Stephen Howson

WORK HISTORY

ABOUT STEPHEN HOWSON

I’m a British Army veteran now working across football media, long-form storytelling, and grassroots sport.My time in service shaped how I think about leadership, discipline, accountability, and teamwork, values I carry into everything I do, from building digital platforms to managing a community football club.Over the past decade, I’ve built an audience of more than one million people across football, podcasting, fitness, and the outdoors, generating 15-20 million impressions per month. Rather than chasing trends, my focus has always been on credibility, consistency, and telling stories that reflect lived experience.FootballI host one of the UK’s largest independent football channels, offering tactical analysis, coaching insight, and grounded commentary to a global audience of Manchester United fans and beyond.PodcastingI co-host the FIVE Podcast with Rio Ferdinand and also host The Stephen Howson Podcast, where I’ve spoken with elite athletes, military veterans, entrepreneurs, and leaders about performance, transition, and identity.Fitness & OutdoorsThrough Howson IRL, I document the journey of a tactical athlete — exploring fitness, endurance, self-reliance, and adventure. The ethos is simple: lead by example and show what’s possible through discipline and preparation.Media ProductionThrough Studio68, I lead a production team creating high-quality, high-volume content rooted in authenticity and trust, primarily across football, fitness, and lifestyle.Alongside media, I’m the founder and manager of Stretford Paddock FC, an independent Manchester football club. In a few short years, we’ve grown from a single team into a 10-team community, with plans to expand significantly and develop our own facilities. The aim is straightforward: raise standards at grassroots level, create genuine player pathways, and invest in coach and community development.What underpins all of this is the same principle I learned early on: credibility matters. I live the worlds I speak about — whether that’s football, leadership, or physical and mental resilience — and I care deeply about the people and communities involved.My focus is threefold:1⃣ Build Stretford Paddock FC into a benchmark for grassroots football2⃣ Show what’s possible through discipline, hard work, and ownership3⃣ Support long-term, values-led work that benefits people and communitiesI’m always open to thoughtful conversations around football, leadership, fitness, the outdoors, and purposeful media.