Nell McAndrew

"Brazilian Soccer Schools and SOCATOTS® are tremendous, both are a great way to get children started with exercise, and it is so much fun and incredibly positive.

I do think children need to do more exercise in general and this is a super way to begin. I think SOCATOTS® and Brazilian Soccer Schools are a country mile beyond anything else out there and Devon has been a SOCATOT from seven months.

It’s never too young for them to start learning. If children can start young and enjoy playing and exercising I am sure they will stay involved with sports throughout their lives. Brazilian Soccer Schools and SOCATOTS® are giving such great opportunities to children across the world"

Socrates

“Simon, you’ve rescued the game of Futebol de Salão. So many players who I played with would be interested in the fact you have done this. We still enjoy playing it, but in Brazil we can’t even buy a ball, FIFA have ruined the game with a bouncing and a high ball.

"I’ve been in the USA, Brazil, Europe, worked in football, I am fifty years old, but I’ve never met a person like him. Simon Clifford's perspective and intelligence is just so interesting.

"Simon's SOCATOTS® idea is fascinating. I spent three hours this afternoon thinking on why I or no-one else thought of this before. As a Doctor, a physiologist and as a footballer it fascinates me. What I would really like to do is study SOCATOTS® as I think it will interest the whole of the world"

“I have been in football many, many years, have been to many countries but have never been impressed by anything like I was by the session today”

"I cannot believe what I see with Brazilian Soccer Schools and SOCATOTS®, it is amazing, it is something completely different and very special.

"It will have so many benefits for football and for kids in general. Socially, physically and technically I can see this, along with Brazilian Soccer Schools, having such a positive influence for future generations across the world"

Emerson

“Everything I have as a senior player I owe to Futebol de Salão. Simon is a great friend and I hope I have been of some help to him in getting this great project started that is destined to revolutionise the whole world of football through SOCATOTS® and Brazilian Soccer Schools"

Jay Jay Okocha

“What Simon is doing is fantastic. Normally what you see in other children is just the basics of the game. He is saying that nothing is impossible. If English players can learn the qualities Simon is teaching, then it will be good for the country”

Sir Clive Woodward

"I’ve met many great people in sport but the main one who stands out as truly inspirational is Simon Clifford.

"Simon Clifford has redefined terms such as ‘passion’, ‘drive’, ‘energy’ and ‘winning’ in sport. He is not afraid of pushing out the boundaries to challenge his players and all of those who work with him. He plans and thinks further into the future than anyone that I have ever met in my lifetime. He has an incredible future ahead of him"

“Simon’s brilliant, a wicked guy and an absolute genius”

Michael Owen

"I have personally learned a lot from Brazilian Soccer Schools and Simon. The whole project really interests me because it is a different way of teaching kids to play the game.

"They (The Brazilian Soccer Schools players) have taught me one or two tricks with the ball that I'am still trying to master. I wouldn't be surprised if I bumped into one or two of them whilst playing in Premiership football at some stage in the future.

"Futebol de Salão encourages players to 'do' things. In the English game we don't get enough dribbling, players taking other players on. Simon's project will remedy that"

Jairzinho

"Futebol de Salão is a great start for young players. I discovered Ronaldo playing Futebol de Salao in Rio, with Simon's energy and determination I believe that he will go on to develop even better players through Futebol de Salão, Brazilian Soccer Schools and SOCATOTS® across the world"

Careca

"Play Futebol de Salão with Brazilian Soccer Schools and SOCATOTS® and you're learning to play beautiful football"

Pele

“I developed my skills playing Futebol de Salão in my home town of Bauru.

"I explained to Simon that the true and total beauty of football is only seen in the ingenuity, inventiveness, instinct and skill of the players, both individually and as a team.

"This can only be seen in an attacking style of football, when the ball is always under control. A long kick the length of the field, hoping a team-mate will first reach the ball or head it into the net can hardly be called artistic”

Parminder Nagra 

"The whole training style was Futebol de Salão mixed with SOCATOTS®, as we were total 'beginners'. Simon encouraged our individual strengths, pracitising our first touch on the ball, using both feet, and above all although an incredibly hard task master, he showed enormous patience.

