They come back every time, despite the occasional heartbreak. It鈥檚 a masterclass in brand loyalty; but there are other teachable moments for businesses beyond legions of die-hard fans.

Behind the chants, rivalries, last-minute goals and dramatics from players looking to delay and distract, sits an increasingly complex business operation.

Elite football clubs are producing huge amounts of data. Recruitment, performance analysis, ticketing, marketing, retail and hospitality all generate huge volumes of information. Turning that data into something that genuinely shapes decisions is still a challenge for many clubs, and many businesses.

In football, and the ‘real world’, data still often sits inside IT departments or analytics teams, treated as something specialist and abstract rather than something central to decision-making. With such a huge amount of focus in football, the consequences of ignoring information are immediate and highly visible.

If a club signs the wrong player, misjudges fan demand or fails to plan matchday operations effectively, the impact is felt quickly on performance, revenue and reputation. And your fans will be quick to let you know, probably with some choice language.

Like a top signing, accessible, cohesive and responsive data can change your game entirely. Our work with Sunderland AFC is a good example of how data can take you from the underdog, to snapping at the heels of the best the Premier League has to offer.

Over the past four years, the club has brought together information from customer systems, ticketing, hospitality, retail and performance analytics into a single governed data environment.

Coaching staff use real-time insight to support training and tactical preparation. Commercial teams can monitor matchday performance and adjust activity quickly and marketing teams operate with a clearer view of fan behaviour, allowing them to deliver more personalised engagement and targeted campaigns.

In opposition to the current AI zeitgeist, the transformation wasn鈥檛 about AI implementation at any cost. In an age where AI is heralded as a universal solution to growth challenges, Sunderland AFC recognised that AI is only as powerful as the data beneath it. If that data is fragmented, inconsistent or poorly governed, advanced tools will simply amplify those problems.

Before exploring AI-driven forecasting or advanced fan experiences, Sunderland AFC has focused on getting its core data foundations right. Governance, integration and accessibility come first.

In football, marginal gains can make the difference between promotion and relegation, and the same principle applies in business. Small improvements in customer insight, operational efficiency or commercial strategy can compound over time to create a meaningful competitive advantage.

Ultimately, football may be decided by players and coaches, but the organisations behind them should be powered by information, combining sporting ambition with commercial intelligence.

If you don鈥檛 follow football, Sunderland AFC has rebuilt itself after falling to the third tier of English football. In 2022, it returned to the Championship, the second tier, before earning another promotion to the Premier League, the top flight. So, where does data fit into that story? While we can鈥檛 take credit for the goals, I鈥檒l simply say our relationship with the club began in 2022.

For businesses looking to do the same, treat your data like Sunderland AFC treats matchday preparation. Because in both cases, better information leads to better decisions 鈥� and better decisions create the conditions for success.

The post The 2022 signing which sparked Sunderland AFC’s success appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

They come back every time, despite the occasional heartbreak. It鈥檚 a masterclass in brand loyalty; but there are other teachable moments for businesses beyond legions of die-hard fans.

Behind the chants, rivalries, last-minute goals and dramatics from players looking to delay and distract, sits an increasingly complex business operation.聽

Elite football clubs are producing huge amounts of data. Recruitment, performance analysis, ticketing, marketing, retail and hospitality all generate huge volumes of information. Turning that data into something that genuinely shapes decisions is still a challenge for many clubs, and many businesses.

In football, and the ‘real world’, data still often sits inside IT departments or analytics teams, treated as something specialist and abstract rather than something central to decision-making. With such a huge amount of focus in football, the consequences of ignoring information are immediate and highly visible.

If a club signs the wrong player, misjudges fan demand or fails to plan matchday operations effectively, the impact is felt quickly on performance, revenue and reputation. And your fans will be quick to let you know, probably with some choice language.

Like a top signing, accessible, cohesive and responsive data can change your game entirely. Our work with Sunderland AFC is a good example of how data can take you from the underdog, to snapping at the heels of the best the Premier League has to offer.聽聽

Over the past four years, the club has brought together information from customer systems, ticketing, hospitality, retail and performance analytics into a single governed data environment.聽

Coaching staff use real-time insight to support training and tactical preparation. Commercial teams can monitor matchday performance and adjust activity quickly and marketing teams operate with a clearer view of fan behaviour, allowing them to deliver more personalised engagement and targeted campaigns.

