Changes in English football
On Sunday 24 February Manchester City and Chelsea will play the Carabao Cup Final. Two titans of English football battling for silverware
Back in 1961 the FA introduced a new competition. The League Cup. Always seen as the “least” of the trophies that English teams could compete for it has generated some fantastic matches. It was the first competition to be sponsored when it was called the Milk Cup it has now evolved into the Carabao.
We thought that it would be fun to have a look at what that evolution has involved.
We learnt that in the first ten years of the competition there were 10 winners. Compare the first 10 years with the latest 10, and it throws up some interesting stats. So, we expanded the search to include the League results and FA Cup results for the same periods.
In the 10 seasons beginning in 1961, 10 clubs won the League cup. In the 10 most recent years, 6 teams found that glory.
What is interesting is that the League cup continues to throw up more individual winners, including Swansea and Birmingham. 4 clubs have a single appearance in the roll of honour for the past 10 years. A similar story emerges with the FA Cup. Between 1961 and 1970 8 clubs had their name engraved on the silverware; in the past 10 years just 5.
Obviously, on the league side we have seen dramatic changes since 1961. The First Division is now the Premiership and ownership of clubs has changed phenomenally. In the first 10 years beginning 1961; 7 clubs won the ultimate prize in English Football. In the past 10 years just 4 have achieved it.
One of those was Leicester. They achieved an amazing thing but, let’s face it; it was a one off. The truth is that the English football scene is tightening up. Fewer clubs winning the trophies available. In the first decade of the League Cup 16 clubs shared the 30 trophies available. In the past 10 years that number has fallen to 9.
Whatever the result on Sunday their will not be a new name on the cup. Here’s hoping that it’s a great match and little more competitive than when Man City thrashed Chelsea 6-0 recently.
Enjoy the match.
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