t make the same ones.”