Manchester

Future Football: a design for life conference by The Football Collective 30 November 2016: FC United, Manchester

With the manifesto ‘We are a network bringing critical debate to our game’ the first session was dedicated to three PhD/ and Early Career Researcher papers, chaired by Professor Alan Tomlinson of the University of Brighton. Francesca Champ reflected on her work as a sport psychologist working in elite level professional football; with challenges including gender, professional playing expertise and the job insecurity of an occupation subject to relegation at the end of each season. Equally thoughtful, Mark Turner contextualised the networks, campaigns and tactics used by those who wished to see a return to standing crowds in English football. Particularly of note were the ideas around when supporters standing was ‘safe’ and under what circumstances. Finally Gavin Maclean presented his developing work on a labour process analysis of the work of footballers, using a political economy paradigm.

After lunch, the conference then split into two sections and again the strength of both was the new, and exciting, work presented across a range of topics. Each paper disseminated research findings and discussion which enhanced the further development of research ideas and potential collaboration. Since many find academic study somewhat opaque in its use of theory and concepts, there was a refreshing lack of emphasis on subject-specific methodology. Instead most presenters chose to focus on rigorous academic peer reviewed research, in an accessible and understandable format.