In opposition to the current AI zeitgeist, the transformation wasn鈥檛 about AI implementation at any cost. In an age where AI is heralded as a universal solution to growth challenges, Sunderland AFC recognised that AI is only as powerful as the data beneath it. If that data is fragmented, inconsistent or poorly governed, advanced tools will simply amplify those problems.

Rangers FC steward walked past JP Morgan after Ibrox matches. They offered him a job

Before exploring AI-driven forecasting or advanced fan experiences, Sunderland AFC has focused on getting its core data foundations right. Governance, integration and accessibility come first.

In football, marginal gains can make the difference between promotion and relegation, and the same principle applies in business. Small improvements in customer insight, operational efficiency or commercial strategy can compound over time to create a meaningful competitive advantage.

Ultimately, football may be decided by players and coaches, but the organisations behind them should be powered by information, combining sporting ambition with commercial intelligence.聽

If you don鈥檛 follow football, Sunderland AFC has rebuilt itself after falling to the third tier of English football. In 2022, it returned to the Championship, the second tier, before earning another promotion to the Premier League, the top flight. So, where does data fit into that story? While we can鈥檛 take credit for the goals, I鈥檒l simply say our relationship with the club began in 2022.

For businesses looking to do the same, treat your data like Sunderland AFC treats matchday preparation. Because in both cases, better information leads to better decisions 鈥� and better decisions create the conditions for success.

New CEO named by North East tech firm Vianet

The post Seri枚s’s role in Sunderland AFC’s success appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

A wave of new digital LED installations aim to empower the club鈥檚 commercial opportunities and enrich fan engagement.

The transformation includes a brand-new high resolution LED screen to replace the legacy display; a cutting edge 900mm high digiBOARD perimeter system; a mid-tier digital ribbon and digitalisation of eight vomitory signs on the John Street Family Stand; along with new external screens above the Tony Currie Stand reception to create a fully immersive digital platform across the stadium.聽

Transforming the home of the Blades has been powered by significant investment in the matchday experience under the club鈥檚 renewed ambitions with its new ownership group.

鈥淭his is a landmark moment for the club,鈥� said Stephen Bettis, CEO of Sheffield United. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not just upgrading our screens 鈥� we鈥檙e enhancing the entire fan experience and creating a more dynamic commercial platform for our partners.

鈥淭his investment reflects our ambition to modernise Bramall Lane and deliver a Premier League-standard environment, both on and off the pitch.鈥�

With more than 50% of the Premier League and most Championship stadiums already featuring ADI鈥檚 digiBOARD systems, Sheffield United join a growing list of clubs embracing digital transformation to future-proof their venues.聽

The new platform at Bramall Lane not only enhances visual impact but also provides a flexible, scalable solution for live content, sponsor messaging and fan engagement.

Meet black belt taking Leeds software house global

鈥淭his project is a perfect example of how we help clubs unlock the full potential of their venues,鈥澛� said Claire Fitzgerald-Firth, head of engagement & client services at ADI.

鈥淔rom the new digiBOARD system to the digital ribbons and signage, every element has been designed to elevate the matchday experience and deliver greater value for fans, sponsors and the club alike.鈥�

ADI worked closely with the club from initial consultancy through to delivery. The entire platform is powered by ADI鈥檚 Live Venue broadcast fibre network, enabling remote content creation and management across all digital assets.聽

Behind the scenes, ADI鈥檚 Live Venue delivery crew work in constant motion 鈥� remotely distributing assets across every digital touchpoint inside Bramall Lane from its Preston-based headquarters.

Football legend Peter Crouch signs up for new founder-led startup

The post Sheffield United CEO 鈥榯o modernise Bramall Lane鈥� appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

LED specialists ADI delivered the UK鈥檚 largest indoor fan zone screen at the venue, marking a major milestone in the club鈥檚 ongoing regeneration programme.

The warehouse, which adjoins the club’s iconic Villa Park ground, now hosts a 90.3m2 bespoke LED screen, built using ADI鈥檚 MT 2.5mm technology.

