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Question about soccer in the UK...
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:13 pm
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:13 pm
How is it that a country as small as the UK has about 92 professional soccer teams (EPL and Football League), all of which, in theory, could make it to the EPL? Does almost every moderate sized city have a pro team? How do they afford to pay the bills drawing from such a small area? I looked up some salaries and it appears that even players in Football League One seem to make half a million.
And, I realize that there are 16 more levels below the top four of the Premiere and Football League.
Thanks.
And, I realize that there are 16 more levels below the top four of the Premiere and Football League.
Thanks.
4
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:31 pm to Jake88
quote:
Does almost every moderate sized city have a pro team?
No. Every moderately sized city has way more than one "pro" team. The leagues over there are not franchised and there is a HUGE pyramid from the EPL all the way down rec level stuff. Where "pro" begins and "amateur" starts can get a little hazy. Because of this, any one can start a club and potentially reach the EPL. In fact, that's actually why they have so many clubs. Most clubs were started by coworkers back in the late 1800's to early 1900's and have grown into what they are today. Certain clubs are still associated with certain trades or certain socioeconomic classes, and more importantly, certain neighborhoods. So that's how the relatively smaller clubs still get good support, because they are seen as the community's club.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:33 pm to Jake88
quote:
How do they afford to pay the bills drawing from such a small area? I looked up some salaries and it appears that even players in Football League One seem to make half a million.
Billionaires buy the clubs and invest in up and coming talent, with hopes of reaching the Championship or EPL. The reason minor league clubs in all sports are so poor in the US is because why the hell shouldn't they be? There is no hope of them to ever reach the pinnacle of the sport in this country and therefore it's not attractive investment.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:33 pm to Jake88
Because clubs aren't created based on the size of media market that they are in. Also, there are way more than 92 FA clubs.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:36 pm to thesoccerfanjax
Think of it this way. If all football, basketball, and baseball fans, pro and college, only followed one sport could a US town support one team and fill an 8k-15k stadium?
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:42 pm to Jake88
quote:
I looked up some salaries and it appears that even players in Football League One seem to make half a million.
I'd guess that the vast majority of players in League One don't make over 100K pounds a year.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:43 pm to BlueMoon
quote:
Think of it this way. If all football, basketball, and baseball fans, pro and college, only followed one sport could a US town support one team and fill an 8k-15k stadium?
Good point. You forgot high school, though.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:52 pm to thesoccerfanjax
quote:
Certain clubs are still associated with certain trades or certain socioeconomic classes, and more importantly, certain neighborhoods. So that's how the relatively smaller clubs still get good support, because they are seen as the community's club.
That's interesting and similar to baseball teams during the 1910's to about WWII.
Can you give some examples of clubs that represent certain socioeconomic classes?
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:52 pm to thesoccerfanjax
quote:That would be Rugby.
You forgot high school, though.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:53 pm to Broski
quote:
Also, there are way more than 92 FA clubs.
I thought that only teams in the three 24 team divisions under the EPL could rise to the EPL.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 6:55 pm to thesoccerfanjax
quote:
The reason minor league clubs in all sports are so poor in the US is because why the hell shouldn't they be?
Well, in minor league baseball they are just extensions of the major league team, like a taxi squad. In soccer each are their own individual team.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 7:03 pm to Jake88
quote:
I thought that only teams in the three 24 team divisions under the EPL could rise to the EPL.
I assume it's like Italy and the relegation/promotion goes on like layers of a Russian doll.
There's also a lot of clubs going bankrupt and disbanding, reforming etc at the lower levels.
League 1 sides and below have to operate on pretty small budgets.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 7:09 pm to Jake88
quote:
Well, in minor league baseball they are just extensions of the major league team, like a taxi squad. In soccer each are their own individual team.
Not really. Every club has reserve squads, youth squads, and academies. But they are actually branded with the club's name and are in the same physical location and wear the same uniforms. No one cares that Des Moines, Iowa's AAA baseball club is an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (or whatever) because it's not the same ball club at all.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 7:16 pm to Jake88
quote:
I thought that only teams in the three 24 team divisions under the EPL could rise to the EPL.
You and your friends could move to England, create a team, and rise to the EPL eventually. Only teams in the Championship can get promoted to the EPL the following season, but anyone can make it eventually.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 7:23 pm to thesoccerfanjax
quote:
Where "pro" begins and "amateur" starts can get a little hazy.
The standard of semi-pro is so good, the mind boggles t how good lower league professionals are.
I've only ever played with/against one person who went pro, and it was amazing just to watch
Posted on 8/12/14 at 7:24 pm to thesoccerfanjax
quote:
No one cares that Des Moines, Iowa's AAA baseball club is an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (or whatever) because it's not the same ball club at all.
Not sure what you mean. Players from Iowa make it to the Cubs frequently. Players from the Smokies are their best prospects. Cubs fans care.
quote:
You and your friends could move to England, create a team, and rise to the EPL eventually.
That's fascinating, seriously. As a Saints fan during the 1970's I can appreciate how much that must mean to smaller towns.
This post was edited on 8/12/14 at 7:26 pm
Posted on 8/12/14 at 7:27 pm to Jake88
Me and some of my mates talked about going to Gibraltor now that they have been given UEFA recognition.
They only have 13 teams over 2 leagues, so in theory after 2 seasons you could be in the Champions League qualifiers.
Stay there for 5 years, and you can gain nationality/citizenship and you could play in WC and Euro qualifiers.
They only have 13 teams over 2 leagues, so in theory after 2 seasons you could be in the Champions League qualifiers.
Stay there for 5 years, and you can gain nationality/citizenship and you could play in WC and Euro qualifiers.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 8:20 pm to Jake88
quote:
I thought that only teams in the three 24 team divisions under the EPL could rise to the EPL.
There were 737 teams when the 2013-14 FA cup started.
Posted on 8/12/14 at 8:44 pm to Jake88
quote:
Cubs fans care.
They might care, but they're not fans and they don't take "ownership" of the club. There's a difference.
This post was edited on 8/12/14 at 8:46 pm
Posted on 8/12/14 at 8:48 pm to engvol
quote:
The standard of semi-pro is so good, the mind boggles t how good lower league professionals are. I've only ever played with/against one person who went pro, and it was amazing just to watch
Gonna disagree here. I've played with and against guys that played in the English lower leagues very recently and they're not THAT good, as well as guys that played MLS and NASL. I mean, they ARE good. But it doesn't "boggle the mind" by any means. IMO of course. And I'm not saying I'm that good because I'm not.
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