DRIFT

27/09/2024

‘You’re a long time retired, you know?.’

This was what someone said to me when I told them I’d decided to step out of football and pursue another career.

It was 2019 and I’d been frozen out of the first-team for some time. For the 6 months prior, I’d started looking outside of the footballing bubble for my next move and was halfway through a journalism degree.

Although I understood the comment - football is a short career and you have to squeeze every last drop of potential out of it - I remember being slightly confused by the short-sightedness, as I’d always been hyper aware of a life after football; aware that some day I’d inevitably need to pivot into something else.

Although the realities of the transition were a lot more of a challenge than I’d envisioned, I was genuinely excited about getting stuck into a new chapter.

I saw it as an opportunity to make a name for myself in something else, tap into the creative side of the brain that I had neglected for so long, and dive deeper into my interest in writing and storytelling.

My career path since hasn’t been linear - it’s taken me from club media to managing large-ticket sports accounts at a tech company - but it’s been an enjoyable and fulfilling journey to where I stand today. I view it as a head start on the 30-year-old me that could so easily have stuck it out in the lower reaches of the football pyramid, clinging on to my identity as ‘Joe the Footballer’ simply because ‘you’re a long time retired.’

My perspective is something I try to pass down to those still in the game. I understand how difficult it can be to zoom out of the immediacy of winning games, performing well and earning new contracts, but coming to terms with the fact that football won’t be your primary career is important. Give it absolutely everything you have, but know that if it isn’t going in the direction you wanted it to, it is just one of many life chapters and there’s always an exit door, with lots of people who have trodden a similar path willing to help.

A good first step is identifying an interest or passion off the pitch, the next is showing curiosity to turn that passion into something meaningful.

- Joe Davis

25/09/2024

This is a fascinating narrative explored by Oliver Kay - the lost generation of footballers who arrived onto the scene after Messi and Ronaldo. The mid-90s born group who so often slip under the radar and lack the recognition that others receive. Why is that?

It was a pleasure sharing my views on it for The Athletic and The New York Times, through both a playing and commercial lens, having broke through onto the first-team stage at a similar time and now helping players build their off-pitch brands with DRIFT.

Full article 👇

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5768026/2024/09/16/football-lost-generation-messi-ronaldo-ballon-dor/?source=user_shared_article Explaining the lost generation of footballers who came after Messi and Ronaldo

The 1980s and 2000s have produced plenty of star players - but it's a very different story for those born in the 1990s

06/09/2024

It was. pleasure chatting to Gregg Evans of The Athletic and The New York Times about the ever-changing landscape of athlete entrepreneurship and personal branding - sharing insights into some of the work we are doing at DRIFT.

Such an exciting time to be involved in this space, as brands start to recognise the value athletes can bring as investors, advisors, business owners and creators.

Insightful piece 👇

Players know that simply being very good at football is not enough to sustain a post-sporting career — it's now all about the brand

04/09/2024

9 Footballers Making Waves in The Fashion Scene 🌊👕👟

1. Reece Wabara - Maniere De Voir

Former Man City defender Reece Wabara has taken the fashion world by storm with his brand Maniere De Voir, blending street style with contemporary elegance.

2. Luke Chambers and Emyr Huws - Harmonious Society

Recently retired Ipswich Town duo Luke Chambers and Emyr Huws are creating a buzz with Harmonious Society, a clothing brand that focuses on unity, quality and ethical fashion.

3. Ryan Watson and Sean Breen - Luduso

Salford City midfielder Ryan Watson and former Morecambe player Sean Breen have created a modern sportswear brand with Luduso, offering stylish pieces with a classic twist.

4. Ollie Palmer - WXM Clothing

Wrexham striker Ollie Palmer is juggling is passion for football and fashion with WXM, a fast-growing streetwear brand that is starting to make noise in the US, thanks to coverage in global media outlets and being worn by film star Ryan Reynolds.

5. Wes Thomas - Alexander Reign

Ex-EFL front man Wes Thomas introduces Alexander Reign, a clothing line that fuses luxury with everyday wear, providing a unique take on urban fashion.

6. Michael Doughty - Hylo Athletics

Former Swindon Town midfielder Michael Doughty is kicking off a sustainable fashion revolution with Hylo, a brand committed to eco-friendly footwear and sportswear. Run like the world depends on it!

7. Héctor Bellerín - Gospel Estudios

Known for his unique style, Héctor Bellerín dives deeper into fashion with Gospel Estudios, a brand that reflects his commitment to creativity and sustainability.