"Simon was great fun to work with. He never got tired of encouraging us and his patience was truly immense. He stretched us and constantly challenged us to do better. Myself and Keira, could honestly have not done it without him”

Zico

"In Futebol de Salão you have to think quickly and play fast. It's a great environment in which to learn.

“Everything I had as a Brazilian player I owed to Futebol de Salão.

“Before the age of fifteen years the young player should not be at all concerned with tactics, defending or positional elements. The focus should be only on leaning basic techniques. It should be ball, ball and more ball. Follow Simon, SOCATOTS® and Brazilian Soccer Schools and you will not go far wrong with your football education”

Juninho

"I played Futebol de Salão as a youngster, it's the best start for kids.

"When I first met Simon in 1996, he was very humble, he still is, but he had a tremendous drive and vision.

"Year on year, it never fails to amaze me to see all that he said he would achieve, coming to pass, the Schools, SOCATOTS®, everything, he is a special man and I recognised that from the start”

Rivelino

"When you come to play normal football it's easy if you've come from Futebol de Salão.

“Simon's whole body of work is very important and it is pleasing to see what he's achieved. The interchange which he has set up between Brazilian coaching and kids in the UK is excellent”

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

"Simon was an absolute inspiration to me. We spent four months working in preperation for my role in Bend It Like Beckham. He became a friend and allowed me to develop a coaching style based on his own that I used in the film. My football improved dramatically too!"

Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot)

"I'm proud that Simon hails from the same area as myself and has taken his ideas and vision to the world"

"I met Simon in 2000, when in England for a champions league game. Futebol de Salão and SOCATOTS® develop quick foot control and awareness, it certainly helped me. Follow the BSS and SOCATOTS® way"

Blue Peter

"Simon is quite unique in having appeared on our show twice, once with Parminder Nagra while promoting Bend It Like Beckham. We were then that impressed that we visited the original Brazilian Soccer School in Leeds. He is one of the very few holders of two Blue Peter Badges!"

Alan Irvine

"Simon worked with me at Newcastle during my time as Academy Director. I twice had him working with our entire coaching staff and using his methods and many of his ideas at Everton during my time assisting David Moyes. He has an awful lot to offer the game"

Alex Bellos (author of "Futebol:the Brazilian Way of Life")

"Simon, more than anyone, has captured and brought the spirit of Brazilian football to the rest of the world"

“At the end of his time with Simon, Johnny (Jonathon Rhys-Meyers) had benefited fantastically  from working with Simon, he based his character, speech and mannerisms on Simon for the film. They spent many months together in preperation"

Micah Richards

It was through his father Lincoln’s friendship with Brazilian Soccer Schools owner Simon Clifford that the young Richards was given a platform to hone his defensive skills and also develop into a makeshift striker.

Micah recalls: "My dad was involved in the Brazilian Soccer Schools and I used to train there two or three times a week. We used a small ball, which was supposed to improve technique and touch, and it was a good thing to do, especially being a defender, as the better you are on the ball the better it is for your game. Having been introduced to the SOCATOTS® kids at a presentation with Simon, they are going to be absolutely frightening as footballers!

"I went to a Brazilian Soccer School as a youngster and it was interesting to try the different training techniques of the South Americans," said Richards, who has played at centre-half for Stuart Pearce's team in Sweden despite being employed as a right-back by the seniors. "Their methods focus more on developing your touch and dribbling, and I think it has helped my game both as a defender and as an attacker"

Sir Stanley Matthews

"Simon and his project embody and teach the game the way that I have always believed it should be played. We should have gone this way with coaching years ago"

John McGovern

"The Brazilian Soccer School's and SOCATOTS® teach the basics of the game in a way that is quite unique, we will see many, many top players come through this organisation"

Gordon Banks

"It was great for Simon to give me the opportunity to meet up with my old friend Jair again. The coaching programme is absolutely excellent, incredibly thorough and with it children across the world will be giving goalkeepers plenty of problems!"

Gordon McQueen

"A great concept that is planned right through the ages with incredible precision. Many top players will develop through this method of teaching"

Austin Mitchell MP

"It was lovely meeting Simon, a confident, dynamic and incredibly driven young man. He very much reminds me of someone else I once had the pleasure of meeting earlier in my career!"

