Dr Paul Widdop
Reader in Sport Business
My profile
Biography
Paul is a Reader in Sport Business at Manchester Metropolitan University, PhD University of Manchester, core member of Edinburgh University Academy of Sport, and co-founder of the Football Collective. He is author of eleven books including - ‘Business of the FIFA World Cup’, ‘Handbook of Football Business and Management’ and ‘Collective Action and Football Fandom’. In addition, he has over 40 peer reviewed academic articles.
His research focuses on an economic networks approach to sport, and how consumption and production are embedded in social relationships, using predominantly a social network analysis methodology to explore relational and interactional dynamics.
Furthermore, he has a specific research interest in the ‘Geopolitical Economy of Sport, Culture and Leisure. In particular his research explores the global networks of consumption and production at the intersection between economics, politics and sociology.
Paul has a strong background in theoretical and applied statistics (MSc in Social Research Methods and Statistics from University of Manchester) and completed a PhD in the Institute for Social Change/Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research (University of Manchester). In addition, he has a extensive knowledge of the theory and methodology of Social Network Analysis.
Currently he is reviews editor for the Journal of Consumer Culture. Active member of the Mitchell Centre of Social Network Analysis (University of Manchester); member of the Canadian Sociological Association - Relational Sociology group; and co-founder and Chair of the Football Collective a vibrant academic research community.
Research outputs
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Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Chadwick, S., Widdop, P., Goldman, M.M. (2023) The Geopolitical Economy of Sport Power, Politics, Money and the State. Routledge.
Group, T.F. (2022) The Business of the Fifa World Cup. Routledge.
Carr, J., Parnell, D., Widdop, P., Power, M.J., Millar, S.R. (2021) Football, Politics and Identity.
Power, M.J., Carr, J., Parnell, D., Widdop, P., Millar, S.R. (2021) Introduction: Understanding the connection between football, identity and (P)politics.
Millar, S.R., Power, M.J., Widdop, P., Parnell, D., Carr, J. (2021) Introduction: Football and popular culture.
Millar, S.R., Power, M.J., Widdop, P., Parnell, D., Carr, J. (2021) Football and popular culture: Singing out from the stands.
Chadwick, S., Parnell, D., Widdop, P., Anagnostopoulos, C. (2018) The Routledge Handbook on the Business of Football. Routledge.
Cleland, J., Doidge, M., Millward, P., Widdop, P. (2018) Collective Action and Football Fandom A Relational Sociological Approach. Palgrave Macmillan.
Parnell, D., Millward, P., Widdop, P., King, N., May, A. (2018) Sport Policy and Politics in an era of austerity. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics.
Widdop, P., Crossley, N., McAndrew, S. (2015) Social Networks and Music Worlds. Routledge.
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Chapters in books
Widdop, P. (2024) 'The geopolitical economy of major sporting events – where business and management meets politics and geography.' Research Handbook on Major Sporting Events. Edward Elgar Publishing,
Chadwick, S., Widdop, P. (2022) 'SAUDI ARABIA AND SPORT IN THE 21ST CENTURY: From Oil and Gas to Event- Driven Change.' Routledge Handbook of Sport in the Middle East. pp. 231-241.
Parnell, D., Fitzpatrick, D., May, A., Widdop, P. (2021) 'The political economy of grassroots football: From obscurity to austerity.' Football, Politics and Identity. pp. 177-192.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S., Parnell, D., Anagnostopoulous, C. (2020) 'Introduction to the handbook of football business and management.' Routledge Handbook of Football Business and Management. Routledge,
Parnell, D., Bennike, S., Ottesen, L., Widdop, P. (2019) 'A closing comment on the policy and politics of implementing football as medicine: The english context.' Football as Medicine: Prescribing Football for Global Health Promotion. pp. 248-260.
Widdop, P., Parnell, D., Bennike, S., Ottesen, L. (2019) 'A closing comment on the policy and politics of implementing Football as Medicine.' Football As Medicine Prescribing Football for Global Health Promotion.
