How AFTV Became the World’s Biggest Football Fan Channel | Robbie Lyle | BRIDGE 2025

Описание: From filming passionate Arsenal fans outside stadiums to building the world’s largest football fan media platform, Robbie Lyle’s journey is a masterclass in backing an idea before the industry catches up.

In this BRIDGE 2025 interview with Entrepreneur UK, Robbie Lyle — Founder and CEO of Global Fan Network and the creator and face of AFTV — reflects on how frustration with traditional football punditry led him to launch AFTV in 2012, despite having no background in sports media or video production.

Robbie shares how early fan interviews outside matches sparked a global movement, the viral moment that changed everything, and how AFTV evolved into a multi-channel, international brand with studios in London. He also discusses the cultural power of football in the UK, why legacy media is being forced to give fans a voice, and the biggest personal risk he took when he left his full-time job to commit to AFTV.

The conversation closes with Robbie’s advice to entrepreneurs: back yourself, seek guidance from the right people, and accept failure as part of the path to success.

Topics covered:

The origin story of AFTV

Turning fan passion into a global media brand

The viral moment that defined AFTV

Football, fandom, and the power of creator-led media

Taking calculated risks as an entrepreneur

Practical advice for aspiring founders