From Muddy Sundays to Matchday Data: Football is a big part of my life.

By Colin Armitage, Head of Sport Data: Digital and Print at Podium

Football’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Like many, it began on muddy pitches, chasing a ball around on cold Sunday mornings, dreaming big but mostly ending up with a bruised shin and childhood memories.

These days, I play and manage a veterans’ team, where passion is still high, pace is… selective, and squad selection involves more childcare logistics than tactical plans. I was “volunteered” into the manager’s role a few years back, and I’ve been balancing team sheets, WhatsApp banter, and injury updates ever since. It’s chaos, but it’s brilliant. We’ve climbed to the top division, won a cup along the way, and we still keep the spirit alive.

That same spirit runs through my day job.

I joined Podium (then Press Association Sport) in 2007, initially as a freelancer just looking to get closer to the game I love. Today, I lead our Sport Data team for digital and print. My job is to make sure the official match data that powers websites, apps, newspapers, and broadcasters is accurate, timely, and trusted.

Whether you’re reading a live match centre, checking team lineups, or following commentary in real time, the chances are, our team has a hand in delivering it. It’s not just about data feeds; it’s about delivering the game with precision, passion, and context.

In truth, running a live data operation isn’t that different from managing a Sunday league squad: it takes planning, people skills, resilience, and the ability to adapt, & fast.

At Podium, we’ve built a football data product that reflects that ethos. We work hand-in-hand with football rightsholders and bring data to life in real time. Here’s how:

✅ Rightsholder-first data – Direct, official, and trusted, covering the Premier League, EFL, Scottish leagues and more.
✅ Real-time precision – Low-latency delivery, powering live scoreboards, betting feeds, and editorial coverage.
✅ End-to-end coverage – From lineups and in-play events to post-match reports and data visualisations.
✅ Built by fans, for fans – Our people live and breathe sport, and that shows in the quality of what we deliver.

It’s a role I love, and a team I’m proud to be part of. Everyone here loves & speaks fluent football, and that matters. We know a late red card, or an injury-time goal, isn’t just another stat, it’s a story, a turning point, it matters; something fans and clients rely on.

As the new season kicks off, I’ll be doing what I love, on the pitch with my teammates, and at Podium with colleagues, who care just as deeply about the game as I do. Whether it’s grassroots football or the global stage, the goal is the same: make the game better, clearer, and more connected for everyone.

Connect with Colin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-armitage-988107a0/