Widdop, P. (2019) 'The Rise and Rise of the Worlds Favorite Sport.' Routledge Handbook of Football Business and Management. Routledge,
Parnell, D., Groom, R., Widdop, P., Ward, S.J. (2018) 'Defining the Role of the Sport Director Within European Professional Football.' Handbook of Football Business and Management. Routledge: London,
Widdop, P., Collins, M. (2016) 'Social network analysis: Towards an approach for football studies.' Routledge Handbook of Football Studies. pp. 348-363.
O'Shea, S.M. (2014) 'Embracing Difference in Feminist Music Worlds: a Ladyfest case study.' In Crossley,, N., McAndrew,, S., Widdop,, P. (ed.) Social Networks and Music Worlds. Routledge,
Widdop, P. (2014) 'Music consumption: Networks and omnivorism.' Social Networks and Music Worlds. pp. 89-103.
Crossley, N., McAndrew, S., Widdop, P. (2014) 'What is social network analysis?: An introduction for music scholars.' Social Networks and Music Worlds. pp. 14-39.
McAndrew, S., Widdop, P., Stevenson, R. (2014) 'On jazz worlds.' Social Networks and Music Worlds. pp. 217-243.
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Media
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2019) Explosion in Japan’s commercial partnerships shows the soft power on offer in sport.
Widdop, P. (2019) Network Analysis and Football Research.
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Internet publications
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2024) Olympic Games 2024: France faces serious hurdles in the race to create a meaningful legacy. https://symplectic.mmu.ac.uk/objectedit.html?cid=1&ot=15&wt=6&dpt=Olympic%20Games%202024%3A%20France%20faces%20serious%20hurdles%20in%20the%20race%20to%20create%20a%20meaningful%20legacy.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2024) Coupe d’Afrique des nations : les diasporas, une aubaine pour le football africain ?. https://theconversation.com/coupe-dafrique-des-nations-les-diasporas-une-aubaine-pour-le-football-africain-222566.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2024) Former Manchester United forward, Bebé (centre), is one of the African diaspora on show at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Legnan Koula/EPA Afcon 2023: Africa’s diaspora footballers are boosting the continent’s game – but they are also creating challenges. https://theconversation.com/afcon-2023-africas-diaspora-footballers-are-boosting-the-continents-game-but-they-are-also-creating-challenges-221953.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2024) Football: tensions kick off in Qatar for the Asian Cup. https://theconversation.com/football-au-qatar-coup-denvoi-de-la-coupe-dasie-des-tensions-220891.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2023) Finale de la Ligue des Champions : Abu Dhabi et Pékin, déjà sur le toit de l’Europe du football. https://theconversation.com/finale-de-la-ligue-des-champions-abu-dhabi-et-pekin-deja-sur-le-toit-de-leurope-du-football-206535.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2023) Il était une fois le Wrexham AFC, club de foot devenu attraction Disney. https://theconversation.com/il-etait-une-fois-le-wrexham-afc-club-de-foot-devenu-attraction-disney-205143.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2023) How Wrexham’s football fairy tale is fuelled by Disney and Hollywood glamour. https://theconversation.com/how-wrexhams-football-fairy-tale-is-fuelled-by-disney-and-hollywood-glamour-204485.
Widdop, P. (2020) Coronavirus: Postponement of EURO 2020 - its biggest strength was also its Achilles' heel. https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/story/12115/.
Widdop, P., Parnell, D. (2020) Unprecedented, uncharted and unrealistic: UEFA postpones EURO 2020 by 12 months. https://footballcollective.org.uk/2020/03/18/unprecedented-unchartered-and-unrealistic-uefa-postpones-euro-2020-by-12-months/.
Widdop, P., Parnell, D., Bond, A. (2020) Covid 19 v Euro 20. https://footballcollective.org.uk/2020/03/11/covid-19-v-euro-2020/.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2019) Saudi Arabia’s growing sporting influence. https://www.policyforum.net/saudi-arabias-growing-sporting-influence/.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2019) https://www.policyforum.net/japans-year-of-sport-a-soft-power-sponsorship-play/. https://www.policyforum.net/japans-year-of-sport-a-soft-power-sponsorship-play/.
