English Football Is On The Verge Of Collapse

England is home to the largest, oldest, and most revered Football League pyramid in all the world, but its very existence is under threat right now.
Whilst the Premier League is the most lucrative football league on the planet, and the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United are valued at billions of pounds, the likes of Macclesfield Town, Bury, and Hereford United have all recently gone out of business.
So in this short documentary, HITC Sevens takes a look at the existential crisis that faces English football, from the EFL through to the non-league game, and why you ought to care.

[@YCFCfollower]

You know lower league clubs are screwed when you were the only kid (out of a year group of 100) who supported the local team, which was in League Two at the time. And the stadium was literally a ten minute walk away from the school

[@rhensn]

Yeah my school was a bit better but the trouble was we were in-between 2 clubs so I chose Northampton cos my family supported them but everyone else chose mk 🤮

[@YCFCfollower]

@@rhensn lmao, wouldn’t wanna go to that massive empty stadium mk

[@rhensn]

@@YCFCfollower Yeah I've been there because I actually live closer to stadium mk it's such a soulless ground 😂

[@careyroberts3924]

Such a sad fact. Heartbreaking actually. It all stems from the power and the destructive effect of mass media indoctrination.......It has a destructive effect on many aspects of our lives...... #TurnBackTime #Traditionalism #Patriotism

[@YCFCfollower]

@@careyroberts3924 Definitely😢

[@jon6720]

‘Our pyramid is so top heavy that our foundations are about to collapse.’, well said.

[@michaelhickland4450]

Exactly I was talking about it on twitter today

[@AdamMiligan]

Is impressive of how this is truth not only about footballl, but of our society in nowadays capitalism.

[@oilslick7010]

And the top probably doesn't care. They would be happy to wall off the PL or the combination of PL and Championship from the rest of the piramid, making it a closed system. Hell, it's already like that in all but name

[@BigBlack81]

@@oilslick7010 Believe me, these issues have been debated in America for years, by Americans. NOT ALL in America like this system of closed franchise ownership and not all in America like capitalism unchecked. That's the sad thing about this, in my opinion: Americans/Brits/Etc. who speak out in support of the British system staying because it provides a model for those at the bottom are being usurped by Americans/Brits/Etc. who want nothing but the rich to get richer and more exclusive on a global scale. It's disgusting and sad from a solidarity perspective.

[@Mynipplesmychoice]

Haha the American system is so much more stable. We have balance in our leagues small market and big market teams can afford the same players. We have a salary cap but even with the cap our players make more. Bad teams get high draft picks for rookies so they can retool. There are different champions every year unless a team has a strong front office in making excellent player moves and/or good coaching. Your system is about to collapse and all I can do is laugh because of the snobbery of English football fan. But I do get a kick of how Americans own your top teams. We are truly an empire and the sun sets on the American empire USA! USA ! USA

[@harveyholmes9533]

The story about your two grandparents was brilliant at explaining the importance of the game at every level, fantastic video yet again

[@bigc181]

Gives some backstory to old aristocratic Alfie the champagne socialist

[@archstanton6102]

@@bigc181 Which is only true if you focus on 1 part of the story and ignore the working class grandfather

[@harveyholmes9533]

@@bigc181 having 1 grandparent who was well off doesn’t mean you’re an aristocrat or champagne socialist, if anything seeing the difference in class status within your own family can be a driving force for valid socialist beliefs

[@akhil4117]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHiZZmOXgL6ia6c

[@1886Joel]

@@bigc181 So you have to come from a poor family and actively choose to stay poor to be a socialist? Interesting.

[@themathsdebater5471]

alfie’s writing is heavily underrated, some beautiful metaphors within this

[@rueisblue]

his isis joke in the superleague video was so perfect man

[@chrismichael5832]

but the delivery is terrible

[@KuzzenFeralFerret]

As a 30yo Crystal Palace fan, I've seen my club go into Administration twice in my life, on the Palace Centurion Wall there is a plaque with the initials of myself, my dad and my late grandad. Without my grandad I wouldn't be the football I am today and to see my club disappear breaks my heart and makes me hold onto my memories from when he was still alive. It's a feeling I don't wish on anyone, not even Brighton, Millwall or Leeds, the 3 clubs I hate the most. I love to hate them, and I hate to lose them from the game.

[@disillusionedanglophile7680]

Rebecca Lowe NBC Sports- "I was a Crystal Palace fan...I had a unhappy childhood..."

[@bri1085]

Why Leeds?

[@iangascoigne8231]

Why do Palace hate Brighton?

[@PilliamWilliam]

@@iangascoigne8231 East Croydon rail station / the line that it is on. Basically any time Brighton played away from home they have to go right by palace territory, used to be a few fights as a result

[@KuzzenFeralFerret]

@@iangascoigne8231 it goes back to the 70s/80s when our manager and their manger didn't like each other and due to some BS, there was 3 FA Cup games between us instead of 2 and Brighton changed their nickname from Dolphins to Seagulls to try and drown out the chants of Eagles and things spiralled out from there

[@gustavsmirnov1456]

Last time I was this early people didn't lie about how many days they've been suggesting their ideas

[@AbbasAdejonwo]

Day 31415 of making a video suggestion

[@Roscododger]

Yeah you never see day 1

[@testertlc4905]

@@Roscododger lol i actually was honest. if u scroll back u can see my day 1

[@L1am21]

Fighting a shit meme with a even more shit meme.

