ABSTRACT
The first of four results chapters, this chapter explores how LGBT fans represent ‘authentic’ and ‘hardcore’ notions of football fandom – as evidenced by their personal and historical relationship with football, choice of location inside stadia and their enthusiastic and vocal support for their club. This is indicative of how LGBT fans represent what Giulianotti (2002) refers to as ‘traditional’ and ‘hot’ notions of football spectatorship. The second part of the chapter focuses on the development and evolution of LGBT Fan Groups, including founders’ motivations for establishing these groups, in addition to their role in providing LGBT fans with a greater sense of safety, belonging and community in a typically hypermasculine environment.
