Why We Started A Football Club – Tonic FC

In April, we announced something nobody saw coming: we were starting a football club. A fintech owning a football club? Not exactly a headline you scroll past every day.

Reactions were mixed. Some asked, “What concerns Cardtonic with owning a football club?” But those who truly know us weren’t shocked at all. If you’ve followed our journey, you’d know we’ve always had football in our DNA, from FPL challenges and Twitter spaces to “Predict the score & Win” challenges.

Here’s How it All Started

It started as pure banter. ES, our resident Arsenal fan, was getting roasted (again 😂) about another “bad” season. In the middle of the laughter, Usman dropped a line that froze the room: “Why don’t we start a football club?”

At first, it sounded like one of those throwaway jokes. But Usman wasn’t joking. He made the case: “Come to think of it… We’re already deep into community building and youth development through Upskill. We love football. Why not merge both?”

And suddenly, it clicked. The more we thought about it, the more it made sense. Yes, fintech was our comfort zone, but football could be our way of creating an impact on a different stage.

Building Tonic FC

From that moment, the work began: scouting players, building the brand, getting registered, and timing the launch. By April, everything lined up: players were ready, the brand identity was locked, and registration synced perfectly with the NLO (Nationwide League One) calendar.

We chose the NLO deliberately; it gives the team a clear pathway to climb: NLO → NNL → NPFL. This isn’t just a “side project”; it’s a real shot at a footballing future.

Of course, reality checked in quickly. Talent was there, passion was there, but raw grassroots skills needed sharpening. So we brought in professional trainers, and with each match, we’ve watched the vision grow legs. 

Just recently, five of our players got the opportunity to move to Esmoriz FC in Europe. That’s what it’s all about.

What Tonic FC Has Taught Us

We’ve learnt that big ideas don’t always start in structured settings. Sometimes they slip out during playful banter.

Starting Tonic FC wasn’t about slapping our name on a jersey. It was about telling every young boy on the street: “your football dream doesn’t have to end at the street corner.” It can put food on your table, take you abroad, and build the future you’ve always pictured.

This is why Tonic FC exists, not just as a club, but as proof that with vision, even a fintech company can change the game.