Steve Sharman

Football writer

United Kingdom

Football writer and academic psychologist based in Essex and London, who likes to explore psychological, cultural, political, and historical influences on our beautiful game.

In my academic career, I have a PhD in Psychology from the University of Cambridge, making this more successful than my football career which peaked when representing Sussex Schools throughout my teenage years, trials for England Schoolboys, stints at several league clubs, and once marking Shaun Wright-Phillips out of a game. Also once headed a ball out the ground.

I write regularly for Hopper's Guide, and have also written for publications and websites such as Glory, Terrace Edition, The Offside Rule, Outside Write, Football Weekends, Where's the bar?, and Tiro Football. Through my day job, I have published more than 50 academic papers, and authored a number of book chapters.

Although my football heart will always belong to Derby County, I watch a lot of non-league football, and love Italian football - however if I'm honest, I'd watch anything that involves 22 players chasing a pig's bladder around the park..

Always looking for more writing opportunities.

Portfolio
Hoppers Guide
02/08/2026
An Ode to Football in Northern Ireland - Hoppers Guide

Belfast The city of many lives. Where strangers are met with open arms and bared teeth, where aeroplanes leave scars on the asphalt through sea-level mist. The mouth of the Irish Sea yawns wide as the double-decker bus dawdles from the airport to the city.

Tirofootball
11/20/2025
Groundhopping from Udine to Milan

Revolting ultras, a train strike, and going to the wrong ground. Floods, riots, breadstick keepy-ups, and meeting Pippo Inzaghi - Calcio trips are never dull.

Hoppers Guide
06/24/2025
Nine Steps from Wembley: A season with the FA Vase - Wembley!

After ten games across nine rounds spanning multiple counties and teams from many different leagues, Steve Sharman’s journey through the 24/25 FA Vase reaches a thrilling conclusion. The final sees him travel to Wembley following Kent side Whitstable Town, who take on AFC Whyteleafe.

Hoppers Guide
05/07/2025
Nine Steps from Wembley: A season with the FA Vase #09 (Part II)

After a commanding first-leg performance, Whitstable Town head to Gloucestershire with a two-goal lead in their bid to secure a first ever appearance at Wembley. Steve Sharman embarks on his longest trip of his FA Vase journey to see if Whitstable can keep hold of their first-leg lead, or if Hartpury can turn this tie around.

Hoppers Guide
04/03/2025
Nine Steps from Wembley: A season with the FA Vase #09

In a two-legged semi-final with games just eight days apart, Steve Sharman first heads down to Kent to see Whitstable take on Hartpury University, before making the long journey to Gloucestershire the following weekend for the second leg.

Hoppers Guide
03/28/2025
Nine Steps from Wembley: A season with the FA Vase #08

The FA Vase has reached the latter stages and the quarter-final draw saw the side we are currently following, Whitstable Town, drawn at home to Whitchurch Alport. Prior to a trip back to the Kent coast, Steve Sharman spoke to Whitchurch Alport manager Adam Shillcock about the impending battle of ‘whits’ between two sides with plenty left to play for this season.

Hoppers Guide
02/19/2025
#Nine Steps from Wembley: A season with the FA Vase #07

Back on the FA Vase trail, Steve Sharman’s route to Wembley now follows Fleet Town, after the Hampshire side earned a hard-fought win at Crawley Down Gatwick in the fourth round. The Blues now travel to the Kent coast where fifth round opponents Whitstable Town will no doubt be fishing for glory of their own.

Hoppers Guide
01/29/2025
Nine Steps from Wembley: A season with the FA Vase #06

After a nerve-wracking penalty shoot out victory against Tunbridge Wells, Southern Combination Football League side Crawley Down faced Fleet Town in the fourth round of the FA Vase. Distracted by a groundhopping trip to Italy, Steve Sharman enlists the help of Sussex football expert Trevor Knell and photographer Tony Brown to follow The Anvils on their continued quest for Wembley glory.

Hoppers Guide
01/09/2025
Nine Steps from Wembley: A season with the FA Vase #05

After edging past Southern Combination Football League-leaders Hassocks in the last round courtesy of a late equaliser and some quite frankly diabolical spot kicks from the visitors, Tunbridge Wells are again drawn at home, this time against Crawley Down Gatwick. Steve Sharman talks to David Connor, the Sussex side’s chairman, before the teams clash in the third round of the FA Vase.

