The Political Economy of Football V2

How one organizes football on islands is an interesting challenge.  One solution adopted in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man is to enter an all island team, backed up by a local competition, in non-league competitions on the mainland.  Travel and other expenses of visiting teams have to be met, so wealthy backers are needed. The Garrison Field stadium At the other extreme, the Isles of Scilly has two teams which play each other in league and cup competitions every week at the Garrison Field stadium. The latest Four Four Two features football on the Scottish island of Arran.   Attempts to field a representative island team on the mainland faltered in the face of the unreliable ferry service (thank you, Scottish Government). In the island competition Lochranaz Northend Thistle went 18 games without a victory before finally folding after Covid.  They played at the Ewe Camp and had a special machine for picking up sheep dropings Brodick, the islands 'capital', c...

When I was growing up doing the football pools was a weekly ritual in most households who would dream of a big win. The only thing my father ever won was a few shillings on the 'Easy Six' which were anything but easy. In the summer use was made of Australian matches, but most people didn't bother then, arguing with good reason that they couldn't predict what would happen with teams with strange names: Australian football pools. Australian football has, of course, become much more professional in recent years. We do have summer leagues in the UK in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Much of it looks like Sunday league football. How else would one account for Top Joes who are bottom of Division Two of the Caithness League, having already conceded nearly six goals a game. Even worse are Uncle Bob's at the bottom of Division Two of the Inverness and District Amateur League who have conceded 50 goals. Culloden Blacksmiths are running away with the division ...