The last two episodes of the @WestHamSyndrome have been a great time as @andrewjenkin and I have been chatting to Martin about his job as PA announcer, his @WestHam books & all the other roles he’s held with the club. Definitely one for any Hammers followers of mine to enjoy

Hello X/Twitter friends. One of my students is conducting research on Scottish football fans' awareness and interest in the Saudi Pro League. He has developed a short survey and any responses to help with his data collection would be greatly appreciated:

Community and fan engagement shown to be vital for club success. Read the full report in the link below.

A huge thanks to Fiona Skillen, for co-authoring the paper with me, Kausik Bandyopadhyay, editor of this special issue and my PhD supervisors Karen Boyle and Richard Haynes for their initial support throughout the data collection. https://t.co/ULKUZypqLu

The paper explores who supports women’s football in Scotland, drawing on data I collected during my PhD, conducted in collaboration with the Scottish FA, at the time of the Scottish Women’s National Team’s participation in their first FIFA World Cup. https://t.co/ULKUZypqLu

I’m really pleased to share that I have a new open-access article published in Soccer and Society Journal (Special Issue: Soccer, Women and Society) titled, ‘No Scotland, no party!’: Diversity, identity and fandom in Scottish women’s football. https://t.co/ULKUZypqLu

…and that although the 2021 commitment from the government pledged to double annual sports funding to £100 million by 2026, that pledge remains unmet and, when adjusted for inflation, actual funding is down by nearly 25% in real terms.

Also interesting to hear first hand about the ‘Running on Empty’ campaign highlighting the stark funding challenges faced by Sports Governing Bodies across Scotland…

Always a pleasure to attend the @scotathletics National Club Conference and hear from, learn from and chat with clubs. Some inspiring work (as always) happening across the country.

In the latest episode of the West Ham Syndrome, we chat with researcher Levi Tippett (and Stirling Uni colleague) about identity, heritage and the case for a West Ham Museum. Listen here 👉

Our latest episode sees Max & Andrew have a very candid chat with former ‘Academy of Football’ graduate Callum McNaughton about the pressures of pro football, mental health & the importance of faith in his life. Give us a follow & check us out ⬇️ https://t.co/vbOiiorBWj

Anticipation of the Ashes vs the actual Ashes

Whether you follow West Ham or not, this conversation offers an honest look at player development, resilience, talent pathways and the human side of football academies everywhere. https://t.co/XvnttjRvJm

The conversation also sheds light on what happens when the dream fades, and how clubs can better support young people as they transition into new pathways, both within and beyond the game. https://t.co/XvnttjQXTO

We discuss why only a small number ultimately make the leap to senior football, and the emotional and psychological realities that all players must navigate along the way. https://t.co/XvnttjRvJm

Together, we explore what life inside a football academy really looks like, from the daily pressures young players face both on and off the pitch, to the profound influence that coaching, culture and identity have on shaping their development. https://t.co/XvnttjRvJm

Using West Ham’s FA Youth Cup wins in 1999 and 2023 as the book’s start and end point, Paul charts the stories of academy players across nearly 25 years, speaking to those who made it and those who didn’t and those whose careers took unexpected turns. https://t.co/XvnttjRvJm

In our latest episode of The West Ham Syndrome Podcast, Max Portman and I are joined by author @chesterhammers to discuss his book Inside the Academy: The Hopes, Highs and Heartbreaks of West Ham United’s Youth. https://t.co/XvnttjRvJm

Football academies are where dreams take shape and where some of the toughest lessons in the sport are learned. Between early promise, high expectations, pressure to perform & the uncertainty of what comes next, the academy journey is anything but simple. https://t.co/XvnttjRvJm

Check out our latest episode wherever you get your podcasts as @WHUHistorian and @andrewjenkin talk to Paul Brand about his book on the West Ham academy and the realities of the system! Shocking, insightful and informative for any Hammers fans out there!