Growth consultancy The Firebird Partnership is partnering with Football Escapes to help with the specialist tour operator’s next growth phase.
Football Escapes is owned by sporting stars Rio Ferdinand, Bobby Zamora, and Mark Noble and offers family football coaching holidays in luxury resorts worldwide led by ex-professionals including former England stars Peter Crouch, Michael Owen, and Rachel Yankey.
It was set up in 2016 by founder and managing director Sam Hubert, who has helped deliver international football camps for leading clubs including Chelsea and Arsenal. The operator currently works with a small number of travel agents and is keen to grow its trade sales.
More: The Firebird Partnership partners with hiking specialist EverTrek
As a result of the new partnership, The Firebird Partnership director Chris Thompson, who has spent almost 25 years leading and growing businesses including 15 years at the helm of ski specialist Ski Famille, is to join the operator as non executive director.
His approach is focused on strategy, team building and efficient processes to add value for companies to grow, with recent successes including securing investment for travel-tech start-up RezKit.
He said: “Sam has built a fantastic business and team at Football Escapes. Customer feedback is resoundingly positive, and we are looking at a number of exciting growth opportunities. It gives me great pleasure to be a part of the next phase of development for the company.”
Football Escapes is planning to launch its first range of holidays to Siyam World in the Maldives in April and run its first course in the US, in Florida in October.
Hubert said: “This is a very exciting time for the Football Escapes team. Having Chris onside to guide our growth this year and beyond is a big win for us. We’ve been really impressed with Firebird’s track record, and look forward to going further together as partners.”
Co-owner and England footballer Ferdinand said: “Our partnership with Firebird is great news for Football Escapes and exactly what we need to take the business to the next level. We’re all about keeping the good times rolling and we can’t wait to share the Football Escapes brand with even more football-loving families around the world.”
Fellow co-owner Zamora, former Premier League striker, said: “There’s been a lot for Football Escapes to celebrate in the past few years, and I know there’ll be more to come with Chris and Firebird on the team. Watch this space.”
The Firebird Partnership offers a consulting and corporate finance advisory service specialising in the travel, hospitality, leisure and education markets. It recently partnered with hiking specialist EverTrek.
Pictured clockwise from top left: Sam Hubert, Chris Thompson, Bobby Zamora, Rio Ferdinand