Silver anniversary #2

The second anniversary (this week) is that of the Premier League, or the FA Premier League as it was branded, at first.

The reality of the Premier League is that it was a venture born of greed and not wanting to share their dosh with clubs from lower down the pyramid. The first thing to point out is that the teams that contested that first Premier League season which kicked off on 1th August 1992 were exactly the same teams that would would have contested the Football League First Division, and as time went on, each season would have, by and large, had the same clubs competing whether the PL had happened or not.

The only difference between the Premier League and the First Division is marketing. Marketing and money. Marketing, money and satellite TV.

Three things.

The other thing that coincided with the formation of the PL was the dawn of the all-seater stadia, meaning that a premium product could charge premium prices, meaning that on top of the TV money, more and more money came rolling in. It is sobering to reflect upon that it is football, the PL in particular saved the infant B Sky B, or whatever it was back then, as premium film channels were not attracting the punters, but it turned out live football did. Without this symbiotic relationship, then maybe the story would have been different.

The owners of the clubs at the start of the PL cashed in, making huge sums, approaching £100 million in some cases, to other wealthy people who thought, correctly, they could leverage even more money from the supporters and viewers.

That the game itself, and the promises made when setting up the PL failed to materialise, especially how good having the world's best players would mean their English team mates would get better, thus benefitting the national side! no? Regular readers will know this didn't pan out either, as expected.

And what of the vast sums of money the PL now generates? most of all it gets paid to other clubs around the world as the biggest clubs battle to secure the services of the biggest names. So fees rise year on year, wages rise year on year. And fees were paid to agents to set up the deals, they sometimes earning nearly as much as the players.

And what of the game, is it any better 25 years on? Standards are higher, standards of play that is, technically, football never has been better. Nor has it been so expensive to watch, either in person or via the telebox. To say money spoiling the game is a modern phenomena would be a lie. Money has been in the game, even before it went professional in 1888, with clubs finding "jobs" for players in lieu of paying them to play, most player in these deals didn't really work at the jobs found. But with the forming of the Football League, professionalism was here to stay, spread from the north to all corners of the country. Transfers and wages climbed year on year, fans were treated poorly and in most cases, players worse.

Back when I first drove to games, a ticket in the main stand at Carrow Road was £4, and a pound cheaper to stand. It now costs over £40. Prices have not gone up a thousand percent in 35 years, but the cost of games has, or by even more if you're unlucky enough to be an Arsenal fan.

I can't break the habit of a lifetime and switch off. But I won't be conned either. The last time I went to a game, at Chelsea in 2011, it cost £49 for a seat with restricted view. With the cost of getting up to London, a drink or two and you can say goodbye to a hundred quid. Call me crazy, but I don't want to spend north of fifty quid to sit in a tiny plastic seat, when for the same money Jools and I can feed ourselves. I don't pay for Sky of BT Sports, nor do I buy replica shirts, I just support them best I can.

So, happy anniversary to the Premier League. Can we have our game back please?