Widdop, P., Bond, A., Parnell, D. (2019) Game of Loans. https://www.blogs.hss.ed.ac.uk/sport-matters/2019/10/24/game-of-loans/.
Widdop, P. (2019) English Premier League Trading Study – Preliminary Findings. https://www.blogs.hss.ed.ac.uk/sport-matters/2016/07/06/english-premier-league-trading-study-preliminary-findings/.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2019) A tug-of-war between the emirates. https://www.policyforum.net/a-tug-of-war-between-the-emirates/.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2019) Baku’s foot in the league. https://www.policyforum.net/bakus-foot-in-the-league/.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2019) FIFA President plays the global game. https://www.policyforum.net/fifa-president-plays-the-global-game/.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2018) Can China’s companies be World Cup winners?. https://www.policyforum.net/can-chinas-companies-world-cup-winners/.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2017) Russia is flexing its sports sponsorship muscles. https://www.policyforum.net/russia-is-flexing-its-sports-sponsorship-muscles/.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2017) Soft power sponsorship's How Qatar uses sport to promote a positive picture. https://www.policyforum.net/soft-power-sponsorships/.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2017) Open sesame to sports success: The guanxi of Alibaba. https://www.policyforum.net/open-sesame-sports-success/.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2017) A feast for wolves: China’s richest man is hunting the global sports and entertainment industry. https://www.policyforum.net/a-feast-for-wolves/.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2016) The guanxi of football. https://www.policyforum.net/the-guanxi-of-football/.
Widdop, P., Parnell, D., Ashgar, T. (2016) The Networked Rise of the Football Super Agent. https://www.blogs.hss.ed.ac.uk/sport-matters/2016/10/10/networked-rise-power-football-super-agent/.
Widdop, P., Parnell, D. (2016) Golf: widening the gap between those who can and cannot. https://www.blogs.hss.ed.ac.uk/sport-matters/2016/07/26/golf-widening-gap-can-cannot/.
Widdop, P., Jarvie, G. (2016) Brexit and Sport: Who is keeping the Score. https://www.blogs.hss.ed.ac.uk/sport-matters/2016/06/27/brexit-sport-keeping-score/.
Widdop, P., Parnell, D. (2015) Austerity and Sport for Health. https://www.blogs.hss.ed.ac.uk/sport-matters/2015/09/30/austerity-sport-health/.
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Journal articles
Bond, A.J., Widdop, P., Myers, J. (2024) 'Gambling lifestyles: the importance of social capital and diverse networks.' Leisure Studies, 43(1) pp. 16-30.
Chadwick, S., Burton, N., Widdop, P., Bond, A.J. (2023) 'Networks, strategy and sport: the case of City Football Group.' Journal of Strategy and Management,
Bond, A.J., Widdop, P., Cockayne, D., Parnell, D. (2023) 'Sport prosumer networks: exploring prosumption value in Twitter conversations during COVID-19.' Managing Sport and Leisure, pp. 1-17.
Parnell, D., Widdop, P., May, A., Fitzpatrick, D. (2023) 'The Impact of Global Economic Downturn on Sport Management.' Journal of Global Sport Management, 8(3) pp. 551-556.
Bond, A.J., Cockayne, D., Ludvigsen, J.A.L., Maguire, K., Parnell, D., Plumley, D., Widdop, P., Wilson, R. (2022) 'COVID-19: the return of football fans.' Managing Sport and Leisure, 27(1-2) pp. 102-112.
Parnell, D., Rookwood, J., Bond, A., Widdop, P., Ludvigsen, J.A.L. (2022) '‘It’s a whole new ball game’: thirty years of the English Premier League.' Soccer and Society, 23(4-5) pp. 329-333.
Parnell, D., Bond, A.J., Widdop, P., Groom, R., Cockayne, D. (2021) 'Recruitment in elite football: a network approach.' European Sport Management Quarterly, 23(5) pp. 1370-1386.