[@abdulrahim6522]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6OkfJuwdraJbKs e

[@BenaldoCR7]

Never seen my hometown club of Macclesfield mentioned so much in any video, just know we’ll be back very soon Ⓜ️

[@mark.m4954]

I am from Germany, so I didn't know Macclesfield Town. Is it a well known club in the UK?

[@matthewb5624]

Macc FC now isn't it mate? Drove past the stadium the other day seems to have been renovated?

[@matnichol]

@@mark.m4954 It‘s pretty well known in England.

[@kindmulberry7196]

@@mark.m4954 Very well known yes

[@jumi2559]

@@matthewb5624 Hi, its Macclesfield FC, we were shafted by the EFL who protected the owner who had the money but didn't pay the players. there should have been a general strike but several clubs in league 2 were actively trying to relegate us instead of Stevenage., where were the likes of Neville then. WTF.

[@barrysheridan9186]

Not a real football fan but it is very sad to think so many clubs are on the verge of collapse. It has played an important role in local communities, uniting many people and providing a focus for life.

[@isaaca6445]

Uniting some people, but hating some who don't look like them, and the hooliganism!

[@bury_the_elite65294]

Fun fact: when Macclesfield Town was founded in 1874, Australia (where I live) hadn't even been federated yet (that would happen in 1901). We were still six separate, self-governing colonies, under the rule of the British Empire. Loved the Manic Street Preachers reference near the end - I've been a Manics fan for over two decades. A touching video, but a very timely one. Those in charge of professional (and amateur) sport (not just football) would do well to listen to you, Alfie. We've already seen similar things happen to sport here in Oz - mainly in rugby league, but in other sports as well, and at just about all levels. I'll finish with a quote from former Aussie rugby league player Steve Knight - "Whatever team you follow, whatever sport you follow, the sense of camaraderie, the pride, the mateship - that's something you can't manufacture." Thankyou & keep up the good work, mate! :)

[@Eibarwoman]

A similar issue might be occurring at the lower end of the MLB. As in the not particularly liquid assets of the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays owners have resulted in budgets that resemble Championship teams to the LA Dodgers. While the Rays are quite competitive, the Tigers are 11 games below .500 and even a few weeks ago were sitting even worse and on pace for 122 losses.

[@Dan_Casey]

@@Eibarwoman But with the draft etc., The Tigers have a chance to come good again and from time to time do. The real mystery of MLB is Baltimore. A pedigree side rn to ruin by owners who have no plan at all. Time to pack them up to Las vegas or Salt Lake.

[@markdouglas9182]

Good points. In Australia though there's no pyramid system in the main codes. AFL and NRL, even the A League.There's one professional national tier - and minor leagues/ state leagues at the next (semi-professional) level. Also there's salary cap and drafts - like the US system - which makes it more even. I'm an EPL fan but I sometimes struggle with the fact that there are only 5-6 "power clubs" that can win the EPL, and the bottom half playing to basically avoid relegation, and having no hope of ever winning the title?!

[@mcfcfan1870]

Sadly modern football isn't about the local community anymore

[@hemanthkumararumugam4988]

Because of the money bro.....they ve taken the game away from the fans

[@mcfcfan1870]

@@hemanthkumararumugam4988 Exactly. And its become way to globalized. People from way across the world support the premier league while their local teams are struggling to stay in existence. Supporting a team if your from a different country is fine if theirs a family connection etc or the people also support their local but plastic fans and all that just ruin the sport.

[@brandonhey7797]

@@mcfcfan1870 yeah. Like, I support Manchester United, but also my local team. And I'll be honest about that. Although, I honestly prefer supporting my local team than Manchester United, with them being a non-league team for a good while.

[@Amadeus-ni3et]

@@mcfcfan1870 yes how dare people want to watch the best play.

[@shibarmyburnz1978]

@@mcfcfan1870 the fuck

[@mzy12]

The lower down you go in the footballing pyramid the more it means to the fans and people involved with the club.

[@lewisgreen1633]

Well said. It’s true (Leyton Orient fan)

[@johnrconnolly]

"Don't believe quotes you read on the internet, as you cannot find a reliable source to corroborate them" - Abraham Lincoln.

[@sapiens1076]

"Lmao bruh,you got me" - Gandhi

[@JC-hu1wd]

I am John Connolly...

[@michaelofsydney6128]

Is that the actual quote or is that a shortened version?

[@johnsaunders2109]

Lincoln must have used the Internet a lot whilst flying around the USA in Airforce One !!

[@michaelofsydney6128]

@@johnsaunders2109 I don't think the internet was invented yet and Lincoln had to use teletext. Not sure, but I think that was the case

[@JackBryan]

I’m a Derby fan and feel this hits the nail on the head. The anguish felt by fans at the thought of their club going out of business cannot be understated, not helped when the papers sensationalise rumours. Yes, the likes of Mel Morris have done wrong, but the fact that gambling to attempt to achieve is seen as a good idea/necessary speaks of deeper issues within the English football pyramid.

[@dev0nSA1nt]

it's always sad to lose historic clubs: Accrington Stanley went, and they were founder members of the First Division along with your County. In fact, there was a scandal which led to another founding club, and the oldest professional team on Earth, Notts County, falling into non-league. And I really hope things go okay up there for you lot, make sure you keep out any Steve Dales, George Reynoldses or Rupert Lowes. Stay safe English football.

[@cycklist]

What a wonderful essay on the true soul of football. This speaks so loud to me as a lifelong Portsmouth fan. Thank you.

