UKRAINE AND ENGLAND: COMPARISON OF DISCOURSE AROUND THE COVERAGE OF AMATEUR AND SEMI-PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL TEAMS IN SOCIAL MEDIA

The main goal of this scientific article is a comprehensive analysis and investigation of the differences in the formation and operation of amateur and semi-professional football teams in Ukraine and England. Why this comparison exactly? While Ukraine is a clear choice due to its proximity and familiarity for both the author and the readers, England is selected because of its extensive and possibly the most developed structure of semi-professional and amateur leagues, totaling 57 [1]. This serves as an example of how a healthy tiered sports competition system should function, where any club can rise to the top league through successful results, if such an objective exists. An important function of the developed football system in England is not only the path to top leagues but also the development of sports culture among people who view it as a hobby rather than a profession. This is crucial for building communities based on shared interests and improving the health of the country's citizens. The ongoing war in Ukraine is also a catalyst for the development of amateur sports in the country. It will help form communities necessary for people psychologically affected by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, as well as for veterans who may have psychological health issues or physical injuries from the war, most of which require intensive physical rehabilitation and therapy, including football among other sports and activities. The development of sports in Ukrainian communities is also discussed in the subcommittee on state youth policy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine [2].