So sources B and C add to my understanding of football and its popularity because it tells me that large crowds were attracted to matches, which now had rules and officials. Also that hooliganism was a big problem because of the popularity.
Question 3 (i):
Source D (i) tells me that the earliest professional teams came from the industrial towns of the north and the midlands. I know that the industrial towns had more jobs and larger populations, which meant more leisure time for football clubs to develop, because employers saw the importance of leisure time and with the larger population they now more employees. This meant that they could afford to give days off and eventually bank holidays were introduced. Source D (ii) also reinforces this evidence by showing all the teams in division 1 in 1889 were from the midlands or the northwest, such as Everton, Aston Villa and Notts County.
But source D (ii) also shows that by 1937 the league consisted of lots more teams that were from a wider range of places. London and northeastern clubs had now joint the professional league, like Arsenal, Chelsea and Middlesborough. This shows that after moving away from the south it soon became popular again and they were following the northern clubs. This created lots more rivalry and loyalty towards different clubs. There were now more clubs to support but also more clubs to hate.
Source E backs up this knowledge on rivalry, showing that at the 1923 cup final, there were major disturbances. There were lots of injuries as a result. These local rivalries brought in the huge crowds, but the crowds caused many disturbances. This is showing football becoming popular because more people are supporting the teams, but it also shows the down side of the sport too.
Source E also says that there was a ‘new Wembley Stadium’ this tells me that at the start of the 1920’s people saw the need for a ‘national’ stadium. This nation stadium was built in the capital of the country, London. It also backs up my knowledge on the improvements of transport, saying that ‘special trains’ took fans to the match.
These sources show me that football had change a lot by the 1930’s. It was more popular than ever and had spread back to London; where the new Wembley Stadium was built and new teams were formed, making a big change in the number of clubs. But all these teams meant more rivalry, and more hooliganism, which wasn’t good for footballs image.
Question 3 (ii):
I think that the earliest teams started in the midlands and the northwest because they were very industrial regions and had a high population. This meant there were more employees; therefore people could have more days off. Now people could play football in their spare time.
Source D (i) says that in the south there was less interest in professional football at the end of the 19th century. This is why there were no southern clubs in the league to start with. But I feel that after World War 1 they saw the huge popularity of the sport and southern clubs emerged.
I also know that the popularity of football wasn’t one steady rise, there were bad times. Before the war football was increasing in popularity all the time. But, the war meant that ‘men’s’ football stopped and entered a slump in popularity. This is when women’s football began. But after the war the popularity began to grow again and more teams formed the leagues.
Source E shows hooliganism and club rivalry. I think this was because by this time there were lots more clubs in the league because football was becoming more and more popular, so fans could support a wider range of teams. This meant more rivalry and hooliganism, especially at local derbies.
The fact people saw the need for a national stadium could only mean that popularity was at a high. The fact Wembley was built in London, the capital, shows again the popularity because that is where one of the highest populations was. I know that the 30’s and 40’s were the best years for football; they are now called the ‘Golden Ages’, which must show how popular the sport was. Improvements in transports meant that more fans could travel to the matches. People were now able to travel easier and cheaper. This made football even more popular and organised trains were arranged to transport fans to the matches.
Overall I think that because the game was so popular in the north, that after the war, the southern clubs started to join the league as well. The game was entering its ‘Golden Ages’. The entry of the southern clubs meant there were lots more teams to support. Club loyalty and rivalry became a big problem a crowd disturbances were more common, because the fans had to be loyal to ‘their’ club.
Question 4 (i):
Source F shows football in a totally different light because unlike all the other sources it has nothing to do with the game of football itself whereas all of the previous sources are connected directly to the game. For example source A tells us how football began. Source B shows us huge crowds and the fact there are rules now in place. Source C shows us the problem of hooliganism. Source D tell us the clubs involved and when and source E shows the popularity of the sport and the hooliganism. As you can see all these have links with the game, except F.
Source F is different because it shows a new side of football, the commercial side of the sport. The source shows Jimmy Greaves endorsing Bovril. It has nothing to do with the game itself, except that Jimmy Graves is endorsing it; this is different to the other sources as you can see, because they are all directed at the game itself. Commercialism wasn’t very common in the 60’s, but I know that it is now one of the most important parts of the game. Sponsorship soon became the main source of income and eventually nearly every player was sponsored and every club was too.
Source F is also different because it shows football moving away from the game itself, and spreading to the whole of the society. This was because football was so popular; business people saw the potential in sponsorship deals and began to get involved. Players too could earn more money by endorsing their products and soon the player’s professionalism was in doubt.
This popularity is a key factor in the increasing demand for sponsorship in football over the years, it shows how much the game has moved forward and has turned into a business rather than an activity.
Question 4 (ii)
I think that source F is showing that by the 1960’s football had moved forward a great deal. The huge popularity of the sport lead to outside influences, such as businesses or large companies, getting involved with the sport. These businesses saw that the popularity of the game could make people more aware of their products. This is when sponsorship took off and players began endorsing products. I think this questions the player’s professionalism because they have moved away from the game itself to endorse these products.
