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The career of the sport supporter: the case of The Manchester Storm

Crawford, G

Authors



Abstract

This paper presents a theorisation of the induction and patterns of behaviour of the sport supporter along a social and moral career path. I argue that too often theorisations of contemporary sport supporters have relied upon restrictive and rigid typologies or dichotomies based upon excessively subjective codes of authenticity. I suggest that what is required is a return to the Chicagoan concept of status passage and career, married with an understanding of the fluidity and temporality of many contemporary ‘communities’. Specifically, here I apply this model to the case of supporter of the British ice hockey team The Manchester Storm, but suggest that this theorisation could be applied to many other supporter, enthusiast, or fan ‘communities’.

Citation

Crawford, G. (2003). The career of the sport supporter: the case of The Manchester Storm. Sociology, 37(2), 219-237. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038503037002001

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2003
Deposit Date Dec 23, 2009
Journal Sociology
Print ISSN 0038-0385
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 37
Issue 2
Pages 219-237
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038503037002001
Keywords career / fans / ice hockey / sport supporters
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0038038503037002001