The Premier League launched as The Premiership in 1992 and football in England was transformed. But as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the start of this global phenomenon, we shouldn't forget that football did exist PPL - Pre Premier League. In the decade prior to the formation of the league, the 1980s, football's fortunes ebbed and flowed, but it left an indelible mark on the players and supporters who fell in love with the game prior to its Premier League existence.
It was a world of one club men like Steve Perryman and Trevor Brooking who were icons of the English game. But the fans still revered the greats of the past like Pele, Cruyff and Charlton who had forged their reputations in previous eras. New managers like Alex Ferguson were trying to make their mark, and established managers like Keith Burkinshaw were winning trophies but fearing for the more commercial future as new leaders in the boardroom - men like Irving Scholar at Tottenham and David Dein at Arsenal - were re-shaping the structure of the game in response to tragedy and opportunity, supported by advisors like Alex Fynn. Foreign players like Ossie Ardiles were starting to make their mark, and managers like John Lyall were assessing the merits of bringing more into the English game. Agents like Jerome Anderson were scouring Europe for new players whilst starting to support their clients' desire to secure a better financial present and future, and coaches like West Ham's Tony Carr were trying to develop the skills in players that seemed to be disappearing in a league that became more muscular and direct in style. Media coverage was limited, but a new breed of journalists like Henry Winter were joining the ranks of the football press to bring a new insightful style of match reporting, and radio stations like LBC - led by Steve Tongue - provided the best access to the Saturday experience in the home.
LBC was also the place that my dad, Ken Goldman, began his football journalism career and his archive of interviews from this era provides an incredible insight into football in England in the 1980s. In this extended episode you'll hear from all of the people above, whether they were interviewed in the 80s or sharing their recent memories of this period. I fell in love with football in the 1980s, and it was a joyous and emotional journey of revelation and reflection for me to go back to the decade that provided the platform for the Premier League that is now celebrating another milestone. I hope you enjoy the journey too!
Finally many thanks to everyone who contributed as an interviewee and who helped me to connect with so many insightful and helpful people.
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