
The Truth About Working for a Premier League Football Club
Tom Giles on Ambitious Minds with Jay Lawrence: from aspiring footballer to working in the Premier League and building a business.
Tom Giles is the cofounder and Managing Director of Seatsy, the premium sports and music hospitality marketplace, based between Dubai and Bath.

Tom Giles has spent more than 13 years in sport, in senior commercial roles at Chelsea FC, MCC at Lord’s and Bath Rugby, before cofounding Seatsy to make the best seats in sport and music effortless to book.
Tom is cofounder and Managing Director of Seatsy, which he built as an equal partnership with Chairman Lewis Allsopp. Seatsy launched on 24 March 2026, is approved as an Official Ticket Seller by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and hit its 2026 sales target within six months. The business runs from Dubai with a UK base in Bath, offering curated experiences from the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor to the Six Nations in Dublin.
Before Seatsy he founded Thrive Sports Co, a profitable UK sports tour operator that Seatsy acquired in May 2026. He also cofounded Investment Group Bath, the city’s only angel group. Tom is a dad of three, ran nine marathons in nine days for CureSHANK in 2025, inspired by his son Jenson, and is now training for a full Ironman.
One featured company, one angel group and one exit, all rooted in sport, hospitality and Bath.
Seatsy is the premium sports and music hospitality and ticketing marketplace: the best seats, the finest hospitality and complete weekends, booked in one place. Tom cofounded it with Chairman Lewis Allsopp and leads the business day to day from Dubai and Bath.
Browse football hospitality, Formula 1, golf and concerts, or start with signature 2027 trips like the Monaco Grand Prix from Cap Ferrat and Oasis at Celtic Park.
Bath’s only angel group, cofounded by Tom: 35+ members and £400k+ deployed across 9 businesses.
investmentgroupbath.com ↗A profitable UK sports tour operator Tom founded after leaving Bath Rugby in 2024. Seatsy bought it in May 2026 and its tour business is now Seatsy Travel.
Read the acquisition story →Tom Giles, cofounder and MD of Seatsy, on going live in March 2026, becoming a DET Official Ticket Seller in Dubai and hitting the year's sales target inside six months.
Tom Giles picks the 2027 sport and music dates worth booking now, from Ireland v England in Dublin to Oasis in Glasgow and the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.
From Lord’s to Stamford Bridge and the Rec, Tom’s career has been built on partnerships, hospitality and fans.
Leading the premium sports and music hospitality marketplace from Dubai and Bath. Official Ticket Seller approved by Dubai’s DET; 2026 sales target reached in six months. Read the Seatsy newsroom.
35+ members and £400k+ deployed across 9 businesses. Meet the team.
Built a profitable UK sports tour operator, acquired by Seatsy in May 2026. Its tour business is now Seatsy Travel.
Created NextGen, the club’s junior brand, presented on its social channels and matchdays, cocreated the Tunnel Mentality mental health podcast, and brought in partners including Rengen Development, Viñalba, Grant UK, Veezu and Road Angel. His last day was the Premiership Final in 2024. See the articles.
Managed the matchday experience at Stamford Bridge during the 2016/17 Premier League winning season, and helped run fan initiatives at Wembley when Chelsea won the 2018 FA Cup. Tom talks about it on the Ambitious Minds podcast.
His first role in sport, starting the Monday after finishing a marketing degree at Bournemouth University. Highlights include the Bicentenary year in 2014 and an Ashes Test in 2015. He has volunteered with the MCC Community Team since 2014.
Tom visits the venues Seatsy sells, to know the experience first hand.











Tom’s son Jenson has Phelan McDermid Syndrome, a rare genetic condition. In the summer of 2025 Tom ran from Bath to Land’s End: nine marathons on nine consecutive days, about 392 km, from 27 June to 5 July.
“Run for Jenson” raised £24,350 for CureSHANK, the charity funding research into Phelan McDermid Syndrome, and sparked CureSHANK’s global Race for Research campaign. The run was covered by BBC News, GB News and Somerset Live, and Tom is now training for a full Ironman.
Finalist in the BBC Make A Difference Awards, Fundraiser category. See the post ↗
Tom on working in the Premier League, building Seatsy, and swapping rugby for golf. His own show, Flat Out with Tom Giles, launches in January 2027.

Tom Giles on Ambitious Minds with Jay Lawrence: from aspiring footballer to working in the Premier League and building a business.

Tom Giles and Lewis Allsopp on why they cofounded Seatsy, the premium sports and music hospitality marketplace.

Tom Giles presents BathRugbyTV’s Rugby meets Golf challenge at Cumberwell Golf Club with Anthony Watson, Tom De Glanville and Laurie Canter.
Partnership launches, community programmes and the Tunnel Mentality podcast, as reported by Bath Rugby during Tom’s time at the club.
Welcomed Windsor Hill Mortgages as sponsor of the club’s networking events, saying the firm would sit at the heart of Bath Rugby’s business community.
Welcomed Iestyn Lewis and Rengen Development as founding partners of the 1865 Club and exclusive sponsors of the new Legends’ Lounge.
Praised the limited edition Bath Rugby Gran Reservado Malbec as proof of the long term official wine partnership with Viñalba.
Announced Loake and Charles Tyrwhitt as official suppliers of the team’s formalwear and footwear, citing shared values of confidence and commitment.
Welcomed Ludo Sports Bar & Kitchen as a city centre official sports bar for pre- and post match, with a discount for members and season ticket holders.
Welcomed Somerset snack brand Mr Filbert’s as an official supplier, highlighting its high protein snacks and a matchday presence.
Announced Watches of Bath as official watch retailer, with the brand appearing on the playing kit shorts.
Announced Grant UK as both Sustainability Partner and Official Grassroots Partner.
Welcomed Vyoo as an official partner, noting it had grown from a regional player sponsor.
Announced an extension of the long standing Grant UK partnership, pointing to shared sustainability values after the Kick the Carbon campaign.
Full news announcement of Omnia Group Services as Official Payroll Partner and sleeve sponsor.
Full news announcement of Viñalba as Bath Rugby’s first Official Wine Partner.
Announced Road Angel Group as the club’s first Official Road Safety Partner, citing its award winning technology.
Welcomed Veezu as official ride partner for two seasons, to get fans to and from The Rec and support low emission vehicles.
Spoke for the club on Grant UK’s “Kick the Carbon” campaign and its work to cut carbon footprints.
As Marketing Manager, co created the Tunnel Mentality mental health podcast with Garin Vivian (Community Events Coordinator); the first guest was wing Ruaridh McConnochie.
As Community Engagement Manager, led the club’s first international community initiative in Dubai in December 2019, working with Dubai Knights Eagles RFC, Nord Anglia International School and the UAE Rugby Federation.
As Community Engagement Manager, hosted grassroots tournaments at the Rec for more than 400 children with Wooden Spoon and Dorset & Wilts RFU, raising over £1,000.
Partnerships, press, podcasts and speaking.
tom@seatsy.comSeatsy enquiries · WhatsApp +44 7418 627492