‘So let me tell you that I love you, and I think about you all the time…’: an exploratory examination of the social leadership of the Union Bears ultra-fan group at Rangers FC

Abstract

Through purposeful combination of two conceptual frameworks – four dimensions of social movements and the four capabilities leadership model – this research provides an exploratory examination of The Union Bears as an expression of the ultra-fan group phenomenon at Rangers FC. The research constructs a research strategy that deploys various qualitative research techniques to explore how the group would be considered. The research finds that from those sampled, the ultra-group do not enjoy widespread support among the Rangers fanbase. Importantly, however, that cautious finding would produce two analytically derived research outcomes – diversity of viewpoints and narrative regeneration – that would begin the process of accounting for the ultra-group in terms of their relevance for the development of the ultra-fan phenomenon at Rangers FC, and to Scottish football more widely as part of an emergent global ultra culture.