History
The academic study of sport and politics made an occasional appearance at the annual conferences of the Political Studies Association. Panels hosted at the 1984 annual conference in Manchester led to Lincoln Allison's edited volume The Politics of Sport (Manchester University Press, 1986) and two successor volumes - The Changing Politics of Sport and The Global Politics of Sport. However, even into the 1990s it was recognised that political scientists continued to pay scant consideration to sport, considering it a diversion or trivial subject to the conventional themes of political study. In 2005 a study group was established by the Political Studies Association as a home for political scientists and other interested scholars from cognate fields and disciplines to meet to discuss new research in this area. Dr Paul Gilchrist (University of Brighton), a graduate student of Lincoln Allison's at the Warwick Centre for the Study of Sport in Society, Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Warwick, and Dr Russell Holden, a politics lecturer at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC), joined forces to write an application for a study group to the PSA. The rest, as they say, is history. Since that time the group has expanded from a handful of scholars to a thriving national community of sport politicians, whose endeavours are supported by the group's annual conferences, which are held in February. It is no exaggeration to say that our annual conference is now the largest and most influential regular gathering for social scientists of sport in the UK.
Below is a chronology of activity to date.
2006
The 2006 Political Studies Association annual conference marked the inauguration of the Sport and Politics specialist group with two stimulating panels chaired by group convenors Drs Russell Holden and Paul Gilchrist. The first session was devoted to the British perspective and meanings of the politics of sport. Marc Keech presented a paper on the government and governance of sport, a paper on protest and collective action in canoeing was delivered by Paul Gilchrist and Neil Ravenscroft and Alan Tomlinson presented a paper on critical theory and sport. All presenters were from the University of Brighton. The second panel, consisting of Wyn Grant (University of Warwick), Dean Allen (Ulster University) and Russell Holden (University of Wales Institute, Cardiff), took an international approach on the international political economy of sport, sport and reconciliation, and the England-Zimbabwe cricket crisis, 2001-2005.
2007
On the back of these two successful panels it was agreed that more panels would be staged at the PSA annual conference in 2007, at the University of Bath, and that a conference be staged in early 2007. The inaugural conference of the group was held at the University of Wales residential centre, Gregynog, Powys on February 23-25 2007. A range of papers were heard on diverse areas that discussed the 'currency' of sport. We were joined by cricketer Robert Croft and cricket journalist Matthew Engel who entertained us with anecdotes on the Saturday night.
The group hosted a panel at the PSA's annual conference at the University of Bath in 2007. This included papers from David Ranc (Cambridge University) 'Local politics, identity and football in Paris', Michael Holmes (Liverpool Hope University) 'Mercenaries or nationalists? National identity and the Republic of Ireland football team' and Wyn Grant (University of Warwick) 'Two tiers of representation and policy: the EU and the future of football' and Russell Holden (University of Wales Institute Cardiff) 'Never forget the Welsh - exploring the myths and realities of the Welsh contribution to the 2005 Ashes victory'.
A special issue of the Taylor & Francis journal Sport in Society was commissioned in 2009 with contributions from the Group's inaugural conference. The title was 'The politics of sport: community, mobility and identity', edited by the convenors, Russell Holden and Paul Gilchrist.
2008
The group held its 2nd annual conference on 15 February 2008 at Liverpool Hope University. This was attended by 30 delegates and included established and emergent academics and doctoral researchers.
The group sponsored a panel at the PSA annual conference, Swansea University, 1 April 2008. This featured papers from Dr Mick Green (Loughborough) 'Governing under advanced liberalism: sport policy and the social investment state'; Prof Barrie Houlihan (Loughborough) who looked at the questions of mechanisms of policy internationalisation in relation to elite development systems; and Dr Jonathan Grix (Birmingham) 'Towards an understanding of the demise of athletics in the UK: a case study of men's distance running'.
The group co-sponsored the 'Popular culture and (world) politics' workshop at the University of Bristol, 11-12 September 2008.
The International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics is launched. This is edited by Barrie Houlihan (Loughborough University) and Andy Smith and Daniel Bloyce (University of Chester), all of whom have been active with the group since its inception.
2009
The group held its 3rd annual conference on the governance and regulation of sport at Birkbeck College, London, 20-21 February. This was our biggest annual conference to date with 120 delegates, representatives from parliament, national governing bodies and sports administrators. Former England test cricketer Ed Smith gave the annual after-dinner talk.