Installed at the rear of the main stage, the ultrawide display can operate as a backdrop for live entertainment or as a primary screen for large-scale presentations, screenings, exhibitions and conferences. The installation significantly enhances the venue鈥檚 flexibility, allowing it to support both matchday and year-round event programming.

Ben Hatton, COO at Aston Villa, said: 鈥淥ur long and trusted partnership with ADI continues to deliver 鈥� this time with the largest indoor fan zone screen in the UK.聽

鈥淭he ultrawide format strengthens our warehouse offering, enhances the matchday experience and provides a flexible platform for future activations as part of our ongoing regeneration.鈥�

The new screen also creates a focal point for 鈥榁illans鈥� before and after home.

Its fine-pitch LED technology delivers high-resolution imagery at close viewing distances, ensuring premium visual performance whether used for live entertainment, branded activations or corporate events.

The latest installation in a longstanding 25+ year partnership with Aston Villa, it supports a 453% increase in matchday revenue over the past seven years. In fact, Villa recorded the strongest growth among the top 20 European clubs by 2024-25 in matchday revenue alone, according to the club.

The project by ADI joins over 750m2 of new LED screens and signage installed in the 24/25 season as part of the total stadium transformation of Villa Park. The wider programme also includes production and maintenance of matchday content along with providing a new UEFA-compliant digiBOARD perimeter system fit for a European elite club.

Claire Fitzgerald-Firth, head of engagement & client services at ADI, said: 鈥淲e are proud to work with Aston Villa on this exciting warehouse project and have brought forward a creative, flexible digital solution to help transform this location.聽

鈥淯sing ADI鈥檚 MT Series of LED technology, Aston Villa now boasts the UK鈥檚 largest indoor fan zone screen. The scale and flexibility of the digital display provides the club with a powerful new platform to enhance fan engagement while creating additional commercial value within the Villa Park development.鈥�

The post Aston Villa fan zone tech sets UK record appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

The global cybersecurity company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, delivers business resilience and has been named the club鈥檚 official cybersecurity partner.

It will protect critical systems, data, and daily operations across the club鈥檚 digital environment.

N-able will work with the club – which beat Arsenal to win the League Cup yesterday –聽to integrate its technology, including the provision of AI-powered cybersecurity solutions, to further develop the existing technology infrastructure in place.

As part of the agreement, the brand will also have a presence across several digital and physical assets within the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 first team portfolio.

Football injury sparked Manchester founder鈥檚 startup

James Tennant, director of technology 鈥� information security at City Football Group, said: 鈥淢anchester City is a leading global brand within sport and beyond and with that comes the requirement for us to continually invest in technology and services to protect our people, our data, and our operations.

鈥淣-able offers advanced end-to-end solutions that will help us as we continue to evolve and future-proof operations and we look forward to working with them as part of this new agreement announced today.鈥�

Vikram Ramesh, chief marketing officer at N-able, added: “The best teams in the world don’t just perform, they protect what makes performance possible.聽

鈥淢anchester City operates at elite speed, across global markets, with zero tolerance for disruption. That’s exactly the environment N-able was built for.聽

鈥淭his partnership is a statement about where cybersecurity is heading 鈥� toward partners who build the resilience that lets world-class organizations keep moving forward.鈥�

Ex-footballers launch platform to prepare athletes for life after sport

The post Man City reveals US partnership appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

SPORTL, based in London, aims to help anyone access gym classes in real-time via an app and recently raised 拢250,000 in pre-seed investment.

It launched in London this month and will look to expand across other major UK cities in the next 12 months.

Matthew Austin and Ryan Lovelock say the Bank of England scheme was 鈥渉ugely beneficial鈥�.聽

鈥淎t the time it wasn鈥檛 necessarily the typical route, as many people encouraged us to take the traditional path of going straight to university,鈥� they told 老九品茶Cloud.

鈥淗owever, the apprenticeship gave us the best of both worlds. We graduated with degrees while also gaining real, hands-on experience inside one of the world鈥檚 most respected financial institutions.聽

鈥淏eing surrounded by incredibly knowledgeable colleagues meant we had to mature quickly and develop a strong work ethic from an early stage in our careers.

鈥淲e quickly became close friends. Over time we moved into slightly different roles across finance and business, but we always shared an ambition to start a company together one day.

