Obsolete Football Expressions

Here are a selection of footballing expressions your Dad may use, from the dim and distant past of football.

Forth Division

Before 1992 there was no Premier League. The top League was Division One, down to Division Four. In 1992 Division Four became Division Three, Division Three became Division Two etc. This arrangement occured beacuse the Big Clubs couldn't bear to share cash with clubs from the lower divisions, so broke away to form the Premiership.

GM Vauxhall Conference

The league immediately below the Third Divison. The end of a sponsorship deal means that this is now called simply The Football Conference. This is the highest league in non-league football.

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup

An old European Competition. The entry rules meant that only one club from a city could be entered. (i.e. If Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs all finished near the top of the First Division, only one club could enter the Fairs Cup to represent London.) This ridiculous arrangement meant that one season Newcastle qualified for Europe despite finishing tenth in the League, because teams above them were from cities already represented. The original idea was to have a combined team from each eligible city, so for example there would be a London team consisting of players from London Clubs. This competition was replaced by the UEFA Cup in 1971

League Cup

Secondary Cup competition in England and Wales, only open to teams from the Football League and FA Premiership. Currently called the Worthington Cup, but has been known in past years as the Coca-Cola Cup, the Rumbellows Cup, the Milk Cup. Whatever it is called it is largely ignored by the main clubs unless they get to the quarter finals. The prize for winning this competition is a place in the UEFA Cup, which makes it attractive to teams finishing in the bottom half of the premier league. The first and second rounds plus semi-finals are played as two legs, the remaining rounds as one.

Linesman

Old-fashioned (i.e. pre-1996) name for the Assistant Referee

Re-Election

In the days before automatic promotion from the Conference, the bottom four teams in the Forth Division used to have to apply for re-election to the Football League at the end of the season. This meant that the directors of the rest of the teams in the League got together to decide if those teams were allowed to stay in the League. If not, a non-league team had to be elected to the Football League.

Regionalisation

Before 1958 the Third Division was split into Northern and Southern leagues. It was extremely difficult to escape from these, as only one club was promoted each season. This idea has been mooted again as a means of aiding financially crippled smaller clubs. In 1958 regionalisation was ended with the formation of the Forth Division

Saturday

Day football matches used to be played. Pre Sky-Television term.

Two Points for a win

Pre-1981 system for calculating league tables. For every match won two points were awarded, and for a draw, the teams got one point each (i.e. The points were shared) A far more sensible system. This ended in 1982 when three points for a win was introduced, in an attempt to cut down on the number of draws.

Where are they now?

This section is devoted to teams who used to be in the Football League, but who have fallen on harder times

Doncaster Rovers

Relegated at the end of the 1997/98 season after a disasterous performance all season. Currently in the Football Conference.

Hereford United

Relegated in 1997. The last match of the season was Brighton v. Hereford, and the loser was to be relegated. The football league sent a more experienced referee for this crucial match. Brighton won (2-1 I believe). Hereford currently in the Football Conference

Aldershot

Financial difficulties meant that Aldershot were unable to fulfil their fixture list, and were expelled from the League in 1992. Re-formed as Aldershot Town, and currently play in the Ryman League Premier Division.

Accrington Stanley

Resigned from the League in 1962. Currently playing in the Unibond League Premier Division.

Newport County

Relegated to the Vauxhall Conference, but went out of business. Re-formed as Newport AFC. Currently playing in Dr. Martens League Midland Division.

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