Day: Jun 17, 2026

The professional aspect in those days was really about learning to survive outside the UK in unfamiliar circumstances, and still manage to win games under very different local conditions. As this was a difficult task – the players received a small wage whilst their travel and board was paid (I think by the English Football Association). Obviously, within the UK a support network already existed with most players already holding-down full-time jobs in other industries (football would be played after work – in the evenings and at weekends). WWI and WWII destroyed endless generations of talented footballers in England so our standard has dropped to “average” at world level – and foreigners have been able to better us – whilst we still seek to recover our naturally dominant style as a country. Another issue has been the “capitalisation” of football so that everyone is encouraged to play for greed – and are rewarded for greed. This is what FIFA is all about. Although England won the 1966 World Cup – we need to routinely dominate it so that football can be shifted back to its intended art-form – and away from the cesspit of racism and greed it is today. The US should be facing War Crimes Trials – and not being rewaded by FIFA.