Who are we? What does “The Rondo” mean? And why am I here? These are some big philosophical questions that I may not be able to answer satisfactorily. What I can tell you though, is that you have found yourself browsing an online football magazine that two mates and a sister decided to set up in their spare time…

“What is The Rondo?”

Charlie Mills, General Editor (13 January 2020)

Have you ever felt like life is one big game of piggy in the middle?

At times, you are part of a circle – a tightly knit group of professionals simply winning at life. Everything runs smoothly, words and actions are exchanged with equal precision and purpose. Once accustomed to the rhythm, there is then room for flair and originality; you can start to truly express yourself on this wondrous planet that we call Home.

Inevitably though, there are times when you feel like the piggy. No longer comfortable in your day-to-day existence, you find yourself rushing between A and B drenched in sweat with heavy legs. You cannot work much harder, and yet, you must. Life is ceaselessly whizzing around you and has no intention of slowing down. When what you desire most comes within an inch you must reach out, stretch, and take the opportunity to be released from the exhaustion.

Strip away the metaphor and substitute the term “life” for “football”, and you have what is known as “a rondo”. This electrifying training system has now become a staple in the modern game. Made famous by the likes of Ajax and Barcelona, el rondo endorses pinball-style combinations of one or two-touch passes to hypnotise its opponents and excite its spectators. To be trapped inside a rondo can be dizzying, leaving one craving escape.

We at The Rondo are your free pass. We invite you to join our circle, our team, in reading and writing freely about the beautiful game.

Our ethos centres on the idea that football journalism ought to be simple, insightful, and sophisticated. But more importantly, discussing football should be a pleasurable experience. The modern game has transformed the majority of us into misanthropists. Whilst cynicism can be amusing, we ought to embrace life in this period of “Post-Blatterism” (credit must be given to a close friend of mine for this new mode of thought) and enjoy talking about football again – save your whining for the referee on Sunday morning! You do not need to have a degree in Sports Science or FA coaching badges to have an opinion on football either. We believe those best suited to deliberating the sport are those that play and watch it at any level, irrespective of whether you can use both feet or support Stevenage FC.

Essentially, The Rondo is a creative outlet for its readers and writers alike; it is football journalism for those stuck in the monotony of the working week, dreaming of the early kick-off.

Meet the Team

Oliver Smith (Head of Development and Media Co-ordinator)

Now a professional self-taught tech wizard, Ollie has put his past as an automotive engineer behind him and is instead enjoying life tinkering with the matrix. Like a loyal Leeds supporter, he deals with all web-related problems in Bielsa-esque fashion – with uncompromising meticulousness and exceptional pace. With more screens in his house than a Sky Sports News room, Ollie keeps tabs on all levels of the game from across the globe and has since developed into a masterful tactician.

Charlie Mills (General Editor and Writer)

As a literature graduate and former English teacher, Charlie has sought to utilise his skills by reading and writing about the beautiful game. Being an avid Chelsea fan, Charlie is convinced that if you cut him open he will bleed blue (red is for Arsenal fans after all). While winning is important, Charlie is more concerned with aimless trickery and accurate passing. His fleeting futsal career and prosperous seasons playing Football Manager have yet to be internationally recognised but there is certainly still time…

Sophie Mills (Illustrator and Graphic Designer)

Having a family that only communicate using football analogies, Sophie has had no choice but to grow up in love with the sport. Also a “True Blue”, Sophie realised that her talents ought not to stop at painting pictures of Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard for her brother’s birthday presents. Specialising in ‘Set and Costume Design’ on a day-to-day basis, Sophie is relishing the opportunity to experiment with different styles and mediums, producing illustrations of some favourable footballing moments. Click here to see more of Sophie’s artwork.