Lancashire Rejoice: Manchester United And Burnley Share The Glory If Not The Cash
BURNLEY and Manchester United drew 0-0 in the Premier League. The Manchester United team featured £57.9m signing Angle Di Maria.
In their 132-year-history Burnley have spent £45m on player transfers.
What if Burney had Manchester United’s riches to spend? What if…
Football’s not all that fair, is it? But Bunley and United can both celebrate the fact that they are from football’s leading region.
Burnley’s return to the top flight of English football is highly symbolic.
Since Burnley’s historic 1960 Diviosion 1 title win, Lancashire clubs have won the national championship no fewer than 37 times. In that period, Yorkshire clubs – or rather one Yorkshire club – have won just three. (Leeds United in 1969, 1974 and 1992. They are also the only Yorkshire club to win it since the war.)
Of course, Yorkshire has fared no worse than many other counties. In fact it is one of the most successful historically, with Huddersfield Town and the two Sheffield sides winning eight titles between them in all.
But the gulf between the two sports-mad counties is quite remarkable nevertheless.
You might argue that a large amount of Yorkshire’s sporting energy is channeled into rugby league. And you would be right. Over the last 50 seasons the national championship has been won an impressive 25 times by Yorkshire clubs.
… And 29 times by teams from Lancashire.
Close, as they say, but no cigar.
Posted: 30th, August 2014 | In: manchester united, Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
