Premiership History

Off the Pitch:
After a servere depression of the game of football in the 80's, due to hooliganism, crumbling stadia and a general depression due to the ban on English clubs from European competition.  Ater England performed well in the 1990 World Cup and the ban on Europe was lifted, English clubs looked to revive their game.  A government report was published, giving new legislation to what a safe ground should be.  Seeking more money from TV rights – the top league English sides decided that the only way this was possible was to break away from the First Division.  And in 1992 they did; forming the 'FA Premier League'. 
In the last two decades the rise of the league has be astronomical; it is now the most watched and richest league in the world!

On the Pitch:
Manchester United have had a near monopoly on the trophy, since it's inaugoral season 1992-93, United have been crowned champions 9 times!  The have only finished outside the top 2 once.  Only Three other teams have won the trohpy; Arsenal (3 times), Chelsea (twice) and Blackburn (once). 
A foreign influx occured in the league.  The top players from a around the world could be seen plying there trade in England.  Some of the most notorious were; Jurgan Klinsmann for Tottenham, Gianfranco Zola for Chelsea and David Ginola for Newcastle.  But more notorious then any other was the enigmatic frenceman Eric Cantona.  Cantona is created with helping mentor a great crop of United youngsters including: Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholse and for being the catalyst on the pitch for Alex Ferguson, making United a great team again.

Title battles down the years have become the thing of a pyschologists dream.  Tactical 'mind games' between Ferguson and Kevin Keegan, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho have taken up just as many column inches as the football has!

Alan Shearer is the League's all time highest scorer with 260 goals and Gary Speed and Ryan Giggs have made the most appearences, playing in and scoring in every season of the league so far (1992-93 to 2007-08).

The league is hugely popular.  But in recent times commentators have spoken about a potential resession, for the first time since the start some teams haven't been fulling filling their stadium.  People blame erratic TV times for this and also just TV coverage.  The arguement though must be balanced by pointed out that the top teams have seen an increase in attendances.  Arsenal recently moved to a ground that holds 60,000, whilst Manchester United's Old Trafford has grown to hold 77,000 and Newcastle's St. James' Park holds 53,000 and all three grounds are regularly full.

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