Gazza's Tears caused all the problems in English football

Written by Dave Allan Monday, 05 July 2010 21:44

England World Cup Blog

One of the things that the lightweight Gazza's Tears programme got right was that football in England changed after the 1990 World Cup. However the mistake it made was suggesting it had changed for the better.

Firstly, it assumed that all-seater stadiums were a change for the better. The interests who have benefited from all-seater stadiums were the TV companies, the clubs themselves who could charge fans a bigger price to attend matches and the more affluent supporter who could afford these prices.

Secondly the programme suggested by having the most expensively assembled group of circus freaks from the four corners of the world actually made the game better and more interesting. It is arguable that there is more skill in England's top league than pre-1990 but the game on the whole is not 'better'. There is no greater drama pre Italy 1990, there are not more exciting games, there is not more atmosphere inside the stadium, there is no greater TV punditry and most importantly (as this is a World Cup site), there is no greater chance of England winning the World Cup.

What will be the state of English football  20 years hence? It is a sobering fact that if things continue as they are, the average age of a Premier League season ticket holder will be pushing 70. It is currently 47. It is little wonder there is no atmosphere in Premier League stadiums (I know its stadia but in 1990, no football fan would have used the word stadium - they were 'grounds').

There is only one workable solution. Tear down the majority of seating at ALL English football grounds. Make these season ticket holders stand for 90 minutes and we would soon see them being handed back in droves freeing them up for younger, more physically fit people.

If this does not happen then football will slowly die as younger people turn their attention to sports or other activities where they have a chance of being a part of something.
 

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