SASA Master Class: Football Archaeology: Critiquing 'Welcome to Wrexham'

The archaeology of games and gaming takes us from prehistoric artefacts, art and architectures to the virtual worlds of video games. Archaeologists have specifically already investigated aspects of footballing (soccer) heritage, built environments and material culture. But what about the use of heritage and archaeology within sports documentaries? Using the first 4 series of 'Welcome to Wrexham', I take you on a journey into the ways the TV show charts the fortunes of Wrexham AFC and its celebrity owners, draws upon and portrays the past through material culture, built environments and the historic landscape.

This raises questions about how archaeology operates in 21st-century sporting narratives and discourses. In particular, it allows us to consider the narratives we weave about sport and identity in particular, including age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity and nationality. It also prompts us to reflect on how we use the past to craft stories of post-industrial rehabilitation and…