Everton Football Club and Liverpool Hope University are offering two researchers the opportunity to shine a light on previously unexplored chapters in the social history of Everton and its award-winning charity Everton in the Community – and to have their findings published in a new book.
Press release
LAUNCH RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS EXPLORING SOCIAL HISTORY OF CLUB AND CHARITY
Two Master’s research scholarships available: MRes in the History of Everton, The People’s Club and MRes in the History of Everton in the Community, Sport at the Service of Humanity
Findings will be published in a new book about the Club
Applications now open – deadline Friday 4 September 2020
Two year-long Master’s Research Scholarships (MRes) are available – MRes in the History of Everton, The People’s Club and MRes in the History of Everton in the Community, Sport at the Service of Humanity. Each scholarship will cover the course fees of £5,200, plus reasonable research expenses, and will begin in September 2020.
Candidates for each of the highly competitive scholarships are encouraged to submit proposals that embrace the social impact of Everton and its charity, or that seek to unearth untold stories and offer new perspectives on the history of both the Club and its charity’s history.
As well as producing a high-quality dissertation of around 30,000 words, each scholar will also write a 6,000-word chapter to be published in a new book exploring Everton’s social history and its impact on the wider community – an opportunity for publication which is rare at Master’s level study.
Everton Chief Executive Officer Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale is currently Liverpool Hope University’s Visiting Professor in Sport at the Service of Humanity.
Her inaugural lecture in 2018 was titled ‘Modern Day Football Social Schemes: Sport at the Service of Humanity or Superficial Social Alibi?’ and explored the impact that social programmes provided by football can have on modern society.
Professor Barrett-Baxendale said: “It is an opportunity to truly understand what makes Everton ‘The People’s Club’, to unearth untold stories and offer new perspectives on football’s wider role in social history.
“Football contributes billions of pounds to our economy each year. This research will go beyond the glamour of modern football to investigate Everton’s pioneering historical and socio-economic impact on society – which is felt both in the UK and worldwide.
“We must not underestimate the role that football can and should have in our communities. Over the last three decades, our charity Everton in the Community has been delivering programmes that create positive socio-economic change and offer life-changing – and often life-saving – assistance for many participants. None more so than through our recent Blue Family campaign, the first initiative established by a Premier League club to support its community through the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are also delighted to be helping two researchers in their careers by providing full-fee scholarships and the opportunity for publication. The chosen researchers will work with some of the best academics in the country at Liverpool Hope University, with our Club, and with key stakeholders to explore the people and places that make our 142-year-old football club and award-winning charity what they are today.”
The scholarships, which form part of Liverpool Hope University’s partnership with Everton Football Club established in 2016, will be overseen by Associate Professor Bryce Evans, a specialist in modern history based in the History and Politics department.
Associate Professor Bryce Evans said: “This is a really exciting opportunity and we’re delighted to be able to work in partnership with Everton. Both scholarships are demanding, research-intensive posts, where students will need to display self-discipline and initiative.
“But applicants also have the chance to, quite literally, write their name into history. The emphasis here is on exploring the unconventional or underexplored aspects of Everton Football Club and Everton in the Community – and really making an original contribution to the field that may even change the way we think about Everton’s history.”
The MRes Scholarships will be awarded following a competitive application process open to anyone with a 2:1 undergraduate degree (BA) in History or History and another subject – either achieved, or predicted if currently in final year university study.
The recipients will undertake one taught methodologies module as part of the Liverpool Hope History Masters programme, with the onus of the course on research and writing. The scholarship will run from the commencement of MRes studies in September 2020 to September 2021.
***Applicants should send a brief expression of interest to Associate Professor Bryce Evans (evansb1@hope.ac.uk) by Friday 4 September 2020.
That should contain:
• Name
• Details of Undergraduate grade achieved or predicted grade in History or History and another subject
• Which scholarship you wish to apply for – MRes in the History of Everton Football Club OR MRes in the History of Everton in the Community
• Outline of the proposed topic of enquiry
For more information visit www.hope.ac.uk
UPDATES
February 2020
EFCHS have been contacted by both of the students who were successful applicants for the Everton Masters scholarships, in conjunction with Liverpool Hope university.
Jake Lawton is researching Everton overseas tours
Emily Liles is researching Everton in the Community’s work. Emily is writing a chapter on the early origins of the club and its community links.
EFCHS has offered both students our full support and have already been able to pass on research material.
We wish both Jake and Emily best wishes for their future reseach.
