Teenage Commentator Frankie Ferry Shines at East Kilbride with Dad Si
Thirteen-year-old Frankie Ferry is sitting in a cafe in Glasgow's East End, across from his father Si, a podcast pioneer. They are discussing their unique relationship at League Two title-chasing East Kilbride, where Si serves as assistant manager and Frankie has become a teenage sensation as the club's television commentator.
A Calming Influence on the Touchline
"I must be having an effect because he's not had so many yellow cards on the touchline this season," Frankie remarks with a smile. Si agrees, noting that seeing his son in the commentary gantry has helped him stay calmer during matches. "It's funny because he sits on the commentary gantry at East Kilbride and it's on the other side of the pitch when you come out of the dressing room," Si explains. "I walk across to the dugout and he's the last face I see before the game starts. I look up to the gantry and we give each other a thumbs-up."
Si adds that Frankie's presence reminds him that "it's only football," which has been a positive influence. "I think I've been a lot calmer on the side of the pitch since he's been behind me. Just knowing that he's up there. And, as he told you before you even asked, I've not been in trouble with the ref so much. No doubt, he's been a positive and calming influence."
Pride and Preparation
Si expresses immense pride in his son's achievements at such a young age. "There's that feeling of pride that he's doing what he's doing at the age of 13. It's been great for me, to be honest," he says. He recalls a humorous moment when Frankie was critical during a team meeting, which got a good laugh from the players.
Frankie's commitment is evident in the mountain of notes he prepares before each match. His big break came when the East Kilbride media team asked him to handle commentary as they revived match highlights. "I'd already been doing bits and bobs for the East Kilbride media team and they were getting the match highlights back up and running," Frankie explains. "They asked me if I wanted to do the commentary and obviously I accepted it right away."
Influences and Aspirations
Frankie's passion for football media has been shaped by his father's work on the groundbreaking Open Goal podcast, which has been running for nine years. Si describes Frankie as a thinker on the pitch, akin to a coach. "He sees things other young guys don't see but I don't think players like that, especially at his age, get noticed. He's not the biggest, not the tallest, not the fastest," Si notes.
Frankie admits he prefers commentating to playing, citing his enthusiasm for media work. "I like my dad's confidence on Open Goal, how controversial he is and how fluently he speaks about football. I think that's influenced me on how I want to come across as a commentator," he says. He is also involved in interviews and match reports, viewing his father as a role model.
Open Goal's Success and Future Plans
Si reflects on the unexpected success of Open Goal, which will soon host its fourth live show at the Glasgow Hydro. "I remember doing the first interview with Kevin Thomson at Easter Road in 2017 and really needing a job at the time," he recalls. "I was thinking even if it lasted for a year, and I'm getting paid to do it, that would be amazing. So, for it still to be going after nine years, and for it still to feel quite fresh, it's incredible."
He attributes their longevity to being pioneers in Scottish football podcasting. "I think we were the first Scottish football podcast. I don't think it had ever been done before. I didn't know what a podcast was. It had to be explained to me — that tells you everything," Si says.
Handling Criticism and Looking Ahead
Frankie is already learning to cope with criticism, a common aspect of commentary. "Sometimes the reaction's positive, sometimes negative," he shares. "I got some really good comments when a video clip went out on BBC Scotland but they're not all that nice. I think you just have to take it all on board and keep going."
His long-term goal is to work for a major TV company, but he remains focused on school and university. "My main goal is to get away from East Kilbride as soon as possible. Only joking, dad," he quips. "But seriously, I'd like, when I'm a little bit older, to work as a commentator for one of the bigger TV companies, although that's a long way off."
Si praises Frankie's drive and hunger to improve. "He's thrown himself into it which, again, is something that makes me really proud," Si says. "It would be easy for him to settle for what he has. He's the East Kilbride commentator which is quite a big thing for someone of his age. But he's written to Youth Football Scotland asking if he could write match reports or commentate on some of their games, so he wants to do more, wants to get better."
He emphasizes the importance of staying hungry in any field. "I think in any walk of life you need to stay hungry, you need to keep moving forward. If you rest on your laurels someone will go past you. He's got that hunger which I really like," Si concludes.