鈥淲hile working in corporate roles, we travelled frequently and found traditional gym memberships to be quite rigid and poor value if you weren鈥檛 consistently in one location. At the same time, it was surprisingly difficult to access quality gyms and studios flexibly without committing to a subscription.

鈥淭hat frustration sparked the idea for SPORTL. We started speaking with gym owners after work, explaining the concept and getting feedback, and quickly realised there was a clear gap in the market for a more flexible approach to fitness access.鈥�

The recent investment round saw participation from notable strategic partners and investors, including Kevin Hewitt, former EMEA chairman of FTI Consulting, who will also join as chairman of the board.

Other investors include James Hardy, former Deliveroo executive and co-founder of Bioniq, the personalised supplements company, and recruitment entrepreneur Jamie Hearne.

The founders both hail from grammar school backgrounds and said they have always been heavily involved in sport.聽

Matt grew up playing competitive cricket and represented Northern Victoria in Australia, while Ryan played golf to a high level and has since moved into bodybuilding and functional fitness.

鈥淎lthough our sporting interests were different, we both experienced first-hand the positive impact sport and fitness communities can have,鈥� they said.聽

鈥淲hen we later moved into corporate roles in the City, we found it surprisingly difficult to maintain that same connection to fitness, especially when trying to squeeze in workouts around long workdays.聽

鈥淭hat feeling that something was missing ultimately became one of the driving reasons we went on to build SPORTL.鈥�

Ex-footballers launch platform to prepare athletes for life after sport

Despite building a fitness platform, neither Matt nor Ryan are particularly good at sitting still.聽

鈥淥utside of work we鈥檙e usually training for something; whether that鈥檚 HYROX competitions, long-distance running, or just the next challenge we鈥檝e set ourselves.

鈥淲e are actually both running the London Marathon this year. It will be our first time taking part, so we鈥檙e excited, although we鈥檙e sure it will be painful in equal measure.

鈥淟uckily, our weekly SPORTL run club has become a great way to keep the training consistent. We鈥檙e both running in support of two fantastic charities: the MS Society and Hospice UK.鈥�

SPORTL鈥檚 revenue comes from a small commission on each booking made through the platform.聽

It currently has a team of five – the two founders alongside two full-time team members and an intern. Lucy Gray, a well-known fitness influencer, recently joined as marketing manager, while business development and partnerships manager Sean Sevant previously worked with David Lloyd and has deep experience working with gyms and studios.

鈥淎s the platform grows, we also expect to raise further investment to support expansion and continue improving the product,鈥� said the founders.

鈥淥ur wider ambition is to make flexible fitness access the norm rather than the exception.鈥�

Virgin StartUp announces 拢20m funding pot for UK founders

The post Degree apprenticeship was springboard for SPORTL founders appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

Founded in 2021 by childhood friends Rory MacFadyen and Peter Philippou, Reflo has generated millions in revenue since launch, including 拢5m in 2025 alone.聽

The business operates at a 60% gross margin, with a diversified mix across DTC, wholesale, corporate and partnerships – strengthening Reflo鈥檚 position as one of the fastest-growing challenger brands in sportswear.聽

Kane, England’s record goalscorer, joined Reflo in 2024 as lead ambassador and investor, citing belief in the brand鈥檚 long-term vision and commitment to genuine sustainable innovation over marketing-led claims.

Rather than pursuing traditional venture capital, the founders have chosen to open this round to their community.

Open for five days, Reflo has raised 拢51k so far from 73 investors.

鈥淚 was really impressed with Rory and Pete鈥檚 vision for the brand and wanted to get involved. It鈥檚 growing quickly, and it鈥檚 exciting for me to be a part of it,鈥� said Kane.

Reflo has rapidly established itself across elite sport, partnering with Atlassian Williams F1 Team, four Formula E teams including Jaguar TCS Racing and Nissan, FIA World Rally Championship, global golf events including The Open and The DP World Tour, and progressive football clubs Luton Town and Forest Green Rovers.聽

The brand has already recycled the equivalent of 5 million plastic bottles and planted more than 200,000 trees – while building high-performance apparel designed to compete with the biggest legacy brands.

