Urban Newton
Lower average incomes, higher figures of unemployment, lower educational results overall and a lower life-expectancy… it’s good for northerners, isn’t it?
The north of England has always been marginalised in comparison to the south. London is and always will be the heart of the country economically and politically, no matter how much they say the “Northern Powerhouse” is growing.
In terms of football, it’s the same too. Manchester City may be cruising at this moment in time but look at the big picture. It’s woeful.
Chorley FC – Via Lancashire Telegraph
And in Yorkshire and Lancashire particularly, the situation is very poor indeed.
Starting in the Premier League, there has only been four teams from Yorkshire and Lancashire (Huddersfield, Hull, Middlesbrough and Burnley) in the division over the last five seasons.
In the inaugural Premier League season of 1992-93 however, there was five teams from those counties. FIVE in one year. That figure hasn’t been bettered since.
Success at the top of the football pyramid is just not common any more for teams in these areas. And these are the counties that once housed the great yesteryear sides of Preston, Blackpool, Leeds and Blackburn respectively.
Blackburn Rovers win the 1994/95 Premier League – Via The Telegraph
But why are our teams just not that good anymore?
It’s all about the moolah. The government of Margaret Thatcher in the eighties was where it all started. Almost a fifth of Britain’s industrial base was wiped out, putting the traditional, industrial towns and cities into decline.
London though, has rapidly grown ever since- it now has a quarter of the nation’s economic activity. There are seven London teams currently in the Premier League, as well as Brighton, Southampton and Bournemouth along the south coast as well.
Hull City’s KCOM Stadium – Via Football Stadiums
Barring Manchester maybe, the north just has no appeal to big business, especially across Yorkshire and Lancashire. Why choose the likes of Hull and Preston when you’ve got London with its sublime transport links and superior way of living?
It makes no sense for a potential investor to overlook the central hub of politics, economics, culture and football that is the south of England.
You could even look at the Brexit referendum results to show that the divide is a great problem. Much of the north of the country voted to leave the European Union- 2/3 of South Yorkshire did for instance- as, some might say, a rebellion to the south which majorically voted to remain.
Leeds United fans – Via Football Fancast
From clubs having to be reformed, like Scarborough and Halifax, to the examples at Blackpool and North Ferriby of owner-based turmoil, and the continual struggle to get fans through turnstiles, it certainly feels like our local areas have it the hardest at times.
Football was born in the north of England. Hull-born Ebenezer Cobb Morley was the founding father of the Football Association and twelve northern teams (half of them from Lancashire) created the Football League in 1888 too.
However, it is as though the sport’s initial roots have been completely disregarded as the game is ran from London. The closer the club to London, the more appealing it is and the more investment it gets.
The “Northern Powerhouse” looks increasingly mythical. Football teams chiefly represent this too, as we have poor figures of education and unemployment as well as poor figures on league tables.
The Regista 