B teams: The Death of lower league football?

Back in 2014 Greg Dyke - FA Chairman announced a revolutionary plan to restructure English league football as we know it today. His idea was to introduce B teams to the football league pyramid and add a third division to cater for these new teams in the future - seeing the football league system go from 92 teams to 100, across five divisions. Most rational thinking FA members and clubs responded to it extremely negatively, giving his idea the proverbial two fingers, and Dyke's vision was rightly quashed. However, it seems in recent weeks this idea of B teams playing on same platform as League 1 and 2 teams has resurfaced.
To most league fans with any sort of understanding of the historical standing of the league system they would identify giving B teams the opportunity to compete alongside league sides could completely damage the integrity of the footballing pyramid in the future. However, money talks, and the recent news that the Premier League have paid £1 million for so called B teams to participate in the English League Trophy from next season is disappointing.

Barnsley lift the English League Trophy

On the surface, this news could be celebrated, the system hasn't been compromised, it is merely giving youth players the opportunity to play in a competitive cup competition, with the chance of silverware and a final at Wembley to play for. However, if you venture past the facade, this has the potential to just be the beginning - a Trojan Horse - a way of infiltrating the Football League. A way of identifying how successful a new system with B teams could be. Personally, this just doesn't sit right with me.
Now, the first clear issue with B teams from the Premier League being incorporated into this tournament, the clue being in the name, is that it's the football league trophy, not some sort of poor excuse of a Premier League reserves cup. As a supporter of a football league club, I do understand that the ELT is by far a priority for football league managers, with low prize money, the inconvenience of extra fixtures and sometimes extra travel - it's relative meaninglessness reflected by low attendances and the fielding of weakened sides, with teams only really starting to give any attention to it with the coup of a Wembley final on the horizon. If anything the trivial nature of the ELT will only become even less desirable for league clubs, with the already wavering competitiveness of the competition becoming even less so. On top an already relatively congested fixture list will be lengthened by at least three games, with the cost of holding these games likely to outweigh the benefits to clubs with low budgets. It could be argued that costs will be covered by increased attendances it matches featuring these B teams, with the supposed glamour of playing Premier League names, but in all honesty if Manchester City B team turns up, you'd be very unlikely to be treated to the likes of Aguero and co. Football league fans dream of playing the likes of Premier League goliaths, not their youngsters - as promising as they may be.
Another objection of this plan, as insignificant as it may seem, is the unpredictability of the plans,and the possibility that they could escalate into Dyke's original five tier division system plan. If the proposed plan of five divisions and 100 clubs got the go ahead, although B teams could progress passed division 3, theoretically, this is fair, however, the idea alone challenges the integrity of the league system and without a shadow of a doubt a bottleneck of quality B team sides would occur. This would put the concept of promotion and relegation as we know it in jeopardy. Not only that, it would mean that league positions that could feasibly be filled by non-league teams with great potential on the cusp of the football league, will instead be taken by B teams with no history, no real opportunity for league progression, and is purely just another cog in the machine of the ever expanding corporate empire the Premier League is becoming.
As a football fan, I do understand that the idea of introducing B teams does have its merits as well. It would give upcoming talent a platform to develop their skills up against well drilled, disciplined professionals that are normally playing to a higher standard than that of U21 level players, with the possibility of unearthing the next English superstar.
Although it is clear that B teams can be successful - just look at Spain and Germany for proof of this, with the likes of Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta all thriving at FC Barcelona B, before becoming cult heroes for the senior squad. It is also clear that a strong youth set up translates well into future first team performance both domestically, in Europe and also on international stage. However, this alone doesn't mean that B teams are the answer.

Carles Puyol and Xavi playing for FC Barcelona B in 1998

In order to quell the dangers of the possible death of today's lower league football a restructuring at youth level is required, not at senior level as Greg Dyke very naively believes. In order to harvest talent and keep it in the England, a shake up of both the youth league system, but at the same time also the way loans from Premier League clubs work is necessary. For example, if the youth Premier League was given a face lift, with more consistency in fixtures and played at bigger venues, rather than unkempt training grounds, it would appeal to more players and fans alike, this in turn would give young players the opportunity to get a taste of the professional game. This alone could possibly encourage more young players to stay in England, rather than make a name for themselves elsewhere. Making a conscious effort to overthrow the loan system could also make an impact. Chelsea currently have 8 players under the age of 21 out on loan to teams outside of the UK, with many others recently being recalled from Dutch club Vitesse - an evident feeder club for Chelsea. Now, if the youth system in England was improved, these players (most without a senior Chelsea appearance), would without a doubt have the opportunity to play week in, week out. Instead, many of them are rotting away on loan and have very little chance of breaking into the Chelsea first team - if they were of the required calibre they'd be there already. Playing in England however, would mean they would understand the pace and style of play, be much more closely monitored, and potentially increase the likelihood of breaking into the senior setup.
So overall, B teams are not the answer, although they can be a great platform for new homegrown talent, in the long run they will do more harm than good. Instead investment is required in youth league development.
It needs to be remembered the Premier League isn't the be all and end all in English football.

