Channel Button

There are 21 articles on this title. You are reading the article ranked and rated #6 by Helium's members.

Debate_icon

Sports & Recreation   >

English Soccer

Get a Widget for this title

The Football League has more to offer English soccer fans than the Premier League

Results so far:

Agree
45% 165 votes Total: 370 votes
Disagree
55% 205 votes

I disagree because i do not believe that either league has more to offer than the other to any true football fan. It depends entirely on who you support.

I'm a Boro fan, and I'm a Boro fan first and foremost. Then I'm an England fan, and only then am I a football fan. You see, football is more than a product for people to consume and to make decisions upon based on quality. It's a way of life. If you support Bristol City, you support them in whatever division they happen to be competing: You go to the games, you wear the shirt, you hate Bristol Rovers; you couldn't care less about who Arsenal have just signed, and you don't care about whether any big name players are lining up for you, as to you no player is bigger than your club.

Sure, in terms of quality and national and global interest, the Football League doesn't have a patch on the Premiership. Arguments about how the lower divisions are more competitive and entertaining than at the top are ridiculous. Though with that said, it's fair to say the lower leagues are more played in a more honest fashion.

If football were a product, the Football League would be devalued by its size. There are obviously many more clubs across three divisions than in the one at the top of the ladder, much as there is more bread in the world than there is cake. Bread is nutritional, and more filling than cake, but when asked most people would tell you they'd rather eat cake.

It seems to me that people look fondly upon the football league because it reminds them just a little of how football used to be, and how arguably it should be, but Premier League football is played (mostly) in world-class arenas and by world-class athletes. Each match, every pass, every tackle, has so much more riding on it than it did twenty years ago. Yes, ticket prices are way too high, and this is leading to falling attendances, and yes the top four clubs are pulling further away every season due to receiving a disproportionate amount of television and prize money, and yes this can be frustrating. So can the perceived mild corruption, such as the appalling West Ham Tevez affair. This doesn't mean that all of the advances are bad. Change is good, progress is necessary.

English football peaked in the mid-nineties, but it will peak again. Over the last few seasons we've proven that our clubs can compete with the rest of Europe. The last three Champions League finals have featured English teams, with Liverpool winning in 2005 despite only finishing fifth in the Premiership. In 2006, both the Champions League and UEFA Cup finals featured Premier League clubs. Whilst both Arsenal and Middlesbrough lost, it is a change from not too long ago when pundits were bemoaning the lack of English representation anywhere near the European elite.

Fans of clubs from the Football League may bang on about how many ways in which it is superior to the Premiership, but every last one of them wants to be there themselves. This isn't just for the money either. Premiership football is the route to European competitions, cup success and global recognition. Not many people had heard of Middlesbrough before we were an established Premier League club. Having a Premiership club in the town has also been the foundation of regeneration and the inspiration for investment. It also occasionally brings the community together in hope and will.

Learn more about this author, Joe Culley.
Contact this writer Click here to send this author comments or questions.


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

The Football League has more to offer English soccer fans than the Premier League

Disagree
  • 1 of 9

    by DannyKelly

    It would be ridiculous to argue that the Championship and Leagues One and Two have more to offer soccer fans than the Premiership.

    read more

  • 2 of 9

    by Gaizka Mendieta

    I wonder how the title to this argument came about. There are two ways to go about putting in my 2 cents worth. One, what

    read more

Agree
  • 1 of 12

    by Costas Chryanthou

    I would agree that the football league, that is any division in England below the Premier league is better overall.

    First

    read more

  • 2 of 12

    by Mihail Matikov

    I think the main word in this title in "fans" and we need to put the emphasis on it when writing about it. What is a fan?

    read more

Add your voice

Know something about The Football League has more to offer English soccer fans than the Premier League?
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

105799

Featured Partner

AmericaSpeaks

AmericaSpeaks connects citizens with decision makers to discuss the most critical policy issues of today. Using i...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA