Where our on the ground journey begins…
A conference of many firsts. The Beyond Football Conference was the first ever in person held by the Beyond Football team and we took the opportunity to cover the event first hand.
Beyond Football Conference 2025 brought together an incredible lineup of speakers for a day focused on identity, resilience and life beyond the game. Founder Daniel Jinadu opened with a powerful message on finding purpose beyond football, while Sean Bird and Morgan Lockwood-James (Foot Forward UK) shared their journeys after being released. A panel featuring Rob Milsom, Luther Wildin, Hugo Scheckter and Robbie Simpson highlighted the importance of building networks and preparing early for life after football. Sam Holden, Femi Ilensami and Lauren Domfe led an honest breakout session on personal growth, mindset and faith, followed by a live podcast with Saleem Akanbi, Roberto Dos Santos and Serine Sanneh, who shared inspiring stories of resilience. The day concluded with Fiona Green, who explored the growing impact of data and technology in football. The overriding message was clear: your identity is more than football.