[@Mynipplesmychoice]

Haha the American system is so much more stable. We have balance in our leagues small market and big market teams can afford the same players. We have a salary cap but even with the cap our players make more. Bad teams get high draft picks for rookies so they can retool. There are different champions every year unless a team has a strong front office in making excellent player moves and/or good coaching. Your system is about to collapse and all I can do is laugh because of the snobbery of English football fan. But I do get a kick of how Americans own your top teams. We are truly an empire and the sun sets on the American empire USA! USA ! USA

[@adventussaxonum448]

@@Mynipplesmychoice "The Sun sets on the American empire".... You said it 😂

[@bigbigchungusbigchungusbig1117]

man, even as a Southampton fan it's tragic to see what happened to Portsmouth Hope to one day see a return to the Premiership one day!

[@duncanfairbairn1350]

For years, I was a Southampton fan, taking my daughter to the Dell and later St.Mary's. But in the last few years I've become so disillusioned with top flight football that I don't bother anymore. Paying £50-£70 every other week to keep millionaires rich has lost its lustre. Now, I a support my local non-league team, Romsey Town FC. Instead of £50-60 per match, I paid £75 for a season ticket! The passion on the pitch, the complete lack of animosity in the crowd, cheap beer in the clubhouse, and feeling a part of something rather than being alienated is addictive. If you have a local non-league side, support them! If your Premiership/Championship team are away, tickets sold out, international break, whatever reason, the £6-£10 you'll pay on the gate will be more important to them than you can ever imagine! Give it a go, you won't regret it.

[@samgardiner585]

At least HITC Sevens has a consistent upload schedule unlike a certain Irish Guy...

[@KrustyKrabPizza22]

It'll all be worth it when he gets Bamford tattooed on him

[@yeetpotatoes69420]

He's working alone now, James made a post on the HITC community page on why he won't be around for a while.

[@kindmulberry7196]

Too busy buying new scarves and shouting "Christ above" at people

[@zhuoluochenzhuoluochen]

@Abhirup Nath source?

[@aboyd3318]

Good Irish guys content is awful and appeals to the lowest demographic of football fans

[@BOABModels]

👏👏👏 You showed why you are the 'People's Channel' in this video, Alfie. 'If you tolerate this, your football club will be next'

[@Mynipplesmychoice]

Screw the people a bunch of malcontents. Never happy with anything. You don’t deserve to have a league.

[@ringosimon1]

I'm a Liverpool fan, but felt sad when Bury went bust. The reason football is so popular is the history and Bury (a cup winner over a hundred years ago) are every bit a part of the history as the big six.

[@GuinessOriginal]

Strange how the Neville’s didn’t step in

[@eyeballjellyforbreakfast]

@@GuinessOriginal Philip is a manager abroad and Gary owns a club and has many other duties also.. You can not expect two brothers to save every local club in the Manchester area... This comes back to.. do not spend outside your means. If you do it will haunt you later. This is not just true of the situation in lower leagues.. Top clubs have fallen to the same fate.

[@djevo5662]

@@eyeballjellyforbreakfast what about all the other former players that got on the high horse. Rio would have just told fans to buy the club like he did with Newcastle. There all mouth and no action

[@GuinessOriginal]

@@eyeballjellyforbreakfast what are you, a Neville brothers simp? First off, drop the straw men arguments. No one said every club in the Greater Manchester area. Bury is where they are from, it’s their local club they grew up supporting, their mother was treasurer for 30 years until it went bust and their father has a stand named after him.

[@Jaaassaa]

@@GuinessOriginal exactly. Gary Neville always preaches about grass roots football, and how it needs to be saved, but he was MIA when Bury needed help. Now they don’t exist.

[@leopold7562]

A very impassioned speech, sir, but unfortunately it's nothing that we haven't heard before and over many years. I think the first time I heard it mentioned about the death of a club was back in 1998, shortly after my team were overturned by York City, some very sombre fan muttered, "If we don't get out of this shit league, we're doomed as a club." It's a sad state of affairs and, frankly, it's complete bollocks that it happens at all. There's so much money in the sport at present and it's being siphoned off the top by loan interest, greedy shareholders, agents demanding ridiculous wages, clubs demanding ridiculous transfer fees and owners after a quick buck. Meanwhile, we've seen clubs like Bury and Macclesfield go to the wall with debts that could be covered simply by three Premier League footballers donating the money they would've used to buy their next Ferrari. Had the money been allowed to flow down into the lower leagues, things would be very different, but what we are seeing instead is the equivalent of "trickle down economics", where the trickle coming down has already been stemmed by people who already have way more than enough money as it is. It's disgusting, and it needs to stop. Fortunately, I have the answer. If you support a Premier League team and you can't afford to go, then find a local club from a lower league and support them. For the price of a burger at the Etihad, you can bag a prime seat at Hyde United. For the cost of a single ticket at the Emirates, you could take your entire family along to watch Aylesbury. For the price of simply parking your car at Anfield, you could get a ticket and a beer at Tranmere. Granted, neither the fixture nor the facilities will be as good, but the money you're spending there will help the club survive, rather than be funnelled into some rich bloke's already swollen bank account.

[@geoffpoole483]

Good points. At a non-league game you might get to see someone who breaks through, like an Ian Wright, Stuart Pearce or Jamie Vardy. Or, you might see a former great such as Jimmy Greaves at Barnet or the late Martin Peters playing for Gorleston.

