Staff WriterJay Bothroyd has never been one to stand still. From scoring goals in the Premier League to sharing punditry duties on Sky Sports, the former England striker has always had a knack for reinvention.
Now, Jay is taking his talents somewhere a little quieter—but no less competitive—the golf course.
England Golf has announced Bothroyd as its latest addition to the Game Changers initiative, part of a long-term strategy to make golf more inclusive, sustainable, and downright appealing to the modern world.
The initiative, which already includes the likes of Dame Denise Lewis and 12-year-old golf prodigy Leo Boniface, aims to show that golf isn’t just a sport for the select few—it’s a game for everyone.
And that’s exactly the message Bothroyd wants to drive home.
“I’m absolutely honoured to be a Game Changer. I want to give back to the community and the younger generation to make them see that it is possible to come and play the beautiful game of golf,” he said.
It’s a far cry from his early days growing up in North London, where fairways were as rare as a quiet Saturday at Loftus Road.
“I grew up in North London where there weren’t many opportunities to play golf. I want to spread the word and get the younger generations involved and give them the opportunities that I didn’t have in the sport when I was growing up,” Bothroyd added.
For a man who’s played in Italy, Japan, and just about every division of English football, the switch to golf might seem surprising—but not to those who know him. Bothroyd, who made over 500 professional appearances and scored more than 150 goals, has long been a fan of the sport.
He even co-founded the OuttaBoundz Show, a YouTube golf channel with fellow enthusiast Trey Niven, where the pair bring a bit of locker-room banter to the clubhouse.
His passion for golf goes beyond the game itself—it’s about accessibility, attitude, and opportunity.
“I want to help create possibilities, raise awareness, and tell them that it is accessible and that it’s not a middle-class, expensive sport anymore, and that it is fun and enjoyable.
The game has changed so much – the rules, the clothing, everything is becoming more relaxed, and I think it’s becoming a bit more urban as well.”
And if anyone understands the value of self-control and perseverance, it’s Jay Bothroyd.
“I think youngsters should try all types of sport but especially golf because it gives you so many life lessons. When I was growing up, I had a lot of anger issues, I was a hot-head pretty much into my mid-20s, but golf helped me to become more patient, more calm, and to forget about your last bad shot and move onto the next one.
There are so many life lessons you can take from a golf course into life and that’s why it’s great for me.”
These days, Bothroyd splits his time between punditry, family, and his role as an ambassador for Young Epilepsy—a cause close to his heart since being diagnosed as a teenager. It’s clear that, for him, golf isn’t just a pastime; it’s a platform for change.
England Golf’s Game Changers programme couldn’t have picked a better recruit. With his trademark honesty and passion, Jay Bothroyd is proof that whether you’re swinging a driver or curling one into the top corner, sport’s real power lies in what it teaches you about yourself—and how far you can go once you learn to let the bad shots go.
