MatchDay Digital – the alternative for NPL clubs

Liam Watson

In a time where fans are not guaranteed to be able to attend games due to COVID-19, MatchDay Digital presents as a beneficial way to make programmes accessible to everyone.

MatchDay Digital is the world’s first, football-focussed digital magazine platform that sees premium content made available for everyone no matter where they are, including matchday programmes, popular football magazines, newspapers and high-quality fanzines. Fans will then have access to digital versions of content that may have otherwise been print-only.

Available on Apple iOS with Android and Desktop to follow soon, MatchDay Digital brings all quality football content to the app and sees the development of programmes for football clubs.

By having all football content in the one place, it reaches a bigger audience where fans may find a hidden gem they might not have seen before. MatchDay Digital uses the Intelligent Content Engine (IP) to match material uploaded by clubs, leagues and countries that fans follow on the app, which significantly increases the visibility and reach of each publication that in turn enhances the fan experience.

MatchDay Digital is a free-to-use platform given they work on a revenue share based on the volume sold and a further reinvestment into marketing with each partner. Their strong technology roadmap will allow for more interactivity, dynamic content and translations as they look to extend their reach globally.

English League One side AFC Wimbledon are part of MatchDay Digital’s clients, featuring English Premier League teams Burnley and Crystal Palace, as well as Championship clubs Brentford FC, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest and Watford where digital content is provided.

AFC Wimbledon’s partnership began from the opening day of this season where fans could download the matchday programme for the game against Plymouth Argyle, even without being allowed to attend.

AFC WImbledon CEO Joe Palmer sees this as a step ahead of the curve when factoring in the potential of further reach within the app.

“AFC Wimbledon is a forward-thinking club. We are embracing the future and our new stadium shows that. We’ve not skimped on technology in any way,” Palmer said to FC Business.

“We have to future proof and think ahead as to how fans’ behaviour will change, and digital content is just part of that. We’re not the biggest club, but that doesn’t mean we can’t think like one.

“Digital magazines have been teetering on the edge of full existence for a while now. A lot of people have been talking about them, but it made sense for us to take this step now.

“There’s plenty of research that now shows mobile phone use in stadiums is massive. Practically, people don’t want to hold a physical magazine.

“Digital is a much more cost-effective and time-effective way of operating and clubs need to challenge more fans to move to digital we move into the future, because it’s better for us as businesses, and it’s better for fans as consumers.

“Modern-day football clubs can encourage that change for the good of the fans, and the good of the club.”

In today’s current climate, where the production of printed magazines and distribution would be tricky amid the challenges of COVID-19, the idea of going digital has an even stronger case and big appeal to any football clubs yet to make the switch.

“We knew that fans would only occasionally buy matchday programmes when physically attending football games,” MatchDay Digital founder & CEO Damian Woodward explains.

“Through our research we found out that if it was more convenient, easy to access and offered better value, more fans would purchase programmes. Over 50% of match-goers and 25% of fans watching on TV or through subscription services would be interested in buying a digital programme if it were available to them.

“For clubs, we could see that they were spending time and money on producing, printing and distributing a high-quality publication for each home game, but that the audience for this was so limited.

“You’re only speaking to the people who are attending the game, but if you speak to every club in the country, they’d tell you that their fanbase is much, much bigger than just the people who are able to get to the ground on Saturdays.

“MatchDay Digital allows clubs to access their audience wherever they are. That means greater revenue from increased sales, a better connection to the fanbase and unlimited exposure that can be sold on to sponsors. It’s a no-brainer, for no extra cost.”

You can find more on MatchDay Digital here, where you can get in touch by filling in a contact form.

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Soccerex Selects Miami’s Nu Stadium for Landmark Global Gathering in 2026

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Image Credit: Soccerex

Soccerex will bring the global football industry to Miami in September 2026, with the organisation announcing Nu Stadium as the host venue for its flagship international gathering.

The leading global football business platform will stage Soccerex Miami from September 23–25, 2026, bringing together senior executives, investors, clubs, leagues, federations, brands, media organisations, technology companies and other commercial stakeholders from across the international game.

