- All Forums
-
General
-
Television
-
DVDs & Films
-
Hardware
-
PCs & Mobiles
-
Photography
-
Music
-
Gaming and Consoles
-
MAD
-
Sports
-
Trading
-
Retailer Reviews
-
Bargain Buckets
-
Region Hacks
Sports Forum - Welsh Clubs in the English Football League - Page 1
Elite
I had an arguement with a few people on Twitter about this yesterday and wondered what everyone else thought.
Basically there were a number of Leeds fans (I'm a Leeds fan myself so I'm able to name and shame here) who were all bitching that Cardiff and Swansea have no place in the Championship "they are Welsh/ f*** off back to your own league" etc. Also citing reasons that were loosely based around how the Welsh FA (FAW) governs these clubs whilst the English FA doesnt get involved (the case in question being Jay Bothroyds tackle in January on Leeds Utd's Becchio which could have broken his leg). FAW decided to take no action and the FA did the same. Apparently though this was bias on the part of the FAW.
Here is my point though. Cardiff (for example) were created in 1920, at this time no Welsh League was in existence so they joined the English league with the consent of the all the clubs and the English FA. In 1992 the Welsh League was created, the Welsh clubs (Cardiff, Swansea, Wrecham and Newport County) were given the option to join the Welsh League but this would have been business suicide for them as the English League was far more lucrative so they opted to stay in the English League, again with the consent of the FA's involved and presumably the other clubs in the English League.
This would mean that in order to pander to the people claiming the Welsh clubs have no place in the league the English FA would have to kick them out of the league on no other basis than the fact that they are Welsh. Effectively saying "its our league and your Welsh so not welcome" which would be quite xenophobic. The fact that this is being shouted about while Swansea and Cardiff are doing well simply makes these people seem very bitter and almost saying "its my ball and I'm saying you can't play"
Yes these clubs state they are "proud to be Welsh" but that doesn't mean they should commit business suicide and move to a lesser league when they are entitled to stay in the one that they are in. If the FAW is seen to be being more lenient than the English FA then this is between the two FAs and nothing to do with the clubs themselves so I don't see why attitudes against them can be seen to be acceptable.
posted by Rob Shepherd on Monday, 21st March 2011, 11:23
Super Admin
Since the FA is ultimately in charge for the league they are in, I don't see what all the fuss is about either.
The argument is perhaps even more of a joke when you look at how many Welsh players are in the side?
Editor
DVD REVIEWER
MYREVIEWER.COM
My Flickr Photostream
Elite
Quote:
Since the FA is ultimately in charge for the league they are in
UEFA rules state that if you have a "viable league" in your own country, you may not join another country's league.
This has always been one of the stumbling blocks facing Rangers/Celtic and their desires to join the EPL.
posted by Bezzawezza on Monday, 21st March 2011, 12:58
Elite
The difference between Rangers/Celtic and Cardiff/Swansea though is that the Scottish league was available when they were created. When Cardiff and Swansea (and incidentally Wrexham and Newport County) were created there was no Welsh league in existence for them to join. Therefore upon entry to the league, for the welsh clubs, there was no other viable league.
The FA have never made a request to get rid of them and why would the clubs look to remove themselves from a lucrative league and enter a lesser league?
Elite
I was responding more to RJS, who intimated it's the FA that is responsible for who is/isn't in their league.
This isn't the case.
The FA could, for example, be happy to have Celtic and Rangers in their league.
But AFAIK the rules are still such that UEFA would be able to block the move.
posted by Rob Shepherd on Monday, 21st March 2011, 14:39
Super Admin
Sorry, maybe I should have clarified. I was responding more to Bezza's point about who governs the clubs behaviour in the league, rather than decides who is or isn't in there.
I actually think the issue of Celtic and Rangers being in the Premiership is far more about who they would displace, and the rivalry between them bringing the league into disrepute than anything else. There are clearly things regularly chanted on the terraces at those clubs which would result in a huge fine in the Premiership. 
Looking at this years table, could you imagine how scary it would be for clubs if the bottom 5 went down? It's scary enough for loads of them with just 3!
You could say it would be more fair to those clubs if Celtic and Rangers spent a season in the Championship instead, but then you'd get displacement from them to the league below that (and so on). So I guess whatever league they got in, Vauxhall Conference aside (is it still called that?) there would be a lot of angry clubs who previously would have been promoted or not faced relegation.
Editor
DVD REVIEWER
MYREVIEWER.COM
My Flickr Photostream
Elite
It would be fairer to the other clubs of any league if both Celtic and Rangers stayed in the SPL for the next....oh lets say two hundred years. Just to pick a figure at random.
Snaps
Every Third Car
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I used to be with it, but then they changed what 'it' was.
Now, what I'm with isn't it, and what's 'it' seems weird and scary
Elite
Just to correct an earlier poster, both Rangers (1873) and Celtic (1888) were formed before the Scottish League started in 1890 so, in theory, both could have joined the Football League.
And, if memory serves me correctly, both Rangers and Queens Park competed in the FA Cup.
posted by mbilko on Wednesday, 23rd March 2011, 02:12
Elite
Pretty sure Queens Park won the FA Cup??
posted by bowfer on Wednesday, 23rd March 2011, 09:50
Elite
Quote:
It would be fairer to the other clubs of any league if both Celtic and Rangers stayed in the SPL for the next....oh lets say two hundred years. Just to pick a figure at random.
Gee...thanks...
I mean, I don't blame you.
But thanks anyway.
