“In recent years sport has achieved an increasingly high profile as part of New Labour’s social inclusion agenda, based on assumptions about its potential contribution to areas such as social and economic regeneration, crime reduction, health improvement and educational achievement. However, these new opportunities … have been accompanied by a potential threat: evidence-based policy-making.”
So began the introduction to Fred Coalter’s 2007 book A Wider Social Role for Sport, …
After a somewhat disappointing 1-0 defeat at Carrow Road on Saturday, Stoke City’s slightly listless start to 2012-13 has continued with many neutral observers wondering whether the zenith of what the club can achieve - symbolised by last year’s creditable foray into European competition - is now behind them. Still, the mood at the Britannia today bears little relation to an occasion in the past when a certain Welshman was …
Brighton have basically been immune to any sort of criticism for a couple of years now. Their League 1 team of 2010-11 was wondrous; they’re gradually becoming one of the UK’s foremost community clubs; the easy transition last season from the Withdean to Falmer was the kind of move that the majority of football supporters will only get to realise in their imaginations … the list goes on…
Rival fans …
Our recent Geographies of Football series piqued interest to such a degree that we received a message from David Field wondering if we would be interested in an application of the methodology we applied to Cornwall and Worcestershire to England’s southeasternmost shire. Here are the thought provoking results and we hope to revive the series on an occasional basis.
What county is the biggest one club county; Norfolk? Suffolk? …
Our series of posts this week has analysed the various impacts geography can have on the fortunes of soccer clubs. To round things off, we thought we would examine a cross section of eight cities, towns and city regions which can be said to be under performing in football terms and which may or may not have the potential to rise to Championship status or above.
Back in 2010, …
Ben: Sounds like an interesting read - and a useful companion-piece to Tony...
sean smith: Brilliant article. Shared. COYS...
Steve: C.f. Phil Neville on MOTD2 talking about Rosicky's audacious blind pas...
Steve: Excellent article....
Winch: An enjoyable read. I'm not sure they bring back any good memories, but...