Ex-footballers launch platform to prepare athletes for life after sport

MacFadyen added: 鈥淰C money was an option. But Reflo has always been built differently. We鈥檙e challenging an industry responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions – and we believe the people who wear the product should have the chance to own part of the mission.聽

鈥淗arry Kane believed in what we鈥檙e building and chose to invest. Now others can too.鈥�

The company operates across three revenue pillars: Reflo – direct-to-consumer sportswear across golf, training, running and padel; TeamLabs – sustainable kit solutions for elite teams and events; and SupplyLabs – corporate and B2B apparel partnerships with global brands.

Philippou said: 鈥淲e make our lives harder by doing things properly. Cleaner materials, responsible manufacturing, better design. It proves sustainability and profitability can co-exist. This raise is about scaling that model globally.鈥�

The Revenue Club founder turning golf tee times into turnover

The post Bayern Munich star Harry Kane backed Reflo – now you can too appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

They own land; have loyal members; attract visitors; and operate in a sport enjoying somewhat of a post-pandemic boom.

However, according to Rob Corcoran, co-founder and director of , many clubs still leave significant revenue on the table because pricing, marketing and data aren鈥檛 joined up.

鈥淲e generate additional revenue for golf courses through their online channels,鈥� Corcoran explains.聽

鈥淧retty much every golf course in the country has decent software and digital tools available to them – they just don鈥檛 really use them with a commercial focus.鈥�

Founded in 2017, The Revenue Club works with golf clubs across the UK to optimise pricing, drive demand through digital marketing and use data to guide commercial decisions.聽

Today, the business supports around 275 courses, with plans to pass 300 by spring and reach 400 by the end of the year.

A rogue path

Corcoran鈥檚 route into the business was anything but a traditional one.聽

He began his career in golf and leisure marketing in the early 2000s, working at Golfbreaks.com before moving into sales and marketing roles in the travel sector.聽

In 2004, he took a very different path, joining the Royal Navy as a warfare officer.

鈥淚 was a navigating officer, driving minehunters and later a destroyer,鈥� he tells 老九品茶Cloud.

鈥淭he responsibility for safe navigation, and manoeuvring the ship in warfighting scenarios rested with me.鈥�

His naval career spanned seven years and included intelligence work alongside the Royal Marines during the early stages of the Arab Spring – an experience he says shaped his capacity for pressure, decision-making and leadership.

When he left the Navy in 2011, Corcoran returned to the golf industry, joining Teeofftimes.co.uk (now part of Golfbreaks.com).聽

Over five years, he progressed from account manager to account director, working closely with many clubs as the idea for his own business started to form.聽

鈥淭hat鈥檚 where Chris [Knight, co-founder] and I really saw the opportunity,鈥� he says.聽

鈥淭he clubs that actively adjusted their pricing based on demand were always the top performers.聽

鈥淏ut most clubs just didn鈥檛 have the time, confidence or understanding to do it themselves.鈥�

Dynamic pricing

At the heart of the firm鈥檚 model is dynamic pricing – adjusting green fee prices based on demand, time, weather, competition and seasonality.

He says: 鈥淢ost clubs set prices at the start of the year and then leave them.聽

鈥淏ut demand changes constantly – summer weekend mornings are high demand, wet weekday afternoons aren鈥檛.聽

鈥淵ou have to be adaptable.鈥�

There are also regional nuances, even in the UK.

Courses around Manchester, for example, often struggle in winter due to conditions, while links courses in North Wales thrive, allowing prices to increase rather than fall.

Last summer offered a perfect case study and was a blossoming one for the business.

鈥淭he weather was incredible, McIlroy won the Masters and then you had the Ryder Cup at the end of the season,鈥� he recalls.聽

鈥淚f you undercooked your rates during that period, you missed out on revenue.鈥�

Marketing that actually converts

Corcoran explains that many clubs also struggle with visibility and digital marketing.

鈥淵ou can have the perfect pricing structure, but if no one鈥檚 finding you online, it won鈥檛 matter,鈥� he says.

Over time, The Revenue Club expanded into email marketing, social media and paid search.聽

Today, the company communicates with around 400,000 golfers every fortnight on behalf of its clients.

He continues: 鈥淭hat combination of pricing and marketing is what really supercharges sales.

鈥淭here are lots of marketing agencies out there, but none of them understand how critical pricing is in golf.鈥�

Data over instinct

A big differentiator is The Revenue Club鈥檚 in-house reporting suite, which Corcoran describes as the largest collection of visitor golf data in the UK.