Passion, Loyalty and Culture: The Humble Away Day.

As a young, naive prepubescent child, I discovered football, back in the 'good old days' where the BBC would show live matches. However, what hadn't occurred to my semi developed self, was that there was anything to football other than the corporate machine that is the Premier League, and giants of the game at the time, such as the Arsenal Invincible squad, and the ruthless Manchester United team Sir Alex Ferguson had put together.
However, as I've grown older, I have discovered just how ignorant, disillusioned and unaware I was of the beauty of the lower league system. With football being so much more than just a Sky Sports subscription or just a tourist attraction funding the extravagant lifestyles of the big names in the sport. Not that I'm criticising this - although personally, I see the Premier League as more of an entertainment empire than anything else, a competition for showcasing wealth of owners, and a platform for world class players to receive sickening pay slips, and the fans - being dehumanised as purely customers. However, we'll leave that for another time! Instead I want to talk about the ever growing popularity of the humble Away Day.
The year is 2014, as a Wycombe Wanderers fan, the season had been one to forget. Sitting 23rd coming into the last game of the season definitely isn't where you want to be, poor form, and categorically written off by just about everybody, all Bristol Rovers needed to do was to avoid defeat, the future looked bleak. However, as a fan you stay loyal to your team, even in their darkest hour. So, myself, along with 928 others, made that long, anxious trip down to Plainmoor, Torquay, aware that this could be the last league fixture we played for a long time. On arrival, I felt sick, and I can imagine most others did too, what followed, was miraculous, unexpected a master class even. An early goal, a penalty, a Torquay red card, and a deft dinked goal from McClure was the final nail in the Torquay coffin. News came through, Rovers had lost, it was a great, if not the greatest escape. The passion and loyalty of the fans that day, was the true epitome of the term 'the twelfth man'. Never have I seen such passion from a group of people who had really been put through the mill that season. Truly mind blowing stuff, and a day I shall never forget.
Since that day, be it with Wycombe Wanderers, or my non-league obsession, Aylesbury FC, away days have become a regular occurrence. It's become more than just about the football, when the alarm rings on a Saturday, it's about loyalty, passion, friendships and just the pure intrigue of an unknown ground.
Regardless of distance, form or weather conditions, loyalty shines through. Yes, a home game is often special, the roar of the home crowd and the familiarity of your surroundings makes it an enjoyable experience, seeing the same faces week in week out, but it's purely 90 minutes of football, win, lose or draw. However, the beauty of the away day is the whole experience, it's more than just the football aspect. Take my trip to York for example. On the surface a 1-1 draw against a team soon to be relegated was somewhat dismal, however, take a look deeper and you'll discover so much more. An 8 hour round trip in a clapped out Vauxhall Corsa with friends, listening to ancient mix-tapes from the past. Bumping into fans from other clubs, on their own away trips up and down the country and listening to their stories. On arrival, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings, singing chants in the traditional Bootham Cresent terrace, supplementing a traditional half time pie, followed by a local brew in a 'real' pub and taking in the beautiful architecture of York city centre. All of this brings you back to earth, and makes you really appreciate the unseen elements of football that keeps the love of the game so strong, proving football isn't just about seeing your team acquire the three points (although it's always a bonus!)
The same can be said about non-league, no thrills, and definitely nowhere near the glamour of the Premier Divisions. But without the passion and the loyalty to travel to away games, I would have missed out on so many memories - Building a personal relationship with players, fancy dress days to towns I've never heard of before. Silverware, oddities only seen in non-league (including the clichéd 'one man and his dog'). The exuberance of derby day injury time winners, riské chants and the strangest stadiums in the land.

Glamour? Who needs that when you have passion in abundance?

