Kyle Rowley is not only a semi-professional footballer playing in step three with Redditch United, but also a FIFA sensation, although he constantly remarks that ‘football is priority’.
“I’ve been doing it for the last three years, so incorporating that to football is pretty easy as you can imagine. Football will always take priority no matter what job I’m in.
“I made a decent little name for myself in the FIFA scene. I come to games and people say ‘there’s Kyle Rowley, the FIFA pro’, not Kyle Rowley who plays football. I’m in a fortunate position, you ask any of the lads dream’s of what you want to be, a footballer of a FIFA player. I’m lucky enough to have both in my life, so it’s quite an easy balance.”
Rowley enjoyed most of his success with Aston Villa when he won £16,000 out of the prize fund and was ranked in the top five to eight in 2022 in the EPremierLeague.
In his most recent competition, he won the 2024 NSPCC gamesafe cup. The Solihull-based gamer has also bagged himself £1,100 in the EPremierLeague last year.
“For three years I represented Villa, no last year, the year before, I chose to go to Arsenal, didn’t do as well as I’d have liked.”
It is difficult for Rowley however as most tournaments take place on Saturday’s which is when every footballing side play.
“The tournaments are usually on Saturday and football will always take priority.
“This year with (Redditch) training being on a Monday and the big tournaments being on Tuesday this year, I think I’m going back to Villa. I’ve been in contact with them, they love the interlink that football and FIFA have and they want me to basically do well for Villa so they can come here and interlink it all with whatever team I’m at.”
Been home a couple of hours and had time to think about this weekend. What an amazing weekend it was, finishing in top 5-8 in the #ePremierLeague with my boyhood club. I’m proud of mine and my teammates performances at our very first LAN….. pic.twitter.com/Au30vTr24A
— Kyle Rowley (@kyrowley28) March 28, 2022
Rowley has played five games for his new side Redditch United and is trying to juggle his time practising on EASports 25 to focusing on playing football as well as upholding a personal life.
“I’m very surperstitous, I’ve had the same routine for about two or three years now. On a Friday afternoon, I’d go down to the gym, I’d eat the same food, wake up the same time on Saturday morning, 9:03 to be exact.
“If it’s an away game no matter what time I go to bed, it could be stupid o’clock in the morning, and I’d always set my alarm for 9:03.
Of course, being a footballer, Rowley must keep his fitness levels up but he emphasises that he mustn’t put a ‘big load’ on.
“I try not to do a big load in the gym, you feel heavy the next day, so a little gym session, a bit of stretching and yeah just get myself in the zone.”
Despite playing FIFA, the 28-year-old’s focus has not slipped as he remains strong in his performances including a player of the match performance against Leiston.
