England’s top football clubs often prioritise foreign markets over domestic fans, and overseas supporters are buying into clubs’ history and community more than ever. How can clubs remain close to their legacy supporters while creating new products and experiences for future fans?

The weekly pilgrimage to a stadium may have defined football fandom in the past, but people nowadays have a breadth of ways to engage in the beautiful game. From ‘dark social’ discussions to artsy magazines, passionate support goes far beyond simply spectating.

Traditionally, football has been a key component of regional and local identity in England. But with the Premier League now defined more by wealth than locality, fandom is increasingly divorced from its local roots. What does this mean for the future of the nation’s favourite sport?

English football is in crisis – passionate fans are feeling overlooked and cash-strapped clubs are seeking alternate revenue streams. Socios, a crypto-enabled app, is providing fans with the chance to participate in club decisions and could help to grow a global digital fanbase. But at what cost?