Credit: Marc Keinch

Through the highs and lows, the away day culture has becoming embedded into me. And I can now understand the expanding numbers of so called 'ground-hoppers'.
One such 'ground-hopper' that has recently come to my attention is the man behind 'AwayDays' - Ellis Platten (et al.), a man reflecting the passion and of away day culture and supporter identity - but also bringing us back down to earth, but also uncovering the elements of football, no matter how insignificant they may seem, that make you remember why you're a supporter, and not purely a customer in the clutches of corporate sporting giants, grinding down the relationship between club and supporter i.e. Sky and BT.  His videos also epitomise the fact you can't beat a live match day experience, yes of course watching a match in the comfort of your own living room is enjoyable, but it's nothing on the amplification of senses you get from being there - the sounds, the sites and the smells, along with the wit and jovial banter between himself, friends and other supporters also make me think of the relationship that I have gained and consolidated at the football over the years.
So overall, football is more than soulless atmospheres in newly constructed grounds - yes I'm talking to you MK Dons (sorry, I couldn't resist), or purely the result of the match. It is the loyalty, desire and sometimes even the pure spontaneity to do a 10 hour round trip on a frosty Tuesday night just to watch your team lose. It is the friendships and the comradery of supporters that occurs in terraces up and down the country. It is cultural intrigue of your new surroundings. But the overarching message is footballing devotion prevails over the ever growing corporate hegemony.


Awaydays can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/user/aysAwayd
Follow me on Twitter: @DLster

A Non-League revolution

Jamie Vardy. The biggest story in the Premier League this season. Record breaker, goal scorer, cult hero. And now Premier League winner, but where did it all begin for the man on top of the world? Non-league football.

From £30-a-week at Stocksbridge Park Steels, to a household name today. Vardy now plays in front of thousands every week, under club owners with millions in pocket change.

However, away from the dizzying heights of the Premier League, a revolution is happening. Non-league football is growing. Fans are rebelling against the corporate machine, the airline-stadium sponsorships, and instead are opting to cheer on their team of local semi-professionals.

Unlike the cut-throat nature of the Premier League and football league, where managers and players are expected to deliver in the volatile pressure cooker, hostile stadium atmospheres are becoming more commonplace when things don’t go right.

Fans are being swayed towards non-league, where they can enjoy a drink in the stand and swap ends at half-time without the need for crowd segregation.

Although the crowds are nowhere near as big as the likes of Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, the non-league community have some of the most passionate people you will meet.

There are dedicated fans and volunteers like myself who travels far and wide to watch their team, whenever, wherever, whatever the weather. Win, lose, or draw, we sing, we chant, and we have a laugh. We’re a rabble, but without the intimidating stigma that comes with so-called football league ‘ultras’.

The growing appeal of non-league football is an interesting subject. On the one hand, people want to regain their identity as a football fan, and not just become someone who adds to the trickle of revenue that finds its way into owners' back pockets.

Non-league fans want freedom to stand where they want, even with the away fans, and be part of a greater footballing community, rather than be just a bystander. More importantly than this, we want to build a better future for the English game. As a passionate fan of grassroots football I know I definitely do.

Without people that care, the lower echelons of English football could soon disappear. This is where people power pays dividends. From maintenance and fundraising, to rekindling the ashes of a former powerhouse (Hereford and Darlington come to mind), the love for non-league helps make these changes happen.

James Doe, an advocate for non-league football, wanted to illustrate this passion. He's created a day to enlighten the UK public on the joys of non-league.

Over the past six years, Non- League Day has grown from a small time Facebook event to an annual national campaign which has grabbed the attention of clubs, leagues, the media and most importantly the fans. It was a personal catalyst for my love of non-league football.

This year, the campaign aims to encourages the non-league community, and those who are curious about the game, to come together at the home of the English national team, Wembley Stadium.

On May 22nd, both the FA Vase and FA Trophy finals, where Morpeth take on Hereford and Halifax take on Grimsby, will take place at the national stadium on a day that promises to be a great spectacle as the best non-league teams, at their respective levels, show off their talent at the cauldron of English football.

The best non-league has to offer, on the hallow turf.

The event will be of great significance for non-league football as it gets full exposure for all to see. The day is set to be a celebration, and could be a major platform for the growth of the grassroots game.

Despite the UK government investing more funds into the Chinese game than in English grassroots football, through the love and passion shown by all those involved at this level, the excitement of the game lives on.

Through the Non- League Day initiative, hopefully more people will become interested in a highly affordable game filled with twists, turns and unpredictability. And who knows? You might be there to witness the next Jamie Vardy.

Tickets: https://ticketing.thefa.com/
Follow me on Twitter: @DLster