Kevin Dixon

‘Surf’s up!’: A call to take English soccer fan interactions on the Internet more seriously

Soccer fandom practices in England have been significantly impacted by globalization. The creation of the Premier League in 1992, and the way in which satellite television company BSkyB dominated coverage of this, together with other developments, have led to changes in how fans consume top‐level English soccer. Whilst such global transformations are well documented in the sociology of soccer literature, the implications of the rise of the most advanced global form of communication – the Internet – on the practices of fans of English soccer clubs, have not been fully taken into account by academics. As such, the significance of the Internet as a site for fans to interact remains under‐investigated. This article argues that online interactions between fans of English clubs need to be taken more seriously by academics if they are to more fully understand how soccer contributes to the maintenance of social identities in contemporary England.

‘A mockery of equality’: an exploratory investigation into disabled activists’ views of the Paralympic Games

This article offers an exploratory analysis of the opinions of disabled activists towards the Paralympic Games. With the use of a qualitative online survey, the work focuses on the perceptions of disabled individuals (n = 32) who are not Paralympic athletes but are affiliated to the disability rights group, the United Kingdom Disabled People’s Council. Working on the premise that the views of disabled activists have been excluded from Paralympic sports discourse to date, the results illustrate a nuanced yet negative view of the Games to contrast with an existing, yet overly positive, academic narrative. Participants were particularly cynical of the portrayal and production of the Games and its Paralympic athletes as they perceived that the wider population of disabled people is misrepresented. The overwhelming perception in this preliminary analysis suggests that the Paralympic Games can be counterproductive to disability rights beyond sport.

Learning the game: Football fandom culture and the origins of practice

Based on the partial results of a doctoral programme, this article explores the significance of Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice for explaining the experiential processes involved in becoming a football fan. Whilst recognizing value in the theoretical construct habitus, in the sense that football cultures appear to be self perpetuating (in part) based on histories of objective social conditions and accrued experiences, the findings indicate that caution must be taken not to overemphasize the structuring power of habitus and the unopposed continuation of tradition at the expense of the reflexive nature and subtle transformation of fandom practice in late modern life.

'The way it was': an account of soccer violence in the 1980s

Causes of football hooliganism are still widely disputed by academics, and narrative accounts from reflective ex‐hooligans in the public domain are often sensationalized. The aims of this essay are to critically assess some of the main academic theories behind the causes of football hooliganism; and, to consider the value of gathering less sensationalistic in‐depth narrative accounts from reflective ex‐hooligans in order to further understanding. This has been achieved through presenting findings from a case study comprising interviews and a life testimony from an ex‐ football hooligan who has become an active member of a Christian church. The methodological value of narrative accounts from reflective ex‐hooligans is also discussed in relation to its validity, representation and its general appropriateness towards the study of football hooliganism. A case is made for sociologists to consider using in‐depth oral accounts from reflective ex‐hooligans in order to ensure theory reflects empirical evidence.

A ‘third way’ for football fandom research: Anthony Giddens and Structuration Theory

Although football fans actively discuss all of the ‘big players’ within their practice, the same cannot be said for sociologists of sport. Anthony Giddens is a world renowned intellectual and author of some of the most predominant sociological texts of the last millennium. He is the most frequently cited contemporary sociologist spanning all aspects of the social sciences, and yet his work is seldom referred to or used within the sociology of sport. In response to this and in reaction to calls from authors such as Williams to re‐think football fandom, this article aims to explore the potential of Giddens ‘Structuration Theory’ (ST) for moving the sociology of sport closer towards meeting this end. It draws on in‐depth qualitative interviews with thirty football fans. The findings of these and their implications are discussed in relation to the ‘everyday’ processes of fandom.

‘Black and whiters’: the relative powerlessness of ‘active’ supporter organization mobility at English Premier League football clubs

This article examines the reaction by Newcastle United supporters to the resignation of Kevin Keegan as Newcastle United manager in September 2008. Unhappy at the ownership and management structure of the club following Keegan’s departure, a series of supporter-led meetings took place that led to the creation of Newcastle United Supporters’ Club and Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust. This article draws on a non-participant observation of these meetings and argues that although there are an increasing number of ‘active’ supporters throughout English football, ultimately it is the significant number of ‘passive’ supporters who hamper the inclusion of supporters’ organizations at higher level clubs. The article concludes by suggesting that clubs, irrespective of wealth and success, need to recognize the long-term value of supporters. Failure to do so can result in fan alienation and ultimately decline (as seen with the recent cases of Coventry City and Portsmouth).

The football fan and the pub: An enduring relationship

This paper draws on qualitative interviews with a sample of English football fans to explore their relationship with one enduring site for fandom practice, the pub. In doing so, the work discusses the significance of structuration processes as a means of explaining the transcendent nature of this relationship across time and space. The findings complement existing ethnographic observations to illustrate that a progressive and multifaceted relationship exists between the institution (the pub) and its customers (football fans), based on historical reference to fan culture, emotive connection to the pub as a football space, associated sociability and the perception of cultural stability.

Football fandom and Disneyisation in late-modern life

In 1999, Alan Bryman coined the term Disneyisation to make the case that more and more sectors of social and cultural life are coming to take on the manifestations of a commercial-style theme park. Using the principle theoretical components outlined by Bryman (theming; hybrid consumption; emotional performative labour; merchandising) and taking into consideration the views of 56 English football fans, this article considers how those Disneyised processes are received, interpreted, integrated and endured in practice. Combining theory with rigorous empiricism, implications for theorists and leisure providers are discussed.

A woman's place recurring: structuration, football fandom and sub-cultural subservience.

This paper focuses on qualitative interviews with a sample of female football fans in order to explore and explain the spatial and temporal extension of gender subordination prevalent within football fandom cultures. To do so, it draws on structuration theory as presented by Anthony Giddens and concentrates attention on routine interactions and encounters as key factors that shape the constitution of football fandom cultures and the sub-cultural struggles encountered by females.

The 2012 Paralympics and perceptions of disability in the UK

Throughout the Paralympic Games of 2012, the host nation, Great Britain, was praised for its liberal attitudes and for embracing disability more specifically. This chapter aims to move beyond this one-sided representation to examine the Paralympic Games from multiple positions highlighting the heterogeneity of perceptions that exist. It draws on the jubilant portrayal of the 2012 Games in the media; the positive rhetoric of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC); and, the contrasting views of disability activists. Consequently, this chapter presents a balanced view of the impact of the Paralympic Games that is set in contrast with an existing, yet overly positive academic narrative.