Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!







Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

Since its creation in 1888, the English top flight has witnessed 23 different winners of the coveted title of best club in the country...

North v. South: Who Is the Dominant Force in English Football?

by Jamie Ward (Columnist)

10

211 reads

History

January 07, 2009


Since its creation in 1888, the English top flight has witnessed 23 different winners of the coveted title of best club in the country.

The Football League trophy has been paraded from as far north as the city of Newcastle, right the way down to the South coast of England—and many places in between.

But who has been the more dominant in English football: the North or the South?

 

Where is the Dividing Line?

It is a heavily discussed question with an answer that varies from person to person.

Although many clubs fall within the obvious boundaries, there are a few teams from the Midlands that can be classed either way.

The North/South debate is an ongoing discussion that usually refers to cultural and economic diversities between the two areas of England.

Some regions in the centre of the country—often referred to as the Midlands—contain areas that are very much in the southern part of England, but due to their industrial roots and ties to the North, are considered more Northern than Southern in regards to the cultural divide.

It is not necessarily considered a geographical divide, but more in terms of political issues that range from Health, Wealth, Growth and Industry.

Naturally, the divide has spilled over in to popular culture and has its comparisons within many areas such as music, comedy and more importantly, the subject at hand—football.

Author Poll

Who Do you Think Will be The Dominant Force in 50 Years?

  • North
  • South
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Who Do you Think Will be The Dominant Force in 50 Years?

  • North

    75.0%

  • South

    25.0%
  • Total votes: 16
Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article

10 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Barney 6 months ago

    Good question asked! It was always going to be the north though, what with Liverpool and United up there! I think it will still be the north in 50 years times. After all, it was 50 years ago so why not in another 50? I didn't know so few different teams had won the title in over 120 years though! Good stuff!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Jamie Ward 6 months ago

      I think the north has more, bigger, well established cities than the south at the moment which should continue their dominance for a long time to come.

      Thanks for the comment.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  2. Wale-Marque Oshin 6 months ago

    Nice article, really informative!

    I also hadn't a clue teams like Burnley and Ipswich were ever champions

    Although i am a Southerner, in terms of both recent and ancient history, the North has been more dominant and is the force to be reckoned with. The two strongest teams in the North ('Pool and United) blow the south completely out of the water.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Jamie Ward 6 months ago

      I enjoy doing articles like this as I always seem to learn a few things from the research.

      I think the previous efforts of liverpool, everton and united will make it hard for the south to overtake the north.

      Thanks for the comment.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  3. Nathan Cicchini 6 months ago

    Get ready to change that 18 to a 19 for Liverpool title wins!!!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Jamie Ward 6 months ago

      The first thing I do after finsihing the celebrating.....will be to ammend this article :-)

      Roll on May.....

      Thanks for the comment Nathan.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  4. Salomon Gonzales 6 months ago

    Nice idea mate. United and liverpool are the only teams that have dominated the league over a long period of time.. P.s did you put chelsea at the bottum of the (3) group deliberately? ;-) haha, it does have that little effect. Im just being bitter .. Super article though jamie....

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Jamie Ward 6 months ago

      Chelsea where placed there on the list I took the stats from :-) Modern day greats but in comparison to the leagues complete history, still a long way to go, but I reckon they will have a few more under their belt before long.

      Thanks for the comment.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  5. Ryan Lynch 6 months ago

    This was such an excellent idea for an article, that I am a a bit disappointed that you didn't go into greater depth on the divide itself, rather than just pointing out what clubs had achieved.

    Still, a brilliant idea, Jamie!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Jamie Ward 6 months ago

      Unfortunately I am falling in to the trap of quick articles without going to deep, it is a problem I am trying to rectify Ryan, hopefully I will snap out of it and give more depth to an article.

      I will put some more in to this one for you, add some extra depth to it.

      Thanks for taking the time to read it and leaving a comment.

      When you say the divide itself, do you mean in regards to football or the acctual political divide between the two?

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

    • Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »

    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.