'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

Through purposeful combination of two conceptual frameworks four dimensions of social movements and the four capabilities leadership model– this research provides an exploratory examina tion 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 engage in analysis that critically positions the thematic frameworks to first explore how the group would be considered, and then, second, through critical consideration of the generated data. The research finds that from those sampled, the ultra-group do not enjoy wide spread support of the Rangers fanbase. Importantly, however, that raw finding produces 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.