Class Act: Football and the English Working Class ft. Josh Bland

This week, Francesco and Guy are joined by Josh Bland, a research student at the University of Cambridge, to explore the enduring and evolving relationship between football and social class in England.Josh traces the historic connection between the working class and the beautiful game, and unpacks how today’s football—especially in its commercialised Premier League form—challenges ideas of “authentic” fandom and identity. Are traditional ties to the game only found further down the football pyramid? And how is class itself understood in contemporary Britain, through the lens of football culture?A thoughtful and timely conversation about heritage, identity, and how football reflects deeper shifts in British society.