EDU Resources
Help your students develop social and civic competences by using examples of events in football history.
In this article:
COVER Image
The Hillsborough memorial, dedicated to the 96 victims of the 1989 “Hillsborough Disaster” (Photo: Dave Pickersgill / Hillsborough Memorial / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons).
Two tragic disasters and their connection to citizenship education
What do we mean when we think of blame? Is there always a person or a group of persons to be blamed when disasters happen? This activity uses sources connected to the Heysel Stadium Disaster of 1985 and the Hillsborough Disaster of 1989 to help students debate these questions. In answering the questions, students not only develop social and civic competences related to dialogue, debate, and discussion, but understand the connection between sport and society, especially when it comes to sports as outlets of protests.
Sport and its history are more than just scorelines. That is something I have always believed, and as a teacher I know how much sport engages my students. During the 1970s and 1980s in Britain, hooliganism took hold and football was at risk of disappearing because of the violence committed by fans. Two major events in the 1980s were the Heysel Disaster in 1985, and the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989. These two tragedies tell us a story that goes beyond football: they tell of social disorder, political tensions and difficult ethical questions. Having taught these two lessons to my classes, it led to interesting discussions, passionate debates, and the learners being challenged to consider their own stances on the issues. I recommend it! – Gareth Thomas, History Teacher and one of The Football History Boys.
Analysing sources to engage with a difficult topic
This activity has been developed by Gareth Thomas for younger students, aged 11 to 13. By analysing newspaper articles and photos of the time, students engage with the events of 1985 and 1989, ultimately approaching the difficult ethical concepts of blame and forgiveness. The source analysis and the construction of the arguments for classroom discussion are guided by accessible and ready-to-use worksheets and guiding questions, with which students also learn how to approach sources and assess their reliability.
Laying the foundations for high quality debate and discussions
We recommend you to use this activity with students who are learning how to have quality discussions and debates in the classroom, how to build their arguments, and how to analyse sources. From this practical example, students will develop social and civic competences that will allow them to engage, in the future, in discussions about blame, violence, and related narratives of inclusion and exclusion.
Access the resource
You can find this ready-to-use activity on the eLearning Platform Historiana. The activity has been developed by Gareth Thomas, one of The Football History Boys. We interviewed Gareth and Ben (Jones, other half of the Football History Boys) in May 2020. In the interview, which you can find here, we talk about hooliganism, women’s game, how to engage pupils, and all things football and education. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them with questions on the activity and with your experience using it in the classroom! You can find them on Twitter.
RELATED STORIES You may also be interested in
Today in 1990: a match to teach the collapse of Yugoslavia
Taking the myths around the football game that is said to have “started the wars in former Yugoslavia” as an opportunity to teach critical thinking.
Netflix’ “The English Game” Useful for History Teaching
Netflix original series “The English Game” reviewed by three history teachers from three countries.
Petra Landers: For the Love of the Game
Petra Landers has had many triumphs in football, but thinks the governing bodies have not given women’s football the right support. Her story is one about diversity, equality and education.

Latest Educational Resouces

Multiculturalism and representations of national identity
Teach students about questions of identity, citizenship and multiculturalism by looking at national football teams across Western Europe.

A system of push and pull
Expand the knowledge of your students about migration and its push and pull factors through the example of football.

Football as a portal to French colonial history
Learn about colonialism and migration by tracing the origins of French football players.

Disappearing from football and the world
Analyse and connect historical sources to learn about Italian fascism and the history of Europe in late 1930s – early 1940s.
Multiculturalism and representations of national identity
Teach students about questions of identity, citizenship and multiculturalism by looking at national football teams across Western Europe.
A system of push and pull
Expand the knowledge of your students about migration and its push and pull factors through the example of football.
Football as a portal to French colonial history
Learn about colonialism and migration by tracing the origins of French football players.
Disappearing from football and the world
Analyse and connect historical sources to learn about Italian fascism and the history of Europe in late 1930s – early 1940s.
LATEST POST You may also be interested in

Multiculturalism and representations of national identity
Teach students about questions of identity, citizenship and multiculturalism by looking at national football teams across Western Europe.

When football went viral
On this day in 2020, Atalanta Bergamo hosted Valencia in a final-16 Champions League match. It was a superspreading event of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A system of push and pull
Expand the knowledge of your students about migration and its push and pull factors through the example of football.

World War 1 in one life
A story of a professional footballer who died at the battle of the Somme in 1916.

Football as a portal to French colonial history
Learn about colonialism and migration by tracing the origins of French football players.

Remembering the Holocaust through Football
Today, 27 January, is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Educators can use the life stories of footballers to explore this painful past with the students.