How economic change affects football

When the original Football League was founded in 1888 its twelve members were drawn from the north-west and the midlands.  These areas formed the manufacturing heart of the country when industry was economically dominant.   A southern team did not win the title until Arsenal in 1931.

When the original Football League was founded in 1888 its twelve members were drawn from the north-west and the midlands.  These areas formed the manufacturing heart of the country when industry was economically dominant.   A southern team did not win the title until Arsenal in 1931.

Now we have a service economy and London as a world city has become more economically dominant. In the 1970s four northern teams were voted out of the Football League: Bradford Park Avenue, Barrow, Workington and Southport.    They were replaced by three southern teams(Cambridge, Hereford, Wilbledon) and one northern one (Wigan).

Since automatic promotion and relegation to the Conference was introduce in 1987, eight northern clubs in the Football League have subsequently dropped out of it: Lincoln, Tranmere, Chester, Wrexham, York, Darlington, Halifax, Stockport.   Three southern clubs have done so: Hereford, Aldershot and Torquay.

Seven of the eleven replacements have been southern: Barnet, Wycombe, Cheltenham, Yeovil. Stevenage, Crawley and AFC Wimbledon.   From the north, Accrington have returned, and have been joined by Morecambe, Burton and Fleetwood.