About Us
Led by Andy Golding, who has 30 years experience in Sports Business, our consultancy provides a range of sports business services to sporting organisations globally, with specialisms in business development and growth, finance and sustainability, strategy, leadership, law and governance.
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Our Associates include global sports experts in Sports Business, Executive sports educators, government advisors with regular sports media presence and professional sports players with leadership credentials, who have been at the very top of their sport at international level.
Background
Andy Golding
CEO and Lead Consultant
Andy Golding is a seasoned and dynamic leader with over 30 years’ experience across the sport, education, and business sectors. As a lecturer, director, principal, and consultant, he has delivered impactful services to individuals and organisations globally, blending academic expertise with real-world sports leadership.
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A former elite rugby union player, Andy represented Middlesex at all age levels before progressing to London Division, senior club, and National League rugby during the pre-professional era. Following an early retirement due to injury, he transitioned into key leadership roles, including Head Coach, Director of Rugby, and Chairman of a semi-professional rugby club—where he provided strategic direction for success both on and off the field.
Andy also has a strong cricketing background. A former Middlesex county schools cricketer, he played senior competitive cricket in the Thames Valley and Kent Leagues. A passionate supporter of all sports, he is a Trustee of the Kent Cricket Youth Trust, supporting the development of boys’ and girls’ cricket across the region.
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He holds several influential governance roles, including:
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Non-Executive Director (NED) of FC Inter London, the UK’s largest Ukrainian football organisation, helping families displaced by war integrate into UK society through sport.
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NED of the Sports Inspiration CIC, the community arm of The Rugby Institute (TRI), focused on transforming lives through the power of sport, and also provides strategic advice to Moor to Life, an education and well-being CIC offering nature- and adventure-based alternative provision for young and neurodiverse people.
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Board Director for the Sports and Entertainment Division of The House of Luxury Group, advising on strategic transformation across professional sports—from leadership pipelines to sustainable, commercially viable business models and grassroots development.
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In academia, Andy is a highly regarded lecturer in Sports Business, Football Business, Sports Law, and Governance at UCFB, the world’s first higher education institution dedicated to the football and sports industry, based at Wembley Stadium. He also delivers executive education on the MSc in Sports Directorship with VSI/UCFB, preparing the next generation of sports leaders and Sporting Directors for careers in top sports organisations worldwide.
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A published researcher and expert panellist, Andy collaborates with leading applied sports finance academics and practitioners. He has co-authored pioneering research into the financial sustainability of professional rugby union and contributed to landmark finance reports on English Premiership Rugby and County Cricket, helping shape the future of sports governance and business strategy.
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From the boardroom to the classroom to the locker room, Andy Golding brings strategic vision, educational depth, and an enduring belief in sport’s power to change lives. Through his boutique consultancy, he continues to support organisations across governance, leadership, and strategic development—cementing his reputation as a trusted expert and influential voice in the world of sport and education.
Prof. Rob Wilson
Associate Consultant
A professor of applied sport finance, Rob Wilson has been involved in the higher education sector since 1998 and is currently the Dean of Education, Faculty and Resources at the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB), working directly with its sub-brand, VSI Executive Education, which trains CEOs, sporting directors and other senior leaders in the sports industry.
Prior to joining UCFB, Rob spent almost 25 years at Sheffield Hallam University, starting his academic career as a lecturer in 2002 before undertaking various teaching and leadership roles. In May 2019 he was appointed to the role of head of department at Sheffield Business School, which is part of the university’s College of Business, Technology and Engineering and is Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)- accredited.
Rob is also the director of Play it Forward Consulting Ltd, a boutique consultancy specialising in advising professional sport clients on the finance and economics of football, cricket and rugby union, as well as investment value, and governance and regulatory compliance. Recent clients include Dentsu, Propel Sports, the English Football League and Football Association.
Rob’s main research interests are in the finance and economics of sport. His MPhil (2004) was based on the economics of sport events and PhD (2017) on factors affecting financial performance in professional sport.
A regular commentator and panellist for national and international media, Rob also contributes to policy debate in the UK Parliament, most recently as an expert witness for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Rob has been selected to join the advisory board with venture capital and private equity organisations such as InSport Education and the Beautiful Game Group LLC, and is a director of the Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme.
Mike Brown
Associate Consultant
Mike Brown is one of England’s most celebrated professional rugby players, renowned for his stellar career as a fullback, achieving 351 appearances for Harlequins, spending a season at Newcastle Falcons, and now currently playing for Leicester Tigers. Over an impressive career spanning nearly two decades, Mike helped Harlequins win 2 Premiership titles and earned 72 caps for England, becoming the nation’s most-capped fullback. He was pivotal in England’s Six Nations triumphs in 2016 & 2017, with 2016 being a Grand Slam, and was named Player of the Championship in 2014, currently the only English player to have received the award.
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Beyond his on-field achievements, Mike has demonstrated a passion for leadership and high performance in sport. He holds a Master’s in Sports Directorship from Manchester Metropolitan University, equipping him with the expertise to guide organisations in high-performance environments. Mike has also achieved an FA Level 4 qualification in Leadership of Talent Identification and Development, showcasing his dedication to promoting talent and shaping the future of sport.
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Mike has recently established his consultancy, MB15 High Performance, where he shares his extensive knowledge and experience across various industries. His work focuses on creating healthy, high-performance environments through leadership and culture development. A strong advocate for continuous improvement both on and off the field, Mike is dedicated to using his expertise to inspire leaders in all industries, particularly in the world of sport.
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Mike’s unique blend of elite-level playing experience, academic achievements, and leadership expertise positions him as a respected voice in rugby and beyond.
Dr Nick Wilde
Nick Wilde has over 25 years’ experience in global marketing education and consultancy. He has conducted pioneering research on football fan consumption in Argentina, Spain and England, working closely with the marketing departments at Boca Juniors, Estudiantes and Racing in Argentina. Having lived and worked in Argentina, Mexico, China and Spain, he has a global outlook on sport management and is an expert on the global marketing of sports brands. Nick is a visiting professor at the Real Madrid Graduate School in Madrid, where he teaches students in English and Spanish from over thirty different countries. As Dean at the Global Institute of Sport, he oversaw the development of sports business programmes in Melbourne and Miami as well as postgraduate master’s degrees in sport, football business and football marketing in the UK and online. He is a specialist online educator and a co-author of a leading global textbook in Events Management. He is a keen football and cricket fan, following Sheffield United and Yorkshire. He plays veterans football for Sitges Veterans in Barcelona and is a keen golfer.