UCFB lecturer, Dr Connor Penfold, has published a new research article detailing disabled people’s experiences of inclusion, exclusion and discrimination in the context of English Football League and National League fandom.
The article entitled ‘Disabled people’s experiences of English football fandom: Inclusion, exclusion and discrimination’, was published in the International Review for the Sociology of Sport Journal by lecturer Dr Connor Penfold, alongside colleagues Dr Paul Darby and Dr Paul Kitchin from Ulster University.
The article explores the lived experiences of disabled football fans in England, focusing on their experiences of inclusion and exclusion within football fandom. It employs a novel theoretical framework to analyse these experiences and is based on a dual-phased qualitative methodological approach, including online observations of fan message boards and semi-structured interviews with 33 disabled supporters.
The findings of the article reveal that some English football clubs create inclusive spectator environments by providing suitable levels of physical access to stadia which ensures disabled fans are not restricted by structural barriers and can experience unrestricted circulation and movement, support facilities, and most importantly, a good view of the pitch. The study also highlights the social benefits of attending matches for disabled people, such as fostering a sense of enjoyment, belonging, and community with other supporters.
However, the research also uncovered a series of structural, social, and psychological barriers facing disabled supporters that hinder their full participation and inclusion in football fandom. These barriers arise from inadequate facilities such as toilets and accessible seating areas, access to accessible transport, parking provision and matchday tickets, as well as discriminatory interactions with non-disabled stewards and spectators. As a result, the study marks English football as another area of mainstream society that can exclude, marginalise and discriminate against disabled people.
The article concludes by calling for further research and better practice from clubs to ensure that disabled supporters can participate in football fandom in the same way as non-disabled fans. It stresses the need for clubs to go beyond merely meeting physical accessibility requirements and to consider the broader social aspects of inclusion.
Students at UCFB interested in the intersections between social issues and sport fan behaviour will benefit from reading this article and potentially developing new research ideas to take forward into their Professional Project.
To view the article, click here.
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