Bizarre new world of football outlined in ‘Gamechanger’

DEPENDING ON the generation you fit into, there have always been ways of getting closer to the game of association football. Even back decades companies recognised that money could be made from aligning themselves with the beautiful game and giving the fans something they didn’t realise they needed.

Some of the early efforts included cards in cigarette packets or with sticks of gum, then there was football stickers, table football or foosball, subbuteo, then cards that carried stats, player ratings etc.

It was therefore a natural progression, that when computer games and personal computers became common place, that companies would mesh football with a more complex platform and get fans even more involved.

Games like Sensible Soccer, FIFA and Pro Evolution gave people the chance to play and control matches but things developed further with Football Manager, LMA Manager and Premier Manager, giving supporters the chance to manage.

It’s at that level that the author of this book, Spencer FC, began his love affair with football. His publication is entitled ‘Gamechanger’ and charts his rise from computer game player and average footballer, into the owner of a football club that many of you will never have heard of but millions of others have watched.

Spencer begins his story in his childhood, talks about how he came late to the game and how his love of football grew. He knew he was never good enough to compete at a high level but wanted to mix his emotional ties to the game with his work life.

The thing that really stands out about this entrepreneur is his ability to bounce out of good jobs with great prospects to follow a path that’s going to make him happy. Not only that, every big, risky decision he has made has come good and the secret is hard work.

In his early twenties he worked as the Twitter/Media manager for the Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany. This was a cushy position, as it was well paid and Spencer could get all his work done in part time hours if he was focused.

It was pretty much a dream job for most people. However, there was no challenge for Spencer and he quickly decided that he needed more. The bulk of the middle of the publication talks about how he set out on his own, started his own YouTube channel and grew it into a profitable business.

Anyone who has chuckled and said ‘okay’ to a younger relative proclaiming they want to be a YouTube star when they grow up will get a real understanding of how possible that is with the correct personality and clever business acumen from this section of the book.

However, this reviewer, as someone who doesn’t have any interest in ‘eSports’ or no longer plays ‘FIFA’, can not fail to be intrigued by the final third of this book.

Spencer sets up his own team, ‘Hashtag United’. They hire out stadiums, set up multiple cameras and play real opponents and post the games on YouTube.

If you are interested in how it’s going, you need to pick up this book.

Apart from that, there is an interesting sports business side to this book too. Growth in this area seems to be continuing and anywhere there’s money to be made, savvy businessman aren’t too far away.

So while it’s the simplified version of a long, hard road, there must be tidbits of information that some will find useful.

DEAN GOODISON

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