Wayne Bridge

"Meeting Craig and the children at the Southampton Brazilian Soccer School and SOCATOTS® was tremendous. Their skills, but also the physical fitness, is simply and truly out of this world"

HRH Prince Andrew

"This is a super programme, it is a pleasure to be visiting today, seeing Simon in action with the young people of Leeds. This is wonderful and can only bring benefits to the game of football as a whole"

Eddie Gray

"What I like about this is that it teaches the basics of the game so very well. But even more than that, we are encouraging expression, creativity, doing things a little bit differently. That's what supporters pay to come and see. Brilliant!"

Ray Winstone

"Simon and I became friends filming There's Only One Jimmy Grimble. We shared very similar views on football, politics and music. He's a brilliant, kind and caring lad and what he's doing for the game is exactly what it needs"

Simon on Ray:

"Ray Winstone is one of the most generous, grounded and kind people that I have met. He is a very special man. My friends and family have all spent time with him and are all of the same opinion.

"I imagine anyone that has spent any time at all with Ray would say exactly the same thing.

"On afternoons in Ray's caravan we would decide when and where to go on the evening to come, then set a time to meet at the Copthorne Hotel reception. One evening I had friends down from home and left Ray and my friends to chat with them, we had got a taxi to the Radisson Hotel in Manchester centre as Ray was meeting meeting a friend who was going to join us.

"I left them all to it in the Hotel bar and went on a Star Wars arcade game in a games room just on the left before you came to the bar's toilets.

"That particular day I had been crossing balls to pass time, with Ray heading the ball goalwards. Despite being told by the Maine Road groundsman to get off the pitch Ray was determined to ignore him and carry on. One of his headers was as good as any you would see. My mate was in goal and said that Ray had connected so well that the ball flew 'at the speed of a bullet'.

"Ray, walking to the toilet spotted me in the games room and came in to see what I was playing on. Ray said 'Hey son, what about that header?' I replied 'What about that cross I put in for you though?' at the same time punching Ray playfully in the stomach. Ray went down onto the floor, was winded and could not speak for a few minutes.

"He got his breath back and gave me a big hug, I was for a few seconds wondering whether he was going to turn into 'The Daddy'. He certainly didn't, but is the daddy in terms of the time, smiles, love, care and attention that he gives to all manner of people that he meets".

Paulo Cesar

"Simon has worked with myself and many of my team mates from 1970. He is bringing a little bit of Brazilian magic to the world. It is an honour to be a part of this story"

Dave Parnaby

"Simon worked with our coaches for a full in-service day in 1998. We were very impressed and incorporated much of what we took on board that day into our Academy programme.

"We played an under fifteen's game against Simon's Leeds lads and they more than held their own against a team that contained several junior internationals"

Howard Wilkinson

"Simon's work encourages creativity, freedom, expression, all the ingredients we need to encourage in our young players"

Wanderley Luxemburgo

"I met Simon in 2000 after Sao Paulo FC played my Corinthians side, he has my help, blessing and best wishes in all that he does"

Michael Sheen

"Simon was an absolute inspiration and an enormous aid in preparing for my role as Brian Clough. We have become firm friends"

Shaznay Lewis

"When I first met Simon, he had already been working with Mindy and Keira for a few months, so I was a little shy. He made me feel comfortable both as a person and through the weeks as a footballer. It is a testament to him that all three of us kept playing football after we finished filming Bend it Like Beckham. I still do!"

Bryan Robson

"I worked with Simon and all of his hundreds of coaches in Summer 2003 at Leeds University. They are a terrific set of lads, with a great philosophy and togetherness, almost like a family. The young players were simply unbelievable, the scheme can only grow and grow. It was a pleasure to play a role"

Robbie Williams

"Through a mutual friend I met Simon a few years ago. Futebol de Salão balls were delivered the week following, with the goals, to my home in the UK. It's a fantastic game, I wish it had been around with the corresponding coaching when I was a little younger!"

Carlos Queiroz

"Simon has taken some of the best elements of the best practice from around the world and added so much of his own, completely new notions and methodology to make a complete programme"

Luiz Felipe Scolari

"You will see English football in particular improve with this scheme. The technical levels need lifting in England, they are the basic things that any footballer needs, before tactics, before complicated tactical practices. English football needs this, it will be of enormous benefit"

Danny Mills

"My son attends the Harrogate Brazilian Soccer School five times each week. I cannot give a bigger compliment than that"

Theo Walcott

Simon on Theo:

"I worked with Theo three times each day during my time at Southampton, first session at seven am, the last at King Edward's school gymnasium, a Futebol de Salão session, finishing at nine pm. Theo was always first to arrive and last to leave.

"His father, Don, paid me a lovely compliment when I left the club in saying that Theo had lost a mentor. It meant so much, as I was only there for a short time. Theo, I am certain, will reach the very top of the game, he has a wonderful family, his feet are firmly on the ground and his agency Key Sports is the best I have come across - all of the key factors are in place"

Lewis McKenzie

"I had never played football and was more than useless. I almost lost the part of Jimmy Grimble, when the film's backers Pathe came to see me with a football for the first time, they actually wanted to sack me.

"Simon was called in and used his methods with me, for ten hours, each day, for three long months. The review of the film in Empire magazine said of myself 'credit to McKenzie for a capable performance as he was no doubt cast due to his unbelievable ball skills'. I think that says it all. Working with Simon was brilliant, I owe him a lot"

Brian Clough

"A Middlesbrough lad teaching the game as it should be played. As I said, 'If God had of wanted us to play football in the air, he'd have put grass up there'"

John Farnworth

"It was through Simon's book "Learn To Play The Brazilian Way" that I got into freestyling. I joined the Bolton Brazilian Soccer School. After a year at Garforth I decided to focus solely on freestyling, Simon told me it was pointless unless I wanted to really become the best in the world. He explained to me that this require practice of eight hours, each day. I did exactly this.

"Three years on I became World Champion and broke the Guinness World Record. Simon does not always tell you what you want to hear, but it is always what you should hear"

Cafu and Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho:

"We spent some time with the Hong Kong Brazilian Soccer School kids today. If not for the game this evening, we would have had a little juggling face off. I am confident, but some of the other boys are not so sure!"

Jermaine Jenas

"Some of the players that I worked with today have skills and technical ability that you would not even see at an England get together, truly. It's an excellent programme"

Glenn Hoddle

"John (Gorman) and I met Simon in 1998 in the run up to the World Cup, we had always been fascinated by Brazil. That led us to Simon, we wanted teams that played that way. At Swindon we even changed the away kit to Brazilian colours hoping it would help the players a little in this respect! Simon was very generous in the time he gave to John"

John Gorman

"Simon was great, he supplied Glenn and I with balls and much video material of things he had worked on. After a game that I had gone to at the Riverside Stadium, to keep an eye on Gary Pallister, I introduced him to a friend as 'the man who would change football'. I think he's proving me quite right"

John Barnes and Peter Taylor

Peter Taylor:

"John and I saw the future of football today. Simply incredible, astonishing"

PM Gordon Brown With The World's First Socatot, Mary Clifford

"A great scheme that will get more children, active, healthy and into sport"

Paul Weller

Simon on Paul:

"I grew up listening to Paul Weller and The Jam. The first single that I bought was 'Going Underground' at the age of ten. My first concert was seeing The Style Council in Harrogate as a seventeen year old. Growing up, Paul Weller did much to reinforce my social conscience through his music and lyrics.

"When you are still active and prolific, you are often not as appreciated as you perhaps are later on. Paul Weller, is to me the best, beyond Lennon, McCartney, Dylan, anyone else. I have been lucky enough to meet him a few times and a life time of listening to him has been a big influence on me in developing some of our social projects and LESONN, which will one day I believe be as significant a part of our work as any of the other aspects"

Robert Carlyle

"Simon helped me to 'get into character' for my role in There's Only One Jimmy Grimble and is a top lad. Through the film he became good friends with myself and Ray (Winstone). An absolutely lovely and very wise man"

Simon on Robert:

"Ray and Bobby were very, very good to me. We stayed together in the same hotel and I was very fortunate as they kept very much to themselves with others, yet I was invited each night to do something with them.

"It puzzled the Director, John Hay, who asked me how we were 'so close?' We had similar backgrounds though, similar tastes in music, political and social issues. I think as with Paul Weller, the Gallaghers, we all had mams that had been cleaners - mine still was then!

"When I invited friends from the town where I grew up to stay during filming Ray and Bobby were absolutely incredible. They did not bother with me and just gave my mates their full attention for the entire evening. They are both very special men, Mr Carlyle and his friend.