The event will take place at Nu Stadium within the Miami Freedom Park site, positioning Soccerex at the centre of one of football’s fastest-growing markets as the sport continues to expand its influence across North America.

For nearly three decades, Soccerex has served as a meeting point for the global football industry. The 2026 event represents a further step in the organisation’s evolution towards a year-round platform focused on creating strategic connections, commercial opportunities and long-term value across the game.

Soccerex Miami 2026 will feature conferences, curated networking opportunities, strategic business meetings and industry programming designed to connect decision-makers and facilitate new partnerships.

A key component of the event will be Soccerex’s expanding Deal Network platform, which is designed to create more targeted connections between investors, rights holders, decision-makers and strategic partners throughout the year.

The gathering will also continue the expansion of HerSoccerex, Soccerex’s dedicated initiative focused on increasing investment, visibility, leadership opportunities and commercial growth across women’s football.

Soccerex CEO Garrett Navia said Miami represented an increasingly important location for the global football industry.

“Miami has become one of the most important crossroads in global football,” Navia said.

“The city sits at the intersection of the Americas, international business, culture, investment and the future growth of the sport itself.

“Bringing Soccerex to Nu Stadium is not just about hosting another event, it is about establishing a long-term home for the global football industry in one of the most dynamic football markets anywhere in the world.”

Navia said Soccerex was focused on expanding its role beyond traditional events and developing a platform capable of creating measurable outcomes across the football ecosystem.

“For nearly 30 years, Soccerex has connected the global game,” he said.

“What we are building now is much bigger, a year-round platform designed to create business opportunities, strategic relationships and measurable outcomes across football while also using the reach and influence of the sport to create meaningful impact and lasting legacy within the communities it touches.”

Soccerex Miami 2026 will also place an emphasis on community engagement and impact initiatives, with the organisation aiming to use football as a vehicle to create opportunities and leave a positive legacy in the communities connected to the event.

Nu Stadium, which opened in April 2026 as the home of Inter Miami CF, will provide the backdrop for discussions around some of the most significant issues shaping football’s future.

Investment, infrastructure, sponsorship, media, technology, innovation, fan engagement, women’s football and the continued globalisation of the game are all expected to feature prominently across the three-day gathering.

Located within the wider Miami Freedom Park development, the 26,700-seat venue represents one of South Florida’s newest major football and entertainment destinations.

Additional announcements regarding speakers, strategic partners, community initiatives and industry activations are expected in the lead-up to the event.

Soccerex was founded in 1996 and has since developed into one of football’s leading business platforms, connecting clubs, leagues, federations, brands, investors, media companies, technology providers and rights holders from across the global game.

Through its international events, executive experiences, Deal Network and HerSoccerex initiatives, the organisation is seeking to expand its role as a year-round platform connecting capital, commerce, innovation and leadership across the football industry.

Soccerex Miami 2026 will take place from September 23–25, 2026, at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida.

Bentleigh Greens launch fundraiser to support former president Meno Menelaou

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Image Credit: Bentleigh Greens

Bentleigh Greens has launched a fundraising campaign to support former president and long-serving volunteer Meno Menelaou following his recent diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis.

A highly respected figure at the NPL club, Menelaou has spent decades serving the Bentleigh Greens community in a range of volunteer and leadership roles, helping shape the club both on and off the field.

The fundraiser will assist Menelaou and his family with the costs of undergoing Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation treatment overseas.

The treatment is aimed at halting the progression of the disease but involves significant medical and travel expenses.

In announcing the initiative, Bentleigh Greens said the campaign was an opportunity for the football community to support someone who has dedicated years of service to the club.

“Meno has given so much to our club over many years. Now it’s our turn to give back,” the club said.

The club has encouraged supporters and members of the wider football community to contribute to the fundraiser or share the campaign to help raise awareness.

Bentleigh Greens said the support would help ease the financial burden on Menelaou and his family, allowing him to focus on his treatment and recovery.

Click the link to donate.

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