A Sociological Investigation in to the Dynamic Power Balance
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A sociological investigation in to the dynamic power balance between the Football League and Football Association: Using the Football League Cup as a window for exploration Item Type Thesis or dissertation Authors Hopkins, Gareth Publisher University of Chester Download date 23/09/2021 22:50:02 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10034/64013 This work has been submitted to ChesterRep – the University of Chester’s online research repository http://chesterrep.openrepository.com Author(s): Gareth Hopkins Title: A sociological investigation in to the dynamic power balance between the Football League and Football Association: Using the Football League Cup as a window for exploration Date: November 2008 Originally published as: University of Chester MSc dissertation Example citation: Hopkins, Gareth. (2008). A sociological investigation in to the dynamic power balance between the Football League and Football Association: Using the Football League Cup as a window for exploration. (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of Chester, United Kingdom. Version of item: Submitted version Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10034/64013 A Sociological Investigation in to the Dynamic Power Balance between the Football League and Football Association: Using the Football League Cup as a Window for Exploration Gareth Hopkins Words: 24 113 Dissertation submitted in accordance with the requirements of the University of Chester for the degree of Master of Science. Acknowledgements I would foremost wish to acknowledge the enthusiastic support of Dr Daniel Bloyce who always had time for technical discussion. Extended thanks also go to Brian Barber, Historian/Statistician at The FA, for allowing me to utilise his expertise and detailed knowledge whilst conducting my research. Furthermore, I am extremely grateful to those at the Northamptonshire FA who donated their time to proof- reading my thesis – specifically, I would like to mention Kirsty Frior, Stuart Curtis and Debbie Preston. Finally, I would like to recognise the support of Sophie who was always to hand when I needed help. i Student Declaration This is my own original work and has not been previously submitted for a degree qualification or other academic qualification. Signed: .............................. Name: .............................. Date: .............................. ii Table of Contents Abstract............................................................................................................................... 2 1. Introduction..................................................................................................................... 3 2. Figurational Sociology: An Overview.......................................................................... 10 3. Literature Review.......................................................................................................... 17 4. A Contextualisation of Domestic and International Football Governing Bodies......... 23 4.1 The Emergence of the Football Association ...................................................................23 4.2 The Emergence of the Football League ..........................................................................26 4.3 Responsibilities of the Football League and Football Association ...................................32 4.4 The Emergence of FIFA................................................................................................37 4.5 The Emergence of UEFA ..............................................................................................42 5. Research Methods......................................................................................................... 46 6. The Advent of the Football League Cup....................................................................... 51 7. 1960 – 1970: Impact of the Football League Cup ........................................................ 62 8. 1970 – 1980: Tensions Run High ................................................................................. 71 9. 1980 – Present: Advent of the FA Premier League ...................................................... 80 10. Conclusion and Discussion......................................................................................... 87 References......................................................................................................................... 92 APPENDIX .................................................................................................................... 100 1 Abstract This thesis suggests that the Football League Cup was introduced as part of a wider social policy to challenge the Football Association’s position in power. Therefore, testing the figurational perspective and, using the Football League Cup as a window for exploration, this thesis has investigated the dynamic power relationship between the Football Association and Football League and, later, on to the emerging relationship with international football governing bodies – FIFA and UEFA. Therefore, this investigation has; (1) Traced the development, sociologically, of the Football League Cup and; (2) investigated the fluctuating relationship between differing football governing bodies. Such analysis is unique in that academics have failed to recognise the sociological significance in that football is the only sport in England governed by two separate authorities and, as such, this is the first dedicated investigation of its kind. Furthermore, this is the first sociological study to examine England’s ‘secondary’ football cup competition – the Football League Cup. Documentary analysis was the chosen research method for investigation. Specifically, to investigate the controversy surrounding the Football League Cup, newspaper analysis was conducted using two online resources – The Times Digital Archive and NewsBank Info Web. To help understand the shifting power balance between the FA and Football League, research took place at the FA headquarters in Soho, London – here, a systematic analysis of FA minutes and literature within the FA library took place. This thesis has identified that the Football League Cup was introduced as part of an ulterior motive to challenge the position of the Football Association. In fact, this dissertation highlights that the FA have been in conflict with other associations since before their advent in 1863. Furthermore, this investigation has contradicted the claim, made by some, that the Football League Cup is ‘pointless’ or ‘worthless’. In fact, this investigation has found that the Football League cup has proven to be extremely useful to the lesser sides that have a second opportunity to draw a ‘bigger’ club (as they already have this opportunity in the FA Cup) and, also, the tournament is an important asset to the Football League who were able to use the competition as a ‘tool’ for negotiation. Nevertheless, although the FA has been challenged throughout their existence, the organisation remains the number one authority for English professional football, formally speaking. 2 1. Introduction Testing the figurational perspective, this thesis will attempt to examine the dynamic relationship between the Football League and Football Association (FA) and, later, on to the relationship between UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and the football authorities in England, using the Football League Cup as a window for investigation. This introduction will highlight why this topic is of sociological significance and, introduce the reader to the separate chapters covered within this investigation. Whilst academics have explained how and why the split between football (soccer) and rugby has occurred, there has been little attempt to understand further divides within sport, for instance, between the Football League and FA. This is surprising considering football is a game which is regulated by two governing bodies; a unique situation for sport in this country. Indeed, football is the only professional sport in England that is governed by two separate bodies (The Football Association and Football League). The closest resemblance, domestically, is boxing which is another sport that has two domestic governing bodies but, unlike the domestic authorities for football, they control different groups of individuals – British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) [amateur] and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBB of C) [professional]. This tenuous similarity highlights just how distinctive this thesis is and therefore merits investigation. Previously, academic analysis has concentrated on other football related phenomena – particularly football hooliganism and, as King has noted, ‘over the last twenty-five years, 3 academic analysis of football has focused overwhelmingly on the issue of hooliganism’ (1998, p.3). Although such an issue is worthy of sociological investigation, it is possible that examinations of football hooliganism have ‘unreasonably biased research in to football’ (King, 1998, p.3). Indeed, Duke (1991) has argued that football hooliganism is just one of a number of issues surrounding football and, as such, issues such as the administration of football have been relegated by some academics to a secondary position. This investigation will therefore attempt to analyse the power dynamics of domestic and, later, international relationships in the context of football in England through the medium of the Football League Cup. It would now be appropriate to draw on the controversies