The Business of Football

In this episode of the Business of Football podcast, David invites Matovu Jovin, the Chief Commercial Officer of the Ugandan Premier League, Motovu shares insights into his role and vision for transforming the league into a prominent division in African football. Since joining in March 2024,  Matovu has discussed the importance of building a strong community connection, the significance of branding in sports, and the strategies being implemented to attract fans and sponsors. With upcoming events like AFCON 2025, Matovu emphasizes the potential for growth and the excitement surrounding Ugandan football, while also highlighting the need for sustainable financial practices within clubs.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Brand Importance: The brand of the Uganda Premier League is crucial for attracting stakeholders, including fans, sponsors, and investors.

BEST MOMENTS

"The actual product that you are selling is the brand... What comes to mind when somebody hears the Uganda Premier League?"

"Charity begins at home. Even the English Premier League first became big at home before it went global."

"For any product or brand or service to grow, you must nurture your own market."

"The history that is there... the clubs weren't being funded by anyone. They were funded by communities."

"I want to see our players be on the big global market... I would also be proud seeing all our clubs financially sustaining themselves."

GUEST BACKGROUND

Matovu works as the Chief Commercial Officer of the Ugandan Premier League in Africa, and he has taken the role of introducing the league to the global game through networking and co-partnerships with International Leagues. His drive is to push the League further, and our conversation was about the progress of the league. 

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

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HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience.  Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry. 

In this episode, David shares insights from his experiences in the FA Leadership Academy and various youth development events. David discusses the importance of fostering the right mentality among young people to cultivate future leaders and highlights the significance of youth councils in county FA structures. David outlines six key pillars for developing youth leaders, including creating core groups, educational partnerships, providing work experience, and offering mentorship opportunities.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Importance of Youth Councils: Engaging young people through youth councils and boards can create a structured environment for them to voice their opinions and contribute to decision-making processes within football organizations.

BEST MOMENTS 

"If you can get the right mentality and the right mindset within young people to believe that they can do certain things, then you have a very good chance of being able to create young leaders."

"I would always advise if you're a young person, get involved in your local county FA, because that's a good way to start if you want to get into the industry."

"One of the things that Manchester says here is to make volunteering attractive for the next generation. They use purposeful rewards and recognitions."

"You never know people are going to thrive. And like I said, it means they're also developing themselves as a character."

"The key to remember is obviously thinking about... what can I do more to help actually encourage and engage with young people moving forward in the industry?"

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/

Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball

HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience.  Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry. 

In this episode of the Business of Football podcast, David reflects on his journey in the football industry, sharing valuable lessons learned over the past few months. David emphasizes the importance of patience when building connections, networking through unique approaches, and the inevitability of making mistakes in a fast-paced environment. David also recounts personal experiences, including volunteering, the impact of offering value to others, and the insights gained from conversations with industry professionals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Patience is Essential: In the fast-paced football industry, it's important to remain patient when waiting for responses or project updates.

BEST MOMENTS

"One thing that you have to learn... is the element of patience."

"Volunteering is obviously the most natural, but going above and beyond if you can is really important."

"Making mistakes is not fatal... you just have to learn and go again."

"If you allow yourself to be calm... you're going to pick up things and really important lessons."

"Think about it as like, I'm going to start, I might meet this person who might know someone else."

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/

Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball

HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience.  Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry. 

In this episode of the Business Football Podcast, David continues his insightful conversation with David Lynam the founder and managing director of Kaizen Ticketing. Building on their previous discussion, they delve into the evolving landscape of ticketing in football, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong connection with fans while adopting a more businesslike approach. David shares his experiences from working with clubs across various leagues, highlighting the challenges and opportunities presented by the shift from paper to digital tickets, the impact of COVID-19, and the role of technology in enhancing the fan experience.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Balancing Business and Community: Successful football clubs must operate as businesses while maintaining a strong connection with their fans, serving as community hubs that provide social interaction beyond just match days.

BEST MOMENTS 

"If you can manage that, but still, from a fan's perspective, keep that connection with the fans, then you've nailed it."

"Sometimes football can get kind of caught up in itself... the world also moves forward as well."

"It's an emotional business... what you do on a Monday morning is going to be impacted by what happened on the Saturday or Sunday before."

"If you start to force people to do things, that's when it's... I think you can incentivize people to do things."

