Graham embarks on PhD at 53

Graham Daniels, PhD student.

“I’ve been involved in football for most of my adult life. My journey began when I joined Cardiff City at 16 and has lasted through various iterations to the present day, as I am currently on the Board of Cambridge United.

I became a Christian when playing for Cambridge United at the age of 21 and the integration of faith and sport has been a pivotal interest throughout my working life.

Six years ago, Professor Andrew Parker suggested that I might consider exploring the experience of some of the players I have worked with over the years, specifically exploring how becoming Christians impacted their identity formation as professional athletes. I thought this was a crazy idea since I was 53 years of age. Nevertheless, he was persuasive and, with great apprehension, I started a PhD considering this topic. It hasn’t always been easy, but I must say that I have loved the journey.

The process of gaining the skills and techniques to write a thesis has stretched me time and time again and it’s been exhilarating. The 14 respondents are people I worked with during the 1990s and 2000s, and many of them are now managers and coaches in professional football. We have had so much fun in remembering and reflecting on the experiences of combining Christianity with the challenges of changing room culture in the business.

Ultimately, I hope my PhD can inspire others to develop literature in this relatively unchartered area.”