The Football Collective Conference; SHEFFIELD 2019

2019 marks forty years since Trevor Francis became the first footballer to break the £1million transfer barrier when he signed for Nottingham Forest. It was a watershed moment in transfer history, signalling the beginning of more aggressive, and expensive transfer spending. Four decades on, £1m transfer fees are almost non-existent at the top table, with some players exceeding £100m, and now it is seen as a mundane transfer window when clubs fall short of spending £1bn. Drawing on research undertaken by members of the Football Collective, the 2019 Annual Conference will look to scrutinise the business of football to find solutions that will benefit clubs, their players, their fans and their local communities. Putting football's lucrative ideologies aside, this year's conference will also explore both the commercial and human benefits football can bring to the general population and the business benefits it can bring . The generation of wealth might be important to those at the very top of the game but supporting smaller projects is the lifeblood for the game's growth. From grassroots to hyper-commodification, we will hear how we can shape the future of the 'beautiful game' by increasing participation from women, improving the representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities as well as highlight the positive impact it can have on mental health. CALL FOR PAPERS NOW OPEN Go to www.footballcollective.org.uk for full details Any Questions? [email protected]