Football is a deeply ingrained part of English culture, with fans found nationwide, attracting spectators from every continent. The evolution of football in England has birthed some of the most-watched football teams in world football. The English Football League (EFL) is a crucial part of the journey for many players who made a name for themselves at the highest level.
We explore the history of the EFL and shed some light on why it is seen as a separate entity from the Premier League, despite the two working in tandem.
The Importance of Understanding the EFL
The EFL is a highly competitive league full of teams that were once playing at the highest level. Just this weekend, we have Derby Country at 1/2 to beat Portsmouth. While an upset might be great for League 1 odds fans, it’s not good news for Portsmouth supporters, whose side is just a couple of places behind Derby Country. Similarly, Shrewsbury Town host Sheffield Wednesday, and while the visitors are big favorites at 8/15, both teams were once Championship mainstays, now finding themselves in the third tier. What we’re saying is that the EFL is packed full of great sides that only a few years ago, were playing at the top level.
Origins of the English Football League
The EFL was first established in 1888 and is the oldest professional football league in the world, this coming just three years after the game was formally professionalized in England. At the time of its formation, football was becoming increasingly popular across England, but there were no set rules, regulations, or tournaments, making further growth more difficult. As a result, there was a need for a more rigid league system for there to be greater consistency, which saw the creation of the EFL, initially featuring teams from the Midlands and the North of England.
The Founding Principles
The EFL was founded in the hope of there being greater fairness, competition, and professionalism, as well as clear promotion and relegation, which would benefit the sport in the long run. Teams competed against each other in the familiar home and away format, after which the team with the most points would be crowned champions and receive a trophy. In 1992, the 12-club Football Alliance was adsorbed by the EFL, adding a second mission and the prospect of relegation for bottom-placed teams.
Formation of the Premier League
English football changed forever when in 1992, the EFL and the Premier League became two separate entities, marking one of the most significant points in English, and possibly even world, football. This resulted in the top teams in England wanting the power to collectively negotiate with television broadcasters for more money, with greater independence from the FA and the EFL executives, without having to also negotiate on behalf of the other EFL teams in lower divisions.
Reasons for Separation
One of the most apparent and reported reasons for this split was that the teams wanted greater autonomy regarding their finances and negotiating power. The ability to negotiate specialist TV deals gave teams in the Premier League a substantial financial advantage, meaning they could attract better players on higher wages and better compete with the European leagues.
There was also a degree of wanting greater competition. By breaking away from the EFL, teams in the Premier League wanted to funnel money up to the top teams, increasing the competitive nature of English football. This would increase global exposure and allow for better marketing, increasing the number of people watching the teams, and resulting in higher-value TV deals.
Legacy and Significance
Although the Premier League and EFL are now separate entities, this doesn’t mean they don’t care about one another. Premier League teams appreciate that there is. clear need for the teams in the EFL to survive and receive a good level of funding coming from the massive Premier League broadcasting deals. The EFL is one of the best league systems for developing players with the potential to play at the highest level. The continuous promotion and relegation system allows lower EFL teams to climb to the Premier League.
and then