Dr Connor Penfold
UCFB Wembley
Course Lecturer
BA (Hons) Football Business and Media
Dr Connor Penfold is currently a lecturer in Football Business and Media. After achieving a First-Class degree in BA (Hons) Football Studies from Solent University in 2018, Connor moved to the University of York and obtained a Master of Arts degree in Culture, Society, and Globalisation at Distinction. He then moved to Northern Ireland to complete a PhD in Sociology on the experiences of disabled supporters in English football at the University of Ulster.
Connor has published research in several globally recognised peer-reviewed journals, as well as presenting his research at numerous international conferences. Connor has also occupied a teaching role at the University of Ulster before joining UCFB in 2022.
Connor’s research interests primarily relate to sport, active spectator cultures, disability, and other social issues including ‘race’ and racisms.
Areas of expertise
- Sociology of Sport
- Disability studies
- Sociological theory
- Sport Media
- Qualitative research methods
- Sport fandom and activism
- Social inequalities and discrimination
- Politics of sport and media
- PhD in Sociology, University of Ulster
- MA Culture, Society, and Globalisation, University of York
- BA (Hons) Football Studies, Solent University
- Penfold, C., Darby, P., & Kitchin, P. (2024). Disabled people’s experiences of English football fandom: Inclusion, exclusion and discrimination. International Review for the Sociology of Sport. doi: 10.1177/10126902241268097
- Penfold, C. and Cleland, J. (2021) ‘Kicking It Out? Football Fans’ Views of Anti-Racism Initiatives in English Football’, Journal of Sport and Social Issues. doi: 10.1177/01937235211067190
- Penfold, C. and Kitchin, P. J. (2020) “Will it ever be completely safe to be in a crowd again?”: the return of disabled supporters to football stadiums during COVID-19, Managing Sport and Leisure. doi: 10.1080/23750472.2020.1850325
- Penfold, C. (2023). ‘We suffer things that just wouldn’t happen to non-disabled fans’: Barriers to inclusion in football fandom for disabled people. European Association for Sport Management (EASM) Conference. University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland – 13 September
- Penfold, C. (2022). ‘At the end of the day, we haven’t got a choice’: Barriers to inclusion in English football fandom for disabled people. The Future of Football. Solent University, England – 29 June.
- Penfold, C. (2022). ‘We suffer things that just wouldn’t happen to non-disabled fans’: Disabled people’s experiences of discrimination and exclusion in English football fandom. 5th Annual Sport and Discrimination Conference, University of Sunderland, England – 22 June
- Penfold, C. (2021). The disabled supporter as an activist for social inclusion in the English Football League. International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise Conference, Anglia Ruskin University, England – 8 April
- Penfold, C. (2021). Disabled supporters, activism, and inclusion in English football. Football in Lockdown: Power in Unity Conference, Football Collective, Online – 21 May
- Penfold, C. (2019). A critical examination of football fans’ views towards Kick It Out efforts in tackling racism in English football. 4th Annual Sport and Discrimination Conference, Solent University, England – 19 September
- Penfold, C. (2019). Kicking It Out: Football fans’ views on anti-racism initiatives in English football. British Sociological Association Sports Study Group Postgraduate Research Conference, Oxford Brookes University, England – 5 September
- Penfold, C. (2019). Challenging the state of anti-racism policy in English football. Football Collective International Conference, Sheffield, England – November 28
- Penfold, C. and Kitchin, P. J. (2019). Football. A game for all? Festival of Social Science Research, University of Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland – November 6
- Penfold, C. (2017). The Manifestation of Rivalry and Collective Identity: A case study involving the fans of Oxford United and Swindon Town football clubs. Football Collective International Conference, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland – November 1