‘LADS AND BANTER’: and its production of cultural and social identities within a Men’s Semi-Professional Football team.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to generate an in depth understanding into the phenomena of banter including its role in the production and maintenance of social cohesion and hierarchies. The data was collected using an ethnographic approach where by observational field notes were generated from training sessions, gym sessions and on match days. Following this, a focus group was carried out with a selection of players to gain rich understanding of previous experiences that revolve around banter. Previous literature from Currie (1991), Eveslage and Delany (1998), Parker (2001), Palmer (2011) and Clayton (2012) assisted to the framework for how to present and interpret all the data collected. It was through adopting this theoretical framework that this study revealed that banter was used within an inclusive form of discourse formulating an identity for the team. The banter itself lived within all experiences and progressed through constant interaction to produce a more cohesive group. Through the production of hierarchies however, banter fluctuates to accommodate certain positions such as the coach.