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Football capital: what is it and why is it important?

ABSTRACT Rationale/Purpose: This paper examines the role and importance of football in the lives of male players from a Sunday league football club in the north-east of England. The study employs a predominantly Bourdieusian analysis to consider how various forms of capital are accumulated and operationalised by different individuals to gain status and influence. Football capital is introduced as an emergent concept which offers a greater contextual relevance within the “football industry”. Methodology: Drawing on a three-year ethnographic study, influenced by the researcher’s role as founder and manager of the club, a deep insider status allowed access to all aspects of club life. Findings: Data demonstrate that individuals accumulated football capital through a diverse range of behaviours, competencies and connections. Implications: The implications for the adoption of football capital as a concept are linked to the ease with which those within the game can draw upon it to influence potential social change.