The group sponsored a panel at the PSA annual conference in Manchester in April on the governance and regulation of sport. Papers included: Prof Barrie Houlihan (Loughborough) 'Modernisation and sport: the reform of sport', Dr Russell Holden (In the Zone), 'New Labour and the celebration of sporting achievement', and Dr Michael Silk (Bath) 'The biggest loser: the discursive construction of fatness'.
Dr Michael Holmes (Liverpool Hope University) convened the first panel on the politics of sport at the 2009 Irish Political Studies Association annual conference. This was hosted by Liverpool Hope University, 9-10 October 2009. This included papers by Dr David Storey (University of Worcester) on the Irish soccer team and national identity, Dr David Hassan (University of Ulster) on sport in a divided Ireland and Dr Russell Holden (In the Zone sports consultancy) on cricket and Welsh identity.
2010
The group co-sponsored a one-day conference at the University of Birmingham - Fit for London, 2012? An assessment of UK sport policy in comparative contexts.
The group agreed a constitution and officers for a period of 3 years. These are Jonathan Grix (chair), Russell Holden (treasurer), Paul Gilchrist (secretary), Barrie Houlihan (officer). This marked an expansion in the organisational capacity of the group.
The group hosted a panel on critical issues in sporting governance at the Political Studies Association annual conference, Edinburgh, on 1 April 2010.
Leeds Metropolitan University hosted the group's 4th annual conference on 'Critiquing sport: theory and practice' on 26 February 2010.
2011
The Group held its 5th annual conference at the University of Birmingham on 18 March 2011 on the theme 'Sport under pressure: the sustainability of sport in times of austerity'.
The special issue of Sport in Society, 'The Politics of Sport: Community, Mobility, Identity' is published.
A Facebook page was established. Search for PSA Sport and Politics Study Group.
A one-off symposium was held at the University of Brighton on 16 December on 'Sport and the Big Society'. This was funded by an award from the PSA's Specialist Activity Fund.
2012
The group sponsored the Leveraging Legacies from Sports Mega-Events at the University of Birmingham on 30 November and 1 December 2012.
The group's 6th annual conference took place at Southampton Solent University on 24 February on the theme of 'Sport politics, identity and the media'. Keynote speakers included Prof Kath Woodward (Open University) and Prof Andy Miah (University of the West of Scotland).
The group hosted two panels at the PSA Annual International Conference, Belfast, 3-5 April 2012. These panels were on 'Sport in Ireland: past and present' and 'Sport, conflict and social change'. These included papers by: Neil King (Edge Hill University) on 'Local government and sport in Northern Ireland: where next?', Richard McElligott (University College Dublin) 'United in a jersey? A reappraisal of the healing myth of the Kerry Gaelic Athletic Association', Connor Curran (De Montfort University) 'Sport and cultural imperialism: the conflict between Gaelic football and association football in Donegal', George Poulton (Manchester University) 'The politics of fan protest: 'football consciousness', supporter ownership and fan rivalry'.
2013
The group co-sponsored the Sport, Leisure and Social Justice conference at the University of Brighton, 19-20 September 2013.
The group's 7th annual conference took place at the University of Bath on 2 February 2013. The theme was 'Sport politics & policy'. Prof Tess Kay (Brunel University) was the keynote speaker.
Dr Peter Millward, Dr Russell Holden and Dr Paul Gilchrist are given permission to edit a special edition of Sociological Research Online on the 'political sociologies of sport'. This includes papers presented at previous annual conferences and will appear in spring 2015.
Dr Peter Millward was co-opted as conference officer, having organised the 2010 and 2014 annual conferences.
2014
The group's 8th annual conference was held at Liverpool John Moores University on 21-22 February 2014 on the theme 'Sport and the politics of exclusion'. This was our second largest conference in terms of attendance to date. Keynote speakers included Andy Burnham MP and Prof Maurice Roche.
The group convenors were re-elected for a further 3 years of service at the 2014 AGM.
2015
The group's 9th annual conference was held at Durham University on 7-8 January 2015 on 'Sport, politics and social policy'. 100 delegates attended. Keynote speakers included Rt Hon Sir Hugh Robertson MP (former Minister for Sport and the Olympics) and Prof Barrie Houlihan.
