The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Soccer on the world stage As I sit here writing this column basking in the glow of my Manchester United winning the champions league, defeating Chelsea 6-5 in a dramatic penalty shootout in Moscow, I realize that some of you watch the champions league, but not quite know what it is. Soccer is a sport that is supported fanatically in Europe. It would be unheard of for a supporter in London to support a team from outside their area. The same would apply to Berlin, Paris or Rome. These teams play in their own domestic leagues, and of course each season one club from each country is crowned champion. In the English Premier league the top four clubs play in the following seasonÕs champions league. In Germany it is the top two etc. The qualifying clubs are drawn Ôout of a hatÕ and put into groups, these groups play off in what we call the group stage (soccer players like things simple!) with the winners then moving up to the knockout stages With the best teams playing each other something must be at stake. Of course thereÕs the glory, but more importantly, there is the money. Manchester united estimated that their victory in the champions league is worth over $25 million. Soccer is a business, to be specific it is a sports entertainment business, and money talks. The more you make, the more you can pay players. The more you can pay players the better player you get. The better player you get the more games you win and the more money you make. This creates disparity very quickly in any domestic league. The premiership in England has the big four, United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. No other English club can match them for money. When united sell out old Trafford with over 76,000 fans every game, how does a team that attracts ÔonlyÕ 50,000 fans compete? It is a sad fact of life that the monthly wage of UnitedÕs Ronaldo would pay for the entire seasons wages for the players and backroom staff of newly promoted Exeter City. In Canada, we have Toronto FC playing in the MLS. Toronto is in their second season and average 20,000 fans per game, selling out their stadium BMO field. Plans are already in place to expand. One estimate puts the possible attendance for home games in the 40,000 range. This would put Toronto into the top four of the MLS, with Chicago, LA Galaxy and the New England Revolution. Montreal sell out their new Saputo stadium weekly and if the Vancouver Whitecaps ever get their waterfront stadium they too will sell out. Soccer is growing so fast in Canada that it is hard not to think that one day the menÕs team will match the women in playing in the worldÕs top 10 rankings. Now for a little rant - If we could organize a Norman soccer league, with teams from our region, I think that not only would the standard of our young players improve, but we could see some of them on the national stage. I honestly believe that Flin Flon could be in the top four of Manitoba soccer towns. We have the players, we have good coaches and now all we need is a league. Unfortunately we do not live in Winnipeg, which for the Manitoba Soccer Association really means, we do not live in Manitoba. When I contacted the MSA for help in starting a league, I eventually received a list of towns that play youth soccer, and thatÕs it. As they said, most of our focus is in Winnipeg, wow Ð I would never have guessed.
