When I was a young lad, I remember my older brother telling me about this English football team, which was involved in an air crash, resulting in the death of many people including players. He went on to tell me that nonetheless the club managed to pull back, not only competing again at the highest level but also going on to win more trophies. I thought wow that was my kind of team and my heroes.
When I arrived in 1972 to study at UMIST in Manchester, a city where football runs deep through its veins, I soon realised that Manchester United was the team that my brother was alluding to. Needless to say I became a supporter of my childhood heroes. An ardent fan, following their news and regularly going to matches at Old Trafford.
Football then was different from now. It was very much about the fans. The players were almost entirely home-grown, there were no foreign players. The grounds were pretty basic with little entertainment, catering facilities were simple and please do not ask about the toilets! Tickets however, were really cheap: 40p standing, 55p seated. The atmosphere inside was electric; the crowds were very passionate, perhaps assisted by some excessive drinking (you could then take your drinks inside). Indeed at times you felt that troubles were not that far.
Today the game in many ways has much improved. Violence is a lot less frequent, grounds and facilities are a great deal more civilised. But football now is big business; it is more about corporate hospitality. The fans themselves are secondary, a useful income stream having to fork out in excess of £50 to see a match. In the meantime, players’ wages have rocketed spectacularly. In 1971, Kevin Keegan was paid £50 per week when he joined Liverpool. Now Paul Pogba earns a staggering £290,000 per week at Manchester United. But wait for it, Neymar has just been sold by Barcelona to Paris St-Germain for a world record transfer fee of £200m and apparently his wage will be £515,000 per week. For me this is not just ridiculous, it is frankly obscene.
Football I am afraid like so many aspects of modern life, has lost its true spirit and money has taken over. I am switching off football.