8. Rio Ferdinand - FIVE

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand brings his bold personality to fashion with FIVE, a brand inspired by his football career, and a lifestyle of confidence and charisma.

9. Marvin Morgan - Fresh Ego Kid

The late Marvin Morgan’s legacy lives on with Fresh Ego Kid, a brand that combines street culture with self-expression, beloved by fans and celebrities alike.

21/08/2024

New Project: High Performance Individuals

Founded by ex-Manchester United midfielder and England International Bryan Robson and seasoned business and finance professional Simon Andrews in 2023, HPI are a financial intermediary offering best-in-class financial consultancy and support to Sports, Media and Entertainment professionals.

Driven forward by ex-professional footballer Jamie Proctor and a host of well-respected ambassadors and partners, they are changing the game for high-performers.

We were chosen to deliver a full website redesign to better represent the services they provide and clients they look after, having outgrown their previous site.

Keeping true to HPI’s brand identity, and finding the right blend between the serious nature of finance and modern culture of sports & media, here’s what we ended up with 👇

www.highperformanceindividuals.co.uk

Full case study to follow. 💻 🙌

14/08/2024

It’s been a pleasure working with former professional footballer turned financial advisor, John McCombe, over the past few weeks.

As John sets out on his journey as a financial advisor, we were tasked with building out the full brand identity for McCombe & Co Financial Planning.

After presenting various concepts, here’s what we moved forward with👇

Knowing John as a player, we have no doubt this is the start of an exciting journey and we wish him all the very best as he looks to help individuals secure their financial futures and move into their retirement years with peace of mind.

28/07/2024

It’s been over 5 years since our founder Joe Davis stepped away from professional football and opted for a new career path.

It’s been an interesting journey, filled with ups and downs.

Here’s 🔟 pieces of advice he would give to athletes, to help them get ahead when it comes to their career transition 👇

08/07/2024

Huge congratulations to DRIFT client and friend Alex Cairns, who has today made the move from Salford City to Leeds United.

A top class keeper, who is proactively building the foundations for his life away from the pitch and inspiring the next generation within his hometown of Doncaster with Kick On Academy. 🙌

Good luck, Cairnsy. 🧤💥

07/07/2024

“Fear…what fear? This group don’t feel fear,” were the words of Alan Shearer on co-commentary tonight.

And he’a right.

This generation of players don’t feel fear.

They’re trend setters; fashionistas; culture shifters. They stand up for things they believe in, pursue their passions and break down barriers. They’re investors, entrepreneurs and creatives.

Whether you think they can go all the way, or their performances have been good enough, or the tactics have been right - you have to admit that there’s something special about this era of British athletes.

As an agency, we’re so fortunate to be immersed in the athlete community and be able to help shift the dial for the current and future athlete every day. 🚀

01/07/2024

From Bootroom to Boardroom ⚽️💼

Here’s 9 Premier League footballers building their own businesses alongside or after their sporting careers 👇

1️⃣ Tom Davies - ChopValue UK ♻️
2️⃣ Trent Alexander-Arnold - The After Academy 📚
3️⃣ Ryan Bertrand - Silicon Markets 💹
4️⃣ Mathieu Flamini - GFBiochemicals 🌱
5️⃣ Dexter Blackstock - MediConnect 💊
6️⃣ Louis Saha - AxisStars 💰
7️⃣ Marlon Harewood - AC13 🚗
8️⃣ Reece Wabara - Maniere De Voir 👟
9️⃣ Jota - Groinn 🌾

We help athletes launch or scale their own businesses - get in touch to find out how. 📩🙌

20/06/2024

🔦 Client Spotlight: Jack Green 🔦

Former Double Olympian Jack Green is revolutionising athlete performance, happiness and wellbeing by empowering clubs with a groundbreaking survey and data platform.

TASR enables athletes to provide honest, anonymous feedback on their wellbeing and performance, allowing coaching, medical and sports science staff to improve culture and decision-making day-to-day.

The concept stems from Jack’s own mental health challenges as a high-performing athlete, during which he represented Great Britain, and his recent experience as a performance coach.

To support Jack’s vision, DRIFT built TASR’s logo and brand identity from the ground up, incorporating a running track style into the concept and designing for multiple use cases, including an app.

You can learn more about what Jack has built here: www.TASR.io
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If you would like to find out how we can help you build, launch or grow your brand or business - drop us a message or email [email protected] 🙌