Football's changed beyond belief since my first game 26 years ago – cling onto fact there's still people kicking a ball

The Sun

24-07-2025

AS CRYSTAL PALACE prepare a complex legal case against demotion from the Europa League, it makes you think. If not, it should do.
That within two months of the only genuinely heart-warming moment from a forgettable Premier League season, the one feel-good factor from 12 months of humdrum routine has been blown to smithereens.
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Palace won their first trophy in 120 years back in May by upsetting moneyed Manchester City in the FA Cup final — and anyone with an ounce of romance rejoiced.
Yet in less time than it takes for VAR to check for your average offside, the joy has been cut short.
Because the growing trend for multi-ownership and the pursuit of power among the world's richest has put football second — again.
With Eagles shareholder John Textor also having financial interests in Europa-League bound Lyon, rules have been broken, say Uefa.
Two clubs under the influence of the same bloke can't compete in the same competition. And fair enough.
So, Palace's defiant chairman, Steve Parish, now must lead the desperate fightback via the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
What was once a little-known legal body based in a mansion in Switzerland is now becoming as big a name as Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland.
And that Nottingham Forest could not wait to grass up Palace in the hope of nicking their Europa League spot is football 2025 in a nutshell.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
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Lawyers and business tycoons have replaced centre-forwards and centrefolds as the main players at the heart of our national sport.
Let's rewind to July 1999 and compare notes. The only reason I suggest this date is because that's when I started on staff at SunSport.
Crystal Palace legend Geoff Thomas slams Uefa for denying them a Europa League place
After bluffing my way through it for 26 years, this will be my last column before leaving so it's as good a point in time as any.
Back then, on the cusp of the new millennium, Alan Shearer was widely reported as the Premier League's top earner on £34K a week at Newcastle. Roughly 100 times the average wage of the day.
Shearer's £1.76million a year is dwarfed by the estimated £18.2m annually Mo Salah will trouser under his new Liverpool contract.
Average wages in the UK for last year were roughly £37,000 per year.
You don't have to be Carol Vorderman to work out that the gap has widened considerably.
In the summer of '99, Manchester United were celebrating victory in the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.
The only treble the fans can enjoy these days is a stiff one in the boozer after the latest abject collapse on the pitch at a fallen giant.
But at least that's football related.
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So much of what masquerades as our favourite sport has nothing to do with shirts, shorts and shin pads.
And back when Tony Blair was still regarded as a half-decent PM, there was no VAR to kill the spontaneous release that is a goal being scored.
In 1999, the beleaguered boss of the referees' union did not have to appear regularly on TV to desperately fight the corner of members.
In 1999, not every defeat was considered a national disaster by over-hyped figures in the game.
In 1999, clubs were not selling their own hotels back to themselves to get round spending rules.
Spending rules brought in to stop nation states hoovering up our best teams at the expense of fair competition.
In 1999, there were 17 managers of British and Irish descent working in the Prem.
Today it's five.
In 1999, the biggest transfer of the summer was Nicolas Anelka's exit from Arsenal to Real Madrid.
The £22.5m was considered big money.
Most pertinent of all, in 1999 Premier League grounds were alive.
They were not stop-offs for foreign tourists sitting in silent bewilderment while clutching bags of overpriced tat from club shops.
The game hasn't gone these past 26 years but it's going.
Somewhere in the middle of all the legal battles, foreign takeovers, stakeholders, rights holders, influencers, extortionate ticket prices, popcorn, VAR, play-acting and social media tripe, there are still people kicking footballs.
Cling on to that.
CAPTAINCY IS IN LEVI'S GENES
FAREWELL NOTE TO CHELSEA: Levi Colwill must be your next captain.
During the Club World Cup, the defender grew in stature so much off the pitch and is emerging as a superb ambassador for a club that can struggle for positive PR.
From discussing his secret LEGO passion, to bold declarations that Chelsea can win the title this season, this young man has the kind of character they have been aching for at Stamford Bridge since the departures of John Terry and Antonio Rudiger.
When Reece James calls it a day wearing the armband, Colwill must take over.
JUAN-NIL LOSS
BARCELONA is 920 miles from London. Marcus Rashford seems to think it is a world away.
By refusing to answer any questions in English at his unveiling by the Spanish giants he has already scored a little own goal.
You can pretend it's to ingratiate himself with the Catalan locals but nobody over here is really fooled.
Rashford might think he has been harshly treated by the English media but I have never met a reporter who doesn't wish him all the very best and wants him to do well for his club and for England, more importantly.
And more importantly than anything to do with football, his campaign for free school meals is a standout moment as a human being.
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It's worth remembering that his move to Barcelona from Manchester United is only a season-long loan and that this time next year he may be back.
There'll be questions then — and no hiding place behind the lingo.