Elitism for the chosen few
Following a report published on the BBC Sport website today, headlined, 'Man Utd women's team a 'massive opportunity', (full story https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43794323), I make absolutely no apology for finding this hard to swallow. What's the point in Manchester United going through the process of applying at all when we all know that the FA are almost begging them to join? Election to the newly formed Championship will be a mere formality as we all suspect. Well of course it's good for the game. Only a fool would dispute that; but for whom?
Football is a working class game with working class ideals. It's no coincidence that all of the greatest talents on earth, have and always probably will be from what is affectionately labelled a working class background. That's because it's the people's sport. A sport that facilitates people from all manner of backgrounds no matter how rich, no matter how poor, to come together as one to compete, whether it be for a set number of minutes will rules and regulations, or just a simple kick-about. Football is an education within itself, and to adopt silver spoon policies at any level of the beautiful game, would be an absolute outrage, that goes against everything the game stands for to my mind.
Any Apprentice will display real craft and pride in what they have achieved once they complete their course through a sustained period. The same follows with any academic achievement you care to mention, or just being at a Company for many years, such that you will gain experience, trust and respect in consequence. So to just bob them in, thus dismissing all of the rules and principles of past generations, that must be obeyed by everyone else quite frankly smacks of nepotism at its finest. Do I really wish to be a part of a game as a fan, where elitism is thrust upon us, showing complete disregard for the years we have spent torturing ourselves at times, in the hope and belief that maybe, just maybe we can do it? Oh the excitement. It's the only thing better than your birthday!
So the question is: better for whom? Better for those that will inevitably always be buzzing around the top, winning all of that most coveted of silverware? Better for those who will close rank to plunder all of the riches in the game? Better for the 'elite' clubs who become stronger and wealthier, and set up their own elite prawn sandwich club to vote on what's best for the leagues and cup competitions that the poor clubs participate in? Well we know from experience how that pans out don't we? The revenues stay at the top and never seem to find their way to the lower end of the enforced 'man-managed' market place. Any other industry and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission would readily intervene to straighten matters out, but not in football. Football has a way of looking, quite legally, it would appear, after its own. That's because everything is a written contract, and contracts as we know can be manipulated by the strength of the person(s) with the whip-hand. All that would happen is that the rich get richer while the rest have to queue and beg for scraps.
There are principles and morals to heavily consider in this world, and this smacks of having neither. My message therefore is do your apprenticeship like everyone else and stop being so arrogant as to think that Manchester United are in some way better principally or morally than anyone else.
The FA let's face it, covertly wish to ensure that Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Everton always remain at the top, with the also ran's hovering around to avoid relegation, and make up the convenient numbers of the league. So how does that benefit everyone else if your club is not one of the chosen few, riddle me that? Yeovil Town admitted only last season that the FA wanted the glamour clubs to make up Super League 1, and so it proves. What happened to saving up for something as we were taught as kids? "If you want something bad enough, you'll save hard enough and invest wisely", Dad always used to say. Great advice that. I must say though that I have come to learn the manner in which women's football, like men's, is rapidly revealing itself to be that 'let's say this to the public, even though we mean that. That way we stand to make this'. Sure Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers Belles et al, may not be the most glamorous clubs to some. The one thing they have in common though is their self sustainable ability to look after themselves very well, and for that I say bully for you and thoroughly well deserved. Nobody has the right to ride rough-shod over them, no not even, and many would argue least of all the 'mighty' Man United who don't even have a team at senior level yet.
Respect is to be shared equally, and only when it's earned. Clubs like Derby County have come from nothing 40 years ago since 1978, to get to where they are now. Thousands of people have spent their hard earned cash, in the belief that they will one day reach the promised land and glory in the success it all brings. It's all about growing from grass roots, and going on a journey of blood sweat and tears to fulfil our dreams. Yes journey. "We have been on one hell of a journey" as the proverbial speech goes. All based upon good upbringing through good principles and morals, as opposed to this 'let's buy our way to the top' mentality, forever played out by the 'because we can' brigade regardless of the snot that comes with it.
Maybe it should be called the FA Women's Super Glue League!
Paul Topliff - Rams News and DCLFC Fans
