NPLH Studio

Drake Ramberg needs little introduction, but I'll give him one anyway.

An Oregonian born and raised in the vicinity of Nike HQ, he would go on to spearhead the brand's drive into the football space, revolutionise kit design, and build a legacy over the next three decades.

Over to Drake.

Enjoy!

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Maya Stephen is the definition of a versatile creative with an appetite for change.

Born in Florida and made through her experiences in New England, California and now New York, Maya is a flowing tap of self-expression using football, fashion, poetry and photography as both a means to create and reinvent.

She also has a flagrant disregard for limits; those set by the self and imposed by others.

All in, the perfect example to follow for the young people of New York, where she is currently Director of Programs at America Scores, the organisation empowering youth through football and education.

There’s no telling how far Maya will go but right now she’s exactly where she’s meant to be. Making a change.

Enjoy!

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A break from the norm to share the work of a creative from another landscape.

Dan King is not a football photographer. But he is aware of the game and the quality of his work needs to be seen so we’re golden!

His route into photography will be familiar to some and inspiring to others. Unfulfilled in his day job as a website designer he set some intentions for change – ditch the boring stuff and focus on what he loved. Cycling.

So, he bought a ticket for an event, borrowed a camera and the rest? Well that’s the good part.

Dan now lists Nike, Adidas, STRAVA (I know we’re all logging our hearts out on that) and Oakley among his client list as well as editorial credits the BBC and one of the most beautiful magazines around, Rouleur.

His infectiously bold attitude of saying ‘Yes’ to anything has seen him move into cinematography as well as establishing himself as a pre-eminent documentarian in the worlds of Running and Cycling.

Over to Dan.

Enjoy!

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David Furzer-Jones is co-Founder of Cult Kits, the destination for football fans to find their favourite shirt.

David discusses the brands evolution, from a side-grind blog to the extensive archive of iconic jerseys we see today, as well as his own journey running parallel to it.

We touch on nostalgia and its role as one of the pillars of the brands identity and how walking your own path, with intention, delivers fulfilment and sets and example – he wanted a job in football so went out and made one!

Plenty of gold in here once you wade through 4 minutes of tales from the front line of fatherhood and male pattern baldness.

Enjoy!

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Gabriel Nava is a multi-faceted creative from Riverside, California.

Growing up playing the game and following Barcelona, it’s little surprise his creative talents have found a home in the game, with both his photographic and graphic design skillset positioning him as a double threat in the landscape.

Gabe walks us through his early days in the game, why following the creative path is important to him and what he’s prepared to do to stay on it.

Oh, and how he’s bankrupting himself on T90 archive pieces and car-tow fines.

Over to Gabe.

Enjoy!

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I’m taking a short break to spend time with my boys and will be back on Tuesday, 4 February, with more conversations from the legends shaping the football landscape. Until then, there’s plenty to catch up on—dive in and enjoy!

JF

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US photographer Matthew Stith is a creative shunning the concept of boundaries. 

A broken foot in college put his goalkeeping gloves on ice, guiding his hands away from the ball and towards a camera.

When opportunity knocked—through a friend in MLS—Matthew seized it, setting off on a path that’s more about discovery than destination. 

For him, photography is just one medium to explore the world, with football acting as the lens that brings it into focus.

Through the Football Case Study, Matthew connects with people across the globe, celebrating the game while providing a stage for other creatives to do the same. It’s more than a project; it’s a love letter to football, its culture, and its power to inspire.

Enjoy!

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Lucas Mendes is what you would call a multi-faceted talent in the football landscape — professional player, club owner, and community builder decorating a CV belying his 26 years.

In this episode, we explore his journey, from his roots in the D.C. United Academy system to how he’s using Virginia Dream FC not just as a football club giving a platform to players, but a creative house giving a collaborative vehicle to artists, building a club culture that inspires both on and off the field.

Enjoy!

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Richard Gordon a photographer/director and Co-Founder of Forty One Magazine and its football-focussed creative studio.

Rich shares how the '94 and '98 world cups opened his heart to the game, his gateway into photography and when these two passions finally caught up with each other, giving rise to a creative career spanning over a decade.

Rich's career is built on both passion and a drive to push himself as a creative whilst wedging the door open to those following behind.

A storyteller at heart, through Forty One, he not only aims to share authentic stories from the North American landscape, but open the game to those who might not even know they love it yet!

Enjoy!

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Jenny Simmons’ story is one of passion, purpose, and paving the way for meaningful change.

Whether it's pursuing progress or practicing the transformative power of manifesting, following her vision and creating impact has always been the common thread.

We discuss her journey from Lancaster to playing college football in the U.S, before landing at Nike where her time on the Jordan brand steered her towards mindset coaching and, ultimately, where we find her today, beginning a new chapter with MANON – a consultancy focused on empowering black and brown women in the football space. 

Enjoy the episode? Grab me a coffee and fuel me for the next one.

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