Convenors

Dr Jonathan Grix (Chair)
Jonathan Grix is Reader (Associate Professor) in Sport Policy and Politics at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham. His recent work has highlighted the political nature of sport and how the study of sport – while worthwhile in its own right – can also be used to understand wider machinations in the political system, ranging from governance of the public sector, through the use of sport in international relations and national identity formation. Jonathan’s key area of focus is on government involvement in sport and the use of sport by governments. He is author of (with M. Dennis) Sport Under Communism: The East German Experience (Palgrave, 2012) and Sport Politics: An Introduction (Palgrave, forthcoming).
Term expires 2017.
Jonathan Grix is Reader (Associate Professor) in Sport Policy and Politics at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham. His recent work has highlighted the political nature of sport and how the study of sport – while worthwhile in its own right – can also be used to understand wider machinations in the political system, ranging from governance of the public sector, through the use of sport in international relations and national identity formation. Jonathan’s key area of focus is on government involvement in sport and the use of sport by governments. He is author of (with M. Dennis) Sport Under Communism: The East German Experience (Palgrave, 2012) and Sport Politics: An Introduction (Palgrave, forthcoming).
Term expires 2017.

Dr Paul Gilchrist (Secretary and Web Manager)
Paul Gilchrist is a senior lecturer in human geography at the School of Environment and Technology, University of Brighton. His research interests are in the politics and history of sport, leisure and popular culture, and he has published widely in these areas. At Brighton he teaches and supervises projects on the geographies of sport and leisure. Paul is a member of the University of Brighton research team that advised the Environment Agency on public access to inland water for recreation, and he continues to research people-environment relations in the analysis of sporting space and cultures. He is a founding convenor of the group and is Publications Officer of the Leisure Studies Association. He is co-editor of The Politics of Sport: Community, Mobility, Identity (Routledge, 2011) and Whatever Happened to the Leisure Society? (LSA, 2008).
Term expires 2017.
Paul Gilchrist is a senior lecturer in human geography at the School of Environment and Technology, University of Brighton. His research interests are in the politics and history of sport, leisure and popular culture, and he has published widely in these areas. At Brighton he teaches and supervises projects on the geographies of sport and leisure. Paul is a member of the University of Brighton research team that advised the Environment Agency on public access to inland water for recreation, and he continues to research people-environment relations in the analysis of sporting space and cultures. He is a founding convenor of the group and is Publications Officer of the Leisure Studies Association. He is co-editor of The Politics of Sport: Community, Mobility, Identity (Routledge, 2011) and Whatever Happened to the Leisure Society? (LSA, 2008).
Term expires 2017.

Dr Russell Holden (Treasurer)
Russell Holden is co-founder of the PSA Sport and Politics group. Having previously taught full time in Higher Education for 15 years, in 2008 he launched In the Zone sport and politics consultancy that combines teaching, research, broadcasting expertise and consultancy for a range of private and public bodies focusing on the interplay and ever changing relationship between sport and politics. Russell’s specialist area is the sociology of sport more especially issues of identity, globalization, human rights and international relations and how these impact on cricket. He is currently a visiting Lecturer at the University of Worcester (Institute of Sport and Exercise Science) and Southampton Solent University (Faculty of Creative Industries). He has worked closely with Radio Wales, Radio Scotland and Radio 4, and is a regular academic reviewer and commentator on sport mega-events. Russell is author of The Making of New Labour's European Policy (Palgrave, 2002) and co-editor of The Politics of Sport: Community, Mobility, Identity (Routledge, 2011).
Term expires 2017.
Russell Holden is co-founder of the PSA Sport and Politics group. Having previously taught full time in Higher Education for 15 years, in 2008 he launched In the Zone sport and politics consultancy that combines teaching, research, broadcasting expertise and consultancy for a range of private and public bodies focusing on the interplay and ever changing relationship between sport and politics. Russell’s specialist area is the sociology of sport more especially issues of identity, globalization, human rights and international relations and how these impact on cricket. He is currently a visiting Lecturer at the University of Worcester (Institute of Sport and Exercise Science) and Southampton Solent University (Faculty of Creative Industries). He has worked closely with Radio Wales, Radio Scotland and Radio 4, and is a regular academic reviewer and commentator on sport mega-events. Russell is author of The Making of New Labour's European Policy (Palgrave, 2002) and co-editor of The Politics of Sport: Community, Mobility, Identity (Routledge, 2011).
Term expires 2017.

Dr Peter Millward (Conference Officer)
Peter Millward is lecturer in Sociology at Liverpool John Moores University. He has previously held lectureships at Durham University, Leeds Metropolitan University and The University of Liverpool. Peter's research interests are in the sociology and politics of sport. Theoretically, his research engages with Manuel Castells’ ideas and is epistemologically wedded to the notion that social scientific work should be critical in scope. The empirical focus of Peter's research is on football supporters (often in connection to the football industry) to discuss issues such as: socio-cultural exclusions; popular protests, social movements and mobilisations; theories and realities of ‘globalisation’; notions of crime and ‘criminality’ and the connections between consumption and identity. He is author of Getting 'into' Europe: Identification, Prejudice and Politics in English Football Culture (VDM Verlag, 2009), The Global Football League: Transnational Networks (Palgrave, 2011) and (with L. Kelly and E. Poulton), Sport and Criminology: A Critical Perspective (Routledge, forthcoming).
Term expires 2017.
Peter Millward is lecturer in Sociology at Liverpool John Moores University. He has previously held lectureships at Durham University, Leeds Metropolitan University and The University of Liverpool. Peter's research interests are in the sociology and politics of sport. Theoretically, his research engages with Manuel Castells’ ideas and is epistemologically wedded to the notion that social scientific work should be critical in scope. The empirical focus of Peter's research is on football supporters (often in connection to the football industry) to discuss issues such as: socio-cultural exclusions; popular protests, social movements and mobilisations; theories and realities of ‘globalisation’; notions of crime and ‘criminality’ and the connections between consumption and identity. He is author of Getting 'into' Europe: Identification, Prejudice and Politics in English Football Culture (VDM Verlag, 2009), The Global Football League: Transnational Networks (Palgrave, 2011) and (with L. Kelly and E. Poulton), Sport and Criminology: A Critical Perspective (Routledge, forthcoming).
Term expires 2017.