[@beeyah805]

As an American, I truly hope our brand of franchised sport never taints the English game

[@johnmknox]

It already has started to for the last year especially with the American political and cultural problems.

[@stoby3356]

Here here! Taking the example of The Rams in the NFL, I really felt for their fans that lived in LA and regularly went to games there who then had to head to St.Louis.

[@airzulu2733]

Sorry my friend it's already happening . It's not a game anymore its as business. The Glazers who own Man United haven't the slightest clue of what the club means to the local community.and history , not forgetting the Munich disaster. But they understand the money involved. And it's not just about American owners it's an epidemic of greed all over the world from various owners. Yes its killing our lower leagues and in my view isolating those British youngsters that want to play the sport . Dont know what it's like for the NFL .

[@xaviermalcolm8481]

@@stoby3356 The Rams are in LA now. Not St Louis.

[@thomasmahoney4991]

Going off football quite a bit these days, and I'm a Leeds fan (!!) But videos and messages like this are so vital, you deserve more of a platform! So many wankers on KZbin with far more subs who produce nothing but meaningless brain-numbing shite, while things like this are so much more important

[@Mynipplesmychoice]

Just switch to American foitball. It’s modern sport layered with incredible amounts of strategy and world class athleticism. Soccer is for the simpletons who like simpleton rules “kick ball into net”

[@thomasmahoney4991]

@@Mynipplesmychoice that's just a shit version of rugby union which I already like😂😂

[@Mynipplesmychoice]

@@thomasmahoney4991 watching people fumbling for a ball (which u can’t see) on the ground , is not idea of fun. Half the game is floor wrestling

[@Mynipplesmychoice]

@@thomasmahoney4991 in the 1800s we were like “ rugby that’s for monkeys let’s make I awesome” so Americans and Canadians put their heads together to create the richest and bestest sport in the world.

[@thomasmahoney4991]

@@Mynipplesmychoice Such points and such a mindset aren't worth addressing I'm sorry😂😂

[@loseweightusingketo]

One of the saddest videos I've ever watched on KZbin. I think there needs to be a fund set up by the Premier League to help lower league teams in distress, where every club has to contribute an amount based on their revenue. Just 100 million, for instance, will go a long way!

[@eyeballjellyforbreakfast]

Then what incentive do the lower clubs have to spend sensibly? Bailing people out despite their poor economic choices is what the 08 banking crisis looked like...

[@loseweightusingketo]

@@eyeballjellyforbreakfast Well, not all clubs facing financial trouble due to mismanagement. You see. Maybe to be underplaying the impact of Covid-19 on these clubs' finance. When the Matchday revenue which is a big chunk of net revenue is taken away, and matches suspended, lower league clubs tend to struggle despite being run prudently. It's a gross generalization to label all clubs facing financial troubles as poorly-run when the reality is different. Of course, I do not discount the correlation between clubs bring run poorly and being impacted the must due to the pandemic, but it's not true for all clubs.

[@Murphinator-gx5on]

@@eyeballjellyforbreakfast it's like you didnt watch the video at all

[@NiSiochainGanSaoirse]

F the premier league It’s their greed which is destroying lower league football

[@andyg806]

@@NiSiochainGanSaoirse I know its easy to just blame the Premier League teams, but the fact of the matter is, many of the top PL teams are global brands, which most of, if not all, lower league teams are not unfortunately.

[@TheDeadlyTikka]

God damn that story about your grandparents was next level. Actually hit me so deep

[@bluelew2586]

Nothing beats the feeling of walking up the steps onto the terraces hearing the noise of the crowd and seeing the floodlights. What ever ground I go to big or small I still get that rush of excitement as I climb the steps.

[@MrRilarios]

I still distincltly remember the first time I went to my local stadium. It was awesome.

[@Keiphton27]

This is quality and well stated. I thoroughly enjoyed this piece and you couldn’t be more spot on regarding the topic. As an American I’ve always looked upon England with MASSIVE envy at your leagues. Most yanks don’t get it, but it is the most incredible sporting situation in the world. Period. Nothing else like it at all. I hope for the people of England this finds resolution somehow.

[@davidkettell1073]

Woke will make you broke ?

[@astrochild1575]

Inject more HITC sevens content into my veins please.

[@noeldown1952]

The quality of writing, analysis and insight is amazing. This video could've been a fitting conclusion to a series on the state of English Football, if you were ever to create such series.

[@no92108]

It is disgusting how much money is in EPL football and the amount of clubs that are neglected by the FA. Not only is there class warfare between the people but also class warfare between the football clubs. It is heartbreaking and truly unfair. I started paying more attention to the EFL clubs than the EPL because to me that is what real football is all about. Much love from America, amigo!

[@geoffpoole483]

The Championship, League 1 and League 2 are much more exciting to follow because of their unpredictability. In the EPL it's obvious which teams will be contesting the title.