McAndrew, S., Widdop, P. (2021) '‘The man that got away’: Gender inequalities in the consumption and production of jazz.' European Journal of Cultural Studies, 24(3) pp. 690-716.
Bond, A., Widdop, P., Cockayne, D., Parnell, D. (2021) 'Prosumption, Networks and Value During a Global Pandemic: Lockdown Leisure and COVID-19.' Leisure Sciences: an interdisciplinary journal, 43(1-2) pp. 70-77.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S., Burton, N. (2020) 'White Paper: Soft Power Eroded: How Covid-19 Has Undermined Gulf Airlines’ Sports Sponsorships.' Sport & Entertainment Review, 6(2)
Parnell, D., Bond, A.J., Widdop, P., Cockayne, D. (2020) 'Football Worlds: business and networks during COVID-19.' Soccer & Society, 22(1-2) pp. 19-26.
Parnell, D., Widdop, P., Bond, A., Wilson, R. (2020) 'COVID-19, networks and sport.' Managing Sport and Leisure, 27(1-2) pp. 78-84.
Chadwick, S., Widdop, P., Burton, N. (2020) 'Soft Power Sports Sponsorship – A Social Network Analysis of a New Sponsorship Form.' Journal of Political Marketing,
Power, M.J., Widdop, P., Parnell, D., Carr, J., Millar, S.R. (2020) 'Football and politics: the politics of football.' Managing Sport and Leisure, 25(1-2) pp. 1-5.
Widdop, P., Parnell, D., Bond, A. (2019) 'Topological network properties of the European football loan system.' European Sport Management Quarterly, 20(5) pp. 655-678.
Widdop, P., Chadwick, S., Parnell, D. (2019) 'Guest editorial: Sport, Business and Management: An Internatinoal Journal.' Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal, 9(1) pp. 2-3.
Parnell, D., Widdop, P., Groom, R., Bond, A. (2018) 'The emergence of the sporting director role in football and the potential of social network theory in future research.' Managing Sport and Leisure, 23(4-6) pp. 242-254.
Parnell, D., May, A., Widdop, P., Cope, E., Bailey, R. (2018) 'Management Strategies of Non-Profit Community Sport Facilities in an Era of Austerity.' European Sport Management Quarterly,
Parnell, D., May, A., Widdop, P., Cope, E., Bailey, R. (2018) 'Management strategies of non-profit community sport facilities in an era of austerity.' European Sport Management Quarterly, 19(3) pp. 312-330.
Zwolinsky, S., Kime, N., Pringle, A., Widdop, P., McKenna, J. (2018) 'Designing programmes of physical activity through sport: learning from a widening participation intervention, 'City of Football'.' BMC public health, 18(1) pp. 1142-1142.
Bond, A.J., Widdop, P., Chadwick, S. (2018) 'Football’s emerging market trade network: ego network approach to world systems theory.' Managing Sport and Leisure, 23(1-2) pp. 70-91.
Parnell, D., Millward, P., Widdop, P., King, N., May, A. (2018) 'Sport policy and politics in an era of austerity.' International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 10(1) pp. 1-5.
Millward, P., Widdop, P., Halpin, M. (2017) 'A ‘Different Class’? Homophily and Heterophily in the Social Class Networks of Britpop.' Cultural Sociology, 11(3) pp. 318-336.
Widdop, P., King, N., Parnell, D., Cutts, D., Millward, P. (2017) 'Austerity, policy and sport participation in England.' International Journal of Sport Policy, 10(1) pp. 7-24.
Leguina, A., Arancibia-Carvajal, S., Widdop, P. (2017) 'Musical preferences and technologies: Contemporary material and symbolic distinctions criticized.' Journal of Consumer Culture, 17(2) pp. 242-264.
Parnell, D., Cope, E., Bailey, R., Widdop, P. (2017) 'Sport policy and English primary physical education: the role of professional football clubs in outsourcing.' Sport in Society, 20(2) pp. 292-302.
