A little bit of social history

To understand today's problems, we have to go back to the beginning, in the case of organised football to the Victorians. The Football Association was formed in 1863 and the Football League in 1888. The FA Challenge Cup was established in 1871.

The earliest football teams were based on schools, universities and villages. However following the increase in urbanisation, it was soon found that the most successful clubs were located in the areas which could provide the greatest human and financial resources, that is the cities. Businessmen saw a financial opportunity in forming an association with the local team and this symbiosis between directors and fans continued until recent times. The directors or their descendants put in their money (for publicity, honours, love of football, standing in the community, etc) and the fans paid at the turnstiles (for entertainment, comradeship, love your team, hate the opposition, etc).

And then ....

• Some directors were unable/unwilling to continue pouring money down the football drain.
• Shareholders who had inherited their bits of paper found out that the shares could actually be sold for real money.
• Government decided that football had suffered one disaster too many and that the grounds must be changed.
• Mr Murdoch saw an opportunity to make money by showing live matches on television.
• The players (and/or their agents) decided yes, that's fine, as long as we can have most of the money.
• Wealthy businessmen bought clubs with the aim of making themslves even wealthier.
• In the top division, only a few clubs were able to compete for the prizes. For the rest, the struggle was to avoid relegation.

Le Chatelier (1850-1936) had a principle. This says (very roughly) that if there is a happy state of affairs and then someone comes along and changes the conditions under which the state exists, the state will adjust so that happiness is restored.
But then he was a 'mad' chemist!

Next time
Examining possible corporate structures for football clubs.

Introduction

This blog has a simple aim, that of promoting the return of football to its supporters. Doubtless thousands wish it could happen but are sceptical that it ever will. Quite a lot give the impression that they actually enjoy belonging to the oppressed.

No, I don't think I am a complete nutter. I am encouraged by the example of FC Barcelona and by a belief that even the most intractable of problems can be solved by breaking it down into its constituent parts and taking it stage by stage. In fact, the situation in this country is not uniformly depressing. But let's leave that for later.

At this point, you might like to learn a little of my background. The first professional football match I attended was the West Ham (6) v Arsenal (0) FA cup-tie (1st leg) on 5 January 1946. Although Arsenal won the second leg 1-0, West Ham went on to the next round in which they lost 1-2 to Chelsea.

At school, I can particularly remember the influence of a new PE teacher who, I later learned, had some professional experience with Manchester City. Before the first match of the season, he gave each team-member a card with a slogan for them to remember and apply. Mine was HALF BACKS NEVER RELAX! Even in the modern game, the equivalent still applies.

The same teacher, when listening once to the excuses of the sick, couldn't resist the crack "Got catarrh, boy? Then step inside the gym and give us a toon!"

Later at university, the difference between the aspiring professional footballer and the rest of us was made clear to me when I had the job of marking George Scanlan in an inter-college game. Never got near him!

George, who played for Pegasus from 1954-60, later found fame when, making use of his fluent French and Russian (and of course English), he was involved with the books "Cantona: My Story" and "Kanchelskis".

Since moving to the London area in 1978, I have watched West Hame home and away on numerous occasions. In 1992, I bought two B Hammers Bonds in the West Upper Stand and, in 2003 at the time of Whistle v T. Brown, 100 shares in West Hame United plc. Sadly, in my opinion, this movement towards supporter control of the club could not be maintained, leading to the problems and uncertainties afflicting West Ham and many other clubs today.

I have watched most of the first team home games for the last 17 years as well as the Youth Team on many occasions. Fortunately, the Academy continues to produce quality players, even if the Club has not been able to retain them for long once they make the senior team.

Thank you for reading this far. If you would like to express your opinions, they would be appreciated. Finally, and unfortunately necessary, if you are one of the sad few who are unable or unwilling to make your points politely, please go and inflict them on someone else.

Next time

A little bit of social history leading to today's problems.