2013 graduate David Childs has been invited to the Football 150 conference to discuss a paper he researched and wrote as part of his Honours degree in Politics. Taking place at the National Football Museum, Manchester, in September 2013, the conference seeks to explore the historical, sociological, artistic and other aspects of men's and women's football in all its varieties. The School is proud to support David in his participation.

A summary of David's paper, which he wrote for the International Rivalry course:

"The football rivalry between England and Germany, though at its peak in 1996, is declining in intensity. The globalisation of sport and multiculturalism in both countries has made the memories of the Second World War increasingly redundant in the rivalry between the two states. While this acceptance of the past has come a bit later to England than it has Germany (as seen by the English media coverage of the 1996 European Championships), it appears that the worst of the rivalry has passed, although one could argue it is because Germany do not see England – who haven’t won a major tournament in nearly fifty years – as a significant competitor.

The relationship between the England and Germany national football teams is discussed using the framework used by political scientists such as Brandon Valeriano to analyse international rivalry. Using the framework and concepts such as conflict accumulation, rivalry conceptualization and myth construction, the history of the rivalry is discussed, as is the future and sustainability of the rivalry."

David's report on the event: Football 150 Review (PDF)

First published: 4 July 2013

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