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Sport research is a chart topper

A º£½ÇÖ±²¥ lecturer has had his research into football in England rated in a top 30 chart.

To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the journal Sport in History, the top 30 most significant articles have been made freely available to read for a limited time. Tom Gibbons, a senior sport lecturer, researched how football and English national identity have been interlinked for over a century.

The English formally codified the modern sport of football after the formation of the first Football Association (FA) in London in 1863.

Football has also helped maintain national divisions within the 'United' Kingdom largely through having separate national governing bodies (football associations) for England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

The increased display of the St George Cross rather than the Union flag when the England team compete in international football competitions has been linked to a rise in a specifically English national consciousness.

Tom is delighted his research has been included in the journal’s top 30 most significant research papers. ‘It’s fantastic to have work celebrated in this way with the research paper free to read until 30 June.’

To read Tom’s article you can visit the

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