A good article written by Jimmy Greaves in The People.
Big time needs its small-town heroes.
Ever since the Premier League announced the hare-brained scheme of playing a 39th fixture in different corners of the globe, it has become fashionable to knock the likes of Blackburn, Bolton or Wigan.
It's not easy to 'sell' those clubs as part of a ' global brand',they are quick to tell us.
As if small-town Lancashire clubs have no real part in this brave new world- when in actual fact they are the hotbed of English football.
It's been sad to see that trio of clubs in the bottom three for much of the season and it would be very sad if they were wiped off the face of the Premier League.
Those clubs all suffered a major downturn in the 1980's and early '90s but they have defied the odds to play at the top level and the Premier League has been richer for them.
These Lancashire clubs used to be owned by prominent local businessmen, who knew their clubs intimately and who instinctively understood what supporters expected and wanted.
Bolton, like Blackburn, are enjoying an 11th straight season in the top flight but look to be in the most parlous state of all, in terms of finances and playing resources.
Personally, I'd love to see all three stay up-if only to annoy those big-time chairmen who think that playing Bolton, Blackburn and Wigan is beneath them.
I salute you Jimmy.
Big time needs its small-town heroes.
Ever since the Premier League announced the hare-brained scheme of playing a 39th fixture in different corners of the globe, it has become fashionable to knock the likes of Blackburn, Bolton or Wigan.
It's not easy to 'sell' those clubs as part of a ' global brand',they are quick to tell us.
As if small-town Lancashire clubs have no real part in this brave new world- when in actual fact they are the hotbed of English football.
It's been sad to see that trio of clubs in the bottom three for much of the season and it would be very sad if they were wiped off the face of the Premier League.
Those clubs all suffered a major downturn in the 1980's and early '90s but they have defied the odds to play at the top level and the Premier League has been richer for them.
These Lancashire clubs used to be owned by prominent local businessmen, who knew their clubs intimately and who instinctively understood what supporters expected and wanted.
Bolton, like Blackburn, are enjoying an 11th straight season in the top flight but look to be in the most parlous state of all, in terms of finances and playing resources.
Personally, I'd love to see all three stay up-if only to annoy those big-time chairmen who think that playing Bolton, Blackburn and Wigan is beneath them.
I salute you Jimmy.