In 1863 the Football Association was founded and today there are 40,000 clubs associated to it in Britain. 15 million fans follow it regularly and it is the most popular Sport here and has over 4 billion followers worldwide. The Premier League it’s top flight is one of the most lucrative.
Television revolutionized the game and the rights to broadcast led to its inane prosperity. Grown persons earning £200 per week watching players for the 90 minutes earning £200,000 per week often in complete adoration and fervor
One hundred years after it’s foundation the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC ( Auntie ) created its signature program Match of the Day. Barry Stoller wrote its introductory signature tune which terrified wives since 1970. As it played some celebrated as others commiserated, resigned to the fact that it was game over for the next hour. Initially it was the Match that was critical but then presenters and pundits characterized the program.
This cult like culture led to stars being created overnight and social media in different forms added fuel and platform to their thoughts. No longer was it only whether the ball crossed lines but their opinions on life matters crossed boundaries. The BBC were so affected that they paid the presenter their highest salary or in some cases consultant fees , pay as you earn or pay as you like. Or play as they earn whatever. This elevation caused division and often love and hate which after all was the game and the weekly vent for Joe and Jo Public in our Soccer Society.
Despite best efforts presenters entered the political arenas and what they thought was more relevant to what Government Leaders thought. It became takeover by popularity and Auntie no longer had the last word. This week in Britain we went into extra time as presenter opinion had the last word as en masse they have walked off the field in protest of being dictated to. The withholding of their Labour typifies trade Union led strikes and is seen by them as the ultimate weapon. Tonight after nearly 60 years the Program will have no presenters and we will just see the match. It could in fact be an AI moment as future programs could be introduced by robots or holograms and Auntie would avoid all those high payouts then perhaps the old people wouldn’t need to pay the obligatory license fee to watch anyway.
Whatever happens next the match has been lit and the fires of change about to come.,Every change takes dispute and it will be interesting to see how this match plays out. Auntie may have met it’s match as the differing opinions don’t match. We live in a world of divers opinions which is what freedom in democracy is about. Fair play is what’s needed but in all our lives we can’t just say what we want and the game of life must have boundaries otherwise the game is played out in chaos. There are penalties for not doing so and yes we can throw in the towel but there must be a beginning and end a final result and someone in the middle with the final word.
Anyway back to the terraces, bovril , hot dogs , foul play with foul language, agony and ecstasy, walk home and chat, Lowry and laughter , joy and tears and Jimmy Hill. Don’t you just love it ?
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