logo
Dunphy's BBC debate a nostalgic reminder of English crisis never being far away

Dunphy's BBC debate a nostalgic reminder of English crisis never being far away

Irish Examiner4 days ago
Nostalgia for the 1990s remains heavy. Just look at all those stadiums and parks the Gallaghers are filling. Football from the late 20th century has a similar cachet. No video assistant referees, no sportswashing; just good, hard, honest, simple fare, when men were men and pressing was what you did to your Burton suit. If the past is a foreign country then a recent BBC Archive release is a primary source of a time when the continental import remained exotic and not the dominant division of labour.
'Is English Football In Crisis?' asks an edition of On The Line in October 1993, broadcast the night before Graham Taylor's England played a key World Cup qualifier in Rotterdam. You know the match: Brian Moore correctly reading Ronald Koeman's free-kick – 'he's gonna flick one' – and the pathos of Taylor's hectoring of the linesman as England's hopes of qualifying for USA '94 sink into the briny.
Such is the soap opera of the English game – its warring factions, its unrelenting thirst for cash – that a crisis is often close, though now further down the food chain than the England team and the Premier League. A televised meeting of 2025's key actors is near unimaginable considering the secrecy many owners maintain, the global span from whence they come and many battles already being in camera through lawyers. The number of talking heads and influencers willing to step into the gaps is almost too grotesque to countenance. Snapshot to 1993 however, 14 months into the life of the Premier League, an entity barely mentioned over 40 minutes, and a room of football men are vehemently defending their corners. Just one woman is visible; the future sports minister Kate Hoey, and just one black face; that of Brendon Batson, deputy chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association. He remains wordless.
Read More
Hallgrímsson facing Brady blow after calf injury rules veteran out of World Cup qualifiers
A raven-haired John Inverdale operates as a Robert Kilroy-Silk/Jerry Springer figure as various blokes in baggy suits – 'some of the most influential and thoughtful people in football' is Inverdale's billing – fight their corners. Here is a time before gym-buff execs, when male-pattern baldness is still legally allowed in boardrooms and exec boxes, when a moustache is anything but ironic.
'The whole game is directed towards winning rather than learning,' complains John Cartwright, recently resigned coach at the Lilleshall national academy, a less than gentle loosener. England's Football Association is swiftly under attack from Hoey over being 'out of touch'. Enter Jimmy Hill, a Zelig of football as player, manager, chair, the revolutionary behind the 1961 removal of the maximum wage, major figure – on and off screen – behind football's growth as a television sport. Few have filled the role of English football man so completely and his responses to Hoey are dismissive, truculent. 'You can only attack one question at a time and I find the attacks are so ignorant,' he rails, defending English coaching. Hill's stance has not travelled well. Within three years, Arsène Wenger, among others, would be upending the sanctity of English coaching exceptionalism.
A short film from the ever gloomy Graham Kelly follows. The then-Football Association chief executive dolefully advertises his body's youth development plan before David Pleat's description of English youngsters as merely 'reasonable' rather blows Kelly's cover. Former Manchester City manager Malcolm Allison, by 1993 a long-lost 1960s revolutionary, declares England's kids were behind Ajax's as early as the late-1950s. 'Big Mal', demeanour far more On The Buses than On The Line, cuts the dash of ageing rebel, an Arthur Seaton still restless in his dotage, cast to the fringes as Cassandra.
Next the programme's wild card; Eamon Dunphy, footballer turned bestselling writer. The irascible face of Irish punditry for many decades seizes the stage with typical barbed lyricism, hunting down the stuffed shirts who run the game, full j'accuse mode adopted from his opening words. 'English football has historically drawn its talent from the streets but unfortunately it has left its inspiration in the gutter,' he begins his own short film. Dunphy then lashes the 'merchant class' that 'have always wielded power', kicks against the 'subservient', celebrating football's 'free spirited' outsiders.
Read More
Adam Idah needs competition to thrive, says Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers
'Football's greatest men have usually been its saddest – ignored, betrayed or patronised,' says Dunphy, soon enough labelling English football media coverage as 'banal'. 'Where is football's Neville Cardus?' he asks, referencing the Guardian's legendary cricket writer, setting a slew of fellow journalists, including the late David Lacey, also of this parish, on defensive footings.
Cast in 1993 as rabble-rousing agent of chaos from across the water, Dunphy would declare himself an Anglophile in his 2013 autobiography, appreciative of the freedom found in 1960s Manchester compared to the illiberal Ireland he came from. Here he despairs for what made English football once so magical, bemoaning Allison's estrangement and that Hill's experience was also confined to the sidelines.
Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, a prime Premier League's architect, is next for a Dunphy dagger. 'You seem exceedingly smug about the idea of kids having to pay more for their identity' is a laser-guided attack on replica shirts being replaced each summer. It proves a tinderbox moment. Hill and Professional Footballers' Association chair Gordon Taylor soon fly at each other. 'Get yer facts right, Jim,' hisses Taylor as the subject of player wages ignites a bonfire fanned further by agent Eric Hall's 'monster monster' smirks.
Inverdale calls for order and concludes with a round-robin from which Pleat's 'you need an impossible man, a democratic dictator right at the top of football' sounds positively frightening. Somewhere in Pleat's logic may lie the UK government's imminent imposition of an independent football regulator, a process that led today's power brokers into a sustained, bloody battle against such interference.
Fast-forward 32 years, through Premier League and Champions League dominance, international failures and successes, foreign talent and investment, profit and sustainability, splintering media landscapes, women's football embodying national pride, much has changed and yet self-interest remains the darkest heart of English football.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

