Josh Bland

Against the Run of Play | Josh Bland | Substack Ramblings on football, supporter culture and cultural heritage. Click to read Against the Run of Play, by Josh Bland, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

Thrilled that my Substack - Against the Run of Play - has passed 200 subscribers!

When I set up 6 months ago, this was just a passion project. I’ve been blown away by the feedback and response I’ve had since!

If you’re a football culture nerd like me, sign up!

open.substack.com/pub/joshblan...

People think money has ruined football but the sight of a rapist dictator standing next to a corrupt football official in front of a big gold trophy at a competition bankrolled by Saudi Arabia reminds me the game still belongs to us.

Afterlives: Millmoor A photo essay exploring dissonance, the sublime and regeneration in Rotherham's abandoned stadium

Finally, a bit of a photo essay - exploring the ruins of Rotherham's famous old Millmoor ground...

joshbland.substack.com/p/ghosts-of-...

Radicalising Mother How introducing my Mom to football helped reinvent my love for the game

One close to the heart - as I reflect on the ways in which supporting the Albion has brought me closer to my Mom..

joshbland.substack.com/p/radicalisi...

Football's class appropriation problem Manchester City's latest kit launch is another display of football's tendency to exploit working-class culture whilst marginalising working-class fans.

Here's a rant on football's class appropriation problem, looking at the ways clubs cash in on working class culture in their marketing strategies, whilst slowly marginalising those same communities out of the game...

joshbland.substack.com/p/footballs-...

Bellingham in Gelsenkirchen: One Year On Josh revisits his personal experience of a core moment in contemporary English football history

Here's a retrospective on being in the ground when iconic footballing moments are unfolding in front of your eyes. In this case, Jude Bellingham's overhead kick in Gelsenkirchen...

joshbland.substack.com/p/bellingham...

Amsterdam: Notes from a football mad city Josh reflects on a recent trip to Amsterdam for a conference, and his attempts to get under the skin of a great footballing metropolis

For a little taste -here's some of the articles I've published recently. First up, some reflections on my trip to Amsterdam last week, and my explorations of one of the world's great footballing metropoles.

joshbland.substack.com/p/amsterdam-...

Against the Run of Play | Josh Bland | Substack Ramblings on football, supporter culture and cultural heritage. Click to read Against the Run of Play, by Josh Bland, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

When I started my Substack just over 6 months ago I didn't dream it would get the kind of engagement it has to date!

If you're at all interested in football culture, history and heritage - please consider subscribing! Only 4 more till 200!

joshbland.substack.com

These are gorgeous!

Appreciate the kind words, Steve!

Amsterdam: Notes from a football mad city Josh reflects on a recent trip to Amsterdam for a conference, and his attempts to get under the skin of a great footballing metropolis

I spent much of last week at a wonderful conference in Amsterdam.

In my downtime, I was able to explore one of Europe's great footballing metropolises. This is a piece of writing about what I found.

joshbland.substack.com/p/amsterdam-...

Bellingham in Gelsenkirchen: One Year On Josh revisits his personal experience of a core moment in contemporary English football history

Another (belated) plug for my Substack here - a piece on the 1 year anniversary of Bellingham's overhead kick in Gelsenkirchen.

Written from my point of view on the day, reflecting on watching an iconic footballing moment unfold first hand...

joshbland.substack.com/p/bellingham...

YouTube video by PauliosVids Look at Life Vol 4 Sport Saturday Fever

When you've listened to our latest podcast on modern day class and football with @joshbland13.bsky.social, why not also check out this video on YouTube about football used to be in England back in the "old days". Fascinating to compare and contrast with the present! www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9eQ...

What a pleasure to join the guys on the FootPol podcast to chat football and class!

It was a great conversation that talked a little about my research, and a lot about the tensions between English football’s class identity and corporate direction…

Check out the latest episode where we talked football and class, especially how fans see themselves as "authentic" and working class and distinct from the actions of their clubs with @joshbland13.bsky.social.

Our new episode is out! We spoke to @joshbland13.bsky.social about the relationship between football and working class fans. He's got fascinating insights into how fans see themselves and navigate the challenges of coprorate, consumerist football in England today. www.buzzsprout.com/2253650/epis...

Cheers Steve!!

Thanks to @culturedfootball.bsky.social for being such a consistent supporter of my work!

No Rio, PSG’s Champions League win is not “a victory for football”… ...a rumination on cultural amnesia, state-power and sportswashing.

Latest Substack is up and it's one I'm particularly proud of.

I'm (belatedly) adding to the discourse around the Champions League final with a reflection on Rio Ferdinand, cultural amnesia and sportswashing...

Grateful for any debate on this!

joshbland.substack.com/p/no-rio-psg...

Football's class appropriation problem Manchester City's latest kit launch is another display of football's tendency to exploit working-class culture whilst marginalising working-class fans.

Something I wrote earlier in the week on Substack - on football's increasing class appropriation problem.

Especially interested to hear back from supporters of the biggest clubs in the UK on this. Does what I'm writing about chime with you?

joshbland.substack.com/p/footballs-...

Goodbye Goodison Park As English football mourns the loss of one of its great grounds, what can heritage tell us about how supporters balance their love for traditional footballing homes with a need for change?

Back on the Substack grind with something topical - a piece about accepting change, nostalgia and why Goodison is so special.

joshbland.substack.com/p/goodbye-go...

As someone who grew up idolizing independent record labels like Dischord and Matador I was fascinated (in a sad way) by this @nicksylvester.bsky.social piece on the diminished role of the indie in today’s music industry

smartdumb.substack.com/p/what-is-th...

YouTube video by Football Studies Football, Civil Society and Politics. Ft. Cas Mudde.

⚽“We are soccer. Without us, you don’t have anything to commodify!”

🇳🇱 @casmudde.bsky.social, a world-renowned political scientist, joins us to discuss the relationship between football, civil society, and politics.

🎥 Watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2glz...

🎙️ New Podcast: Football and Cultural Heritage

We all know the importance of the things we can see, but what about the things that we can’t?

Were joined by Josh Bland to explain the relationship between football and cultural heritage.

Listen here ⬇️

open.spotify.com/episode/74kB...

YouTube video by Football Heritage 64. Football and Cultural Heritage | The Football Heritage Podcast

My discussion with Rory of @footballheritage.bsky.social is now available to listen on YouTube!

We chat about my research on football heritage, the football regulator and its flaws and explore the role of continuity, place and authenticity to football culture!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr03...

Glad you enjoyed Michael! Looking forward to a catch up too!

I'll be reading the fans' experience report with great interest!

64. Football and Cultural Heritage

Delighted to go on the @footballheritage.bsky.social podcast this week to discuss my research on football and cultural heritage!

A must listen for anyone who has an interest in football culture or history! ⚽️

open.spotify.com/episode/74kB...

Radicalising Mother How introducing my Mom to football helped reinvent my love for the game

A little bit of Mother's day sop from my Substack. A piece close to my heart on how my Mom's recent conversion to Albion fanaticism has reignited my love for the game.

joshbland.substack.com/p/radicalisi...

YouTube video by Football Studies Football as an Embodied Heritage Practice - ft. Josh Bland

@joshbland13.bsky.social, an expert in Football Heritage Studies from Cambridge University, is our invitee.

In this episode, he discusses football as an embodied heritage practice. He also shared how being a “Geordie” has been under the new Saudi ownership.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IulQ...

Delighted to join the fantastic @footballstudies.bsky.social podcast to discuss my PhD research, identity and sportswashing!