[@georgeventris8201]

Macclesfield fan here we are back as Macclesfield fc and with football people on board such as Robbie savage and a local businessman so things are looking way better our owner is also easy to communicate with 👌

[@Espinin]

3:09 Of the 11 times they faced hull city, they won 6, drew 8, and lost 5. Me: *Woman doing equations meme*

[@charlie1a5]

I was going to comment about this too 😂😂😂. I wonder when KZbin would allow GIFs in the comment section

[@mamateva]

26/57 points

[@johnmatthews3770]

Great video Alfie. As a Scottish football fan I feel the pain of lower league clubs in England. This writing has been on the wall for smaller clubs unfortunately since the tv companies ,Sky being the greatest (or worst) culprits, got involved. These companies only care about making the rich clubs richer and keeping the less fortunate teams down. The great stories of Hull City, Swansea City and Bournmouth rising from league 2 to the top of the game will probably never happen again. Which is a tragic state of affairs. As watching those 3 clubs rise really was a breath of fresh air. Even up here you won’t get the stories of Livingston or Gretna doing the same in Scotland again (even though both ended badly) it was still great to see these teams rise. Thanks again for the great video mate. 👍

[@JROC2112]

I can't watch football anymore. I'm sad as it has played such a massive part of my life. Thank goodness we have lots of videos from thenpast to see it in its glory.

[@matnichol]

Great video again. I’m a fan of one of the top 6 teams but it’s heartbreaking to think about the history and communities that are going to be lost.

[@AmazinJ89]

Great video Alfie, the lower levels of football really need to be mentioned more.

[@lougiacobbi725]

Indeed. As someone new to English and European football, I felt a rush of euphoria knowing that Ramsbottom United exists. For all that is good and decent, please allow them to keep going.

[@danbeard4854]

i genuinely live for these documentary videos

[@thelastfeast3849]

Kind of crazy that there wasn’t a single rich business man in Macclesfield that was prepared to bail them out over such a small sum.

[@rueisblue]

honestly how much return on investment can you expect from an investment in a club like that? plus they were pretty deep in debt, hurting the financial incentive even more

[@ishoottheyscore8970]

The size of the debt is usually not the issue, it's the ongoing liabilities - You not only have to clear the existing debt, you have to find a way to make the club turn a profit, or it's just throwing good money after bad. Some of this is a long time coming though - all seater stadia have lower capacities (a point the video failed to consider in comparing to the 50s), but a significantly higher maintenance expense so that introduction (~1990 if I recall) was a double whammy for clubs and it still has an impact in making the games more expensive to attend. Heaven help an owner that tries to run a club to a budget though - when every other club is happy to make losses, the frugal ones usually get abused by fans for 'not investing'

[@xtrey19x]

@@ishoottheyscore8970 on top of all of that if you do manage to perform this miracle and the club becomes profitable the fans will very likely frown upon you taking money out of the club and depositing it into your personal bank account. Who their right minds want any of these headaches?

[@ishoottheyscore8970]

@@xtrey19x Yeah, it's kind of funny I've been seeing people trying to castigate the Fulham owners for taking money out of the club even though they've been making losses consistently, and the Khans have converted some debt to equity. If you know how to run a business, you'd generally avoid running a club, but perceptions have been warped by the likes of Gartside at Bolton, Whelan at Wigan and Walker at Blackburn who were OK with losing parts of their personal fortune in running a club. Then you get the supercharged versions like Man City and PSG, and now that sort of indulgent spending is treated by fans as the ideal. They just chose to ignore what happens to clubs when the subsidy is withdrawn... I wish we'd get an equivalent video to this that tried to educate the fans

[@Veaseify]

@@ishoottheyscore8970 Up until 1992 nobody expected to make money owning a football club, it was generally a vanity project for a local Car dealership owner or scrap metal dealer. Some of it was pretty feudal, like how the Hill-Woods at Arsenal and the Cobhams at Ipswich ran their clubs...

[@HardstyleGam1ng]

For what it’s worth, I’ve fallen in love with this channel. I subscribed about two(ish) months ago and I’ve watched hundreds of your videos. Thank you for making such damn good content!

[@HITCSevens]

Thanks Nick, glad you enjoy them!

[@noahp3057]

We had a similar crisis here in the states with Minor League Baseball. Over 40 baseball teams, many located in small cities far from a professional sports franchise, were eliminated. My local team was not one of them, but others were not so fortunate.

[@Bullwine]

Fuck Rob "The trophy is just a piece of metal" Manfred.

[@RD-wg9em]

A lot of minor league teams would have the security of being attached to a major league team, if the mlb teams had any interest in them at all, which could be of some solace, that can’t even be said for this football pyramid rn.

[@Rodderz1992]

It makes me weep to think that I could have lost my time this year due to bad ownership. I hope now that Wigan can get back on their feet and keep going. I'm also looking forward to having another season with Bolton... We've both been through the ringer and it'll be nice to see the old rivals again and enjoy our footie together.

[@graymiao9281]

You're actually making me have a look around and start supporting my local clubs. Thank you.

[@Louisejames23]

I would be pretty sure a number of premier league clubs are living on the generosity of their owners *cough Man City* rather than their ability to make a profit.... Portsmouth was just the tip of a very large iceberg.

[@GuinessOriginal]

The majority of clubs have been for a long time

[@animeshkhare1769]

For all their faults, at least the City owners are genuinely interested in developing the area around the club.

[@cormaccorrigan9086]

Then you don't really know what you're talking about. Manchester city have spent 1.28 billion on players since 2013 but have made 3.8 billion revenue. They only make 20 million revenue less than united a lot of the time, yet united have a higher wage bill and spend more. Get to know what you're talking about.

[@hman8379]

City have been profitable for several years now (excluding 2020, of course). That may have been the case in the early years of Mansour's ownership, but not anymore.

[@saxglend9439]

Why are you coughing?

[@martintielemans]

This is the content I subscribed for. Keep up the good work, Alfie.

