One spark in downtime. One impossible bid. One unstoppable esports revolution.

While I usually lean into the lighter side of things, some stories deserve a different kind of telling. This is one of them.

I don’t often take time to reflect on past experiences, but historians say there’s value in looking back — lessons learned, mistakes avoided. What I’m sharing today isn’t about mistakes, though. It’s an origin story: the very first ‘franchise’ I built from scratch — the RAF Odiham Blades.

This story isn’t just about esports or gaming rooms; it’s about passion, perseverance, and turning downtime into opportunity. It’s about how one seemingly impossible bid and a handful of dedicated people helped create something that’s still going strong today. For me, it was the start of a journey — one that fuels my dream of building my own esports association and shop someday.

So, pull up a chair and join me as I take you back to where it all began.