Robbie Lyle is a pioneering media entrepreneur and the Founder & Group CEO of Global Fan Network. Best known as the creator and face of AFTV, he has built one of the world’s most influential fan-led football platforms, transforming how supporters engage with the sport. Robbie’s biggest achievement lies in turning a simple idea, interviewing fans outside a stadium, into a global media network that rivals traditional broadcasters for reach and engagement.
Robbie launched AFTV in 2012 with no external funding, borrowing a camera and microphone to capture honest reactions from Arsenal supporters. Frustrated by predictable studio analysis and detached punditry, he believed fans deserved a stronger voice in the conversation around the game. His early journey was driven by instinct, resilience and a deep understanding of football culture. By focusing on unscripted, authentic exchanges, Robbie built trust with audiences who felt overlooked by mainstream coverage. That grassroots beginning shaped his long-term vision, to create media that was community-led, digitally native and commercially sustainable.
As Founder & Presenter of AFTV and later Founder & Group CEO of Global Fan Network, Robbie expanded his original concept into a multi-channel sports network, including DR Sports. Under his leadership, the brand has attracted millions of followers across platforms and achieved engagement figures that compete with established broadcasters. In 2018, he produced and presented Channel 4’s ‘The Real Football Fan Show’, bringing supporter debate to prime-time television. In 2020, he hosted and narrated the ITV documentary ‘Under Their Skin’, an award-nominated exploration of racism in football and the experiences of Black supporters in the UK. Robbie has also appeared regularly on BBC, ITV and Talksport, as well as programmes such as Match of the Day 2 and Football Focus, cementing his place in mainstream sports media. He is widely recognised as one of the most prominent Black voices in UK sports broadcasting and one of the few Black founders to own and lead a successful sports media company in Britain.
Event organisers book Robbie for his direct insight into digital disruption, brand growth and audience loyalty. He speaks openly about building a business from scratch, leading through criticism, navigating rapid change and championing inclusion in sport. His keynote topics include fan-driven media, entrepreneurship, representation, leadership and the commercial power of community.
Robbie Lyle’s official speaker topics are listed below:
- Building Digital Communities That Last
- Diversity, Representation and Racism in Sport
- Entrepreneurship and Scaling from Scratch
- Fan-Driven Media and the Future of Sports Broadcasting
- Leadership in Disruptive Industries
- Monetising Passion in the Digital Age
- 2025 - Launched Rocket Mobile, a UK mobile network for football supporters backed by Global Fan Network
- 2025 - Hosted AFTV live fan viewing event in Nairobi
- 2025 - Met with Kenya’s Deputy High Commissioner in London to advocate for greater international broadcast exposure for African football
- 2024 - Guest appearance on the Goldbridge Saves Football podcast
- 2021 - Featured on Football Focus
- 2020 - Hosted and narrated ITV documentary 'Under Their Skin'
- 2018 - Produced and presented Channel 4’s 'The Real Football Fan Show'
- 2016 - Regular appearances on Match of the Day 2 as AFTV Founder
- 2012 - Founded AFTV and launched Global Fan Network
How to hire Robbie Lyle
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Robbie Lyle for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
