About this episode
The episode explores the relationship between football and gambling, examining its societal implications and local significance.
As a new World Cup approaches, what does it mean that gambling now sits so close to the heart of football - and how far has the game travelled from its local roots? Laurie Taylor explores two distinct ways of understanding football’s place in contemporary society. He’s joined by Darragh McGee from the University of Bath, whose book Imitation Games charts the rapid rise of gambling and its growing entanglement with the sport. McGee reflects on how this shift has been normalised, particularly among younger supporters, and considers the broader social consequences of an increasingly immersive and continuous online gambling environment. Adam Dinsmore from Manchester Metropolitan University's Institute of Sport focuses not on football’s global reach but on its local meanings. Drawing on research with supporters in post-industrial towns such as Blackburn and Middlesbrough, he examines how football clubs continue to function as powerful symbols of place-identity. In communities shaped by de-industrialisation, where traditional forms of work and collective life have eroded, the local club often remains one of the last enduring institutions linking past and present. Producer: Natalia…
People in this episode
Host: Laurie Taylor
Guests: Darragh McGee, Adam Dinsmore
Topics covered
- football
- gambling
- society
- local identity
- cultural impact
- youth culture
Keywords
- football
- gambling
- World Cup
- local roots
- youth supporters
- place-identity
- de-industrialisation
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Bath, Manchester Metropolitan University
Books & works: Imitation Games
Places: Blackburn, Middlesbrough
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