Hague, Nicola ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9541-4713 and Law, Graeme ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5047-6208 (2023) ‘We’re sweeping the floors’: Life as an EFL Championship Youth Academy Player. Soccer & Society.

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Abstract

This study sought to explore life ‘off the pitch’ at one English Championship Youth Academy. Using concepts from Elias’ figurational sociology to explore data from 12 semi-structured interviews, traditional notions of hyper-masculinity that are well-known on the pitch tracked into off-field behaviours. Friendships, banter, mandatory education were all themes of prevalence identified through thematic analysis. Key findings highlight that players did not associate with occupational inevitability; the notion that success at academy level translates to a successful career, however, a highly stringent athletic identity resulted in education being viewed with disdain and friendships of convenience being prevalent to protect themselves from the ruthlessness of the industry.
Keywords: youth academy; figurational sociology; athletic identity; football

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
DOI:	10.1080/14660970.2023.2248000
School/Department:	School of Science, Technology and Health
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/8319

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