Dennis Pauschinger (University of Kent/University of Hamburg) won the inaugural postgraduate conference presentation prize for his presentation on 'Security at the 2014 World Cup - a look from the inside'. This was judged to be a lucid analysis of sports mega events as security spectacles.
The postgraduate prize was kindly funded by Taylor & Francis.
Special Section of Sociological Research Online, 20(2), on the 'political sociologies of sport' is published in May. This is edited by Paul Gilchrist, Russell Holden and Peter Millward and features papers presented at previous Group conferences.
2016
The group's 10th annual conference was held at Bournemouth University.
Below is a chronology of activity to date.
2006
The 2006 Political Studies Association annual conference marked the inauguration of the Sport and Politics specialist group with two stimulating panels chaired by group convenors Drs Russell Holden and Paul Gilchrist. The first session was devoted to the British perspective and meanings of the politics of sport. Marc Keech presented a paper on the government and governance of sport, a paper on protest and collective action in canoeing was delivered by Paul Gilchrist and Neil Ravenscroft and Alan Tomlinson presented a paper on critical theory and sport. All presenters were from the University of Brighton. The second panel, consisting of Wyn Grant (University of Warwick), Dean Allen (Ulster University) and Russell Holden (University of Wales Institute, Cardiff), took an international approach on the international political economy of sport, sport and reconciliation, and the England-Zimbabwe cricket crisis, 2001-2005.
2007
On the back of these two successful panels it was agreed that more panels would be staged at the PSA annual conference in 2007, at the University of Bath, and that a conference be staged in early 2007. The inaugural conference of the group was held at the University of Wales residential centre, Gregynog, Powys on February 23-25 2007. A range of papers were heard on diverse areas that discussed the 'currency' of sport. We were joined by cricketer Robert Croft and cricket journalist Matthew Engel who entertained us with anecdotes on the Saturday night.
The group hosted a panel at the PSA's annual conference at the University of Bath in 2007. This included papers from David Ranc (Cambridge University) 'Local politics, identity and football in Paris', Michael Holmes (Liverpool Hope University) 'Mercenaries or nationalists? National identity and the Republic of Ireland football team' and Wyn Grant (University of Warwick) 'Two tiers of representation and policy: the EU and the future of football' and Russell Holden (University of Wales Institute Cardiff) 'Never forget the Welsh - exploring the myths and realities of the Welsh contribution to the 2005 Ashes victory'.
A special issue of the Taylor & Francis journal Sport in Society was commissioned in 2009 with contributions from the Group's inaugural conference. The title was 'The politics of sport: community, mobility and identity', edited by the convenors, Russell Holden and Paul Gilchrist.
2008
The group held its 2nd annual conference on 15 February 2008 at Liverpool Hope University. This was attended by 30 delegates and included established and emergent academics and doctoral researchers.
The group sponsored a panel at the PSA annual conference, Swansea University, 1 April 2008. This featured papers from Dr Mick Green (Loughborough) 'Governing under advanced liberalism: sport policy and the social investment state'; Prof Barrie Houlihan (Loughborough) who looked at the questions of mechanisms of policy internationalisation in relation to elite development systems; and Dr Jonathan Grix (Birmingham) 'Towards an understanding of the demise of athletics in the UK: a case study of men's distance running'.
The group co-sponsored the 'Popular culture and (world) politics' workshop at the University of Bristol, 11-12 September 2008.
The International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics is launched. This is edited by Barrie Houlihan (Loughborough University) and Andy Smith and Daniel Bloyce (University of Chester), all of whom have been active with the group since its inception.
2009
The group held its 3rd annual conference on the governance and regulation of sport at Birkbeck College, London, 20-21 February. This was our biggest annual conference to date with 120 delegates, representatives from parliament, national governing bodies and sports administrators. Former England test cricketer Ed Smith gave the annual after-dinner talk.
The group sponsored a panel at the PSA annual conference in Manchester in April on the governance and regulation of sport. Papers included: Prof Barrie Houlihan (Loughborough) 'Modernisation and sport: the reform of sport', Dr Russell Holden (In the Zone), 'New Labour and the celebration of sporting achievement', and Dr Michael Silk (Bath) 'The biggest loser: the discursive construction of fatness'.