10 Irish plotlines to track this Premier League season
10 Irish plotlines to track this Premier League season

Irish Examiner

timean hour ago

  • Irish Examiner

10 Irish plotlines to track this Premier League season

Caoimhín Kelleher being the top dog Instead of sporadic cameos in the Cup, or longer but inevitable short spells deputising for Alisson, the Corkman has not had a clear run of games at 26. Brentford are giving Kelleher that platform and the busyness it'll bring generates a different type of pressure. He's withstood everything thrown at him so far in his customary relaxed nature so there's no reason to doubt him. Last stand for Coleman? David Moyes was the manager to pluck Séamus Coleman from Sligo for €80,000 and 17 years later, in his second stint at Everton, was determined to keep hold of the veteran. His ninth contract was sealed and he'll likely migrate into a coaching role for next season. Coleman turns 37 in October and injuries restricting him to three Premier League appearances last season indicate his outings at the new Hill Dickinson stadium will be irregular. Doherty continues to defy his critics People believe Matt Doherty when he claims immunity to flak, for he's shipped it since breaking through at Wolves under Mick McCarthy. He's back at Molineux two years after spells at Spurs and Atlético Madrid and heading into his final season under contract, the 33-year-old remains a go-to for manager Vitor Pereira. The return of Colombian Yerson Mosquera from injury will provide competition, something he's relished for club and country. Can Alex Murphy be the Irish bolter at Newcastle United? Be it due to missed transfer targets or not, Eddie Howe has relied heavily on 21-year-old Galwegian in pre-season. "The loan spell last season for Alex was pivotal,' Howe said this week of his spell at Bolton Wanderers. 'He needed that exposure to match action, has come back for pre-season and done well. He's been thrown into some challenging games and has always come out with credit. Let's see what's next." High ceiling left for Captain Collins? Appointed skipper for his country, Nathan Collins holds that privilege too at Brentford following the departure of Christian Norgaard to Arsenal. Those leadership skills were evident when handed the armband at Stoke City when 18 but he has backed it up on the pitch, as the only outfield player to not miss a minute of Premier League action. At 24, he's still to reach his peak. Cullen seeking Premier League consistency Another club captain and Ireland mainstay, Cullen's Burnley have been installed as favourites for the immediate drop. He's oscillated between the Championship and Premier League since joining the Clarets from Anderlecht in 2022. The experience of his last top-flight season should sculpt the 29-year-old into a better performer against some of the best midfielders in the world. Survival is the name of the game. Alan Browne finally reaches the Premier League mecca Browne emerged through the Ireland ranks as Cullen's midfield companion and he ended his long spell at Preston North End for a chance to leave Championship existence behind. He joined Sunderland on a three-year deal 12 months ago featured in just 22 games, primarily due to a fractured bone in September. He's lost his Ireland squad spot and there is the possibility of him departing the Black Cats before the September 1 transfer deadline. Jake's second-season surge Anticipation this time last year about the €20m purchase from Lyon figuring for Everton proved ill-founded as he didn't get a look-in under Sean Dyche. That was flipped upon the return of David Moyes in January. Slotting to right-back didn't bother him and equalisers that nicked draws against Brentford and West Ham United led to him labelled 'The Cork Cafu' by local press. A big season for Everton and O'Brien. Brighton's Irish candle flickering without a flame John Morling is back on the FAI's radar to fill the Chief Football Officer's vacancy and it was his spell as Brighton and Hove Albion Academy chief that signalled the influx of Irish. Evan Ferguson is off to Roma for the season, their €11m recruit from Derby County, Eiran Cashin, has been loaned to Birmingham City, leaving Andy Moran as the sole Irishman under Fabian Hurzeler. The German has only used the playmaker sparingly, strengthening speculation he could be on his way to Germany or USA. All eyes on Andrews thrown into the spotlight: The paucity of home-grown candidates for the last Ireland vacancy highlighted the lack of experience gained by managers at top-level. Keith Andrews will automatically be in the equation the next time because Brentford entrusted him with succeeding Thomas Frank as their head coach. That title is very much reality as the 44-year-old is left to deal with on-field matters. Leading the sack race won't perturb him.