[@pistolgrippoet]

What a beautiful story about your grandparents

[@rueisblue]

i really have a lot of respect for you as a journalist and from seeing your twitter and second channel, a lot of respect for you as a person as well.

[@philjohnston828]

Alfie is easily the best football KZbinr on the platform. He can be funny and sarcastic at times and then like we seen in this video many times, he can be poetic and moving. Wonderful video and one of my favourites on this channel (and there are a lot of top notch videos on here to pick from)

[@charlytaylor1748]

I remember when my club had to literally pass a bucket round for spare coins to keep the club afloat. It got sold on for a fiver at one point and an investment scheme had to be set up so the supporters could literally own the pitch. Thankfully it worked and next Saturday we play Man C in the CL final. People forget.

[@eddygordov]

I am not a football fan as you are but I am always amazed by your very concise presentations. I have realized last week that my fourteen years old boy who live with his mother abroad, is a big fan of yours. I was telling him how your exposé on Martinique (his Grandmother's country) was short and good, well excellent. You managed to unite us with a common interest. Keep up the good work!

[@HITCSevens]

Thanks Eddy, that's lovely to hear.

[@johnsouness7257]

Macclesfield FC fan here - Correction: we won the National League/Conference 3 times, but only got promoted twice - the 1st time (1994/95) we were denied promotion due to the ground not meeting the criteria set.

[@bluevan12]

Trouble is a lot of clubs in the Non league have low attendances well below 1,000. In my opinion unless you are least getting crowds of at least 2,000 in League 2 you are always going to struggle. That said Accrington Stanley are a good example of how to run a club on a tight budget and more clubs should follow suit.

[@beneddu]

I believe that was the year that my team, Northampton Town FC were spared relegation to the conference

[@johnsouness7257]

@@beneddu I think it was actually Exeter who reprieved.

[@beneddu]

@@johnsouness7257 you're right, it was the previous year I was thinking of.

[@steveluetchford602]

Sadly I’ve never had a parent or grandparent that are into football so I had to find my own way & as a consequence I guess , I’ve never actually found a club I fully support so over the years have just ended up watching anything and everything. That said it doesn’t mean my love for the game is any less , it’s just not concentrated in one place.

[@Eibarwoman]

For me, it came from politics where my teams are unlikely to play each other but all are politically aligned on the left with anti-fascism. Signs like Celtic's "Follow Your Leader" mocking Lazio fans for the Lazio ultras being far right and the team even employs a Mussolini (Luca, the direct descendant of the dictator) as a player. Safe to say, I am aligned with Celtic, Livorno, or Athletic Bilbao (where the presence of Kenan Kodro, Inaki Williams, etc prove it's about local born talent rather than ethnicity)

[@NiSiochainGanSaoirse]

Support your home town team mate.

[@LegendNinja41]

similar story, by dad supported a side but from a different country to where we lived so i was pretty much a neutral football fan having sympathies to different football clubs, local teams and non local until i became a LFC fan after i got to know the more and more of the clubs history, the locals, the city itself. But nothing wrong with just being a fan of football :D

[@tedzer94]

@@Eibarwoman Antifa FC

[@loonranger469]

Find your local non league team and watch/support them

[@Iguana-Power]

Alfie this is outstanding work. Well done.

[@gabrielnogueira3190]

Beautifully constructed video with a necessary message. Almost made me tear up with the grandpas

[@JKribbit]

That Bobby Robson quote is so damn true and hit me hard. I'm from Asia, but Dad is a hardcore Liverpool fan. I was disinterested in supporting any teams but dad was having none of it. So he bought tickets for us to Liverpool. It was Liverpool-Leeds April 2000 at Anfield, we couldn't get matchday tickets so we had to buy bootleg ones. The steward caught us pre-kickoff but dad begged him to let us see the game as we travelled half way across the world. The steward saw me and he let us stay. The moment "You'll Never Walk Alone" was sung I instantly fell in love with Liverpool. I was 9 at the time, and although we lost, I became a supporter. Since then I've been back to Anfield 5 more times, 2 more away games and had never missed a televised match except for couple of odd times. Hadn't that steward given us a leeway, hadn't I experienced the atmosphere in real life I would've had a different life like Alfie said. Different relationship with my dad as Liverpool and football are the only things we talk about, different friends, different sense of self. It will be very sad if other kids didn't get to experience what I got.

[@guessundheit6494]

It's the same in other sports. When revenues increased dramatically, its was the players and others at the top who benefitted, while those at the lower and developmental levels got nothing. Short term greed will kill sports.

[@coloneldust4286]

Sad to see the state of English football right now. Even worse than what’s currently happening with the apparent identity crises that some of our MLS clubs have recently

[@oliverhoodless7470]

As a Grimsby Town fan I would love to see Alfie do a piece on them. From record breaking FA cup attendances in the 30's, to their run in the Championship, to the rapid slide down the leagues. Even in the last season you have an ex Premier league manager taking charge of the mariners and the excitement coming with that, the failure of said manager, covid clauses and lack of pre season, dodgy dealings with a convicted fraudster being outed causing outrage, dropping out of the league for a second time under the stewardship of 1 man and the eventual sale and renewed hope despite relegation. hopefully we will be back in the league soon. UTM

[@augustlongpre64]

Really well made video, thank you! I feel that your analysis overlooks an important point though. The part about your ancestors both enjoying Hull City games really emphasizes that football brings people together yes, but clubs can also serve to paper over class differences which perpetuate the problem itself.