Dr Michael Holmes (Liverpool Hope University) convened the first panel on the politics of sport at the 2009 Irish Political Studies Association annual conference. This was hosted by Liverpool Hope University, 9-10 October 2009. This included papers by Dr David Storey (University of Worcester) on the Irish soccer team and national identity, Dr David Hassan (University of Ulster) on sport in a divided Ireland and Dr Russell Holden (In the Zone sports consultancy) on cricket and Welsh identity.
2010
The group co-sponsored a one-day conference at the University of Birmingham - Fit for London, 2012? An assessment of UK sport policy in comparative contexts.
The group agreed a constitution and officers for a period of 3 years. These are Jonathan Grix (chair), Russell Holden (treasurer), Paul Gilchrist (secretary), Barrie Houlihan (officer). This marked an expansion in the organisational capacity of the group.
The group hosted a panel on critical issues in sporting governance at the Political Studies Association annual conference, Edinburgh, on 1 April 2010.
Leeds Metropolitan University hosted the group's 4th annual conference on 'Critiquing sport: theory and practice' on 26 February 2010.
2011
The Group held its 5th annual conference at the University of Birmingham on 18 March 2011 on the theme 'Sport under pressure: the sustainability of sport in times of austerity'.
The special issue of Sport in Society, 'The Politics of Sport: Community, Mobility, Identity' is published.
A Facebook page was established. Search for PSA Sport and Politics Study Group.
A one-off symposium was held at the University of Brighton on 16 December on 'Sport and the Big Society'. This was funded by an award from the PSA's Specialist Activity Fund.
2012
The group sponsored the Leveraging Legacies from Sports Mega-Events at the University of Birmingham on 30 November and 1 December 2012.
The group's 6th annual conference took place at Southampton Solent University on 24 February on the theme of 'Sport politics, identity and the media'. Keynote speakers included Prof Kath Woodward (Open University) and Prof Andy Miah (University of the West of Scotland).
The group hosted two panels at the PSA Annual International Conference, Belfast, 3-5 April 2012. These panels were on 'Sport in Ireland: past and present' and 'Sport, conflict and social change'. These included papers by: Neil King (Edge Hill University) on 'Local government and sport in Northern Ireland: where next?', Richard McElligott (University College Dublin) 'United in a jersey? A reappraisal of the healing myth of the Kerry Gaelic Athletic Association', Connor Curran (De Montfort University) 'Sport and cultural imperialism: the conflict between Gaelic football and association football in Donegal', George Poulton (Manchester University) 'The politics of fan protest: 'football consciousness', supporter ownership and fan rivalry'.
2013
The group co-sponsored the Sport, Leisure and Social Justice conference at the University of Brighton, 19-20 September 2013.
The group's 7th annual conference took place at the University of Bath on 2 February 2013. The theme was 'Sport politics & policy'. Prof Tess Kay (Brunel University) was the keynote speaker.
Dr Peter Millward, Dr Russell Holden and Dr Paul Gilchrist are given permission to edit a special edition of Sociological Research Online on the 'political sociologies of sport'. This includes papers presented at previous annual conferences and will appear in spring 2015.
Dr Peter Millward was co-opted as conference officer, having organised the 2010 and 2014 annual conferences.
2014
The group's 8th annual conference was held at Liverpool John Moores University on 21-22 February 2014 on the theme 'Sport and the politics of exclusion'. This was our second largest conference in terms of attendance to date. Keynote speakers included Andy Burnham MP and Prof Maurice Roche.
The group convenors were re-elected for a further 3 years of service at the 2014 AGM.
2015
The group's 9th annual conference was held at Durham University on 7-8 January 2015 on 'Sport, politics and social policy'. 100 delegates attended. Keynote speakers included Rt Hon Sir Hugh Robertson MP (former Minister for Sport and the Olympics) and Prof Barrie Houlihan.
Dennis Pauschinger (University of Kent/University of Hamburg) won the inaugural postgraduate conference presentation prize for his presentation on 'Security at the 2014 World Cup - a look from the inside'. This was judged to be a lucid analysis of sports mega events as security spectacles.
The postgraduate prize was kindly funded by Taylor & Francis.
Special Section of Sociological Research Online, 20(2), on the 'political sociologies of sport' is published in May. This is edited by Paul Gilchrist, Russell Holden and Peter Millward and features papers presented at previous Group conferences.
2016
The group's 10th annual conference was held at Bournemouth University.
