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Above is a podcast based on the findings of my articles, which is about how football clubs use social media.

Middlesbrough FC like all major football clubs keep fans up to date by showing interviews with players and the manager in the build and in reaction to the latest fixture. This allows fans to see the thoughts of the team and their coach on the team’s progress.

This often starts with a pre-match press conference with manager Neil Warnock. The famously honest and forthright coach gives updates on team news such as injuries, but remains tight lipped when it comes to his game plan. Following the game, fans will be able to hear Warnock’s thoughts after the game along with an interview with one of the players.

The interviews are often very relaxed and somewhat biased as they are produced primarily for fans of the club. Whereas interviews given to neutral media outlets such as BBC and Sky Sports will give an impartial perspective on the game.

The interviews are uploaded the Middlesbrough FC’s YouTube channel and website, with the website also giving fans access to the interview contained within a larger article.

Social media is a extremely important tool to any business or company in the modern world, Middlesbrough Football Club are no exception. Boro, as they are known by fans use social media to keep their fans up to date day to day. However, they also offer more passionate fans interesting articles that educate and entertain.

Many articles on the social media pages offer an insight into the club’s past. Links to these articles are placed on the club’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. Fans are then directed to either the club’s website or Teesside live depending on the source. One example of these articles is #on this day. These articles give fans an intriguing read about an interesting event from the club’s past on the anniversary of the event.

This is often a famous victory or signing that brings back positive memories for longtime fans. A recent example of this was the article about Middlesbrough’s famous win over FC Basel. This nostalgic look back on one of the club’s greatest nights will be a welcome read. Given the club’s tougher times of late it is nice to look back to the club’s golden era.

Middlesbrough primarily use their website to promote any new merchandise that they are selling. However whenever a new season rolls around, so do new kits. The new seasons kits are promoted on the club’s social media accounts with first team players modelling the new design. This gives fans the chance to show their support for their team proudly and look the part at the same time.

The club also promote any in store or digital sales they may have on their social media. Whenever the club release new merchandise such as shirts or jackets they will make a post on their social media. The post will always include a link to the official store for the convenience of supporters.

When it comes to a new set of kits for the new season, the club will make a new home and away strip as well as one or even perhaps two new goalkeeper kits. This gives fans a good variety of options. Because if they do not like one of the new kits, they have three alternatives. Also, fans may not be able to afford a new kit every year. So the club will make an attempt to persuade fans that the new kit is worth their money.

In recent years, Middlesbrough FC have began producing a series on their official YouTube channel called Yusuf meets. In this series, Yusuf Jama who is a well known and well liked fan of the club interviews the club’s players. The interviews are much more informal than most content that the club usually produce, they delve into the player’s personal lives and give an insight into the off the field lives of the squad.

Yusuf was voted fan of the season for the 2019/20 season by 32Red, Middlesbrough’s official sponsors. He uses his platform for mental health awareness and also to help fight discrimination. His series of videos have become popular on the channel, with each video receiving between one and three thousand views each. This is on par with the majority of content uploaded to the channel, including highlights of the club’s games.

Yusuf has been a popular figure amongst fans for some time, he is often involved in streamed interviews by the club’s charity MFC Foundation in which they discuss issues faced by the club, on and off the pitch. It is unknown how long this recently devised series will last, but Yusuf will remain a popular figure in the stands as soon as fans return.

Alongside the pre match press conferences which take place before every Middlesbrough game, the club also offer updates on team news. This can include any new injuries or suspensions which will affect the team’s lineup for the game.

Information on the date and time of games is released well in advance and fans will be updated if a game has been moved for a showing on tv or if it has been postponed. Middlesbrough will publish any additional information in the build up to a game if anything major has changed that fans may need to know about.

For fans of the club who have the official app, they will also receive notifications about the upcoming game. Around two hours before kick off, the starting lineup will be announced, followed by notifications for kick off, half time, full time and goals. As well as any other major events which take place in the game.

Then, following the conclusion of the game. Fans will be offered the chance to see post match interviews and free highlights of the game. The app offers many of the same services which can be found elsewhere on the clubs social media, but offers more in depth information than anywhere else.

Middlesbrough have a very professional and very well organised, however it differs greatly from how Manchester United operate online.

As soon as a fan visits Manchester United’s Facebook page they are greeted with promotions for the club replica shirt. This focus on merchandise ahead of team news and results, is due to Manchester United’s larger following and it’s much more lucrative commercial deals.

For example, Middlesbrough FC have ninety thousand Instagram followers whereas United have 40 million. With a smaller audience Middlesbrough can be more informal and may choose to use local slang with most fans being from the local area. Manchester United are a global multibillion pound industry who operate with many different audiences with contrasting ideals and cultures.

Due to these differences, United’s social media must appeal to a broad audience and be more formal and professional than there Middlesbrough counterpart. Although Manchester United’s social media is primarily focused on it’s merchandise and other ways of promoting their brand, there are still posts related to the team and the games.

As one of the most successful teams in world football, it is no surprise that Manchester United have a large social media following, but despite a recent lack of success, they lay claim to the third largest Instagram following of any football team. They are a distant third to only Barcelona and Real Madrid.