[@russellslaney7098]

I absolutely love this channel. THANK YOU

[@OfficialFingazMC]

A Port Vale video would be interesting especially the rocky times when smurf was in charge

[@66Viscount]

I have to say that I really worry about County in these difficult times

[@PabloHernandez-yr5jv]

This was an exceptionally eye opening video and is really sad it pisses me off. This should be shown to people at the highest level.

[@Dan_Casey]

to what end? People at the top end got there for a reason and squandering their wealth on the improvident and outmoded wasn't one of those reasons. What is the benefit to "the highest level"?

[@PabloHernandez-yr5jv]

@@Dan_Casey because they are clouded in their reasoning because all they see is money I feel like some aren’t even aware of the damage that it can cause and the things that would happen. And yes, though most do know snd simply don’t care, I would still wish to make these consequences known clearly. If we can get even 1% of the top clubs to contribute more to ensure that these lower division clubs do stay afloat then that would do something.

[@ishoottheyscore8970]

@@PabloHernandez-yr5jv You can't do anything when clubs are spending recklessly. COVID is a really convenient smokescreen, but if you've been following people like the Swiss Ramble on twitter (an Arsenal fan who is an accountant), you'll have been seeing details like the AVERAGE wage/turnover ratio in the Championship being 107% in the 18/19 season (i.e. pre-COVID). They don't earn enough to pay their players, let alone covering the other expenses of a football club. If a player won't take a contract you can afford, don't sign them, and if enough clubs behave sensibly, the players will adjust their demands. Instead we've got this financial Russian roulette where clubs are overspending, hoping they are in the Premier League when the bullet goes off. This is a bad video. It spent too much time looking at the clubs in comparison to other leagues instead of looking at the internal situations of the clubs themselves

[@PabloHernandez-yr5jv]

@@ishoottheyscore8970 I understand, still I feel for these clubs because like , mentioned in the video, the incentive now to get promoted or avoid being relegated is the money you get from it. So these clubs do take those big risks in playing Russian roulette with wages and allotted money because they’re gambling that their adventure will pay off and when it doesn’t they’re left in a hole. Every club now has to adapt to the situation around them and make decisions similar to the other clubs. This a lot of times doesn’t work snd this is when we see these former giants fall.

[@ishoottheyscore8970]

@@PabloHernandez-yr5jv I find it hard to be sympathetic because there have been too many warnings from the past. Leeds, Rangers, Portsmouth, Wigan, Birmingham City keep dancing around the drain, Coventry... at some point they need to start taking personal responsibility and to educate the fans. It's better to do that than to race towards the cliff edge because everyone else is running that way

[@Spenelo]

Another great video man, keep it up. Hope there will be a solution for the smaller clubs in the pyramid sooner rather than later! Greetings from South Africa!

[@bigjanyway2224]

Great job Alfie ! Totally bummed out now but better understanding of the big picture. Maybe you could do a top 7 ways to turn this around.

[@derekevans1932]

Besides the playoff semis, it is the FA Vase final at Wembley this weekend. How Step 5 and below football have survived and hopefully prospering to some extent is amazing.

[@TomVerhaegen]

This story is not only about English football you can pull it through towards every nations league. Good work nice channel.

[@manning0]

Like you, my girlfriend wouldn't of had half the relationship with her Dad if it wasn't for Macclesfield Town. He's now on the board of directors for Macclesfield FC, the fans are really behind them and I hope a love for them will bond, my children with their Mum, Grandad and of course me. My Dad & I have Bradford Bulls to thank for our days out. Coincidentally, when Macc went under we started following Scarborough where my family live and a team I've watched before and you mentioned them when an image of moss rose was on screen. Great video as always.

[@SkoolNerds]

This is so sad and so well done. What a video. Well done.

[@ally_crawford]

Cheers for the existential crisis, Alfie. Don't know what I'd do without my team. Rangers man so relatively familiar with this theme. Hopefully this petition for an independent regulator in England can help make football fairer. Football and wider social issues are so different yet so similar in some senses Keep up the good work (Both here and on the channel you can't talk about here)

[@sudarshang6956]

Brilliant.This truly touched me

[@michaelhigton6765]

I found your assessment depressing, accurate and informative BUT do you know what gives me hope? The beautiful game will never die for as long as you can take a couple of jumpers and a ball to the park with your mates. I follow the fortunes of a team from Essex called Palmers FC and for me they light the way forwards in keeping the game alive. Post pandemic I plan to go and watch my local team Buxton Town in the hope that my few shillings might make a difference while continuing to follow the fortunes of my first love Derby County as best I can.

[@DuranceBell]

Quite possibly your best video yet, Alfie. Even as an American I felt the emotion behind this. I think one of the oft overlooked aspects of sporting events is the ability to bring people together across racial, political, religious, or economic lines. I loved the example of your grandparents, for instance. It's sad to see that disappear because of greed. Keep up the great work.

[@thunderchild1083]

I feel sorry for any fans facing the end of their clubs, I remember going to watch Bournemouth play and there would be people inside and outside the ground with collection buckets hoping to help keep the club alive. We were so close to being closed down it was scary but we were lucky enough to come out the other side.

[@nhlanhlazwane9465]

Things just got really serious that it's actually emotional! Well-said Alfie.

[@apch13]

Yet again, another thoughtful video with some downright beautiful exposition. You're top, man.

