With the potential introduction of a European Super League all the talk at the moment, we thought it might be best to roll back the years and look at a decade in which football was perhaps never better.
The new ESL that looks to be coming into play in the very near future looks set to shake football in a way in which the sport has not seen since the ‘Bosman Ruling’ came into effect back in 1995. Indeed, there has been plenty of opposition to it, with Gary Neville extremely critical as has British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and many of the football governing bodies from around Europe including UEFA and FIFA.
With so much going on and causing a rather big headache, some of us decided to take a look at this 888 Bonus that has been made available, whilst others also took the opportunity to roll back the years and take a look at a simpler, and perhaps, better time in regards to the sport within England.
Of course, one of the most noticeable differences between modern football and the sport back in the 1990s is the price and costs involved when attending a game. Indeed, money has come into the game and it has become more of a business than it has ever been – with the ESL further amplifying that notion ten-fold – but going to a football match used to be something that would not cost the earth.
Recently, being able to go to a Premier League match has cost each person in the range of £30-£100, with those prices not even guaranteeing that a decent seat will be provided. Back in the 1990s, it could cost someone less than £10 for a great seat! Programmes even used to be incredibly cheap compared to what they are these days, whilst the whole matchday experience that we all used to look forward to then has now become something that is incredibly expensive and something we have to save up for just to achieve once a season.
Other great things that happened back in the 1990s was that the game was a lot more physical and actually provided some juicy tackles that fans could revel in, stadiums that actually looked a little different to the bog-standard format that they all appear to have followed, and the sheer competitive nature that domestic leagues had prior to the money that has since been made available.
The 90s would see teams like Leeds United, Crystal Palace, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa, Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest all achieve a finish in the top three at one point. Now, you’d be lucky to see them in the Premier League or even get in the ‘top six’ if they are involved.