Hoppers Guide
12/20/2024
A New Day, a New Dawn: All Change, at Maldon & Tiptree

As more games fall foul of the weather and temper any groundhopping ambitions, Steve Sharman stays a little closer to home and visits his local side, Maldon & Tiptree, as news breaks of an impending multi-million-pound takeover.

Trasferta ( https://trasfertamag.bigcartel.com/ )
12/01/2024
Swifts and Jammers: An FA Trophy derby in the heart of Essex

Inspired by tales of Viking Invasions, West Ham legends, and little pots of jam, writer and psychologist Steve Sharman heads to Scraley Road, Heybridge, where cross-town rivals Heybridge Swifts and Maldon & Tiptree go head-to-head for local bragging rights and a place in the next round of the FA Trophy

Hoppers Guide
11/05/2024
Nine Steps from Wembley: A Season with the FA Vase #03

FA Vase Round 1: Tunbridge Wells vs. Pagham. After Glebe's FA Vase run was brought to a shuddering halt at Tunbridge Wells, Steve Sharman returns again to the Culverden Stadium - this time following the home side as they bid to return to Wembley...

Hoppers Guide
10/11/2024
Nine Steps From Wembley: A Season with the FA Vase #02

FA Vase Qualifying Round 1: Tunbridge Wells vs Glebe After Glebe secured a hard-fought victory in the Brighton suburbs to see off Mile Oak, Steve Sharman is now following the men from Chislehurst in the FA Vase. The next qualifying round takes him deeper into Kent, where Glebe attempt to take another step towards Wembley,...

Hoppers Guide
10/01/2024
When Football Came Home

Steve Sharman reviews the 2024 Subbuteo World Cup in Tunbridge Wells, Kent - where the game was invented.

Terrace Edition
10/07/2024
Flickering Dreams: The Subbuteo World Cup - Terrace Edition

The Eland Cables Federation International Sports Table Football (FISTF) World Cup, or as it is better known, the Subbuteo World Cup recently touched down in Royal Tunbridge Wells. These guys flick to kick and you'll know all about it with the raucous celebrations for the iconic table top football ga

Hoppers Guide
09/19/2024
Ireland: More Than a Game

Steve Sharman talks to the Irish Subbuteo World Cup team ahead of the upcoming tournament in Tunbridge Wells, where the game was invented

Hoppers Guide
09/12/2024
Italy: Great Expectations

Steve Sharman talks to the Italian Subbuteo World Cup team ahead of the upcoming tournament in Tunbridge Wells, where the game was invented

Hoppers Guide
09/08/2024
Japan: A Brave New World

Steve Sharman talks to the Japanese Subbuteo World Cup team ahead of the upcoming tournament in Tunbridge Wells, where the game was invented.

Outside Write
08/30/2024
Clear the Table, Iron the Pitch, and Lock up the Cat - (Table) Football's Coming Home... -...

GUEST POST: In 2024, the Subbuteo and Sports Table Football World Cups are coming home to Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Steve Sharman chats with FISTF President Steve Dettre to explore some of the history of Subbuteo and table football, reviews the results of previous World Cups, and gets excited about what is in store for fanatics and casual observers alike over three days in September.

Hoppers Guide
08/09/2024
Once, Twice, Three Times, a Swifty

Steve Sharman takes us to the Isthmian League North and an in-depth look at Heybridge Swifts. Interviews with manager Julian Dicks & chairman Steve Spreadbury.

Outside Write
04/09/2024
The Essex Senior Cup in its 140th year

In this guest post, Steve Sharman, a writer and psychologist based in Essex and London, covers one of England’s oldest surviving cup competitions, the Essex Senior Cup, now in its 140th year.

Football Weekends
01/15/2024
Globehopping: Seoul

Steve Sharman visits the bustling capital of South Korea to see FC Seoul in domestic action at the World Cup Stadium

Managing Sport and Leisure
23/07/2020
Gambling in Football: How much is too much?

Football and gambling have a long, intertwined history. This commentary seeks to explore the changing nature and implications of this relationship, how the relationship has been affected by COVID-19, and how the relationship may change in the future.

The Offside Rule
04/03/2020
2019/20: for some, the season that never happened

Following the FA's decision to cancel all 2019-20 seasons below National League level, Steve Sharman takes a closer look at the psychological impact on the teams who will be hit hardest - and on those who will profit.

The Offside Rule
11/18/2019
Maldon and Tiptree - the psychology of the underdog

It's a freezing Wednesday night in Essex, and another cup game for Maldon and Tiptree, the 14th of an already hectic season, writes Steve Sharman as he reflects on the psychology of the underdog in the beautiful game.