'He's Running, Ref!' an Ethnographic Study of Walking Football. Abstract
1 ‘He’s Running, Ref!’ An Ethnographic Study of Walking Football. Abstract This paper explores the experience of playing walking football (w/f) in the south of England. Ethnographic research was carried out at a local authority leisure centre and non-league football club. Data were accumulated through an ethnographic approach which consisted of participant observation, informal conversations with walking footballers and facilitators and documentary collection. The research period ran throughout 2015 -16 for a period of eighteen months. The data, which were analysed reflectively using insights from feminist scholarship, suggest that players experienced a number of benefits from participation. In particular, players reported an increased appetite for life and positivity engendered by playing w/f, together with enhanced levels of social engagement. They reported feelings of social connectedness, enjoyment and inclusion as members of a supportive community. However, there is some evidence of conflict over the philosophy and purpose of w/f/, especially in relation to the spirit of the game and the competitive tournament environment. Further work around these areas is recommended. Keywords walking football – health and wellbeing – enjoyment and inclusion Introduction Football is widely regarded as the most popular sport in the world and has been heavily researched in recent decades. For example, masculinity and hooliganism1, the history of football, 2 global politics3 and women’s football4, have all been subjects of academic attention. There is little doubting football’s global popularity and high media profile. For example, an article by Byrne (2014) suggested that many football fans in China identified themselves as fans of Premier League clubs, viewing matches collectively on television and investing “lots of their energies and social time to fandom.” 5 Yet, despite this position of relative strength, ever greater efforts are made to promote football playing opportunities to a wider audience, including older players.
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