Game Face Off

Emma Oldfield and The Factory London

Game Face Off is about the other side of sport — the part you don’t see under the bright lights. Each episode goes beyond the highlight reel to explore the injuries that test identity, the pressure of coming back stronger, the quiet battles behind major moments, and the legacy questions that shape an athlete’s journey. Through honest, grounded conversations, the series reveals the human stories that sit in the shadows of success and shows what it really takes to stay at the top when the world only sees the wins. Produced in partnership with The Factory London.

Episodes

  1. Sep 4

    “I Found Out I Was Captain Two Hours Before the Game” | Naomi Bedeau on Football & Breaking Barriers

    Naomi Bedeau joins Emma for a conversation about a football journey that has taken her from the English club game to captaining Grenada on her senior international debut - finding out she would lead the side just two hours before kick-off, after her passport had been sorted that same day. Naomi is a professional footballer, Oxford United Women captain and Grenada international. She has also played for clubs including Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Stoke City, and is the founder of Beat the Block. They talk about the completely different rhythm of international camp in Grenada, scoring on her debut against Costa Rica, the importance of making football and sport feel accessible to more girls, and why Naomi founded Beat the Block to support underrepresented women and girls through education, exposure and sport. Away from the bigger conversations, there’s also life on international duty, police escorts, how players actually pass the time on long trips and Naomi’s slightly unexpected talent for solving a Rubik’s Cube - which she’s passed on to teammates. It’s an open conversation about opportunity, representation, doing things differently and using your own experiences in sport to make the path a little easier for the girls coming next. This episode of Game Face Off is sponsored by Every Connection Counts, a performance consultancy specialising in communication and helping individuals and teams turn everyday interactions into moments that build trust, inspire change and drive action. Find out more about Every Connection Counts. Game Face Off is produced in partnership with The Factory London.

    “I Found Out I Was Captain Two Hours Before the Game” | Naomi Bedeau on Football & Breaking Barriers

  2. Feb 9

    “My First Game on Comms Was an FA Cup Final” | Emily Herbert on Life Behind the Mic, Confidence & Social Media

    Emily talks about breaking into commentary, the pressure of calling her first ever game at Wembley for a Women’s FA Cup final (Chelsea v Manchester United), and how she learned to trust her voice early on. They get into the reality of working in football media, from social media noise and why she’s not fussed about men’s opinions, to the unseen graft behind those slick 10-second round-ups and rapid-fire moments viewers take for granted. It’s a grounded, refreshing conversation about confidence, craft, and carving your own lane in a space where you’re often learning on the job - and doing it in public. Game Face Off is produced in partnership with The Factory London

    “My First Game on Comms Was an FA Cup Final” | Emily Herbert on Life Behind the Mic, Confidence & Social Media

  3. 11/30/2025

    Episode 1: Sophie de Goede

    Emma sits down with World Rugby Player of the Year Sophie de Goede for an honest conversation about injury, identity and everything that sits in the shadows of success. They talk about the surreal contrast of losing a World Cup final on the same day Sophie was crowned the best player in the world, the complications of her ACL rehab and infection, the pressure of coming back “better than before”, and what legacy really means when you’re following in your parents’ footsteps. It’s a grounded, open chat with one of the most exciting players in the game right now. Produced in partnership with The Factory London.

    Episode 1: Sophie de Goede
  • 3 Episodes

About

Game Face Off is about the other side of sport — the part you don’t see under the bright lights. Each episode goes beyond the highlight reel to explore the injuries that test identity, the pressure of coming back stronger, the quiet battles behind major moments, and the legacy questions that shape an athlete’s journey. Through honest, grounded conversations, the series reveals the human stories that sit in the shadows of success and shows what it really takes to stay at the top when the world only sees the wins. Produced in partnership with The Factory London.

Information

  • Creator
    Emma Oldfield and The Factory London
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Emma Oldfield and The Factory London
  • Show Website
    Game Face Off