Marcelo and Rodney, co-founders of London Ballerz, join The UNprofessional Footballer Podcast for Episode 30.
We talk about how London Ballerz went from playing Footy Addicts games to building a huge London football community, running 40–80 games a week, starting a YouTube football team, creating men’s and women’s 7-a-side content, hosting tournaments, dealing with chaos in small-sided football, and trying to break into the YouTube football scene.
This episode covers the real graft behind running games, building a football brand, managing players, creating content, dealing with dropouts, organising tournaments, growing a community, and why YouTube football is a lot harder than people think.
We also get into the London Ballerz origin story, the cancelled WhatsApp group saga, women’s football, Five Guys comparisons, football content strategy, stadium-to-stadium runs, mental health, Devon red-card stories, Malta football, and Dubai expansion ideas.
Comment below: which YouTube football team should we get on the podcast next?
#LondonBallerz #YouTubeFootball #FootballPodcast #GrassrootsFootball #7ASideFootball #5ASideFootball #SundayLeague #FootyAddicts #LondonFootball #FootballCreators #FootballTournament #SmallSidedFootball #TheUNprofessionalFootballer #FootballBanter #Podcast
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Today's Guests
👉 https://www.instagram.com/londonballerzz
The UNprofessional Footballer Podcast is a dive into the unglamorous side of the beautiful game. While Pros and Ex-Pros are currently beginning to shine a light on what life is actually like for a player at the top of the professional pyramid, this podcast is specifically designed to uncover the trials, tribulations, and day-to-day life of players clawing their way up from the bottom.
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00:00 Intro00:35 Meet Marcelo & Rodney from London Ballerz02:03 How London Ballerz started through Footy Addicts03:19 The “quick money” idea that became a football brand04:13 First game, first helpers and no weeks off05:09 Running 40–80 football games a week05:50 Why organised games beat messy pick-up football08:23 Banning players and handling chaos at games10:27 The London Ballerz WhatsApp group disaster12:44 Building women’s football sessions14:44 Footy Addicts, media and community crossover15:40 Why pick-up football always gets heated20:07 Player ratings, MOTM trolling and fragile egos21:47 Players asking for feedback and trials23:55 How London Ballerz choose who plays25:34 Why London Ballerz started YouTube content27:53 YouTube football teams, support and rivalries29:51 Hassan, graphics and London Ballerz production value31:56 The first tournament that shaped the team33:32 Recruiting players with talent and personality35:16 Results, pressure and building a competitive team37:29 Tactics, formations and learning from mistakes40:11 Penalties, Malta and tournament opportunities42:56 Small-sided football rules and chaos46:18 Why character matters in football content47:49 Creating football personalities and nicknames51:43 The Devon red-card rivalry story begins54:23 The banner, league drama and unfinished business57:48 Controversial videos, allegations and titles01:02:59 Pitch costs, leagues and where London Ballerz play01:06:58 Upcoming tournaments and public challenges01:08:49 Growing through collabs and second POV content01:13:09 Timestamps, retention and podcast structure01:15:31 Growing the London Ballerz women’s team01:17:08 Kits, merch and team identity01:20:16 Kit design, graphics and AI content01:24:44 The stadium-to-stadium run idea01:28:25 Mental health, challenges and doing something bigger01:31:36 Tottenham to Arsenal and building a community01:35:41 Friendship, relationships and business pressure01:40:15 Screen time, admin stress and player dropouts01:42:16 The Bluewater early-morning football trip01:46:08 Big opportunities for London Ballerz players01:50:13 Could London Ballerz work in Dubai?01:54:17 Scouting players and creating future content ideas01:56:30 Keeping original players as the channel grows02:01:47 Final plugs and London Ballerz shoutouts
