On 10 April 2007, Team A slotted 7 goals against Team B at home, and the next day the back pages of tabloid and broadsheet newspapers alike were awash with accolades and tributes to eleven men who made the rout possible. It was the only thing the sports pundits could talk about for days – for years, even, as the scoreline was often mentioned whenever these two teams ever met again. On 8 August 2009, Team D slotted 7 goals against Team C away from home, and apart from a passing mention in the regional news, non-enthusiasts were none the wiser about the scoreline. Such is the difference between media coverage of the Premiership and League 1 football. Of course, this is not the only difference: the transfer fees that change hand in League 1, for instance, would match the monthly salary of 2 or 3 Premiership players, if that.
I was aware that it was slim pickings when it came to getting secondary information from the media when it came to teams in the lower leagues, even in the era of the webonomics. But was I naïve in thinking that a 7-1 scoreline away from home, beating a newly relegated team who only a few seasons ago were playing the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal, would at least garner a national news mention? Apparently I was. England’s hapless cricket exploits are worth more column space: and I suppose, quite rightly so.
Media coverage is, as with most things, subject to supply and demand. What goes in is subject to what is perceived to be what the majority of people are interested in; things that will make people pick up the newspaper. The Daily Telegraph, for instance, enjoyed a boost in sales over the MPs expenses scandal that they broke, although ironically, their owners are not the most tax-friendly socially responsible corporate citizens. And the fact is that for clubs like Colchester United, Gillingham, Yeovil and Carlisle – any interest in their fortunes 10 miles beyond city limits is limited to fans of opposing teams sussing out potential threat in upcoming games. The lack of media attention translates into less visibility, which in turn translates into less advertising, less revenue, a smaller transfer purse, less ability to attract good players… the list continues.
The financial gap between the top echelons of English, and at that, European, football and the second tier is big and is well documented in both popular and sporting media, and also among academic circles. Aspiring to break the glass ceiling would mean serious financial investment, which, when not coupled with success on the pitch, very quickly translates into spiralling debt, which in turn is stemmed somewhat by the sales of top players. Should it be any surprise that League 1 is littered with teams that once dabbled with the devil of debt financing, only to fail to turn investment into results? I remember the day when Swindon Town, Norwich City, Southampton, Leeds United and Oldham Athletic were playing the Chelseas and the Tottenhams. Taking their tales as fables, would a club like Colchester ever grace the Premiership? Or at that, with everything that would be at stake, would it really want to?
Oh, and if you haven’t figured it out yet, Teams A & B are Manchester United and AS Roma, who were playing in the Champions’ League, the European Club Championship that bandies about even more money! Teams C & D are Norwich City and Colchester United, in Season 2009/10 plying their trade in League 1. And if you’re still sceptical about this being all about the money, get this: Colchester United have instantly cashed in from this victory: DVDs of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ are to be
on sale, very soon!
My Colchester United Year 