The most watched league in the whole world and the most attractive league for the world’s best players. Many think that the Premier League’s current fame comes from the tireless efforts of the organizers since decades ago. In fact, the first season of the Premier League was rolled out in 1992, 26 years ago, or it could be said, there had not been half a generation.
The idea of establishing a Premier League emerged when English football was at its nadir. In the 1980s, hooligans often made riots, while old stadiums began to age. The English clubs was sentenced to not play in European competition after the Heysel tragedy in the 1985 Champions League final involving Liverpool supporters and killing 39 people. Many world-class players do not want to pursue careers in England, and vice versa, many British players were moving abroad.
In 1989, another disaster came. The Hillsborough tragedy, which becomes an unforgettable tragedy, resulted in 96 lives lost. Taylor’s report, an investigative report carried out after the tragedy happened, found that besides being caused by the failure of the police to control the rioting of the masses, English football also needed to renew the supporters and stadium organizations.
The dark situation made some parties urged to restructure English football. Along with the desire of the television to broadcast the matches of the top clubs, the idea to organize a new league that was more professional and more organized emerged.
At that time, English football still used the old format of the Football League, with the First Division (Division One) as the highest caste. Major clubs in this division, such as Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsenal, were the keenest to form their own league. As of 1986, the clubs were able to win 50% of television money and sponsorships which increased to 75% in 1988.
In 1980, Greg Dyke from the LWT television company started to lobby the big clubs to cheer on new league ideas. He met United, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Everton. As a result, near the new season 1991/92, a proposal was submitted to the FA. The proposal contained the formation of a new league which would later fully provide 100% of the broadcasting rights and sponsorship to the clubs. Commercial rights would be fully held by the organizers and the clubs and no longer passing the hands of the FA and the Football League.
Finally, in 1992, clubs in Division One of Football League resigned from the old competition. The FA Premier League’s company, that would manage the English Premier League, was established on May 27, 1992.
Shahdah, the first 22 Premier League members began competing in the 1992/93 season. The 22 clubs were: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Everton, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Oldham Athletic, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Wimbledon.
The Premier League began to reduce the number of clubs to 20 clubs starting in the 1995/96 season. Since then, the format of English professional football has not changed. Under the Premier League, there was a Football League consisting of three divisions: Championship Division, League One, until League Two.
Well, we all know, the Premier League has become a giant league compared to all other leagues in Europe. Mediocre clubs like Crystal Palace or Burnley can even earn more than 100 million pounds per season. No wonder, in every transfer market, there are only star players who land in the middle of England’s club.
The Premier League is also developing in the aspects of clubs’ achievements. Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are clubs that have won the European Champions League. Those three clubs, added by Arsenal, formed a giant combination of the Big Four in the 2000s.
Now, despite the surprise created by Leicester City in 1995/96, the Top Six Club which dominated the Premier League are United, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham.
