The Fanatic events kicked off with Fanatic Manchester 001 last week, which saw academics and sporting experts debate issues surrounding football fan culture at the National Football Museum.
It marks a series of Fanatic events that Ear to the Ground will host across the UK in the next 12 months.
Fanatic Manchester 001 was a 90-minute discussion, which examined the evolving nature of football fan experiences, in particular the role of social media. The panel drew upon the new wave of global fan interaction that has made football and sporting clubs more accessible for those around the world. The panel delved deeper into the profile of the modern football fan, looking specifically at the growing level of female support and how important it is for clubs to communicate with these growing markets.
The panelists were sporting photographer Stuart Roy Clarke, academics John Hughson and Anna Semens, Graham Bell author of Is Football the New Rock n Roll and Steve Smith, managing director of Ear to the Ground.
Smith said fan culture and the live experience "lies at the very heart" of what the agency does.
"The series will provide us with invaluable insight into the psyche of the modern fan and it was a privilege to learn from and exchange ideas with other industry experts. We look forward to hosting Fanatic Manchester 002 in February 2013," he said.
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