Making videos with fans and players at his local football club is all in a day's work for Jacob. He is a content creator for Bolton Wanderers FC, coming up with new ideas for social media, filming videos and posting them onto official pages. The aim is to encourage people to follow the club.
Jacob's passion for football started at a very young age. He grew up loving the game, went to Bolton Wanderers FC games with his dad and got his first season ticket at the age of five. At school he made viral videos rating school dinners. He left high school without GCSEs but loved creative subjects like English, drama and writing. He contacted Bolton and started making videos with fans, and a growing audience led to more work at the club, including videos with players and different departments.
There are many ways to develop a career in football content creation, from apprenticeships to freelance work and full-time employment. Jacob's path went from voluntary work at Bolton to professional content creator. He had to be resilient, and one of his biggest obstacles was convincing Bolton to create his role. "Don't wait for an opportunity to come to you," he says. "If it doesn't lead to a role, you've created a portfolio and it's really good for your CV."
Jacob's top tips include creating your own career path, being adaptable, and honing your communication skills. He says salaries can range from £26,000 to around £40,000 for roles like his, though many content creators are freelancers, so earnings vary. Roles may come under titles such as social media manager or content manager. Qualifications can include a college course, an apprenticeship, volunteering or short training courses.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing