Association football had become a prominent part of Manchester's sporting landscape by 1884, when... more Association football had become a prominent part of Manchester's sporting landscape by 1884, when the Manchester FA was formed, and this paper considers both how the game became significant in the city and how this development can be used to further the wider debate on the origins of the game. Using a range of archival sources, the paper provides an overview of Manchester's footballing culture, focusing on the period up to the formal adoption of rules and creation of clubs in the 1860s and 1870s, with particular reference to three of the city's earliest organized football clubs. While the influence of each of these clubs was transitory they were linked spatially, chronologically and through key individuals, and their contribution was substantial, even if their existence has largely been ignored by historians. This paper closes by concluding that neither the orthodox nor the revisionist views of the game's origins can fully explain Manchester's experience. In contrast to the idea that certain class groups were more influential than others the authors suggest that football's emergence during the Victorian period depended significantly on key individuals from varying backgrounds who provided the energy and enthusiasm for the game, rather than on specific class interests.
Unio cum Christo celebrates and encourages the visible union believers possess in Christ when the... more Unio cum Christo celebrates and encourages the visible union believers possess in Christ when they confess the faith of the one holy catholic and apostolic church, the body of Christ. Thus, its mission is (1) to be an international scholarly and practical journal for the global Reformed community-churches, seminaries, theologians, and pastors; (2) to encourage deeper fellowship, understanding, and growth in faith, hope, and love in the Reformed community at large; and (3) to support small and isolated Reformed witnesses in minority missional situations. It will seek to do so by the publication and dissemination of scholarly contributions of a biblical, theological, and practical nature by Reformed leaders worldwide including leading theologians, developing scholars, practicing missionaries, pastors, and evangelists. Articles, interviews, and book reviews will consistently be in line with biblically based Reformed confessional orthodoxy and orthopraxis. Submitted or solicited contributions for its biannual issues will focus on specific themes This periodical is indexed in the ATLA Religion Database® (ATLA RDB®), a product of the American Theological Library Association.
This thesis provides a commentary on my publications and considers how my research has developed ... more This thesis provides a commentary on my publications and considers how my research has developed through each phase of my adult life. This is a thesis in support of a PhD by Publication, where the tone and approach aims to appraise my output and consider its contribution and significance, resulting in a more personal account than a traditional PhD allows. It provides an explanation and justification for the publications, positioning them and the period of research within a contemporary context. Within this thesis, I outline the origins of my research and provide a commentary on my writing and research career alongside my personal development. I set my output within the context of the different stages of my career, both in terms of my previous business life and my formal academic engagement, where it should be stressed that each stage has built on the experience I gained during the previous one. My work focuses on the development of football within Manchester and is directly linked t...
Abstract This paper will focus on the origins and subsequent development of school football in Ma... more Abstract This paper will focus on the origins and subsequent development of school football in Manchester and its surrounding conurbation between 1880 and 1919. Archival evidence, drawing mainly on the Manchester Schools Football Association (MSFA) collection, will be used to chronicle the expansion of organized competition and sporting opportunities. It will demonstrate that football’s growth in Manchester’s education system owed much to dedicated teachers who encouraged participation at their own schools and organized inter-school competitions. Association football became prominent right across Manchester as young teachers, most notably George Sharples, encouraged pupils to play, leading to a widening of participation and interest that helps to explain how Manchester transitioned from a rugby to a soccer city. Also discussed is the important role of the Manchester and Salford Playing Fields Society (MSPFS) which assisted the game’s growth in schools and amongst schoolchildren more generally by making suitable fields and pitches available. Without the Society’s efforts facilities may have been insufficient to satisfy growing demand at a critical point in soccer’s development.
In recent years studies of footballing regions has added much to the origins of football debate a... more In recent years studies of footballing regions has added much to the origins of football debate and it is clear that understanding how each conurbation or region adopted the sport adds significantly to our knowledge. Research into Manchester's footballing landscape has added new evidence on how the people of the conurbation adopted association football. However, the influences on Manchester's sporting activities were multifaceted and varied and it was actually rugby football that was perceived as the conurbation's leading team sport between 1870 and 1900, while lacrosse was promoted as a viable alternative by 1880. These sports were more popular than association football prior to the establishment of the Manchester Football Association in 1884, and it was not until the split in rugby in 1895 and the first successes of Manchester's soccer clubs that soccer could be said to have become the leading Mancunian team sport. This paper explores how soccer came to displace other popular team activities, and it questions why Manchester's soccer development followed a different course to that of the city's neighbouring towns of east Lancashire.
Despite a wealth of academic research focusing on the origins and development of association foot... more Despite a wealth of academic research focusing on the origins and development of association football in Britain during the nineteenth century, academics have failed to reach a consensus regarding the early history of the game with the emergence of contrasting 'orthodox' and 'revisionist' interpretations. Much of the current research has focused on tackling the subject on a national level and this has resulted in many towns, cities and regions across the country being overlooked when sports historians discuss the origins of modern football. One such region is North Staffordshire, more commonly referred to as The Potteries, which, despite having played a key role in the formation of the Football League, possessing one of the oldest professional football clubs in the country and an early county football association, has never been the subject of an in-depth academic study. Using a range of archival sources this paper provides an overview of the origins and early development of association football across The Potteries from the 1850 to 1870s, emphasising the influence of Stoke City Football Club and provides a fact based resolution to the debate surrounding the club's origin and formation. The wider development of the game in The Potteries is also explored, tracing the early informal football activities taking place at fairs, fetes and the wakes holidays to the establishment of a football culture in the 1870s following the formation of organised football clubs and the Staffordshire Football Association. This paper concludes that neither the orthodox nor the revisionist interpretations of the game's origins can fully explain the region's football development and that further research into the region is required to understand the significance of The Potteries in relation to the national picture.
ABSTRACT Contemporary Manchester is recognized internationally as a footballing city, with both M... more ABSTRACT Contemporary Manchester is recognized internationally as a footballing city, with both Manchester United and Manchester City acknowledged as prominent clubs. However, the city has not always been a force in the game, nor has the game always been important across Manchester’s social spectrum. This paper examines how Manchester first became established as a footballing city, identifying that success in the FA Cup in 1904 stimulated interest in the game and considers how the legacy of that victory enabled the game to develop in terms of participation and spectating. It also considers the social mix of attendees at professional games in the city, and closes by concluding that footballing success generated increased interest and was the catalyst for improvement in the infrastructure for both participation and attendance, enabling Manchester’s footballing identity to become established.
The International Journal of the History of Sport, 2017
It is important to question the relevance of sport history and to recognize our failings and our ... more It is important to question the relevance of sport history and to recognize our failings and our successes if we are to ensure the genre develops and contributes to society. While sport historians recognize the value, outside of this sphere, it is apparent that the subject is not always recognized for its significance. In this paper, it is argued that sport historians have a responsibility to engage more with the media and the public, while seeking opportunities to collaborate with sports organizations to ensure the subject is relevant and can develop. It is also argued that minority groups are under-represented in the sport history community, arguing that it is incumbent upon sport historians to ensure greater engagement and promotion of these groups. The paper concludes by urging those engaged in sport history to promote the discipline and develop opportunities for others.
Association football had become a prominent part of Manchester's sporting landscape by 1884, when... more Association football had become a prominent part of Manchester's sporting landscape by 1884, when the Manchester FA was formed, and this paper considers both how the game became significant in the city and how this development can be used to further the wider debate on the origins of the game. Using a range of archival sources, the paper provides an overview of Manchester's footballing culture, focusing on the period up to the formal adoption of rules and creation of clubs in the 1860s and 1870s, with particular reference to three of the city's earliest organized football clubs. While the influence of each of these clubs was transitory they were linked spatially, chronologically and through key individuals, and their contribution was substantial, even if their existence has largely been ignored by historians. This paper closes by concluding that neither the orthodox nor the revisionist views of the game's origins can fully explain Manchester's experience. In contrast to the idea that certain class groups were more influential than others the authors suggest that football's emergence during the Victorian period depended significantly on key individuals from varying backgrounds who provided the energy and enthusiasm for the game, rather than on specific class interests.
Unio cum Christo celebrates and encourages the visible union believers possess in Christ when the... more Unio cum Christo celebrates and encourages the visible union believers possess in Christ when they confess the faith of the one holy catholic and apostolic church, the body of Christ. Thus, its mission is (1) to be an international scholarly and practical journal for the global Reformed community-churches, seminaries, theologians, and pastors; (2) to encourage deeper fellowship, understanding, and growth in faith, hope, and love in the Reformed community at large; and (3) to support small and isolated Reformed witnesses in minority missional situations. It will seek to do so by the publication and dissemination of scholarly contributions of a biblical, theological, and practical nature by Reformed leaders worldwide including leading theologians, developing scholars, practicing missionaries, pastors, and evangelists. Articles, interviews, and book reviews will consistently be in line with biblically based Reformed confessional orthodoxy and orthopraxis. Submitted or solicited contributions for its biannual issues will focus on specific themes This periodical is indexed in the ATLA Religion Database® (ATLA RDB®), a product of the American Theological Library Association.
This thesis provides a commentary on my publications and considers how my research has developed ... more This thesis provides a commentary on my publications and considers how my research has developed through each phase of my adult life. This is a thesis in support of a PhD by Publication, where the tone and approach aims to appraise my output and consider its contribution and significance, resulting in a more personal account than a traditional PhD allows. It provides an explanation and justification for the publications, positioning them and the period of research within a contemporary context. Within this thesis, I outline the origins of my research and provide a commentary on my writing and research career alongside my personal development. I set my output within the context of the different stages of my career, both in terms of my previous business life and my formal academic engagement, where it should be stressed that each stage has built on the experience I gained during the previous one. My work focuses on the development of football within Manchester and is directly linked t...
Abstract This paper will focus on the origins and subsequent development of school football in Ma... more Abstract This paper will focus on the origins and subsequent development of school football in Manchester and its surrounding conurbation between 1880 and 1919. Archival evidence, drawing mainly on the Manchester Schools Football Association (MSFA) collection, will be used to chronicle the expansion of organized competition and sporting opportunities. It will demonstrate that football’s growth in Manchester’s education system owed much to dedicated teachers who encouraged participation at their own schools and organized inter-school competitions. Association football became prominent right across Manchester as young teachers, most notably George Sharples, encouraged pupils to play, leading to a widening of participation and interest that helps to explain how Manchester transitioned from a rugby to a soccer city. Also discussed is the important role of the Manchester and Salford Playing Fields Society (MSPFS) which assisted the game’s growth in schools and amongst schoolchildren more generally by making suitable fields and pitches available. Without the Society’s efforts facilities may have been insufficient to satisfy growing demand at a critical point in soccer’s development.
In recent years studies of footballing regions has added much to the origins of football debate a... more In recent years studies of footballing regions has added much to the origins of football debate and it is clear that understanding how each conurbation or region adopted the sport adds significantly to our knowledge. Research into Manchester's footballing landscape has added new evidence on how the people of the conurbation adopted association football. However, the influences on Manchester's sporting activities were multifaceted and varied and it was actually rugby football that was perceived as the conurbation's leading team sport between 1870 and 1900, while lacrosse was promoted as a viable alternative by 1880. These sports were more popular than association football prior to the establishment of the Manchester Football Association in 1884, and it was not until the split in rugby in 1895 and the first successes of Manchester's soccer clubs that soccer could be said to have become the leading Mancunian team sport. This paper explores how soccer came to displace other popular team activities, and it questions why Manchester's soccer development followed a different course to that of the city's neighbouring towns of east Lancashire.
Despite a wealth of academic research focusing on the origins and development of association foot... more Despite a wealth of academic research focusing on the origins and development of association football in Britain during the nineteenth century, academics have failed to reach a consensus regarding the early history of the game with the emergence of contrasting 'orthodox' and 'revisionist' interpretations. Much of the current research has focused on tackling the subject on a national level and this has resulted in many towns, cities and regions across the country being overlooked when sports historians discuss the origins of modern football. One such region is North Staffordshire, more commonly referred to as The Potteries, which, despite having played a key role in the formation of the Football League, possessing one of the oldest professional football clubs in the country and an early county football association, has never been the subject of an in-depth academic study. Using a range of archival sources this paper provides an overview of the origins and early development of association football across The Potteries from the 1850 to 1870s, emphasising the influence of Stoke City Football Club and provides a fact based resolution to the debate surrounding the club's origin and formation. The wider development of the game in The Potteries is also explored, tracing the early informal football activities taking place at fairs, fetes and the wakes holidays to the establishment of a football culture in the 1870s following the formation of organised football clubs and the Staffordshire Football Association. This paper concludes that neither the orthodox nor the revisionist interpretations of the game's origins can fully explain the region's football development and that further research into the region is required to understand the significance of The Potteries in relation to the national picture.
ABSTRACT Contemporary Manchester is recognized internationally as a footballing city, with both M... more ABSTRACT Contemporary Manchester is recognized internationally as a footballing city, with both Manchester United and Manchester City acknowledged as prominent clubs. However, the city has not always been a force in the game, nor has the game always been important across Manchester’s social spectrum. This paper examines how Manchester first became established as a footballing city, identifying that success in the FA Cup in 1904 stimulated interest in the game and considers how the legacy of that victory enabled the game to develop in terms of participation and spectating. It also considers the social mix of attendees at professional games in the city, and closes by concluding that footballing success generated increased interest and was the catalyst for improvement in the infrastructure for both participation and attendance, enabling Manchester’s footballing identity to become established.
The International Journal of the History of Sport, 2017
It is important to question the relevance of sport history and to recognize our failings and our ... more It is important to question the relevance of sport history and to recognize our failings and our successes if we are to ensure the genre develops and contributes to society. While sport historians recognize the value, outside of this sphere, it is apparent that the subject is not always recognized for its significance. In this paper, it is argued that sport historians have a responsibility to engage more with the media and the public, while seeking opportunities to collaborate with sports organizations to ensure the subject is relevant and can develop. It is also argued that minority groups are under-represented in the sport history community, arguing that it is incumbent upon sport historians to ensure greater engagement and promotion of these groups. The paper concludes by urging those engaged in sport history to promote the discipline and develop opportunities for others.
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Papers by Gary James