Gavin Newsham - You Cant Win Anything With Kids: A History of the English Premier League Told Through Quotes

A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE TOLD THROUGH QUOTES

GAVIN NEWSHAM

FOREWORD BY GARY NEVILLE

Contents

It does seem like a very long time ago that I made my Premier League debut for United. It was on the final day of the 1993/94 season when we faced Coventry City at Old Trafford. We had already won the title and I, a fresh-faced 19-year-old, was given a chance in defence alongside Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister and Denis Irwin. We kept a clean sheet that day but it ended up goalless. Hardly a match to remember. But I was lucky. I was lucky to play 400 times in the top-flight. Lucky to have some world-class players as friends and team-mates. And lucky to play under the greatest manager of the modern era. But, more than that, I was lucky to play in what was, and remains, the greatest league in the world: the Premier League. Its been 25 years since the Premier League began and its a competition that never ceases to amaze me. On one hand, its ushered in a new era of professionalism and helped introduce a rich wave of talent from around the world to our shores. On the other, its taken the English game to every corner of the planet. Its always fascinating, never predictable. Look at Leicester City and what they achieved in 2015/16; you just cant write that kind of script. And it will be the same next year. Records will be broken, new stars will emerge and many more memories made. Long it may last. Enjoy the book.

Gary Neville

Saturday 15 August 1992. Its a landmark day in football, and not just because Norwich enjoyed a rare win at Arsenal or Sheffield United managed to beat Manchester United. No, this is the day, the momentous day, that English football changed forever the day the FA Premier League was born.

To date, a total of 47 clubs have taken part in the Premier League since its inception. Just six teams (Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur) have been ever-present, while some clubs, like Cardiff, Barnsley, Blackpool and Swindon, have dipped their toes into the Premier League for one season only, never to return.

But whether your team is challenging for trophies at the top of the table or striving just to reach the promised land, there can be no denying that the Premier League has changed the very face of football in England (and much further afield), initiating the kind of advances that might not have happened had the status quo remained in place.

Take a cursory glance at the league as it is today and youll see stadiums and facilities that are not just better, but pretty much full, week in, week out; the playing surfaces have moved from quagmires to bowling greens; and the players, thanks in no small part to an influx of foreign coaches with new ideas and innovations, are quicker, technically better and significantly more athletic.

And, of course, its managed to spark some truly extraordinary stories over its rich history. Remember Kevin Keegans on-air meltdown? Or Paolo Di Canios shove on referee Paul Alcock? How about those jaw-on-the-floor goals like Tony Yeboahs volley for Leeds against Liverpool or Sergio Agueros last-gasp title-winning goal for Manchester City? And what about some of those wonderful teams that played some wondrous football, like all-conquering Manchester United and Arsenals fabled Invincibles?

Its moments like these that have propelled the Premier League into hitherto unseen levels of popularity. Today, a quarter of a century since it came into being, the competition is so huge that its appeal stretches to virtually every part of the planet, with the broadcasting rights to show live games sold everywhere from Australia to China, from Singapore to sub-Saharan Africa, and its players as popular in Bangkok as they are in Birmingham.

And thats exactly what weve tried to capture in You Cant Win Anything With Kids . Using the thoughts, views, words and wisdom of the managers, players and fans who have lived through the Premier League era, its an attempt to jog some memories as well as relive all those memorable moments, be they dazzling, infamous or simply unbearable.

Its also the perfect opportunity to enjoy some of the funniest, most insightful and sometimes perplexing soundbites from the last 25 years, whether it be the endlessly amusing spat between Jos Mourinho and Arsne Wenger, Eric Cantonas deeply philosophical musings or Joe Kinnears foul-mouthed ones.

And yes, we will mention Alan Hansen

Its a new dawn for English football, a big bang moment that will change the domestic game forever.

Following the breakaway of the 22 leading clubs from the Football League on 27 May 1992, a new organisation, the FA Premier League, and their new competition, the Premiership, kicks off in August 1992 with 22 teams taking part, namely Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Everton, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Oldham Athletic, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Wimbledon.

Overnight, the league becomes one of the most attractive, high-profile sports contests in the world, not least because its backed by a massive 305 million live television deal with BSkyB (and the BBC for match highlights). With more coverage than ever before, the clubs cash in, gaining lucrative new sponsorship deals and with many floating on the stock market. The players benefit too. Salaries rise significantly, as do transfer fees. It is, as the BSkyB slogan maintains, a whole new ball game.

A case in point is newly promoted Blackburn Rovers. Backed by the personal fortune of steel magnate Jack Walker, they signal their intent by breaking the British transfer record in the close season, paying 3.6 million for Southamptons 21-year-old striker Alan Shearer.

The inaugural Premier League season starts on Saturday 15 August and it takes just five minutes for the first goal of the new era to be scored. The honour goes to Sheffield United striker Brian Deane, who heads home Alan Corks flick-on to give the Blades the lead. They go on to win the game 2-1.

It is good to look back on ... Anybody would be happy to be the first scorer.

Brian Deane recalls his most famous goal.

Theres a shock result at Highbury, too, as Arsenal let slip a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to Norwich City. The man that makes the difference is Mark Robins, who signed from Manchester United in the close season, and who scores two brilliantly taken goals.

New boy [Mark] shows the speed of thought and instinct of all great goalscorers.

Tony Gubba, BBC Match of the Day commentator

Its a successful debut for Blackburns record signing Alan Shearer, too. He scores twice in a 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace.

You obviously need good players in every position but you need goals and he [Shearer] was a world-class player.

Colin Hendry, Blackburn defender

The following day sees BSkyB televise their first live Premier League game as they cover Nottingham Forests home game against Liverpool. The programme is hosted by Richard Keys, with former Everton and Scotland striker Andy Gray accompanying Martin Tyler in the commentary box, and is memorable for a stunning winner by Teddy Sheringham.