鈥淚n the last 12 months, we鈥檝e logged around 拢65 million worth of visitor green fee sales,鈥� he says.

鈥淚t helps us to show clubs what鈥檚 working, what isn鈥檛 and where opportunities exist.

鈥淢anagers love it because it鈥檚 not anecdotal.

鈥淲e can say: 鈥榯he market is up 25%, you鈥檙e up 10%, here鈥檚 why and here鈥檚 what to do about it鈥�.鈥�

Professionalising sales with CRM

For larger or more commercially ambitious venues, The Revenue Club offers an enhanced service built around HubSpot, effectively creating a blueprint for professional sales and marketing operations in golf.

鈥淲e鈥檝e professionalised CRM in golf clubs,鈥� Corcoran says.聽

鈥淢embership sales, golf days, corporate bookings – all of it integrated.鈥�

The approach is already being used by multi-site operators such as Get Golfing and Crown Golf, helping venues move away from manual processes.

A remote team

The Revenue Club now employs 18 people, operating fully remotely, with regional account managers supporting clubs nationwide.聽

Growth has increasingly become inbound and the company has seen clubs coming to it now, rather than the other way around.聽

鈥淲e hit a tipping point last year,鈥� Corcoran says.聽

鈥淥nce you reach around 13% market penetration, the business starts to self-generate.鈥�

The focus remains the UK and Ireland for now, with Scotland and Ireland representing growth opportunities.聽

Longer-term, Corcoran sees adjacent markets, including driving ranges, padel and indoor simulators, as more attractive than an immediate leap into a market such as the US or Australia.聽

He explains: 鈥淭he principles are the same – pricing, marketing, reporting.聽

There鈥檚 no rush, because there鈥檚 still huge opportunity right here.鈥�

Ex-footballers launch platform to prepare athletes for life after sport

ASCEND

As the business scaled, Corcoran became increasingly aware of what he didn鈥檛 know.聽

That drove his decision to join 鈥檚 ASCEND Scale Up Programme.聽

鈥淭he more you find out, the more you realise you don鈥檛 know,鈥� he says.

鈥淢yself and Chris feel as though we have the sales and marketing side of things covered, but I wanted to make sure that I had that full suite of corporate knowledge that I need across all functions.

鈥淭he programme is helping to build knowledge in things like legal responsibilities, finance, technology.聽

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the kind of thing that keeps you awake at night when you鈥檙e running your own business.

鈥淚 travel up from Shrewsbury but I very easily see the benefits that I certainly wouldn’t have known about or had an awareness of had I not done the programme.

鈥淭here’s so many different elements of it which I鈥檓 taking away that will really benefit the company overall.鈥�

Building on AI

The business also uses AI behind the scenes, both to personalise marketing at scale and to help make sense of the huge volumes of data it works with.

Corcoran says it plays a big part in flagging where clubs could be doing more, but a human is still at the end of the process.聽

鈥淥ur team still makes the final decisions,鈥� he says.聽

鈥淏ut AI helps us identify where revenue opportunities are being missed.鈥�

With strong retention – attrition was just 4% last year, says Corcoran – and a growing client base, the co-founder believes the model is working.

鈥淕olf clubs don鈥檛 lack demand,鈥� he says.聽

鈥淭hey just need the tools, data and confidence to realise their full potential.鈥�

鈥楪roundbreaking鈥� tech project launched at Villa Park

The post The Revenue Club founder turning golf tee times into turnover appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

MOJOE, an athlete-only platform designed to modernise player care and career transition, formally launched this week, with early backing from professional football clubs in England.聽

Co-founder Davis, who spent two spells at Port Vale, represented Fleetwood Town and was on the books of Leicester City, believes too many athletes are unprepared for the heavy landing that follows deselection,聽 injury or retirement.聽

鈥淧eople see the dream,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 see what comes after it.鈥澛�

Each year, thousands of academy players are released across the English pyramid. Whilst聽 safeguarding, player care and education standards have improved significantly under EPPP聽 regulations, long-term tracking and structured transition support remain inconsistent.聽

