Climaxing

Mondays newspapers heralded one of the defining images of the football season- Paul Jewell’s arms-aloft, punching the sky, emotional reaction to Wigan Athletic maintaining their Premiership status, whilst in the background the stark contrast of Neil Warnocks truly horrified stare as relegation was bestowed upon his own club.

It was a great image, one which speaks volumes for the range of emotion which football can inspire. But at the same time, there is a feeling that it was a defining image for the simple fact that it was a rarity.

Fans of clubs who aren’t used to winning things (which, frankly, is most of us) dream of that moment when, after years of obscurity and underachievement, your club finally achieves something. And you want to be there.

Yet Sky TV, in their relentless pursuit to “capture the moment”, seem to be affording every armchair fan in the country the opportunity to “be there” at even the most underwhelming of occasions, whilst at the same time denying that moment of glory to the fans who have literally “been there”, following their team, for years.

The most obvious case in point has to be the Premiership Title. Im sure that Sky TV subscribers were delighted to be there to witness the moment that the Premiership trophy was won or lost. But what of Manchester United supporters who have waited four years to reclaim the trophy which they feel is rightfully theirs? Owing to Skys convoluted schedules, Manchester United fans were denied the opportunity to win the championship at the home of their rivals, Manchester City. Instead, this was swapped for winning the title in their armchairs at home, or in a pub somewhere, whilst Chelsea drew with Arsenal and thus relinquished their crown.

Sky will readily report that the premiership title race has swung from one team to the other, recording previously unheard of “changes at the top” (i.e. the number of times the league leadership was swapped from one team to the next during the course of the season). Yet, no fan really believes that Manchester United have “opened up a six point gap” after a lunchtime win where Chelsea are due to play two hours later. Jose Mourinho spoke vociferously of the unfair advantage afforded to Manchester United because they apparently kicked off more of their games ahead of Chelsea. But his fury should be aimed at Sky TV. Does anyone really think it adds to the tension when neither team kicks off consecutively? Its no coincidence that the most pivotal and exciting weekend of the Premiership race occurred when Manchester United and Chelsea both kicked off at the same time against Everton and Bolton respectively. Even the newspapers love recounting- “How the day unfolded”.

Fulham also have been denied celebrating their premiership survival by the fact that they only knew their win over Liverpool was sufficient once Charlton had lost to Tottenham the following Monday. Again, an armchair success.

Even more so, pity the Championship. Birmingham and Sunderland fans have both had to deal with the teething problems which a newly relegated team, with a newly assembled side, have to deal with over the course of the season. Yet, at the summit of it all, when success was finally achieved, where were they? Watching Crystal Palace v. Derby in a pub and hoping the result goes for them. One Sunderland fan actually travelled to this game in order to feel some sense of involvement in his own teams achievement.

Sky TV will readily admit that probably the most exciting day of the season is the final day. Yet they do not seem to realise exactly why this is the case, and why there is no reason the emotions of this day could not be transferred to several other occasions in the weeks previous, if they were just to relax their scheduling. There is no real reason why Manchester City v. Manchester United and Arsenal v. Chelsea cannot kick off at exactly the same time and generate similar levels of interest. And in this way, it will not deny the fans who have followed their team all season, whom Sky would also presumably acknowledge are the lifeblood of the game, the chance to actually share in their teams glory.

From a personal perspective, watching a game on Sky TV from Brighton, which ultimately could have seen my team promoted, it had me actually questioning to myself- whilst I would first and foremost want my team promoted anywhere and anytime, given the choice wouldn’t I rather have the opportunity to be there? Having witnessed such events first-hand, there really is no comparison.

Certainly, given the choice, I doubt any self-respecting Manchester United fan, whether armchair fan or plastic seat fan, would swap seeing their team win the Title at City of Manchester Stadium for seeing them celebrate the championship under a pre-fabricated arch following a meaningless 1-0 defeat to West Ham United.

Sky are often lamented for their greed in financial terms, but they are the archetypal “glory-hunter” fan in their incessant drive to ensure they capture the moment of success. But if they really value the game, then please give the game a chance to celebrate its successes in the way its supposed to be done. It what all true fans would wish for.