Nottingham Forest agree deals for James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson
Nottingham Forest agree deals for James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson

Irish Examiner

timean hour ago

  • Irish Examiner

Nottingham Forest agree deals for James McAtee and Omari Hutchinson

Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal worth up to £30million with Manchester City for England Under-21 captain James McAtee. The PA news agency understands the arrangement includes a sell-on fee and City will have a buy-back option on the 22-year-old. The midfielder has come through the youth set-up at the Etihad Stadium but has not been a first-team regular under Pep Guardiola. He made 15 Premier League appearances last season but only three starts, with most of his senior experience coming during two successful loan spells with Sheffield United. He opted not to travel to the United States for the Club World Cup in the summer in order to concentrate on the European Under-21 Championship, a decision which was vindicated as he led England to victory. Forest have also agreed a deal believed to be around £37million for Ipswich forward Omari Hutchinson, PA understands. The move, which would be Forest's club-record transfer, is still to be finalised but Forest are hoping it will go ahead. Forest have agreed a fee for Omari Hutchinson (John Walton/PA) Hutchinson, who was also part of England's Under-21s success, played 32 times for the Tractor Boys as they were relegated to the Championship, scoring three goals and getting two assists. With players needing to be registered by 12pm on Friday to be involved in the weekend action, and neither having a medical booked in as of Thursday night, they are not expected to be at the club in time to feature in Sunday's Premier League opener against Brentford. Forest have signed Switzerland international Dan Ndoye, Botafoga pair Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha while also tying captain Morgan Gibbs-White down to a long-term contract amid alleged unsolicited interest from Tottenham.

Ellena Perry on swapping Red Roses for Ireland: 'I thought 'I can't turn this down'
Ellena Perry on swapping Red Roses for Ireland: 'I thought 'I can't turn this down'

Irish Examiner

timean hour ago

  • Irish Examiner

Ellena Perry on swapping Red Roses for Ireland: 'I thought 'I can't turn this down'

Former England prop Ellena Perry has described the opportunity to line out for Ireland as too good an opportunity to turn down ahead of her adopted nation's Rugby World Cup campaign in the country of her birth. The 28-year old made her debut in green last Saturday in the warm-up game against Canada in Belfast having featured eleven times previously for the Red Roses, and has since been named in the 32-strong squad for the upcoming tournament. Perry qualifies via her maternal grandfather, William Foster, who hailed from Derry, and she spoke fondly on Thursday before the squad flew to England of how her mum would tune into Ireland's Six Nations game down the years. Irish sport has leaned heavily on the diaspora down the years but the idea of switching allegiances having represented other jurisdictions at the elite level is a more modern phenomenon and one that doesn't sit well with everyone. Declan Rice is the most famous example of that in an Irish context, the now Arsenal midfielder having represented the Republic of Ireland from U17 through to senior level, where he played three times, before declaring for his native England. It was in late 2021 that World Rugby introduced a regulation that allowed players to switch countries where there was a familial link once they had served a three-year period without featuring for their original national team. 'It's just such an amazing opportunity to be part of this is,' said Perry of her move. 'I just wanted to take it with both hands and be able to say that I've represented Ireland and had the honor and the privilege to even be invited. 'I thought, 'I can't turn it down'.' The sheer speed of all this is, if anything, more eye-catching. It's less than a month, July 21st to be exact, since Perry received a text from Ireland head coach Scott Bemand asking if she was free for a chat. Bemand had been assistant coach with England during Perry's time in that squad and the front row was playing her club rugby at Gloucester-Hartpury alongside Sam Monaghan and Neve Jones, two key forwards in the Irish setup. So she was on the radar. It was when loosehead Christy Haney picked up an injury that will ultimately keep her out of the World Cup that Bemand scrolled through his old contacts and sent out the SOS to Perry who hasn't played for England since late 2020. The logistics weren't straightforward with the player scrambling to organize childcare for her three-year old son Herbert, and to smooth everything over with the company where she works in admin capacity. 'It was crazy. So I got that sorted and I rang back [the same] evening and said, 'Yeah, I'll come into camp'.' The third remarkable part of this story is that Perry had actually retired from rugby after the birth of her son three years ago only to be persuaded back into the club game by then Gloucester-Hartpury head coach and current Wales boss Sean Lynne. 'Before I had my son, I'd kind of had a bit of a love-hate relationship with rugby. I put loads of pressure on myself, and I kind of fell out with a love of the game. Then we had my son, and after that I kind of watched it on the telly. 'I saw what they were doing at Gloucester-Hartpury and I just got the itch to go back a little bit. I didn't mention anything and then Lynney messaged to ask would I like to go out for a cup of coffee. I wasn't sure. I really wasn't sure.' Read More Ireland declare their hand ahead of Rugby World Cup campaign Starting a family helped to change her mindset. Now she was playing for herself. If anything, rugby was a break from everything else, rather than the focus it once had been. It kept her fit and healthy and it offered interaction with the team at large. When once she 'dreaded' training, now she loves it and it was reflected in what was her last call-up with England, which was to an extended squad prior to the 2024 Six Nations. Ireland wasn't even mapped for her at that stage, but look at her now. 'It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks,' she smiled.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store