Davis believes that gap is widening.聽

鈥淭he system is more professional than ever,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut the conveyor belt is moving faster too.聽 Players are being scouted younger, more money is being thrown at talent, decisions are more聽 ruthless, and for the majority who don鈥檛 make it, the landing is still heavy.聽

鈥淚ndustry reports evidence聽 increased investment and professionalisation but athletes are struggling more than ever in life after聽 sport.鈥澛�

Alexander, who spent the last 20 years post-football working at the forefront of big data and聽 analytics with tech giant Snowflake, adds, 鈥淭he clubs we鈥檙e speaking to understand that player care聽 is no longer a nice-to-have. It impacts reputation, recruitment and parent trust if not carried out聽 properly.聽

鈥淭he industry recognises that more needs to be done – the horror stories around depression,聽 bankruptcy and mental health still exist – but clubs simply don鈥檛 have the resources or time to do聽 anything different.鈥澛�

Over the past 18 months, Davis and Alexander have conducted research that showed an estimated聽 1.4 million athletes transition out of sport globally. In the UK alone, around 47,000 face deselection,聽 injury or retirement annually, with up to 80 percent worrying about their future, while many聽 experience a significant drop in wellbeing during their first year out of sport.聽

MOJOE aims to intervene earlier, giving players a career coach in their pocket to prepare for life聽 beyond sport ahead of their exit.聽

The idea was born from Davis鈥檚 own experience, having stepped away from the game at 27 after聽 injuries and dwindling first-team opportunities. Despite holding a first-class degree, he found聽 himself adrift.

鈥淚 was fortunate enough to follow in the footsteps of my dad and brother to become a professional聽 footballer. But when that chapter began to close, I experienced what so many athletes go through.聽 The period where your identity starts to fade, your direction is unclear, and the support system you聽 assumed would exist simply doesn鈥檛.聽

鈥淚 was one of the lucky ones. I found a new path fairly quickly. But through building MOJOE and聽 speaking to hundreds of other athletes as part of our market research, we realised my experience聽 was far from unique.鈥澛�

鈥楪roundbreaking鈥� tech project launched at Villa Park

The platform uses AI to help athletes translate their sporting experience into career-ready profiles,聽 connect with mentors and explore opportunities beyond sport. Athletes can begin exploring聽 alternative passions while still under contract – a shift Davis believes is culturally significant.聽

鈥淲hen I played, the message was always 鈥榝ocus on your football鈥ou鈥檙e a long time retired,鈥欌�� he聽 says. 鈥淏ut the modern-day athlete understands their shelf life is short and they don鈥檛 want to wait聽 until retirement to start thinking about what鈥檚 next. They are more switched on than ever; more聽 curious; more entrepreneurial. Proactively preparing for a second career shouldn鈥檛 be taboo.鈥澛�

Behind the scenes, the company says it has tested the product with hundreds of UK athletes,聽 brought on Olympians and international footballers as ambassadors, and secured early partnerships聽 with Premier League and Championship clubs seeking more structured player-care systems amid聽 tightening academy regulations.聽

The timing is deliberate. As scrutiny around academy release rates intensifies and governing bodies聽 raise welfare standards, clubs are under pressure to demonstrate meaningful post-career support.聽

Alexander insists MOJOE is not a critique of existing systems but an evolution of them.聽

鈥淧layer care staff are doing incredible work,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut they鈥檙e often under-resourced and not聽 set up for success in their roles. Technology can help close that gap.鈥澛�

Whether athletes and clubs embrace the shift remains to be seen. But Davis is clear about the聽 ambition.聽

鈥淎s an industry, we obsess over tracking performance data – whether it鈥檚 XG, sprint speeds, heart聽 rates,鈥� Davis says. 鈥淏ut we鈥檝e tolerated massive losses in transition and neglected off-pitch data.聽 That鈥檚 the imbalance we鈥檙e determined to fix.鈥澛�

Meet global CEO harnessing AI to create beauty products

The post Former Port Vale star launches AI platform for athletes appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

MOJOE, an athlete-only platform designed to modernise player care and career transition, formally launched this week, with early backing from professional football clubs in England.聽

Co-founder Davis, who spent two spells at Port Vale, represented Fleetwood Town and was on the books of Leicester City, believes too many athletes are unprepared for the heavy landing that follows deselection,聽 injury or retirement.聽

鈥淧eople see the dream,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 see what comes after it.鈥澛�

Each year, thousands of academy players are released across the English pyramid. Whilst聽 safeguarding, player care and education standards have improved significantly under EPPP聽 regulations, long-term tracking and structured transition support remain inconsistent.聽

Davis believes that gap is widening.聽

鈥淭he system is more professional than ever,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut the conveyor belt is moving faster too.聽 Players are being scouted younger, more money is being thrown at talent, decisions are more聽 ruthless, and for the majority who don鈥檛 make it, the landing is still heavy.聽

鈥淚ndustry reports evidence聽 increased investment and professionalisation but athletes are struggling more than ever in life after聽 sport.鈥澛�

Alexander, who spent the last 20 years post-football working at the forefront of big data and聽 analytics with tech giant Snowflake, adds, 鈥淭he clubs we鈥檙e speaking to understand that player care聽 is no longer a nice-to-have. It impacts reputation, recruitment and parent trust if not carried out聽 properly.聽

鈥淭he industry recognises that more needs to be done – the horror stories around depression,聽 bankruptcy and mental health still exist – but clubs simply don鈥檛 have the resources or time to do聽 anything different.鈥澛�

Over the past 18 months, Davis and Alexander have conducted research that showed an estimated聽 1.4 million athletes transition out of sport globally. In the UK alone, around 47,000 face deselection,聽 injury or retirement annually, with up to 80 percent worrying about their future, while many聽 experience a significant drop in wellbeing during their first year out of sport.聽

MOJOE aims to intervene earlier, giving players a career coach in their pocket to prepare for life聽 beyond sport ahead of their exit.聽

The idea was born from Davis鈥檚 own experience, having stepped away from the game at 27 after聽 injuries and dwindling first-team opportunities. Despite holding a first-class degree, he found聽 himself adrift.

鈥淚 was fortunate enough to follow in the footsteps of my dad and brother to become a professional聽 footballer. But when that chapter began to close, I experienced what so many athletes go through.聽 The period where your identity starts to fade, your direction is unclear, and the support system you聽 assumed would exist simply doesn鈥檛.聽

鈥淚 was one of the lucky ones. I found a new path fairly quickly. But through building MOJOE and聽 speaking to hundreds of other athletes as part of our market research, we realised my experience聽 was far from unique.鈥澛�

鈥楪roundbreaking鈥� tech project launched at Villa Park

The platform uses AI to help athletes translate their sporting experience into career-ready profiles,聽 connect with mentors and explore opportunities beyond sport. Athletes can begin exploring聽 alternative passions while still under contract – a shift Davis believes is culturally significant.聽

鈥淲hen I played, the message was always 鈥榝ocus on your football鈥ou鈥檙e a long time retired,鈥欌�� he聽 says. 鈥淏ut the modern-day athlete understands their shelf life is short and they don鈥檛 want to wait聽 until retirement to start thinking about what鈥檚 next. They are more switched on than ever; more聽 curious; more entrepreneurial. Proactively preparing for a second career shouldn鈥檛 be taboo.鈥澛�

Behind the scenes, the company says it has tested the product with hundreds of UK athletes,聽 brought on Olympians and international footballers as ambassadors, and secured early partnerships聽 with Premier League and Championship clubs seeking more structured player-care systems amid聽 tightening academy regulations.聽

The timing is deliberate. As scrutiny around academy release rates intensifies and governing bodies聽 raise welfare standards, clubs are under pressure to demonstrate meaningful post-career support.聽

Alexander insists MOJOE is not a critique of existing systems but an evolution of them.聽

鈥淧layer care staff are doing incredible work,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut they鈥檙e often under-resourced and not聽 set up for success in their roles. Technology can help close that gap.鈥澛�

Whether athletes and clubs embrace the shift remains to be seen. But Davis is clear about the聽 ambition.聽

鈥淎s an industry, we obsess over tracking performance data – whether it鈥檚 XG, sprint speeds, heart聽 rates,鈥� Davis says. 鈥淏ut we鈥檝e tolerated massive losses in transition and neglected off-pitch data.聽 That鈥檚 the imbalance we鈥檙e determined to fix.鈥澛�

Meet global CEO harnessing AI to create beauty products

The post Ex-footballers launch platform to prepare athletes for life after sport appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.