"Ultimately, to make the club successful, the stadium has to be a place people enjoy coming to."

GUEST BACKGROUND

David started his career as part of the Wembley Stadium Ticket Office as a Senior Ticketing Assistant before working at the FA for 5 years as the senior Ticketing Manager where he led operations on the FA Cup Finals, FA Vase & FA Trophy Finals & all England matches when they were travelling across the country for matches at International Friendlies. He then went on to work at Tottenham Hotspur, Ticketmaster where his role included being the Technical Account Manager for London 2012 & Euro 2012. He founded his ticketing agency that assists over 40+ clubs across the EFL & Non-League with their ticketing operations becoming one of the fastest-growing ticket brands within the UK.

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/

Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball

HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. 

In this episode of the Business as a Football podcast, David has an insightful conversation with David Lynam the founder and managing director of Kaizen Ticketing, who shares insights from his extensive career in the ticketing industry. With experience at prestigious venues like Wembley Stadium and involvement in major events such as the London Olympics and Euro 2012, David discusses the evolution of ticketing, particularly at non-league clubs, and how technology has transformed the way clubs engage with their audiences. David reflects on the challenges and lessons learned from his early days in ticketing, including the importance of adaptability and innovation in generating revenue.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Evolution of Ticketing: The ticketing industry has significantly evolved over the past decade, with clubs recognizing the importance of online sales and audience engagement.

BEST MOMENTS

"We had the idea initially when we looked at, you know, let's build a ticketing system. I started in non-league... it was a bit of a test."

"Clubs really see the value of having an audience that you can contact and speak to... so commercially clubs have got a lot more savvy."

"If you're seriously in ticketing and you've not been involved in something that's been labelled a shambles, then you haven't really been in ticketing."

"You learn to just look for ideas... if you're just looking at other ticketing systems for ideas, I'm kind of missing the point."

"If you can get that bit right, your season is absolutely straightforward. If you get it wrong, then the season just becomes a bit of a slug."

GUEST BACKGROUND

David started his career as part of the Wembley Stadium Ticket Office as a Senior Ticketing Assistant before working at the FA for 5 years as the senior Ticketing Manager where he led operations on the FA Cup Finals, FA Vase & FA Trophy Finals & all England matches when they were travelling across the country for matches at International Friendlies. He then went on to work at Tottenham Hotspur, Ticketmaster where his role included being the Technical Account Manager for London 2012 & Euro 2012. He founded his ticketing agency that assists over 40+ clubs across the EFL & Non-League with their ticketing operations becoming one of the fastest-growing ticket brands within the UK.

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/

Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball

HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. 

In this episode of the Business and Football podcast, David shares experiences from two memorable days in the football industry. David recounts his visit to Liverpool's AXA Training Centre, where he witnessed a unique filming day involving the club's under-eights team and first-team players, including Endo, Tsimikas and Luis Diaz. David reflects on the behind-the-scenes workings of a marketing shoot, highlighting the coordination and effort required to create engaging content. David also discusses his visit to St. George's Park, where he gained insights into the training facilities and the decision-making processes involved in VAR scenarios.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Understanding Marketing and Production: Observing a filming day for Liverpool's youth team revealed the extensive planning and coordination required for marketing shoots.

BEST MOMENTS

"I got the opportunity to go and spend a day at Liverpool's training ground complex, the AXA Training Centre. It was awesome because I'd never been to a training centre before for a football club."

"It was just surreal because I got to really see the training complex at Liverpool... and the way that it was just filmed by this whole production crew, which was awesome."

"I had to make a decision on the process that I would see through the VAR... it was still nice to see behind the scenes of how that works and how the decision making might be."

"When you're behind the scenes at the events your perception changes... things aren't as easy as they seem; it's so easy to get lost in the emotion of the game."

"Being there behind the scenes and getting a chance to see what's going on is so incredibly insightful."

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/

Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball

HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience.  Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry. 

In this episode of the Business Football Podcast, David sits down with Deborah Dilworth, the head of women's football at the Football Supporters Association. With a wealth of experience as a coach and mentor, Deborah shares her football journey, highlighting the influence of her family and friends in her early years. Deborah discusses her coaching experiences in the United States and Australia, emphasizing the importance of empathy and adaptability in coaching different age groups and genders. Deborah also reflects on the impact of the Lionesses' success in 2022, the ongoing challenges in women's football, and the need for greater diversity in leadership roles within the sport.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Personal Journey in Football: Debra Dilworth's passion for football was ignited by her family, particularly her father and brother. Her journey began with playing informally and evolved into coaching.

 BEST MOMENTS

"I feel like that did shape my coaching... I think that was because I was so new to the game."

"I think it's important for women to coach both men and women and boys and girls."

"I think sometimes football can definitely look outside of itself... to better the fandom in women's sports generally."

"It's okay not to know things... my job as a mentor wasn't necessarily to know everything."

"Resilience is key... sometimes the most rubbish times end up being a really good turning corner for you."

GUEST BACKGROUND & LINK

Deborah Dilworth is the current Head of Women's Football at the

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/

Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball

HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience. 

In this episode of The Business of Football podcast, David delves into the critical topic of fan representation in football clubs and the role of platforms like iTrust, founded by Nick Inge, in enhancing fan engagement. David explores the financial priorities of clubs over sporting success, the rising ticket prices, and the challenges fans face in voicing their concerns. David also emphasizes the need for better communication and genuine engagement between clubs and their loyal supporters, suggesting that innovative solutions could bridge the growing gap and restore the emotional connection that fans have with their teams.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Importance of Fan Representation: There is a significant gap in fan engagement within football clubs, with many fans feeling disconnected from decision-making processes.

BEST MOMENTS

"59% of Premier League clubs are actually feeling disconnected at the moment with their club's decision making."

"There's a general consensus really that clubs see their supporters as customers rather than fans themselves."

"65% of fans believe that clubs prioritise financial gain over sporting success."

"92% of fans believe that tickets are priced too high."

"The relationship between clubs and supporters is at a knife edge at the moment."

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/

Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball

HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience.  Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry.

In this episode of The Business of Football podcast, David sits down with Paul Nelson, the former Technical Director at Bentley Green Soccer Club in Australia and current General Secretary of the UEFA AAA Board. Paul shares his unique journey from the finance world to the football industry, highlighting his passion for youth sport and community engagement. Paul discusses the importance of creating safe spaces for young players, the role of coaches in fostering personal development, and the need for grassroots football to adapt to modern societal changes.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Transition from Finance to Football: The journey from a finance background to a career in football can be driven by passion and a desire to make a difference in the sport.

BEST MOMENTS

"I think there's so many benefits that not just football but sport brings to people, to families, to communities, health-wise, mental health, but just connecting with people."

"Over 70% of these young players didn't play football anymore, didn't watch it, didn't care about it."

"What you put in is what you get out. All these elements that are so vital in life that sometimes we don't teach them to our kids."

"The clubs that I've been involved in that I've had more success with are the ones that have actually trusted the process."

"Football is always about diversity and bringing people together."

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/

Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball

HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience.  Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry. 

In today's episode, David sits down with Fiona Green, the CEO and founder of ProDataStack, to explore the evolving role of data in professional sports. With over 30 years of experience in the football industry, Fiona discusses how ProDataStack leverages AI-supported software to empower athletes by providing insights into their performance data and off-field branding opportunities. They consider the importance of data in contract negotiations, the varying levels of athlete engagement with their personal data, and the challenges faced by the sports industry in adopting data-driven strategies. Fiona emphasizes the need for athletes and their agents to understand and utilize data effectively, highlighting the potential for improved decision-making and career management in an increasingly competitive landscape.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Data has become increasingly important in the sports industry, moving beyond just performance metrics to include various aspects such as social media engagement and brand value. This shift allows athletes to be viewed as sports brands rather than just performers.

BEST MOMENTS

"What we're trying to do is get the industry to look at a professional athlete, not just as a performer on the field, but as a sports brand."

"Some agents, some athletes are also talking about their social numbers. Depending on who they're negotiating with, social numbers might be important as well."

"Data should be more than a guide. It's just going to give a ton of information to somebody sitting across the table from a sponsor."

"There will never be 100% user adoption of data. But what will happen over time is they look at Amazon, look at how valuable it is."

"If I was addressing university people, I say to anybody that's got the slightest interest in data, start focusing, start training, because you'll end up being the highest paid person in the room."

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/

Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball

HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience.  Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry.