YouTube star Calfreezy has launched a new all-star football team called Rebel FC, with former England defender Rio Ferdinand on board as manager.
After just one day the team’s YouTube channel has generated 10,000+ subscribers
Rebel FC aims to disrupt the existing sports ecosystem by operating independently of existing leagues and federations, focusing on creating entertaining content for the football-obsessed millennial demographic, and give rising stars the chance to play football without going through the traditional academy route.
Launching across all key social media platforms, new venture Rebel FC Ltd is part sports digital media company, and part football team. It aims to disrupt the existing sports ecosystem by operating independently of existing leagues and federations, focusing on creating entertaining content for the football-obsessed millennial demographic.
Rebel FC is the embodiment of DIY football and will redefine what it means to be a professional footballer and the journey to becoming one. Fans will be able to join the team on its voyage from footballing zeros to heroes as they take on all manner of teams from across the footballing world. Programming will go behind the scenes of the action every step of the way, from fly-on-the-wall dressing room drama, to last-gasp goals.
Callum Airey (Calfreezy) commented: “Rebel FC is a team of passionate football fans who instead of choosing the traditional route to the top in football, are rebelling against the system and taking a chance on a different way in. They’re aiming high and committed to taking Rebel FC to the highest reaches of the footballing world.”
Content from influencer football teams is one of the fastest growing entertainment sectors on YouTube, as proven by Slash Football, Brave Bison’s popular multi-platform football network. Slash Football represents Eltham SF FC whose matches are viewed more than 500,000 times a week – this is almost double the number of viewers who tune into Sky Sports to watch a Championship game. With over 5.7 million followers and over 368 million video views, Calfreezy is a major force in youth culture and football is one of his main content focuses. With the huge reach and influence of Calfreezy and other YouTubers in the team, including Mike Fox (2.4 million followers) and Reev (750,000 followers), Brave Bison’s expectation is that Rebel FC will quickly establish a huge fan base to rival some of the biggest football clubs in the world.
Jamie Searle, Global Head of Talent at Brave Bison, commented: “Partnering with Rebel FC is a perfect example of how we help our roster of influencer talent realise their commercial potential through innovative new business ventures. With our expertise in creating original content and managing multi-platform networks, Brave Bison has a strong synergy with Calfreezy’s long-term goals.”
Football content generates over 37 billion views across the major social video sites, and the top two YouTube football channels F2Freestylers and freekickerz have over 10m subscribers. Football is the third most engaged with type of content on YouTube, and 75% of that audience is between the ages of 18-34.