It also shows that there is more money being invested into the clubs and the players. Internationally known companies, such as Vodafone, Sega, TXU Energi and many more, invest huge sums of money into clubs nowadays. This was not on such a large scale in the 60’s but companies were investing in clubs. It shows how popular the sport is, but also how much of a business it has become. Sponsorship is now the main source of income at all the large clubs.
The player’s stardom and fame depended on, and still does, who decided to sponsor them. Larger companies sponsor larger clubs and better players. This is because they want people to recognise their product, and this would be achieved better by sponsoring a player that everybody looked up to.
Overall I think that the differences in source F show how popular the sport was and how much the game had moved forward. Also that people outside the game itself were taking a note of the popularity and they too became involved, leading to all sorts of sponsorship and endorsement deals. This made lots more money available to clubs, which started the huge business it is today. Popularity is a key factor in these developments and a very important one.
Question 5:
Sources G and H support the evidence of source F because they all show developments in football, especially in sponsorship, over a period of time.
Source F shows that in the early 1960’s, Jimmy Greaves was endorsing Bovril. They have used the players ‘stardom’ to enhance the sales of their product. This sponsorship was a way of football moving forward because before the 60’s neither clubs nor players were interested in sponsorship, they just enjoyed the game as a leisure activity. But now sponsorship is the main source of income, and shows that the game is not just a leisure activity anymore, it’s a business too.
Source G shows that by the 1970’s footballers in the top division were highly paid sportsmen. This was because in 1961, under the guidance of Jimmy Hill, the Professional Football Association forced the maximum wage up to £20-a-week. Then it was abolished completely. This again shows football moving on, and the sport became a job for players. The removal of the maximum wage meant that player ‘stardom’ increased. This turned the traditional leisure activity into more than a game. In the top divisions players would earn lots more than any normal person.
Source H shows a programme that indicates which players were being sponsored. This is from 1993 and nearly every player is being sponsored. Also ‘Roman Glass’, as shown on the kit, sponsors the team. The source also shows, at the very bottom, that the club even has a commercial department too, showing that by the 90’s commercialism was very important.
What I know about the sponsorship of Birmingham City today, tells me that you can sponsor the match ball, vote for man of the match, have your name in the programme and more for £750. You can also take your company into the executive boxes and have a meal with champagne, whilst having the company name in the programme, for £2000. This shows how important clubs feel sponsorship is and the businesses know that it boost ratings.
From this evidence I can learn that since 1960 the game has developed immensely and the commercial side of the game is more important now. The clubs make the most of their income from sponsorship, whereas before the 60’s it was from the turnstiles, which play a very minor part today. Also more money means higher wages for players. All the sources show development and the game has moved on a lot since the 60’s.
Question 6:
“The growth of professionalism was the most important change in football during the 20th century.”
I know that at the beginning of the 20th century Alf Common became the first player involved in a £1,000 transfer, an average teacher would earn £60-70 in a year, showing that lots of money was involved in transfers. Today millions of pounds go into transfers; the record stands at £50million. So lots more money is available now than before.
I also know that during the 1880’s wages were low, around £1-a-week, source G tells me that in 1961 the wage limit was lifted to £20-a-week, before being abolished. Jonny Haynes then became the first £100-a-week player and almost every club was paying their players now. Today wages are huge, David Beckham earns around £100,000-a-week (1000 times more than Haynes) this tells me again that money was more important and that it was now a job to the players, as well as a leisure activity.
The best players became ‘personalities’ surrounded by stardom and the media. Source F shows that in 1960 companies saw the potential in this image and they began to sponsor players to enhance their ratings. Source H also backs this up showing that by 1993 nearly every player was being sponsored. This is again all about more money and better ratings. Sponsorship has become the main source of income nowadays compared to only a small percentage at the start of the 20th century, and I know that clubs are even more commercialised now too.
But this wasn’t the only change in the 20th century. I know that transport was improving and more people were travelling abroad, source E backs this up saying that ‘special trains’ took fans to the cup final. Showing that people saw the need to get fans to the big matches.
I also know television was also improving dramatically by the 1950’s which took fans away from the stadiums because they could watch the game on TV. Today millions of pounds go into TV deals and everybody can watch nearly every game on the television. This massive change could only help football.
Football acts as a microcosm of society, big changes in society leads to changes in football. Racism and violence are just some of the example where what’s happening outside of football influences the sport in bad ways and people ruin the sport.
Safety was becoming more important now. I know that after the tragedies at Hillsborough and Bradford, Lord Taylor said that every stadium had to be seated. Safety is even more important today, which shows how much football has moved on and how important it is for everyone to be safe. In the 50’s, 100,000 fans would be crammed into a stadium with no seating and no facilities, but now strict laws prevent this.
So from this I can say that I agree that professionalism was an important change, but it wasn’t the only change that was important. Money is a lot more available now meaning that clubs can attract top players with large amounts of money. Television is also a major change and it has brought more people into the sport. So I feel that it is all the changes, as well as sponsorship and commercialism, which has made football what it is today.