Zwolinsky, S., McKenna, J., Pringle, A., Widdop, P., Griffiths, C., Mellis, M., Rutherford, Z., Collins, P. (2016) 'Physical activity and sedentary behavior clustering: Segmentation to optimize active lifestyles.' Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 13(9) pp. 921-928.
Leguina, A., Widdop, P., Tampubolon, G. (2016) 'The global omnivore: Identifying musical taste groups in Austria, England, Israel and Serbia.' Sociological Research Online, 21(3)
Widdop, P., Cutts, D., Jarvie, G. (2016) 'Omnivorousness in sport: The importance of social capital and networks.' International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 51(5) pp. 596-616.
Cutts, D., Widdop, P. (2016) 'Reimagining omnivorousness in the context of place.' Journal of Consumer Culture, 17(3) pp. 480-503.
Zwolinsky, S., McKenna, J., Pringle, A., Widdop, P., Griffiths, C. (2015) 'Physical activity assessment for public health: Efficacious use of the single-item measure.' Public Health, 129(12) pp. 1630-1636.
Parnell, D., Pringle, A., Widdop, P., Zwolinsky, S. (2015) 'Understanding football as a vehicle for enhancing social inclusion: Using an intervention mapping framework.' Social Inclusion, 3(3) pp. 158-166.
Widdop, P., Parnell, D., Groom, R. 'The Sporting Director: Understanding the Role and Theoretical Considerations for Future Research in Football.' Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal,
Fieldhouse, E., Cutts, D., John, P., Widdop, P. (2014) 'When Context Matters: Assessing Geographical Heterogeneity of Get-Out-The-Vote Treatment Effects Using a Population Based Field Experiment.' Political Behavior, 36(1) pp. 77-97.
Cutts, D., Webber, D., Widdop, P., Johnston, R., Pattie, C. (2014) 'With a little help from my neighbours: A spatial analysis ofthe impact of local campaigns at the 2010 British general election.' Electoral Studies, 34pp. 216-231.
Cutts, D., Widdop, P. (2013) 'Was labour penalised where it stood all women shortlist candidates? An analysis of the 2010 UK general election.' British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 15(3) pp. 435-455.
Widdop, P., Cutts, D. (2013) 'Social Stratification and Sports' Participation in England.' Leisure Sciences, 35(2) pp. 107-128.
Fieldhouse, E., Cutts, D., Widdop, P., John, P. (2013) 'Do impersonal mobilisation methods work? Evidence from a nationwide Get-Out-the-Vote experiment in England.' Electoral Studies, 32(1) pp. 113-123.
Widdop, P., Cutts, D. (2012) 'Impact of place on museum participation.' Cultural Trends, 21(1) pp. 47-66.
Breysse, P., Melius, J. (2007) 'Introduction.' JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE, 4pp. 1-2.
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Non-peer reviewed articles / reviews
Widdop, P. (2016) Football agents should not be sent off - they just need a better set of rules.
Widdop, P., Parnell, D. Where did it all go wrong for grassroots football?.
Widdop, P., Jarvie, G. Manifesto Check: Greens say ‘sports for all’, but their pledges lack substance.
Widdop, P., Jarvie, G. Manifesto Check: Lib Dems relegate sports to the sidelines.
Widdop, P., Jarvie, G. Manifesto Check: Labour fails to see sport and physical activity as crucial public services.
Widdop, P., Jarvie, G. Manifesto Check: SNP fails to recognise the potential of sport.
Widdop, P., Jarvie, G. Manifesto Check: Tories’ sport manifesto is committed to the elite only.
Widdop, P., Jarvie, G. Manifesto Check: Plaid Cymru’s sports policy – a good shot, but missed opportunity.
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Conference papers
Parnell, D., Groom, R., Widdop, P., Ward, S.J. (2017) 'The Sporting Director: Exploring Current Practice and Challenges Within Elite Football in the United Kingdom.' In Football Collective Conference. 24/11/2017 - 24/11/2017.
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Other