Alan Pace, Chairman of Burnley Football Club and RCD Espanyol, joined me this week for an exclusive interview where we discuss not only his fascinating life across finance and sports, but his deeply reflective approach to leadership and faith. Backed by a legitimate sporting pedigree that includes serving in the executive management of Real Salt Lake, Alan brings a rare blend of Wall Street business discipline and soft-spoken spiritual conviction to the often cutthroat world of elite professional sports. It was an absolute privilege to have him on the show.
In this episode, we sit down at the historic Hyde Park Stake Center in London to explore his personal journey. We discuss everything from his family's deep missionary roots in the North West of England to what it really feels like to steer a massive community asset under the relentless lens of public scrutiny. Alan opens up about his belief that he doesn't "own" a club, but rather holds it in trust for the community, and explains how constant prayer acts as his anchor when making high-stakes executive decisions.
Key insights from our conversation include:
- Rediscovering Family Footsteps: Alan reflects on his own history with the iconic Hyde Park chapel and shares the incredible moments of synchronicity that occurred when he realized he was working in the exact same English towns where his father had served as a young missionary decades prior.
- The Boy Scout Philosophy of Stewardship: A look at Alan's unique leadership model, which rejects the traditional concept of sports ownership in favor of "stewardship"—a mindset rooted in a simple childhood lesson to always leave a place better than you found it.
- Six Missed Trains with Vincent Kompany: The story behind bringing one of football's biggest icons to Turf Moor. Alan admits he didn't initially comprehend the scale of Kompany's legacy, but details the instant connection, an epic first meeting that blew past half a dozen train schedules, and how Kompany challenged him to see voices he normally couldn't hear.
- Leading with a Parental Heart: An honest look at the brief but impactful tenure of Scott Parker, whose "superpower" wasn't just on-pitch tactics, but an uncanny ability to lead a squad with the genuine care, empathy, and protective instinct of a father.
- Weathering the Dark Side of the Beautiful Game: Alan speaks candidly about navigating intense public criticism, modern social media vitriol, and extreme fan reactions. He shares how he relies on temple attendance, silent boundaries, and sincere prayer to find clarity and inspiration when the noise gets too loud.
- Flip the Question on Faith: A powerful closing thought for anyone striving to live their faith in hyper-competitive, high-pressure environments. Alan challenges us to stop focusing solely on the certainty of God's love for us, and instead ask ourselves a much more demanding question: How clearly does our day-to-day behavior demonstrate our love for Him?
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Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.
For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.
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