FOOTBALL’S COMING HOME: ENGLAND AND HOW THEY REVOLUTIONIZED MODERN FOOTBALL

  The transformation of the English football league structure represents a significant turning point in the sport's history. While the previous chapter discussed the roots and history of English football, this chapter will examine how England's top flight evolved from a relatively simple local and national competition to the immensely popular professional league known as the Premier League. Understanding about this change is crucial because many aspects (commercialization, globalization, changes in playing styles) came as a direct consequence. Before 1992, the top flight in England was the English Football League's first division (EFL First Division). Professional clubs had long competed at the national level, but in the early 1990s, there was a growing consensus that the league's structure needed to be reconsidered. A strong driver was the desire of major clubs to gain greater control over television and commercial revenues, which they felt were being hampered by the E...

The increasingly competitive nature of English football has led to tensions and rivalries. Rivalries between clubs in England are deeply rooted in the long history of their respective clubs. In England, rivalries are the lifeblood of football. When two clubs meet, the stadiums witness the meeting of two distinct groups, each representing its own identity. In this chapter, we will explore some of the greatest rivalries in England, why they formed, and how they reflect the social fabric of modern British society. Rivalries in English football are a bit complex. We need to examine its social,economic, and geographical context. England has been a rapidly industrializing nation since the 19th century. Many football clubs emerged within working-class communities with strong regional identities. Clubs became symbols of regional pride, transforming on-field rivalries into big battles between communities. (Stebbins dkk, 2000) stated that rivalries in England often stem from social factors such ...

  This nation has produced many legendary figures who fill its history with achievements, dedication, and stories. Take Bobby Charlton, a Manchester United legend and mainstay of the England national team in the 1950s, renowned for his exquisite individual play. In the 2000s, Steven Gerrard was renowned for his incredible shot. Nearly every generation of English football has had a legend who represents the name of English football on the world stage. Classic Era One of the most phenomenal stories about an English legend revolves around the 1950s and 1960s. Sir Bobby Charlton's name is prominent on the front page. He became a symbol of the revival of English football after the 1958 Munich disaster, when a plane carrying the Manchester United team crashed, killing eight young players. Charlton survived, and from there, a story of resilience was born that would become a legend today. He later was the pillar of the "Busby Babes" and helped England win the 1966 World Cup, the...

  The England national team played its first international match on November 30, 1872, against Scotland at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow. The match ended in a goalless draw, but that moment marked the beginning of a long history of international football. England then participated in various early tournaments such as the British Home Championship (started in 1883) and became a founding member of FIFA in 1904, although they withdrew due to differences with world football authorities. England's peak was at the 1966 World Cup, in which they hosted the competition. Under Sir Alf Ramsey and captain Bobby Moore, England dominated and defeated West Germany 4–2 in the final at Wembley. Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick, establishing himself as the only player to do so in a World Cup final to date. His controversial goal, which bounced off the crossbar and was awarded, was the deciding factor. At that time, the world saw England as a nation that had finally asserted its status as the creators and...

  English football has now evolved as the mother of modern football. However, English football, as we know it, was born out of a variety of conflicts and interests. It grew out of everyday life, working-class neighborhoods, industrial factories, and the streets. When we trace the evolution of English football, we cannot overlook two things: social identity and what happens when that identity is commercialized and marketed worldwide. Working class roots In the early days of football clubs in England, many were founded by local communities, such as factory workers, dock workers, and residents of small towns in northern and central England. Clubs like Sheffield FC (1857) are among the oldest. Discussion of the fan base in England is also an interesting topic. English football fans are largely drawn from working-class and lower-middle-class backgrounds. This is a crucial foundation for understanding that club identity is wider than sport, sometimes it's about community, solidarity, and...

  According to data from the Deloitte Football Money League 2025, five of the ten richest clubs in the world are from England: Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur. This demonstrates how a league system built on strong traditions has become highly commercialized. However, behind the numbers, the role of the working class in shaping club identity remains deeply felt. The global influence of English football Since the Premier League's inception in 1992, English football has transformed from a national league into a global spectacle. More than 200 countries broadcast matches every week. Premier League has around 4.7 billion cumulative viewers per season, making it the most popular league in the world. This influence extends beyond broadcasts and revenue. The English style of play, with its fast-paced, high-intensity pressing (kick and rush), has influenced tactics across leagues worldwide. Managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger, Jose...