British Football League
Encyclopedia
A British Football League is a proposed association football league in the United Kingdom
that would involve the merger of clubs from the present Scottish
, Welsh
, and Northern Irish football league systems into the larger English football league system
.
It is considered a possibility distinct enough that police
in Scotland
have reviewed their anti-hooliganism
framework in preparation for its creation.
A supporter of the proposal was Roger Mitchell, the chief executive of the Scottish Premier League
between 1998 and 2002. FIFA
President Sepp Blatter
reacted positively to such an idea, but said he would prefer this to be done in conjunction with the amalgamation of the four British football associations.
included teams from across the United Kingdom, and this continued even after the Scottish Cup
was established; Queen's Park
of Glasgow
reached the FA Cup final in 1884 and 1885. With questions being asked about the future of both the English League Cup
and the Scottish League Cup
, it has been suggested that they be merged into a single competition. Other plans for the respective League Cups involve a merger between the later stages of the competitions, and an annual play-off between the two winning clubs. Cup competitions involving English and Scottish teams has been attempted before, in the form of the Texaco Cup
and the Anglo-Scottish Cup
, but these were not successful. In 2011, BBC Scotland reported that the Scottish Premier League
's strategic plan included unification with the Scottish Football League
, which would "enable the SPL to explore the possibility of cross-border matches (potentially British Cup matches) via the Scottish League Cup".
clubs, Celtic
and Rangers
, have frequently argued that they should be admitted into the Premier League, but the Premier League have consistently rejected this proposal. With a direct path to the Premier League blocked, it was proposed that the Old Firm would join the Football League instead. They would have then attempted to gain promotion to the Premier League in the same way as any other English club, but this proposal was also rejected.
At one point Wimbledon F.C.
hoped to relocate to Dublin, which would have expanded the Premier League into Ireland
.
also considered joining an Atlantic League
. This would have incorporated the top teams from Scotland
, Portugal
, Netherlands
and Belgium
. The plan was to have this competition work alongside the existing UEFA
competitions and their own domestic cup competitions. The idea was never supported by UEFA and enthusiasm seems to have faded for this proposal in recent years.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
that would involve the merger of clubs from the present Scottish
Scottish football league system
The Scottish football league system is a series of generally unconnected leagues for Scottish football clubs. The Scottish system is more complicated than many other national league systems, consisting of two completely separate systems of leagues and clubs, senior football and junior football...
, Welsh
Welsh football league system
The Welsh football league system is a series of football leagues with regular promotion and relegation between them.-Structure of Welsh football:...
, and Northern Irish football league systems into the larger English football league system
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
.
It is considered a possibility distinct enough that police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
have reviewed their anti-hooliganism
Hooliganism
Hooliganism refers to unruly, destructive, aggressive and bullying behaviour. Such behaviour is commonly associated with sports fans. The term can also apply to general rowdy behaviour and vandalism, often under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs....
framework in preparation for its creation.
A supporter of the proposal was Roger Mitchell, the chief executive of the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
between 1998 and 2002. FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
President Sepp Blatter
Sepp Blatter
Joseph S. Blatter , commonly known as Sepp Blatter, is a Swiss football administrator, who serves as the 8th and current President of FIFA . He was elected on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange. He was re-elected as President in 2002, 2007, and 2011...
reacted positively to such an idea, but said he would prefer this to be done in conjunction with the amalgamation of the four British football associations.
Alternative proposals
The formation of a British league is merely a single proposal, and several other suggestions have been made to reduce the divide between club football in the Home Nations.British Cup
A 'British Cup', that is a domestic cup competition involving teams from all league systems, has been proposed. Originally, the FA CupFA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
included teams from across the United Kingdom, and this continued even after the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
was established; Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
reached the FA Cup final in 1884 and 1885. With questions being asked about the future of both the English League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
and the Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
, it has been suggested that they be merged into a single competition. Other plans for the respective League Cups involve a merger between the later stages of the competitions, and an annual play-off between the two winning clubs. Cup competitions involving English and Scottish teams has been attempted before, in the form of the Texaco Cup
Texaco Cup
The Texaco Cup was an association football competition involving clubs from England, Ireland and Scotland that had not qualified for European competitions. Irish clubs withdrew from the competition after 1971-72 due to political pressure, and in 1973-74 and 1974-75 competed in a separate Texaco Cup...
and the Anglo-Scottish Cup
Anglo-Scottish Cup
The Anglo-Scottish Cup was a tournament arranged for teams in the English and Scottish football leagues during the summer for several years during the 1970s...
, but these were not successful. In 2011, BBC Scotland reported that the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
's strategic plan included unification with the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
, which would "enable the SPL to explore the possibility of cross-border matches (potentially British Cup matches) via the Scottish League Cup".
Expansion of the English League
Supporters of the Old FirmOld Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
clubs, Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, have frequently argued that they should be admitted into the Premier League, but the Premier League have consistently rejected this proposal. With a direct path to the Premier League blocked, it was proposed that the Old Firm would join the Football League instead. They would have then attempted to gain promotion to the Premier League in the same way as any other English club, but this proposal was also rejected.
At one point Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
hoped to relocate to Dublin, which would have expanded the Premier League into Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Atlantic League
Due to the possible paths to the English league system being blocked, the Old FirmOld Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
also considered joining an Atlantic League
Atlantic League (football)
The Atlantic League is a proposed international association football competition to be played in a number of European countries. The aim of the Atlantic League to allow clubs who have been successful in their national competitions to participate in a more competitive league that would be more...
. This would have incorporated the top teams from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The plan was to have this competition work alongside the existing UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
competitions and their own domestic cup competitions. The idea was never supported by UEFA and enthusiasm seems to have faded for this proposal in recent years.