Joe SalterWork
Why We Follow
























May 2026
A5
110 Pages Have you ever been watching football on the tele and watched in awe as the director cuts to a wallowing fan who is clearly having worst time of their life? You may think to yourself, why on earth are they putting themselves through this, why engage in something that can leave you feeling so low? 

The average win rate in England’s top division, the Premier League, is 36%, less than 50% of fans will see their team lift a trophy in their lifetime and only 47% of fans believe their club actually cares about them and their views.

Why We Follow explores this complex phenomenon by speaking to matchgoing fans and armchair experts alike, as well as an exploration into club-adjacent charity work, revealing that football isn’t all doom and gloom, even when your team aren’t dispaching rival teams.