Joe Cole’s comment that Liverpool are the biggest club in the country provoked a debate on Radio 5 this morning. There is no one criterion that determines whether a club is big or not. Attendances and the size of the stadium are certainly part of the picture and honours are also a criterion. But supposing most of them were won a long time ago? Does the fact that Nottingham Forest won the European Cup twice make it a big club? Is Liverpool’s claim based largely on the fact that it has won the European competition five times and can
Joe Cole’s comment that Liverpool are the biggest club in the country provoked a debate on Radio 5 this morning. There is no one criterion that determines whether a club is big or not. Attendances and the size of the stadium are certainly part of the picture and honours are also a criterion. But supposing most of them were won a long time ago? Does the fact that Nottingham Forest won the European Cup twice make it a big club? Is Liverpool’s claim based largely on the fact that it has won the European competition five times and can claim its own replica trophy?
Simon Chadwick from Coventry University was interviewed about this topic on Radio 5 and he brought in the criterion of global recognition. On that basis the two biggest clubs in England are Manchester United and Liverpool. Arsenal and Chelsea are some way behind in the global recognition stakes.
Simon also introduced the notion of a club’s catchment area, which is certainly relevant to its potential and whether it has competition from another club. However, catchment areas are not a straightforward matter. Aston Villa is much more of a regional Midlands club whereas Birmingham City draws more of its support from inside the conurbation. That may help to explain why Villa can claim to be a bigger club.
He also introduced the notion of a ‘sleeping giant’ category, giving Cardiff City as an example, which I would certainly agree with. There can even be sleeping giants in League 1: until recently Leeds United and now Southampton.
Simon Chadwick pointed to the example of Blackburn Rovers which won the Premiership once, but never went on to build on that potential. However, that was only achieved by the injection of substantial amounts of money by Jack Walker. Blackburn lacks the large and prosperous catchment area that would be needed to make a sustainable bid for the big time.
If one turned this argument round, one might think that a big city would produce a big club. But Bristol has conspicuously failed to do so. A devoted fan base can help a club to punch beyond its weight, Newcastle United being the clearest example. Norwich City also qualify on a smaller scale, although they benefit from lack of competition in Norfolk.
In Scotland it’s not so much a case of big clubs as two dominant clubs in the shape of Celtic and Rangers. No other club comes within touching distance.
Bean counters would use turnover and cash flow as the main criteria and at least they produce relatively objective standards of judgement. On that basis, the biggest club in England is undoubtedly Manchester United. To challenge them, Liverpool need their new stadium.
But, of course, in many ways it’s a matter of perception. When they were down in the third division, Manchester City fans described themselves as a ‘massive’ club. If nothing else, it boosted their morale.