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Football is universal. It is one of the most played, most viewed, and most talked about sport. For centuries, it has been used as a method of recreation, but in the last couple of decades it has become an essential part of the economy and culture of a country, particularly Britain’s. Because of the popularity of the sport, all aspects of life are influenced. That includes the perception of Great Britain as a whole. It is an internationalised sport, it is the sport that people of all ages look forward to watching, and it unites people of all socio-economic backgrounds.
Each football team has a different identity, and because of that, people can associate themselves directly to a team, making them feel like a part of something bigger than themselves. Football applies to culture, the economy, and society, since it embodies all three every match day.
British football has a long history, and therefore it is engraved into the culture.
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Studies show that the sport was first seen in England around 1170. Young children and teenagers went out to the fields to play a “game of ball”. However, in the 1300’s, it was banned. Because it was so popular, people became distracted by it. In order to solve this problem, Edward II banned the sport so people would focus on practicing archery, because the country was preparing to go to war with Scotland. Later on, it became increasingly popular with the working classes. They used the sport as a method of stress relief and as a way of talking to other people of the similar background and social standings.
Sometimes it ended badly, however, because there were no classified rules or referee mediating the match. Many times it would end in violence. Punching players on the opposing team and destroying personal property, including homes and businesses, became the norm. In the 18th century, the sport became very popular in public schools. In order to have organised matches, rules and standards were created. During a meeting in 1848 at Cambridge, rules were created, all of which are used currently. These happenings slowly created a standard for the creation of various football club teams, which would later to lead to national and international competitions. The sport has also helped settle tension during the bloodshed of World War I. The Christmas Eve of 1914, both sides went to No Man’s land and played a match. Although the results are unknown, no shots were heard during the match, making it the most peaceful moment of the war, and so it became known as “The Christmas Day Truce”.
Football is a huge economy in Britain. Particularly, the business behind Chelsea Football Club. On the Stamford Bridge Stadium Tour, visitors are given a thorough explanation of the business of the club. An incredible amount of economic facts can be learned through the tour. The club has many various methods of income; that including tickets, the health club and spa, hotels, restaurants, retail stores, the car park, Delta flight lounge, Under the Bridge, which is a small venue, and broadcasting. The club is fifth in terms of revenue of all football clubs in the world. The revenue is so large because it does not only serve and apply to football fans, but also, non-football fans. In the 2013/2014 season, the club’s revenue increased by 30% (£80 million), which totaled to an annual revenue of £340 million. Commercialisation of the club comes in second, with 34% (£101.7 million). Match day only makes up 23% (£71.2 million) of the total annual revenue. Jersey sponsorship is also a massive economic supply for the club, with Yokohama, a Japanese company, signing a five-year, £200 million contract with Chelsea in 2015.
The greater part of Chelsea FC’s revenue comes from broadcasting. It makes up 43% (£130 million) of the total revenue. This is because all over the world tune in to watching Chelsea matches. The Champions League also benefits the economy of the team. Due to the international popularity of the competition, various television contracts are signed all over the world. In the 2013/2014 season, £27 million was made because of it.
However, the club also has vast amounts of expenditure. The club has to pay players and staff salaries, maintenance of the stadium, team travel, and the constant closing of London roads due to matches. A component of the team that millions of people follow is the player trade market. The club spends millions of pounds every year buying players, for example, Spanish superstar Fernando “El Niño” Torres. He was purchased from Liverpool for £50 million, but ended up being a disappointment. He was criticised for his playing, and many said he was not worth the money spent. In three and a half years he netted twenty goals, as opposed to his goals scored playing for Liverpool, where he scored sixty-five in the same amount of time. This shows that the economy of the football world and the player trade market is not easy. In the end, it is all a gamble. Managers have to be careful with the vast amounts of money that is spent, because if one wrong move is made, the image of the club can be stained, and the entire economy can collapse.
The club also greatly relies on the international expansion of the brand name. Every summer, there is a pre-season tour, which is very essential. Managers have to carefully select which countries should be travelled to. This is to expand the market and create brand awareness. Countries chosen usually have established economies, like that of the United States or China. A common tactic used to expand internationally is purchasing players from other countries to create a more international team. Currently, in Chelsea’s 2015/2016 first team, there are twenty one international players out of twenty six. These players come from all over, ranging from Brazil to Spain, to Nigeria. In order to have a successful global market, there must be a player from all the major continents.
Recently, there have been problems arising between the Premiere League and pubs, which is a common place for fans of the game to drink and watch the match. Many pubs have had to pay hefty fines, up to £20,000 each, due to the copyright infringements. Premiere League representatives stated that, they “are currently undertaking our largest-ever investigations programme and have commenced legal action against several pubs and will continue to do so. Only Sky Sports and BT Sport are authorised to show live Premier League football in pubs in the UK and legitimate commercial subscriptions can be obtained from them.” Pubs are an enormous part of British culture, but in order for those pubs to obtain a license for the showing of matches, they must pay the subscription fee, which keeps getting increasingly more expensive each year. Larger pubs may not have a problem paying the fee, but smaller pubs in rural towns may. The audiences and drinkers that the matches attract can make the difference between survival and closure. The Premiere League is taking these illegalities very seriously, and is opening cases with over three hundred and fifty pubs. Their legal team claims that some pubs breach strict copyright protocols by showing the matches via a satellite card. One pub in particular purchased a card issued by Danish broadcasters, featuring the Premiere League logo. The card is not illegal, however, it is only intended for private use in one’s home. This makes one consider the relationship between British culture and the economy. On one hand, the British pride themselves on their love of football and football culture, that including pubs, but on the other hand, they also have one of the strongest economies. This can come at the cost of basic cultural components.
According to Bill Shankly, Liverpool Football Club legend, “some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.” Football is an important component of many people’s lives. Like any country’s national team during the World Cup, it creates a sense of unity between nationals. When eleven players step out on the field during a World Cup, 26 million people are intentively watching their television screens, shutting down the country. The number is higher than that of people who watched the royal wedding. England, in the recent decades, has created a notion of nationhood. St. George’s flag became more popular in comparison to the Union Jack, because it was strictly English. During Germany’s 2006 World Cup, The Guardian reported that up to 20% of adults in England had purchased a flag (10.5 million). The flag became highly commercialised; retailers saw an opportunity. Although the World Cup is an international tournament that creates a sense of unity, it also seizes the chance to exploit the market. Those who do not follow football follow the matches, just because they feel the need to be a part of something greater. Becoming a bandwagon is common during large events like these. St. George’s flag was exploited; it appeared on chocolate footballs, drinking cups, and school lunch boxes. Although the pride shown through the flag can be admirable, there are pros and cons. The pros being that the country is united while still building a global economy and supporting the country’s team, the cons being that the national symbol is exploited highly during international events.
Football is an iconic part of British culture. Pubs benefit from it, as well as the general society. It creates a sense of unity between supporters. However, it is a business, and it all revolves around a market. Buying and selling players, seeing which sponsor is willing to pay more, and travelling to internationally expand themselves. Without money, there is no football. It is all part of a global market. It contributes highly to the British economy, which is why football is something that is so central to the British identity. When one visits the stadium, goes to a match, or just lives and experiences the British culture in general, it is easy to see that the sport globalises itself. Football is a business that is beneficial to the economy, and without it implemented into the market, there would be a major downfall that would affect the entire country.
British Culture, Economy and Society and the Role of Football. (2024, Feb 14). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/british-culture-economy-and-society-and-the-role-of-football-essay
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