Life And Death Of Football Today

The difference between success and failure is often down to one moment of madness, or one moment of tremendous brilliance. On the field of a football pitch however, success and failure can save or destroy a football club along with the dreams of thousands. Literally.

Just look at this season`s playoffs between Cardiff and Blackpool (the victor of this match will know their fate after this is published).

The winner of one match at Wembley decides which club gets to ply its trade in arguably the greatest league in Europe playing at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates, plus the small bonus of 90 MILLION pounds! Not bad for 90 minutes work.


But what about the loser of this lucrative matchup? For Blackpool it will be the end of a dream which may never come again, for Cardiff things could be tough next year if they fail to win also; considering they are one of a growing list of clubs owing money to the Iron fist of the Revenue and Customs.

So if this game comes down to one penalty or one moment of brilliance, kicking an air filled ‘bag` could decide the future of both clubs.

Perhaps then, the playoff final should be named ‘`Premiership or bust“.

Our own club is one such example of what failure can do. That final penalty kick from Inigo Idiakez decided the result between us and Derby County in the playoff semi final some 3 years ago.

That one kick of a ball led to us almost losing our club forever. 125 years decided in one season and one game. We are just one of many clubs who have gambled with hopes and dreams which almost led to Armageddon. This is wrong isn`t it?

One own goal from Danny Higginbotham in the last minute at the Boro in 04 was how fine the line was between Premier league survival and perhaps paying off our stadium and being safe or relegation and subsequent relegation again.

Failure is part and parcel of football at every club, but should one kick of a ball in one afternoon decide whether a football club even exists?

When you think of the thousands who turn out to watch they`re team who live and breathe they`re clubs, you come to realise that commercialisation has killed football as we know it.



Red army comrade