Robin Ireland is an academic, writer and sports fan based in Glasgow, Scotland.
Robin researches and writes about healthier environments. He has focused in recent years on the commercialisation of sport and its impact on public health. He is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow’s School of Health and Wellbeing.
Robin has commented extensively on health and sport issues. His contributions cover public and academic outlets – in print, TV and radio, podcasts and digital media. He has been interviewed on BBC Breakfast Time, BBC Scotland, Sky News, Radio 5 Live and Times Radio, whilst his writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Scotsman, The Conversation, Sport in Society, Public Health Nutrition, The Bulletin of the World Health Organization, BMJ Public Health, Journal of Strategic Marketing, British Medical Journal, Soccer and Society, BMJ Paediatrics, The Lancet and My Football Writer.
He is the author of two books. ‘Sport, Sponsorship and Public Health’ was published by Routledge in 2023. ‘Cutting the Mustard’, a study of the commercialisation of English football through the lens of Norwich City FC, was published by Axis Projects in 2025 and was shortlisted for the British Society of Sports History Lord Aberdare Literary Prize 2026.
You may be able to find Robin at Norwich City away games or at a parkrun most Saturday mornings.
Cutting the Mustard
"Robin Ireland is an academic, writer and football fan which gives you a hint of what to expect from his book. It is very, very good". Chris Lakey, Pink ‘Un
"Although meticulously researched, this is not a book born solely in dusty libraries and well-preserved archives; rather, it is a rich tapestry where historical fact and academic analysis are interwoven with first-hand experiences forged on terraces". Steve Sharman, Soccer & Society
"There are millions of football fans who still have no idea of how the top teams they support amassed their enormous wealth and almost total dominance over the game. Reading this book serves as a reminder that, despite what the advertisers tell us, there have always been exciting games and extraordinary players at every level". Paul Buller, When Saturday Comes