ABSTRACT
Exploring Future Relationships between Football Clubs and Local Government
Sean Perkins
The link between football clubs and local authorities is likely to strengthen in the twenty-first century. For the major ‘global’ clubs it will be a means of anchoring themselves to their immediate community as they seek to expand their support in overseas markets. For smaller professional clubs, whose very survival is, at best, uncertain, effective local partnerships will contribute to ensuring their day-to-day existence. There are several examples of effective multi-agency partnerships which have tackled issues of education, community involvement, sports development, racism, drug abuse and other social concerns. However, Perkins argues that these models are relatively few in number, and that most clubs and local authorities have failed to see the benefits of such links.
