The growing north - south divide in football

Recently, there has been a lot of talk of the romance of Bournemouth being promoted into the Premier League. I for one have not shared in this spirit and would have preferred a Derby or Middlesbrough promotion (as my team Blackburn Rovers had little chance).  This was not just down to the fact that Bournemouth are owned by a Russian Oligarch, but for a wider troubling trend starting to encroach football, which it has previously been resilient to.

The haves and have-nots in English football are now reflecting real life in England in which London and its wealthy peripheries dominate whilst the industrial north goes into decline. Bournemouth and Watford coming up is another sign of the affluent southern influence – historically small clubs are now benefiting through the pull of the south. This works in two ways, the super-rich choose to invest in areas easily accessible to London whilst London becomes a growing attraction for players to go to.  Both potential international players and owners look at a map, as they have never heard of Middlesbrough or Burnley, or Bournemouth and Watford, but notice that the latter are near London so they choose them. This trend also coincides with the decline of historic clubs such as Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers in the considerably poorer industrial north who cannot compete with the wealthier clubs in the south despite the historic significance of the northern clubs.

This is not an attack on the south of England but a criticism on the nature of global capital. Football is the last significant bastion shaped by working class culture. Is this going to die as well? I hope not.

Added extra: Northern teams outside the Premier League are also struggling to get sponsorship and to fill their corporate hospitality. Teams near London have no such problems as their corporate areas are often full with City firms and wealthy individuals.