Dr Graeme Law

Teaching

I teach on the Sport and Exercise Science and Physical Education and Sports Coaching courses. I deliver on Sociology based modules and Physical education based modules at levels 4,5 and 6.

I am extremely passionate about teaching. I am involved in several modules across the BSc Sport and Exercise Science and BSc Physical Education and Sports Coaching courses. I also contribute to some of the shared modules on our programmes such as Research Methods and the Research paper.

Research

Much of my research has been conducted on the working lives of professional sports people from a sociological perspective. The main focus of this has been, the mental health and wellbeing of professional footballers, gambling in professional football, Identity creation in professional sport and transitions through and out of professional sport. I am currently working on a Movember funded project called Performance Habits, which is a mental fitness programme designed for elite footballers. I am co-founder and director of the research group, Tackling Welfare in Sport Together.

I have supervised or am currently supervising PhD and Masters by Research researchers in the following areas:

• ‘No footballer wants to admit it’s coming to an end’: A sociological exploration of male professional footballers’ transition into retirement.
• A figurational examination of the working lives of backroom staff in men’s professional football clubs in the United Kingdom.
• Supporting Adolescent Footballers' Mental Health and Wellbeing During Transitions to Senior Environments.
• Application of Head-related Policies in Boys’ Professional Football Academy: A Figurational Analysis.
• The provision of Outdoor Adventurous Activities in Secondary Physical Education in North Yorkshire: a critical case study.
• A sociological perspective of Young Male Academy Footballers’ and their experiences of pain and injury.
• A sociological examination of sports coaches’ perceptions of their role in supporting participants’ mental health and an evaluation of the Mental Health First Aid training course.

Publications and conferences

Peer-reviewed publications (available on RaY) 

Publications

Griffiths, J., Bloyce, D and Law, G., (2025) LinkedIn as a research participant recruitment tool: Reflections from the football industry. Qualitative Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-04-2024-0085

Hague, N & Law, G (2023) ‘We’re sweeping the floors’: Life as an EFL Championship Youth Academy Player. Soccer & Society. 272-288 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14660970.2023.2248000

Hague, N., & Law, G. (2021) ‘I was really, really shocked’: A sociological exploration of the transition experiences of English Youth Academy male footballers from school to work. International Review for the Sociology of Sport

Law, G,. Bloyce, D., & Waddington (2020) Sporting celebrity and conspicuous consumption: A case study of professional footballers in England. International Review for the Sociology of Sport. 1-20. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1012690220968106

Law, G., & Bloyce, D. (2019) ‘Pressure to play?’ A sociological analysis of professional football manages’ behaviours towards injured players. Soccer & Society. 20:3, 387-407   http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14660970.2017.1321540

Law, G, (2019) Interviewing professional footballers: Reflections and lessons learned.  International Journal of Qualitative research methods. 18, 1–8                                                      https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919849328      

Law, G., and Bloyce, D. (2018) Game models as a framework for understanding power in the male football figuration. In: Malcolm, D., and Velija, P. (eds.) Figurational Research in Sport, Leisure and Health. Abingdon

Conference presentations

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. 

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

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. (2016) ‘Pressure to play?’ A sociological analysis of professional football manages’ behaviours towards injured players. The British Sociological Association Conference, Post Graduate forum, York St John 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. (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. (2018), A sociological analysis of the monetisation of social relations within the working lives of professional footballers. Keynote Speaker. Myerscough University centre student conference, Myerscough, United Kingdom. 

Law, G. (2019) ‘It’s all about one-upmanship’: Money, status and image management in English professional football. Sociology. The British Sociological Association Conference, Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom.

Law, G. (2021) Research Report: Evaluation of the #21by21 Campaign. In: StreetGames National Conference.

Professional activities

I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and external examiner at Edge Hill University. I have also acted as an external panel member for the validation of degree courses at Southampton Solent University and University of Middlesex.

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), The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Badminton England.

As a players I was also capped at the international level when playing for Scotland in the European Under 19 Championships and Scotland Under 21s. 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.