Citation

Woolsey I. Soccer Soc. 2010; 11(5): 588.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/14660970.2010.497353

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

To date, the simulated performance of hooliganism has remained largely uncharted within social science research. This exploratory article, which draws upon Hall's The Hidden Dimension (Hall, E. T. The Hidden Dimension. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, 1966) and Bourdieu's seminal work Language and Symbolic Power (Bourdieu, P. Language and Symbolic Power. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1992), describes a 'group' of football supporters who assume hooligan identity, but are distinguishable as non-violent participants. The article, which is based upon the author's personal intuition, and observations made at Sheffield Wednesday football (soccer) matches during the 2002-2007 English football seasons, explores the Pretenders' manipulation of spatial relationships, their use of language and their embodied commitment to masculine ideals.