"To thank Ray and Bobby I got Pele to sign a shirt personalised to each of the two lads. These took a while to organise and I spent about six months after filming had finished getting things together.

"Bobby I know does a lot for people that he does not discuss publically, that is how it should be but I know of few others who actually practice this. He is an astonishing actor, our Robert De Niro. If he ever changed careers he would make a brilliant politician, he does not just speak, he cares and takes action.

"Bobby gave me some things that I treasure from of his own collection and from the Bond film where he had just played the villain.

"I was really thrilled to see in the newspaper that he lists my gift as his most treasured possesion"

Professor Emilio Miranda

Sir Trevor Brooking

"We missed a trick in not meeting with Simon, much, much, earlier, embracing some of the methods and seeing if he was willing to work with us towards incorporating them into a national programme"

Leeds Lord Mayor Frank Robinson

"SOCATOTS® and Brazilian Soccer Schools bring something very special from Leeds and Yorkshire, to the rest of the world. The whole city should be very proud of this organisation"

“It was great working with Simon. Futebol de Salão taught me how to play football. I played Futebol de Salão from when I was seven and it helped me develop my skills. When I play today I use a lot of the moves and tricks I developed playing the game”

Alan Hansen

"I worked with Simon and Jay Jay (Okocha) on their Soccer Skills project in 2003. It was great to be involved, the young players even taught Jay Jay a thing or too. What was most impressive, was that yes, we say the tricks and flicks, but the basics were broken down and taught so very, very well. That really impressed me"

Wayne Rooney

Brazilian Soccer Schools are delighted at Wayne's progress, his club former club Everton used Futebol de Salão, SOCATOTS® and BSS methodology from 1998. Simon took the initial sessions with Wayne and his age group.

Peter Beardsley

"I wish that I had a scheme like this when I was a child, you can see it will make a hugh impact on the way that we play football here"

Mia Hamm

"Bend it like Beckham celebrates the dreams of many young female soccer players throught the world. Simon's work with this film has brought many thousands of young women across the world to the game"

Rivaldo

"Futebol de Salão was something that I and everyone in Brazil played when we were kids. The game helped me not only develop my skills, but also my awareness. With the pitch being tight, I had to think much faster and play more quickly. When I moved upto normal football it was much easier. Brazilian Soccer Schools and SOCATOTS® players are going to have a tremendous advantage as they develop when set against any across the world"

Robinho

"I played Futebol de Salão for many years and it helped me to become the player I am today. There you don't have time to think, you are always tightly marked and you develop a sense for performing in small spaces. The Brazilian Soccer School and SOCATOTS® kids that I recently met were as good if not better than any that we now see in Brazil"

Romario

"I met Simon in 1997 in Rio. I gave him my help and advice and I wish him and his grand project every success. It is a fantastic programme"

David Peace

Simon on David:

"Quite apart from his outstanding talent as a writer, David is the most intelligent, sensitive, thoughtful and caring man that I have come across. It is my complete honour, to have such a man as a friend and support"

Professor Patrick Murphy

"I totally share your confidence in your three related projects and their growing success. I am absolutely convinced that your impact on British and world football will continue to expand over the coming years"

Walter Elias Disney (1901-1966)

Simon on Walt:

"I read my first book on Walt Disney, when I was fifteen years old. It was a biography by Bob Thomas. I now have over thirty books on Walt Disney and the Disney organisation. I have visited each park, even Tokyo, and had the opportunity in 2003, through a Disney executive, to visit the original Disney studios in Burbank, California. I was able to go into Walt's office, see his library and some of his personal effects.

"Although listed here with people with whom we have worked, I include him here, as he is my single biggest influence and inspiration in my own work and has been from the time I read that very first book.

"Walt tried to lead a good Christian life and I have tried, as best I might, to base many of our own values and ideals on those that Disney stood for and put into his own vast and ever growing organisation. Walt Disney has done nothing but bring good to the world in so many diverse ways, during his own lifetime and far, far, beyond" 

Walt Disney:

"Somehow I can't believe there are many heights that can't be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true.

"This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarised in four C's. They are Curiosity, Confidence, Courage and Constancy, and the greatest of these is Confidence.

"When you believe a thing, believe it all over, implicitly and unquestioningly"

"If you live your life right, then things happen right!"