Football's Physical and Virtual Spaces

We are once again proud to announce our involvement with the York Festival of Ideas, this year with guest speaker Rob Nichols.

From the archaeology of football grounds involving community engagement to giving walking tours of historic football sites, to editing and hosting Middlesbrough FCs fanzine and internet chat forum, Robert Nichols reflects on his work championing the people’s game.

Join Robert in conversation with the University of York’s Soccer-Mad Boffins Alex Gillett and Kevin Tennent, as they examine football’s places and spaces and look ahead to this year’s FIFA World Cup.

• Date and time:Saturday 6 June 2026, 3.15pm to 4.15pm
• In-person only:
  Law and Sociology Building, Campus East, University of York (Map)

As our events are usually very well attended we strongly recommend reserve a place in advance by booking your ticket here. 

Foundations of Managing British Olympics: Institutions through Time featured on SBS Spotlight Blog

We have done a post on the book on the School for Business and Society's Spotlight blog!

Topics highlighted include how the 18th Century 'Grand Tour' inspired a revitalisation of the concept of the Olympic Games alongside the new educational ideology of muscular Christianity, which infused the public schools of 19th century England. We consider how this inspired the organsiation of sport, which then borrowed its legitimacy from the 19th century World's Fairs.  At first the Olympics were somewhat ad-hoc and ran parallel to them, but of course in time they would come to overtake them.

So to inspire your viewing of the Milan Cortina winter games which start on Friday, take a look at our post!

Access it here - https://blogs.york.ac.uk/sbs-spotlight/2026/02/03/foundations-of-managing-british-olympics-institutions-through-time/