The best thing about club journalism is that players “love” creating content and some are even “obsessed” to get involved with it. So much so, that you feel “involved” and a massive part of the club’s environment.
Many people due to certain interviews tend to think that footballers do not like the media and do not like creating content, I have the argument that is completely contrary to this, with quotes too from people who work within the industry, with the players, who “just want to get involved and are “eager” to create content.
Middlesbrough AFC: Dan Prince (Club Journalist)
When speaking to Dan about what it’s like working with the players and what their thoughts is on the media, Dan said:
“I mean, every player is different but some of the lads here, I can’t stress that they can’t get enough of it.”
“A lot of the younger lads have been brought up in a social media generation which I think is why they love it and want to engage with it.”
“Football is a short career. And they want as many memories as they can get from it. So they want to be close to the photographer and get as many good pictures as they can.”
“As well as being close to the videographer, to get as many good clips as they can.”
“A couple of the lads at Middlesbrough have almost become content creators for us.”
“We’ve got this behind the scenes feature which we do weekly, where we put out 10 to 20 pictures on Instagram and TikTok from the week. And a lot of the pictures are actually supplied by players.”
“So we’ll just drop them a message and ask them to get some pictures for us behind the scenes.”
“However, what is key for me is – as long as it’s not distracting for them, I think they’re all pretty happy to be involved with the media and content creation.”
“Another amazing thing is that at Middlesbrough we’re a tight-knit group. And every day you just, you bump into the players and feel like you’re part of that environment, part of that team.”
Everton FC: Ross Hughes (Content Producer)
One of the things I acknowledged speaking with Ross was that it’s good to build a bond and relationship with the players within the industry, I particularly understood that as he claimed “our job is to help and grow them as much as they help us.”
“All my experiences with players have been positive. A lot of the younger players, academy players all want their Instagram to look good as well as their other socials and what’s good about that is our job is to help and grow them as much as they help us.”
“I think what’s good is being able to reciprocate and have that relationship with the players, having them know that you are trying to build their personal brand help them grow as players not just build yourself as a club journalist creating content around them.”
Shrewsbury Town: Joe Masi (Head Of Social Media)
“That’s the thing I’ve learnt in this job that the players love creating and engaging in content. Especially younger lads, like today we had the younger ones obsessed with the graphics and want us to work on creating that type of content for them.”
“In the nicest way, there a pain, we’ll be filming training with a photographer and as soon as we’re back in the office they are asking for the pictures and can’t wait to be involved with TikTok’s.”
“And when it’s going like that it’s the best thing because that’s what fans want; to be connected to their football club, so if you can give them a peek behind the curtain and show a bit of the players personality, fans love it.”
Image Credit: Kev Wilson 📸
South Shields FC: Will Jenkins (Midfielder)
A few days prior to one of South Shields most crucial games of the season I got the opportunity to sit down with Jenkins to talk about the season so far, the upcoming game but most importantly Jenkins’ views on the media with him claiming that the media is a “good thing” and a “positive side” to football.
“It gets the exposure of us as a team and us as a football club out there. It’s a good thing it makes us better because if we’re not doing well we don’t do as much media, interviews and these sort of things.”
“It’s a positive side to football I think.”
South Shields FC: Sam Jones (Media Officer)
“It all deviates on the personalities you work with.”
“This season we have a really good group where a lot of younger lads have come through academies and seen their peers do media, and because they were the ones not involved back then – as they were academy players – they now really love being involved.”
“They take to it quite well. Obviously this season we are doing fantastic, so in terms of content I have the freedom to shell out all types of content with the players because of the form we’re in.”
“The football is the main part of the football club, so as long as that goes well and the team is winning games you have much more freedom to be able to create content around the players manager etc.”
“In fact the players and the manager have grown to love the content that we do.”
“At first they were like what do we have to do today, whereas now (Question of the week as an example), they are eager to know what the question will be which is really fun for me.”
Aston Villa FC: Lewis Redmond (Club Journalist)
“One of the exciting parts of the job is working with these athletes who are adored by so many people.” The players understand the media which is good, they understand it’s growing and they are very involved and on board with it.”
“They understand how it can alleviate their reputation as people not just players. They realise the importance of the media because it’s everywhere these days.”
“Amadou Onana for example creates music and expresses himself through social media, that’s an example of how it’s used in a positive way and how players understand it.”
Shrewsbury Town: Jonny Drake (Club Journalist)
“We’ve never faced a problem with the players. Footballers understand football. So a loss is never the end of the world.”
Rangers FC: Mark Carrick (Graphic Designer)
“The players are very good with the video content. I know that for sure. They’re always very engaged.”
“Specifically the women’s team. They are always very eager to do things that the marketing team present to them.
“And even the new players are always extremely keen to make content as good as it can be.”