Social Media and Football in the Barclays Premier League: An investigation on the usage of Social Media within the changing relationship between Football and its Supporters

Abstract

Abstract Social media and the Internet is becoming a norm where the growth has been directly aimed around people and how they interact in relation with football, the sport has always generated a big fan base throughout communities like a sub-culture. This dissertation researches how the changing relationship between supporters and football in the Premier League team affects with social media. In order to understand this further, this study first aims to explore the relevant literature and critical evaluations to the topic including relationship between football and the media and the usage and impacts of socio-technology. Then the research methodology will be presented through primary research methods such as questionnaires and semi structured interviews where both qualitative and quantitative data will be gathered. The results and data will be analysed within the literature review to conclude whether both primary and secondary resources correlate with the investigation. The findings suggests that although live television remains the main form of media for football, social media networks such as Twitter provide a strong correlation as an alternative platform for viewing highlights, updates and any club information ‘on-the-go’. The results shows that social media is easy and accessible to use and it allows supporters to express themselves more freely where younger fans tend to show their support. Despite football is dominated by males, there is a strong link and increase of younger female fans, suggesting a new breed of younger, female fans are being attracted to Premier League football with the use of social media.