Football and The Working Class

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 English football has now evolved as the mother of modern football. However, English football, as we know it, was born out of a variety of conflicts and interests. It grew out of everyday life, working-class neighborhoods, industrial factories, and the streets. When we trace the evolution of English football, we cannot overlook two things: social identity and what happens when that identity is commercialized and marketed worldwide.

Working class roots

In the early days of football clubs in England, many were founded by local communities, such as factory workers, dock workers, and residents of small towns in northern and central England. Clubs like Sheffield FC (1857) are among the oldest.


Discussion of the fan base in England is also an interesting topic. English football fans are largely drawn from working-class and lower-middle-class backgrounds. This is a crucial foundation for understanding that club identity is wider than sport, sometimes it's about community, solidarity, and even symbolic rebellion against a particular group. The moment factories are closed and the workday is over, workers wearing their club identity and starting to gather, shout, sing, and express the feeling in the stadium. 

Supporter culture



Match traditions in England have their own unique nuances. One obvious feature is the wearing of scarves and the singing of chants. Furthermore, there was a fairly widespread supporter movement among English fans in the 1970s. The movement is called hooliganism. Hooliganism in England is part of a subculture in which fan groups (“firms”) develop their own identities and sometimes engage in organized violence. For example, four decades ago, West Ham United“firm” ICF (Inter City Firm) were known for their frequent rioting.

Through stadium reforms, police oversight, and public safety regulations, stadium chaos has gradually declined. That doesn't mean fan culture has lost all its old character. There are still chants, intense rivalries, and strong regional sentiments exist. English clubs often serve as symbols of a region. By its demographic and economic changes in modern Britain and deindustrialization, declining port cities, internal migration; football clubs targeted as identity for communities that feel left behind. 


For example, a city like Liverpool in Merseyside underwent significant change as its port and heavy industry declined; yet Liverpool FC remains a point of local pride and togetherness. When the club wins, the whole city follows. When a club experiences tragedy such as the Hillsborough disaster (1989), which killed 96 fans, all the city's elements gather and fight for justice. 

The transformation 

With the arrival of the Premier League in 1992, English football began to open up to the global world such as international broadcasting rights, players from all over the world, giant sponsors, and luxurious stadiums. This had a profound impact on both the fan community and local clubs. On the one hand, old clubs once synonymous with working-class clubs became global brands. Many foreign fans contributed revenues and stadiums transformed into premium entertainment venues.


It caused big challenges. Ticket prices rose significantly and the gap between big and small clubs became increasingly apparent. This raised questions about whether football still belonged to local communities or had become a fully global business.

Problem

Some essential issues related to football and British society today:

Racism and discrimination: Despite numerous anti-racism campaigns by clubs and leagues in England, disturbing incidents still occur. An example is the racist behavior Ozil experienced while playing for Arsenal. Ozil experienced racist abuse from some individuals who mocked his Turkish heritage. 


Financial inequality: Larger clubs earn significantly more revenue than smaller clubs. This widens the gap between clubs with large financial resources and those with smaller funds.

Social awareness: Clubs are now increasingly aware of their social role, including community programs, inclusion, and connections to their local areas. Stadium gentrification: Many Premier League clubs are now implementing various ticket sales systems. Furthermore, many clubs are renovating and upgrading their stadium infrastructure to make theirs more modern.


SOURCE
Lower Block. (2025). The Evolution of British Football Fan Culture. https://lowerblock.com/articles/the-evolution-of-british-football-fan-culture/

Shilkitus. (n.d). The Evolution of the English Premier League: From 1992 to Present.

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