ABSTRACT
Peter held various jobs during the course of fieldwork which included delivering goods, helping with manual labour and running errands. Peter imbued his life story with references to his poor background, and football became a way for him to talk about his limited opportunities. Peter played as a defender both at Ashton and in his amateur football career. His game was one of strength, tackles and aggression in contrast to others who emphasized the importance of a good touch and nifty passing skills. His style did not fit easily within the rules. Although Peter’s tackles were not illegal in that they did not break the formal ‘laws’ of football, these types of tackle were outlawed on the field. Other players also recognized the restrictions on tackling. These restrictions made the field safe for the older players; however, it had the concomitant effect of preventing Peter from playing his game.
