Sporting Success in Peripheral Cities: Women Non-fans’ Perceptions of Premier League Promotion and Urban Identity

Abstract This study examines how women non-sports fans in a peripheral city perceive and interpret their local football team’s promotion to the Premier League. While existing research focuses primarily on economic impacts and fan relationships with clubs, there remains limited exploration of how professional sports success affects broader populations, particularly non-fans. Through semi-structured interviews with 12 women residents who self-identify as non-fans, this research reveals complex dynamics of urban identity formation and social cohesion in peripheral urban settings. The findings demonstrate a notable duality in residents’ responses, characterized by renewed civic pride coupled with persistent skepticism about sustainable urban development. Analysis reveals three major themes: “Local Pride and Skepticism,” “Social Cohesion and Community Engagement,” and “Dynamic Urban Identity.” Particularly significant was the emergence of new patterns of community engagement among non-traditional stakeholders, suggesting that sporting achievement can foster social connections even among those who maintain personal distance from sports culture. The study contributes to our understanding of how sporting achievement influences peripheral urban communities beyond traditional fan bases, while highlighting the complex relationship between sports success and sustainable urban development through the unique lens of women non-fans’ perspectives.