Wednesday, August 19, 2009
It's grim up north
Back in the first season of league football in 1888/1889, a time of northern shit pits, TS Lowry and a smoke covered industrial wasteland there were 6 sides from the north west out of 12 original competitors. There was Everton, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers. And Accrington Stanley, Preston North End and Burnley.
The north west with it's chimney stacks and mill towns was the heart of English football and it was Preston, Proud Preston, who ended that first season as unbeaten champions.
Fast forward 121 seasons and still clubs in the region dominate at the highest level. We have the new age giants of the M62, Manchester United and Liverpool who have won trophy after trophy in the last 40 odd years. Their lesser city cousins, Manchester City and Everton. Forever bridesmaids City and perhaps destined to remain that way despite the petrodollars being sunk into them. And Everton. The club that gives out toffees and still plays the theme from Z Cars despite the fact much of their support never saw the show.
Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers seem to be accepted as part of the Premier League but Rovers only returned to the big time thanks to Jack Walker's steel bucks while Bolton, forever damned for giving us Big Sam, seem to be counting the days before slipping back into the oblivion where they belong.
But what about Wigan Athletic? Rugby league town, overspill for Liverpool and Manchester, who ever would have thought they would not only land up there with the big boys but stick around a while. Bloody Wigan!
They arrived in the professional game in 78, replacing Southport and seemed destined for lower division anonymity. But along comes some sugar daddy, former Blackburn Rovers player, pumps in the cash and Wigan rise. And rise. And rise. And to cap it all in Roberto Martinez they have appointed a very promising manager indeed.
Burnley are back. Unabashed sentimalist that I am, as long as the Arse ain't losing, it's great to see them back. Back in the early 60s, before my time, they came agonisingly close to a domestic double with a team filled, if memory serves, with local lads from the terraced back to backs that filled the urban landscape.
The north east never seems to get it's act together for long enough to mount a title bid while Middlesbrough, Sunderland Newcastle take it in turns to yo yo between the top two divisions. A similar story in the West Midlands where West Brom are taking a gap year before returning to the top flight while fellow Black Country boys Wolves take their place.
The north west with it's chimney stacks and mill towns was the heart of English football and it was Preston, Proud Preston, who ended that first season as unbeaten champions.
Fast forward 121 seasons and still clubs in the region dominate at the highest level. We have the new age giants of the M62, Manchester United and Liverpool who have won trophy after trophy in the last 40 odd years. Their lesser city cousins, Manchester City and Everton. Forever bridesmaids City and perhaps destined to remain that way despite the petrodollars being sunk into them. And Everton. The club that gives out toffees and still plays the theme from Z Cars despite the fact much of their support never saw the show.
Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers seem to be accepted as part of the Premier League but Rovers only returned to the big time thanks to Jack Walker's steel bucks while Bolton, forever damned for giving us Big Sam, seem to be counting the days before slipping back into the oblivion where they belong.
But what about Wigan Athletic? Rugby league town, overspill for Liverpool and Manchester, who ever would have thought they would not only land up there with the big boys but stick around a while. Bloody Wigan!
They arrived in the professional game in 78, replacing Southport and seemed destined for lower division anonymity. But along comes some sugar daddy, former Blackburn Rovers player, pumps in the cash and Wigan rise. And rise. And rise. And to cap it all in Roberto Martinez they have appointed a very promising manager indeed.
Burnley are back. Unabashed sentimalist that I am, as long as the Arse ain't losing, it's great to see them back. Back in the early 60s, before my time, they came agonisingly close to a domestic double with a team filled, if memory serves, with local lads from the terraced back to backs that filled the urban landscape.
The north east never seems to get it's act together for long enough to mount a title bid while Middlesbrough, Sunderland Newcastle take it in turns to yo yo between the top two divisions. A similar story in the West Midlands where West Brom are taking a gap year before returning to the top flight while fellow Black Country boys Wolves take their place.
# posted by Me @ 4:44 PM 
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