Dr Graeme Law

Teaching

I teach across modules and I am currently teaching on:

• L1 Fundamental Sociological Issues in Sport, Culture and Society
• L2 Physical education and Sports Coaching modules
• L3 Physical education and Sports Coaching modules
• L3 Social Justice in Sport: Sociological Perspectives

Alongside teaching, I also act as a supervisor for undergraduate dissertation projects, master dissertation projects and Supervise MSc by Research students and PhD Students

Research

My research draws upon sociological theory. My previous research has focused on professional football managers and the role the manager plays within a football club and the impact that interaction has on this along with impression management. I have also carried out research on managers’ behaviours towards injured players drawing on figurational concepts, with an emphasis on power balances. This was conducted by interviewing 10 professional football managers ranging from international level down to conference national.

Research expertise

My PhD focused on the monetisation of relationships within professional football. The aim of this project was to examine the impact that money has on the relationships within the working lives of professional football players. In doing so, issues of contract negotiations, secrecy within the changing room and the effects these have on relationships in and outside the football clubs were analysed, along with their lifestyles outside the football club. Key findings from the PhD were the importance of image in professional football in the form of conspicuous consumption along with the culture of gambling. The data presented on gambling attracted national and international media coverage.

Publications

Peer-reviewed publications (available on RaY) 

Law, G. (2019) Researching Professional Footballers: Reflections and Lessons Learned. International Journal of Qualitative Methods.

Law, G. & Bloyce, D. (2019) Game models as a framework for understanding power in the male football figuration. In D. Malcolm & P. Velija (Eds.), Figurational research in sport, leisure and health (pp. 34–44). London, England: Routledge

Law, G. & Bloyce, D. (2017) ‘Pressure to play?’ A sociological analysis of professional football managers’ behaviours towards injured players. Soccer & Society.

Oral presentations at international conferences

Law, G. (2018), Life on the move: A sociological analysis of contract decisions and the impact on relationships within the working lives of professional footballers. The British Sociological Association Conference, Northumbria University, United Kingdom.

Law, G. (2017), ‘They are just in it for the money’: A sociological analysis of the role of agents in professional football. The British Sociological Association Conference, Manchester University, United Kingdom.

Law, G (2016) 'Gambling is rife in football': A sociological analysis of the leisure lives of professional football players. Aston University. British Sociological Association Conference.

Law, G. (2016), ‘It’s a taboo subject’: A sociological analysis of the secrecy of wages in a professional football changing room. International Sociology of Sport Association Global Conference, Budapest, Hungary.

Law, G. (2015). Conspicuous consumption, ‘It’s all about one-up-man-ship’: A sociological analysis of pay and conditions in professional football. The British Sociological Association Conference, Post Graduate forum, Edge Hill University, United Kingdom.

Professional activities

As an ex-footballer, I am a member of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) and as a coach, I am a member of the Football Association (FA) and England Badminton. As a footballer, I played both in England and Scotland.

I was also capped at the international level when playing for Scotland in the European Under 19 Championships. During my time at the University, I represented Great Britain in the World University Games in Shenzhen, China, winning a Silver medal.

I have also coached at English professional football clubs at youth and first team levels. Prior to coaching at professional clubs, I was the Assistant Head Coach at the La Manga Football Academy, in Spain.


I currently run education programmes on player identity and gambling with several professional football clubs across the country. Within these sessions I work with Academy players, aged from 12-21, Coaches and parents discussing the role football can play in identity creation and the impact this can have on the well-being of players. I have also recently presented my research at the UEFA headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, to the UEFA for players academy.