The development of professional football in Lancashire, 1870-1914
This thesis describes the development of professional football in Lancashire from 1880 to 1914, emphasising the importance of the county to football in general. It deals with the economic and social preconditions in the county that gave rise to this innovation which spread throughout Britain, and later the rest of the world. The potential market, transport networks and traditional local rivalries provided a basis for the introduction of professional football as a new leisure industry. Lancashire clubs were the first to change the amateur game, evolved in the public schools, into a system which paid players, paid for players and which spectators paid to watch. The new system first developed in the Bolton-Blackburn-Darwen area, spreading outwards from this centre of innovation. The success or failure of clubs is discussed, particularly theories of catchment areas, competition between rival clubs, the ~city size~ effect, and management. The importance of the development of the Football League is stressed, as well as Lancashire's role in its foundation, and the operation of the League as a cartel is discussed, laying emphasis on the maximum wage and retain-and-transfer system. There follows a detailed analysis
Lewis, Robert William
History
The development of professional football in Lancashire, 1870-1914. This thesis describes the development of professional football in Lancashire from 1880 to 1914, emphasising the importance of the county to football in general. It deals with the economic and social preconditions in the county that gave rise to this innovation which spread throughout Britain, and later the rest of the world. The potential market, transport networks and traditional local rivalries provided a basis for the introduction of professional football as a new leisure industry. Lancashire clubs were the first to change the amateur game, evolved in the public schools, into a system which paid players, paid for players and which spectators paid to watch. The new system first developed in the Bolton-Blackburn-Darwen area, spreading outwards from this centre of innovation. The success or failure of clubs is discussed, particularly theories of catchment areas, competition between rival clubs, the ~city size~ effect, and management. The importance of the development of the Football League is stressed, as well as Lancashire's role in its foundation, and the operation of the League as a cartel is discussed, laying emphasis on the maximum wage and retain-and-transfer system. There follows a detailed analysis
development professional football lancashire describes development professional football lancashire emphasise_importance county football general deal economic_social precondition county give_rise innovation spread throughout_britain later rest_world potential market transport network traditional local rivalry provide_basis introduction professional football new leisure industry lancashire club first change amateur game evolve public school system pay player pay player spectator pay watch new system first develop area spread outwards centre innovation success_failure club discuss particularly theory catchment_area competition rival club city size effect management importance development football league stress well lancashire role foundation operation league discuss lay emphasis maximum wage retain and transfer system follow_detailed analysis