Bonita Corrie-Lunn

This chapter will utilise a figurational sociological approach, pioneered by the work of Norbert Elias, as a theoretical framework to explore the relationship between sport and religion. Elias has been considered one of the greatest sociologists of the 20th century, whose work builds upon the work of Marx, Weber and Durkheim. A figurational approach has been utilised to cover a wide range of subjects, including violence, ageing and death, art, gender, racism and, most importantly for this discussion, sport and leisure. Giulianotti states how the figurational approach has ‘acquired a very “established” position’ within the field of sport sociology and leisure studies. In addition, his work has been utilised by a range of scholars including Maguire and Tuck, Liston and Moreland, and Liston and Maguire to explore identity, subsequently making it ideal for examining Spurs and their publicised ‘Jewish’ identity.