WHAT GOES AROUND...
Not many coups are thwarted within three days, but an attempt by powerful figures within the tawdry world of football to change what is already an obscenely corporate business came to nowt - for the time being, anyway... How joyous it was to witness fans who would normally be at opposition throats coming together, united in a common cause, one centred on adding yet more golden geese to an already inflated pond of golden geese.
Going back to the 'Good old days', the 'Golden age', we had, in this country a system that worked well for over a century with a little refinement here and a little tweak there. What we had was stability within the game and a great sense that the clubs we supported were our clubs. They were clubs, not 'Brands'! They were part of our lives and we, the supporter, were part of theirs.
There were four divisions - League Division 1, 2, 3 and 4. It was a simple system, free of razzamatazz and corporate greed, though I suspect personal gain played a not insignificant part in many a transfer deal, but sadly, where there is money there are those who see it as easy and often rich pickings.
Along with this easy to follow system came a similarly easily remembered kick-off time. It was every Saturday throughout the season at 3pm - with the exception of Newport County who kicked off at 3.15pm in order that workers in the steel industry could finish their shift and still make it to the game! Midweek matches kickeed-off at 7.30 unless there was very good reason to alter the timing. Promotion and relegation were more or less what happens at the current time. The exception is that in England we now have a pyramid system that allows for automatic promotion and relegation between the lowest division, now known as League 2, and the Fifth tier known as the National League and sponsored by various organisations, which lowers the tone of any sporting event.
Incidentally, since the fifth tier, originally called the 'Conference' was formed commencing with the 1986/7season, it has had a fair number of sponsors. These include:- Gola, Vauxhall, Nationwide Building Society, Blue Square, Skrill and currently Vanarama - and doesn't that sound classy! I point out these names because I detest sponsorship. I know clubs need income, I know that smaller clubs struggle and this form of advertising is a lifeline for many, but it's the long-term cost. Many a club has cut its cloth according to the size of the sponsored investment. At some stage this relationship ends - either at the agreed termination date - or the messiah leaving the club high and dry by terminating unexpectedly early for whatever reason. These clubs have relied on a false sense of security and for the duration of that relationship and mutual advertising the club changes the name of its ground to reflect the financial involvement.
The delightfully named Brighton and Hove Albion played for many years at the Goldstone Ground, they moved some twelve plus years ago to the Falmer Stadium. I've never been a fan of the word 'stadium', it conjures up thoughts of being 'Above oneself', 'Up your own backside' etc. You know where you are with a 'Ground', or a 'Park'. It is where a football match is played. My local team is Aldershot Town, though it is many years since I stood on the terraces, mainly because it is a very different town from the one visited during the seventies and early eighties, but I'll write a blog on that subject later in the month! Humble Aldershot Town played for decades at the 'Recreation Ground', they now play at the 'EBB Stadium'. Same ground, same address, but while gaining a sponsor it loses a part of its soul.
Back in the late eighties and the early nineties, the moneymen who wormed their way into football decided to form a breakaway league and call it the Premier League. All the top teams were for it. Greater autonomy, greater bargaining power with the media, colossal deals for viewing rights... and all for the greater greed and little thought for the greater good. Three matches in the Premier League today, all kicking off at different times to maximise revenue from the media. Who's game is it anyway?
Thirty years on and six English teams, along with three from Spain and three from Italy, announced their 'Grand European plan' to a fairly unsuspecting public one day, encountered unexpected flak from governments, football associations, managers and players across Europe, but most importantly - fans the next day and by the third day it was on hold! There followed statements by club owners, humble words of remorse and regret, the like of which had not been encountered since an Oscar winner last thanked his or her grandmother for 'Being there for them'! The wringing of hands was sickening in the extreme as their excuses about 'not understanding the feelings of supporters' and 'doing it for the games very survival' cut little ice with genuine fans. It is they who pay good money to follow their club and in many cases a dream that will never be fulfilled, but that is why they go! Among the crowds who demonstrated holding aloft banners that showed in no uncertain terms the strength of feeling to the Euro dream, one stood out above all others. This was the one that displayed the sentence 'We just want to play Stoke on a cold night' which says it all...
Like so much in life, society is governed and futures chiselled into shape by those who flex their financial muscle for personal gain. No English club should be foreign owned, no owner should be allowed to own more than one club. That would be my starting point for the major reforms needed so that the likes of Barrow, Grimsby Town, Rochdale and Port Vale could get a fair share of the fortunes made by the moneymen at the top of the pyramid who wish to share only with like-minded moneymen within a very limited and tawdry select few. The gap between rich and poor would be considerably shorter if I had my way.
Oh... and if those at the top could see their way to reducing the power of that most grotesque troupe of leeches - the agents - I would be 'over the moon' as I believe they still say in footballing circles.
No comments:
Post a Comment