End of the Old Football Order (Part 57)

End of the Old Football Order (Part 57)

Nothing is sacred. Nothing is guaranteed.

Yesterday afternoon was the final game in the Football League of Luton Town F.C. This may mean little to the Premierboat glitterati or the grey accountant armies of supporters who stress how important Premier 'status' is to the club ("promotion is worth £40m to the club") but it means something to quite a few other people. What's more, I suspect many of those people with some concerns do not hail from Bedfordshire and will be looking behind and below with some fear that the natural order of things in the Football League has changed.

The old order is crumbling but not for egality. The rich get richer but the middle clubs, with natural homes in Divisions Two and Three (old money) have an uncertain (bleak) future. No guarantees anymore as the Football League is turning to anarchy. The top clubs no longer have noblesse oblige. No football family to protect you now. Best accept the days of dreams have gone. There are now no more than three or four clubs who actually want, let alone have the ability, to win the league. And even their desire is pretty uncertain (the Race for Fourth Place). Others, the old Dukedoms of Everton, Tottenham and Aston Villa, can't afford the heating bills at the family home and are happy to not challenge. And the likes of Leeds and Forest might as well call the National Trust in to take over the estate and they can move into sheltered housing.

Of course, Luton Town cannot boast the proud trophy laden history of Arsenal, Spurs, Man U (note the use of 'United' to mean Manchester United will not be tolerated in this place). They may be far from English football's royalty or aristocracy but they are surely far from it's underclass. Petit bourgeoisie perhaps. Yes, not Old Money but the occasional invitation to the Great Houses. Twenty odd post-War seasons in the top flight and several Wembley appearances in cup competitions counts for something, doesn't it?

Not anymore.

There must be sixty or seventy, or more, clubs with no guarantees and thinking that they too could find themselves turfed out onto the streets or in the workhouse of the non-league. Spare some change guv. That could be you. It's social mobility but only downwards.

And so, Luton Town ended their participation in League Football. 2-0 away to Brentford on sunny day when grey terracing looks so appealing. Poor Luton? No, poor Arsenal, poor Spurs. Poor any club who spends twenty years in the same division. Poor any club with security and power and thousands of fans in the Far East.

But most of all it's being part of something. Knowing that they need you and by choosing the harder path it plays a bigger part in defining you. And if supporting, really supporting, a club is a metaphor for life, or is a second life, then why not live one that is full of extremes. Live a content, happy existence in real life but let addiction and every kind of depravity take over your football life.