Most people use Rightmove to find a two-bed semi or a flat with a decent kitchen.
But in 2020, Rob Smethurst famously used it to buy a professional football stadium. As you do after a couple of drinks and unfettered access to the internet.
Fast forward to this week, and we’ve helped the UK’s biggest property portal turn that impulse purchase into one of the most heartwarming brand partnerships of the year.
With Macclesfield FC rising from the ashes of liquidation to become the ultimate giant-killers of the FA Cup, we officially signed Rob as Rightmove’s first-ever Chief Belief Officer (CBO).
Just as the Silkmen were preparing for their clash with Premier League side Brentford, we announced that Rob – the man who proved that a Rightmove search filter can literally change a community – would be joining the team to inspire the rest of the country to stop scrolling and start believing.
Rob will now offer one-on-one motivation to property hunters who are hovering over the “request details” button but haven’t quite found the bottle to take things further with their house purchase. In return, Rightmove is putting its money where its mouth is by funding the Macclesfield FC Youth Academy, ensuring the next generation of local talent has the boots and the backing they need.
The media absolutely ate it up, with Rob sharing his new role with Sky News in an interview that ran and re-ran throughout launch day. The story has landed well over 175 pieces, from the Daily Mirror and City AM to Joe and FourFourTwo. All of this three days before the big game itself.
It’s been ride of a project for the team. We’ve managed to take a brand that everyone knows for house prices and connect it to a story about mental health, community spirit, and the wonderful stories you find in the beautiful game. It turns out that when you have a bit of belief in this business, just about anything is possible.
