The upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand/Aotearoa will make history: it’s the first co-hosted WWC; first in the southern hemisphere; first with 32 teams; and first with guaranteed prize money for all players.
On June 13, 2023, historians Jean Williams and Brenda Elsey, and anthropologist Hillary Haldane comprised a panel that delved into key issues in the politics, economics, culture, and history of the most important event in women’s football.
A total of 34 participants from around the world attended the event, which made for a particularly lively and engaging discussion.
Listen to an audio recording of the session (for personal/educational use only):
On Tuesday, June 13, at 2pm US EDT (7pm London, 8pm Johannesburg, 9pm Doha), the Football Scholars Forum will hold a roundtable discussion on the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Historians Jean Williams and Brenda Elsey and anthropologist Hillary Haldane will each make introductory remarks to help frame a conversation on multiple aspects of the culture, politics, and history of the WWC.
To receive a Zoom invitation, please contact Peter Alegi (alegi AT msu DOT edu).
On March 31, 2023, FSF welcomed James Brown, vice president of The Society for American Soccer History, for a discussion of his recent book, Mud, Blood, and Studs: One Family’s Legacy in Soccer and Rugby Across Three Continents [link].
Participants included U.S. Hall of Famer George Brown, Gerard Akindes, Zach Bigalke, Chuck Carlson, Jack Huckel, Antony Kaminju, David Kilpatrick, Josh Jackson, John Sloop, Gordon Stewart, Yomi Ejikunle, and Peter Alegi.
Listen to an audio recording of the session (for personal/educational use only):
On Friday, March 31, at 2pm US Eastern Time (London 1900; Johannesburg 2000), we welcome James Brown, vice president of The Society for American Soccer History, to discuss his book Mud, Blood, and Studs: James Brown and His Family’s Legacy in Soccer and Rugby Across Three Continents [link].
Mud, Blood and Studs, according to the publisher, is a “story of sporting excellence passed from generation to generation. An alcoholic father abandons his family in Troon, Scotland, and sails for America, but against the odds his offspring prosper, as his four boys have natural athletic ability. Oldest son, Jim, travels to America to track down his father and finds a country in the throes of the Great Depression. However, his superb soccer skills win him selection for the 1930 US World Cup team. In 1932, he signs for Manchester United, and later for Spurs. Jim passes his skills on to his son, George, who becomes a USA All-Star and USMNT player. Jim’s brothers, John and Tom, shake up Scottish football, and John hands down his sublime hand-to-eye coordination to sons Peter and Gordon, who make their mark in international rugby. Then there are Peter and Gordon’s cousins, the Lambies, who impact South African rugby. This fascinating book brings you the inside track on a remarkable family who overcame adversity to thrive at the top level of sport.”
To participate in the Zoom event, contact Peter Alegi (alegi AT msu DOT edu) by Thursday, March 30.
On November 9, Pete Watson joined us for a discussion of his new book, Football and Nation Building in Colombia (2010-2018), available as a free download here.
32 participants attended the session, including Ryan Turcott and his students from the International Sports Management course at Gonzaga University, as well as Rwany Sibaja, Sergio Echeverry-Ruiz, David Kilpatrick, Shawn Stein, Andrew McFarland, Chuck Carlson, Jon Dart, Mauricio Borrero, Michelle Sikes, Andrew Guest, Patrick Ridge, Chris Gaffney, and Andrew Lee.
Listen to the audio recording below (for educational/personal use only):
“The first book on Colombian football in English explores the pivotal role that football played as part of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ national unity project centred on the peace process with the FARC” (from the publisher’s web site).
To register please contact Peter Alegi (alegi AT msu DOT edu).
Participants included: Gerard Akindes, Tarminder Kaur, Andrew Guest, Martha Saavedra, Michelle Sikes, Hikabwa Chipande, Robert Edelman, Chuck Carlson, David Kilpatrick, Yomi Ejikunle, Emy Lindberg, Itamar Dubinsky, John Boyd, Tom McCabe, Titi Kou, and Peter Alegi.
Listen to our conversation below (for personal/educational use only):
The book is available in epub format from the publisher for $34.95.
This session is co-sponsored by the Sports Africa Network — a leading organization of sport scholars and practitioners — which will also stream it as part of their Sports Africa Live series.
To participate, please contact Peter Alegi (alegi AT msu DOT edu).
Andrew Guest, professor of psychology and sociology at the University of Portland, took the stage at the Football Scholars Forum on March 3, 2022, for a brilliant session devoted to his new book, Soccer in Mind: A Thinking Fan’s Guide to the Global Game.
Participants included: Chuck Carlson, Andrew Lee, Jeffrey Organ, Martha Saavedra, Adam Winkel, and Peter Alegi.
Listen to our conversation on the social science of soccer below (for personal/educational use only):
