Aaron Hunt’s talent on Football Manager has led him to take on an extraordinary challenge.
The streamer has now been asked to put his virtual triumphs into reality for North West Counties Football League club, Daisy Hill FC, as their newly appointed chairman.
Founded in 1894, this beloved club is part of league history, yet it has never had the thrill of promotion.
Affectionately known as ‘The Cutters,’ the team calls Westhoughton in Greater Manchester home, playing at the New Sirs ground, which holds 2,000 passionate fans.
Hunt joined Hawksbee and Baker on talkSPORT to share the remarkable journey that began on the footy simulation game to boss in real life has brought him here.
“I managed to get Daisy Hill, who are in the tenth tier, all the way up to League Two [on Football Manager], and I couldn’t [play the game and run the club in real life] at the same time,” Hunt explained.
Explaining the call to action came from the club’s actual manager, Hunt said he will use his knowledge of the TikTok – of which he has more than 400,000 followers – generation to help out.
“The team were really struggling, the club was going to have to fold and exit the league, and it’s a 113-year-old club,” he explained of his reason to join.
“Everyone on the board is in their 70s or 80s; they don’t want to do it anymore. I’ve ended up stepping in. It could be a blessing or a curse; we don’t know yet, but I’m there now.
“It is a commitment, and people are so emotionally invested in the club, whether that’s people who watch, play, or have been involved. You can’t do it half-heartedly; there’s too much at stake.”
Hunt also said some of those older board members needed convincing about the merits of using social media to get their name out there.
In addition to his TikTok following, he also has more than 100,000 Instagram followers, with darts world champion Luke Littler among them, 35,000 YouTube subscribers and nearly 80,000 followers on Twitch.
“It’s all new to them, but I think they’re on board now. We’ve got a big game Friday night; we’re expecting a record crowd for that.”
For Friday night’s game against Atherton he has pulled out all the stops with JJ’s Ices providing ice cream and they have a pizza van there, too, thanks to Cugini Pizza.
“I’m doing everything I can to put the club out there,” Hunt added.
“[The club’s] Instagram has already quadrupled in following; I just want to make it a more appealing place. We want to do more things around the ground as well, make the clubhouse look a bit nicer, and make it a nice place where you can go and watch your football.”
“My next video is being filmed [on Friday], and we’re going to do a vlog as it goes along. The ins and outs that you don’t see of the running of a football club. It’ll interest people because they don’t usually see what goes on,” Hunt said.
Asked if the players knew him from his Football Manager streaming on Twitch, he said some had.
“They started commenting, saying I play for them and all this, but it’s good to meet them all in real life,” Hunt revealed.
He also hinted there might be a few players arriving he had signed on the game, which is popular among superstars like Antoine Griezmann, who signed Kylian Mbappe when manager of Premier League side Newcastle.
“You’d be surprised how many scouts come from original Football Manager. You look at the players there, and it does happen. You never know – we could look up players on there, but we’re looking to get some new signings in for next season.
“It’s an appealing prospect for them now to play here, so you might get some dropping from divisions, saying they want to be part of what’s going on here,” Hunt said proudly.
After the announcement of Hunt’s new role, he said in a statement on the club’s website: “I’m buzzing to take this project on and appreciate all the support given so far.
“It would be great to have as many of you as possible down for match days. I’ll be learning on the job every day, and it isn’t going to happen overnight, but I really think this football club has the potential to go far.
“Lots of sponsorship opportunities will be available, as well as help needed with certain aspects of the work. We will also be holding trial days if you think you could play for the club.
“I would love to give everyone the opportunity to get involved with this project in any way possible.
“This is not my club. This is OUR club.”
Daisy Hill F.C. hosts Atherton this evening and will be hoping to start their new era with a league win.