Your profile is your first touch
On a football dating site, everyone loves the game. That is the point, but it also means "I love football" on its own does not tell anyone much. A good profile shows how you love it, what else you love and what kind of relationship you want. Here is how to write one that gets genuine replies.
Start with your club, then go further
Say who you support. It is the obvious opening line, and it matters to many people. Then add detail that only you could write:
- How you got into it. A grandparent, a school friend, a single unforgettable match.
- How you follow the game. Season ticket, occasional visits, every away game, mostly on television, five-a-side on Thursdays.
- A favourite memory. A last-minute winner, a promotion party, a terrible away day that turned into a great story.
- What you think about other clubs. Are you happy to date a rival? Say so.
"Season ticket holder at the Etihad, took my nephew to his first game last year and spent more time watching him than the match" is far more interesting than "Man City fan".
Show you are more than the fixture list
People want to know what life with you is like outside of football too. Mention two or three other things you enjoy: cooking, walking, live music, travel, books, your dog. Give one specific detail for each. It gives people more ways to start a conversation and shows you are not going to spend every date talking about the transfer window.
Be honest about time
If you go to every home game and most away games, say so. If you watch occasionally, say that. It is not a warning; it is useful information. Someone who wants a partner to come to away days will be glad to know you are up for it. Someone who wants unhurried weekends together can decide before you meet. Honesty here saves disappointment later.
Choosing photos
Use a clear, recent photo of your face as the first picture. No sunglasses, no heavy filters and no group shots.
Add one football photo. At a ground, in a shirt, on a five-a-side pitch. One is enough; five pictures of you in the stands make it hard to see anything else.
Show other parts of your life. A walk, a holiday, a hobby.
Avoid photos with children unless they are your own and you are comfortable sharing them. Even then, many people prefer not to show children's faces.
Avoid photos with former partners, and be careful with photos showing your home, your car registration or anything that reveals where you live. Our safety page has more advice.
What to write about what you want
Say what you are looking for: a long-term relationship, something more casual, a companion for matches. Then describe the kind of person you would like to meet in a sentence or two. "Someone who will come to an away day and not mind a delayed train home" says more than "someone fun".
Lines that start conversations
Give people an easy way in. A few ideas:
- "Ask me about the worst away trip I have ever done."
- "Best ground I have visited: tell me yours."
- "Unpopular opinion: the women's game is more fun to watch live. Discuss."
- "I will forgive you for supporting our rivals if you can name our 1990s left-back."
- "Looking for a five-a-side partner who also likes Sunday roasts."
What to avoid
Negativity. "No time-wasters" and long lists of what you do not want put people off.
Banter that bites. A joke about rivals is fine. Anything insulting is not.
Too much jargon. Not everyone will understand references to obscure players or chants.
Nothing but football. It makes it hard to imagine a relationship.
Copying a template. People can tell.
If you are not a big fan
You do not have to be a die-hard to use a football dating site. If you enjoy the odd match, or you would love to date someone who is passionate about the game, say that. "Not a big fan myself, but I love the atmosphere at a big match and would happily come along" is warm and honest.
Writing about the women's game, non-league and playing
Not every fan's football life is about a Premier League club. If you follow a WSL side, a non-league team or a club in the lower divisions, say so proudly; it is a great talking point and says something about your loyalty. If you referee, coach a junior team or play in a veterans' league, mention it. Those details show commitment, and they also tell a potential partner what your weekends look like. A line such as "I referee under-12s on Sunday mornings, so brunch dates start at eleven" is practical, warm and specific.
Tone: confident, not cocky
The best football profiles sound like a person chatting in the pub, not a CV. Use your normal voice. A bit of self-deprecation about your club goes a long way. Avoid boasting about how many grounds you have visited or how long you have held a season ticket, unless you can make it funny. And remember that readers are deciding whether they would enjoy an evening with you, not whether you would pass a football quiz.
Spelling and the small stuff
Read your profile aloud before you publish it. Typos in a club name, especially a rival's, will be noticed.
A sample profile
"Lifelong Everton fan, season ticket at the new ground, still getting used to the views of the river. My dad took me to my first match and we still go together. Outside football: cooking for friends, long walks on Crosby beach and too many crime novels. Looking for something long-term with someone kind and funny. Rival fans welcome, but I will be insufferable after a derby win. Ask me about the worst away trip I have ever done."
That profile works because it is specific, warm and honest about time, rivalries and what the person wants.
Message your matches well
When you message someone, mention something from their profile rather than sending "hi". Ask about their club, their favourite ground or something else they mention. Keep the first message short and friendly. Our guide to dating a football fan has more on what to expect.
Update it now and then
Profiles go stale. Update your photos once in a while, change your conversation starters and mention what is happening this season. A line about a new signing or a promotion push shows you are active and gives people something current to talk about.
Ready to write yours?
Use these tips on your own profile. Signup Here or Sign in.
Answering the questions people actually ask
Think about the questions you get asked on a first date, then answer a couple in your profile. How long have you supported your club? Do you go to games? Would you expect a partner to come? What happens on derby day? A profile that answers these lightly saves the early messages for more interesting topics.
Profiles for parents
If you have children, say so early and lightly. A line such as "two kids who think Saturday means the park and a pie" tells a reader about your weekends and your priorities at once. You do not need photos of them, and many parents prefer not to share any. If your football life fits around school runs and junior training, mention it, because it helps a partner understand your time.