Football Hierarchy

FIFA

This is the world governing body. It is a private organisation, based in Switzerland.  The current leader has a vision of a truly “World Game”. He gets elected by the large voting contingent of Africa, Middle East and the Far East. In return these small nations “club together” and a country in their region, more often than not, gets awarded the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Mr Blatter has no significant support from the Americas or Western Europe. These areas are of course where the best players come from and play. And needless to say, the world finances of football are centred.

You have spotted the politics that goes on now haven’t you? Money does not talk. The voting in of the leader is what it’s all about.

EUFA

This is the governing body of Europe. The person who is elected leader is a very close ally of the FIFA leader. Well, you would be wouldn’t you, because you want the FIFA job in the end!

As they are the governing body of the richest footballing area on the planet – by a country mile – the leadership just has its hand on the tiller and does very little.

The FA

Hands up everyone who thinks The FA run the English game. Well, legally they do, but in practice they don’t. When the Premier League was set up, The FA conceded control of the game in all but name.

The good news is that this decision has resulted in the Premier League having the very best players in the world and stadiums to match. The standard of football is by and large, breathtaking.

The bad news is that the national team suffers. In the Club v Country conflict, there is only one winner: the club as it pays the players colossal wages.

And the people who run the FA are not exactly the best businessmen. And have you ever seen them issue a 5 or 10 year plan to “progress the game”? No me neither.

I suspect that as the money side is so massive, they will not be able to wrestle things away from the Premier League for a considerable period of time. Given that the people who run the Premier League have the bigger brains, the FA may NEVER get control back.

And how does the FA influence EUFA or FIFA. Well, it doesn’t. There are masses of committees for all sorts of things and we only have a couple of seats in entirety. What a waste of space.

So if anyone actually knows what the FA Executive actually does, let me know!! (Poncing about does not count by the way)

Bearing all this in mind, why are we so upset when the World Cup is awarded elsewhere? I am 49 years old. I genuinely believe England will not host the World Cup in my lifetime.

And for the record, yes I would have a stab at sorting the FA out. Trouble is I won’t be allowed as I will use up a large boxful of P45’s and everyone will hate me as I go into “Dictator mode”. Being a Dictator is the only way to properly sort out the mess.

Grass Roots Football Admin

With the bad weather upon us, there will be very little non-league football this weekend. So, what will your club be doing behind the scenes?

Well firstly, the players will be doing their keep fit stuff. But an awful lot of other stuff needs to be done as well. The unglamerous side is our dear friend “admin”. Yes, clubs have masses of paperwork to do. And guess what, as it’s done by volunteers, it usually isn’t done that well either. No, I’m not having a “pop” at anyone, just saying what I observe.

The admin people have a truly thankless task. Yet they get little help, and no praise. But lots of bollockings when things go awry.  If you have some spare time to donate, get hold of your local club and ask if you can help out. They are sure to “bite your hand off”. In many ways, it is better to help rather than give financial assistance.

What the average fan does not know is how wealthy the local governing FA bodies are. Let me use the Gloucestershire FA [GFA] as a classic example (only because they are on my doorstep).

Clubs get fined for incorrect or late paperwork. Players also get fined for every booking, sending off etc. All the fines go straight to the local FA authority. If you have never visited it, have a nose around the GFA headquarters. It is right next to the Almondsbury Town FC pitch. The GFA building is comparatively new, air conditioned, with lots of staff who all have their own networked computers. It’s a place you would be rightly proud to work in.

Now here’s the killer: It’s entirely funded by fines levied across local affiliated clubs . Yup wages included. The whole flippen lot. So that’s taking loads of money directly out of grass roots football clubs. It’s an awful lot of money.

Don’t get me wrong. There must a “fine” otherwise no paperwork would ever be submitted. But you have to admit that if players didn’t get booked as often, I’m particularly thing of dissent here, or clubs filed paperwork on time, then the money stays within the club. Surely that has to be good. Doesn’t it?? A simple direct way of your club having more disposable income. Sounds good to me.

But the fans do not know who the transgressors are. So how about public visibility and deduct points from the clubs concerned then?  Public embarrassment should ensure the clubs take their administration duties more seriously. Oh, silly me. The FA would then have to find funds elsewhere. Like out of all their TV money…….

Now we cannot have the FA leaving money in grass roots clubs now, can we…..

Non League Footy – Finances

A short piece on non league football. But if you ask nicely, I’m happy to give an hour long rant.

As some of you might know, I have a close link with non league football. I will keep this piece brief – the whole story will appear in a book at some point (already written 8k words…).

Remember that in English football, about four clubs make a profit –  the big 4. So that means the other 50,000 loose money……….

Anyway, this is a real life example of how Mangotsfield struggles to cope. This is the bit many fans don’t see or just are not interested in.  Clubs need money. After all they are a business. Yet the fans usually demand the world, whilst paying the least. So the funding comes from the Directors who are local businessmen. Usually the financiers get no thanks at all. A hazard of the job.

And the governing body is The FA. Believe me, they are utterly incompetent. This covers common sense, financing and administration. Trust me on this. I’ve had countless rows with them.

Combine all of this with the current recession and you get these examples:

Paulton Rovers v Mangotsfield

Match is on a Monday night – not a bank holiday either. The FA officials travel together in one car – but they all come from…..wait for it…. Cornwall. Match fees and expenses are around £280. So floodlight costs, official expenses, VAT and sundry expenses pretty much wipes out the gate money.

Why didn’t The FA send more local officials?

Oh, and you can you pay the players out of thin air. Yes, they will love that!

Mangotsfield v Hungerford

98 people paid £8 to get in and 39 season ticket holders watch as well. Oh and “complimentary” tickets for players relatives were about 35. Total gate take therefore £784.

Now deduct 15% VAT, match officials fees and you might be left with around £450.  And of course the players wages are more than this, so a financial loss on the day. Do the fans thank the Directors for digging deep into their pockets? Not a soddin chance.

OK, I have over simplified it, but the problem is clear to see. 

The FA

Lots of paperwork is needed for every game. Clubs get fined for incorrect or late paperwork. Players get fined for every booking. All the fines go to the local FA. The Gloucestershire FA is in a fab building with lots of staff and networked computers. A place you would be proud to work in. It’s all funded by fines. Yup wages included. The whole flippen lot. So that’s taking loads of money out of grass roots football.

Don’t get me wrong. There must a “fine” otherwise no paperwork would ever be submitted. But the fans do not know who the transgressors are. So how about public visibility and deduct points from the clubs then?  Public embarrassment should ensure the clubs take their administration duties seriously. Oh, silly me. The FA would then have to find funds elsewhere. Like out of all their TV money……. 

I must stop at this point as I’m going purple with rage……

So a plea. Go out and support your local club. Buy a drink from the bar. Buy a programme, a raffle ticket etc etc. The small things help. Go on. Yes, YOU.