[@misterbacon4933]

Very informative vlog! Greetings from the Netherlands! 🇳🇱

[@gregorshaw4633]

Top work Alfie, keep it up

[@slavske2314]

Felt abit emotional when you told the story of your grandads :'(

[@jimmycburfield5997]

Wow! What an important video. I was a shy awkward child who experienced a rebirth at age 7 watching Carlisle United. In my teens CUFC was a place of rights of passage, camaraderie, adventure, culture friendship and fun. I built relationships that lasted forever. I have also supported Hull city, have gone to Uni there. This allowed me to feel part of Hull. I have also enjoyed Macclesfield. A great club. This video is so important and so well observed. Thanks so much for making and posting and defining the problem. Thanks for noting the spirit of football.

[@PaquetasCar2147]

Very important subject to cover especially in light of recent events. Well done to you.

[@Chalks38]

I loved this video great stuff and as a Scarborough fan I can relate so much 😢

[@stewartsavage1123]

When was the last time you went over the park to have a kick about, this is where it comes from

[@sma5605]

Wow. What a video. Well done! I really hope that change comes. Sadly I think that things need to get worse before they get better

[@wwCs49]

Whole video was brilliant, but the last few minutes were absolutely fantastic and so important

[@rooneye]

14:47 I bet there's a kid or someone there saying "ffs dad it's not even raining...No one else has an umbrella, put it away!" 🤣🤣

[@lamina11]

Good eye.

[@stonecold6521]

Alfie, instead of asking for video suggestions in the comment section, how about asking for them on Twitter or Facebook? That way we can have conversations about the actual video you've worked so hard on.

[@thebigquack6945]

Facebook: does anyone still use that? Twitter: a football conversation on Twitter ends two ways. In War or in chaos

[@bluest.9320]

@@stonecold6521 Football Daily is a dead channel no wonder why people use Facebook when they want to talk the FD people directly

[@stonecold6521]

@@bluest.9320 Why would Sky buy a dead channel? Sorry mate. You're talking nonsense. Have a look at the views per vid. Also have a look at the subscriber count.

[@kkmac7247]

@@stonecold6521 I agree, but many dead channels have many subs, eg watch mojo

[@stonecold6521]

@@kkmac7247 Just had a look and both channels have got videos between 80k and 100k views in 24 hours for some videos. Wouldn't say that was dead.

[@adityaranade2275]

This year Eibar have gone down in Spain,its sad to see the state of football these days.I'm a Gooner from India, I remember my grandfather taking me to Highbury when we visited England back in 2005, and I was just 8 years old, it was an amazing moment ,he was so passionate when he showed me around places he used to visit when he was young, he used to support Arsenal back in the day even when there was no football culture where I stay in India. This video made me miss my grandfather and his passion for football so much❤️ it bought back great memories! Thank you.

[@bigdogpr]

One of you best videos to date. Bravo!!

[@Tvhurdghit4fhi6rr]

RIP macclesfield, I didn't even see that they dissolved which says a lot about how the media is getting caught up in which club Harry Kane will move to next and not that football is dying from the inside

[@johnwhittaker311]

Sadly that’s because people care more about Kane than League 2/National League clubs going bust...

[@xtrey19x]

@@johnwhittaker311 exactly. I’m getting annoyed of the constant media bashing when in reality the media outlets wants as many views and clicks as possible which is why they don’t cover football clubs the vast majority of people don’t care about. You don’t support these clubs, but then get mad because they media doesn’t cover them 🤦‍♂️

[@DaFlaminGuy]

Phenomenal video, possibly your most important as well

[@disillusionedanglophile7680]

Never been to England/UK/Europe. Grew up following football in "Shoot" and the 'Daily Mirror" compendiums every week. Whole pages of fourth division matches. Black and white, massive crowds in Div 4 those days. Saturday afternoons on BBC world service...."Tottenham Nil ". Stepdad was a Geordie, a Magpie. I shed a tear every time a team goes down and out. Notts County where are you?

[@Darrow1991]

An excellent and thought provoking video.

[@Zaghzackio]

Day 1 of requesting hitc sevens fans to stop suggesting silly videos and make real comments on the subject matter in the video

[@stonecold6521]

Agreed. He should do what other channels do and ask for video suggestions on Twitter or FB.

[@Luke-zs3jx]

Ah football and Mark Fisher, the HITC crossover I've been waiting for

[@alfonsx555]

loved this one! amazing the context you put things in re. your grandfathers etc. Keep up the good work on the vids, or should I say rather say on the high quality sports journalism?

[@jonnywishbone3300]

All so true,and it's always the case of,''the greedy get greedier''...I will no longer go because of this...great video

[@MrIkon83]

Everytime I hear Sir Booby what is a Club bit I always get goosebumps

[@balham5606]

That video shows why you’re better then HITC sport channel Looking forward to tomorrow video Alfie

[@lyndoncampbell4479]

What a beautiful, heartfelt video.

[@PeterWarren1971]

Great video, and in many ways, reflective of the situation in society at large...

[@mark.m4954]

18:46 So cool and fitting, he shows a picture of Maggie Thatcher while talking about the downsides of capitalism.

[@soundlessbird9181]

Background picture said it’s suning sports, but sadly, suning disbanded their own football club just after they won Chinese Super League champion.

[@DomenBremecXCVI]

For anyone interested, he also made a video on 7 things that have to be done to save football

[@halam899live8]

Great video today keep it up your doing amazing job.

[@shahidwillie6140]

Love the consistency with the videos