THE BACLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE AT 20

Barclays premier league is an English professional league made up of an association of clubs, it is a competition contested by 20 clubs where there is promotion and relegation. This competition is currently sponsored by the Barclays bank and because of that the competition is called BACLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE. But commonly known outside England as the “THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE (EPL)”. The 20 clubs qualified to contest in this league act as shareholders, each of the clubs play a total of 38 matches which sums up to 380 matches a season. These matches are mostly played at weekends but some are played at weekdays, the season runs from August to may every season.

The English premier league was first formed as the FA PREMIER LEAGUE on 20 of February 1992 following the decision of the clubs in the first division of the football league to break away league which was originally found in1888. On doing this they took advantage of a lucrative television right deal that will worth £3 billion as of 2013-2014, with two prominent television broadcasters; BskyB (broadcasting 116) and Btgroups (broadcasting 38) games respectively. The EPL being able to be broadcasted in almost 212 territories to 643million homes makes it the most watched football league in the world.      

Ever since the invention of English Football league in 1888, 23 clubs have been crowned champions and as of 1992 when the premier league was formed, 45 clubs have competed in it and 5 clubs (Manchester United (12 titles), Arsenal (3 titles), Chelsea (3 titles), Blackburn Rovers (crowned once), and Manchester City (crowned once)) have been crowned champions.

It might interest you to know that before the intervention of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) in 1995, ‘The Barclays Premier league’ generally known as English premier league was once played by more than 20 clubs were 2 clubs are promoted and 4 relegated each season. By 8, of June 2006, FIFA gave order that all major leagues, Seria A, La liga inclusive should be reduced to 18 teams but the English FA objected to such request and kicked off the 2007-08 season with 20teams. Still in 2007-08 season its name was changed from FA premier league to simply ‘Premier League’

PROMINENT SPONSORS OF THE BACLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Barclay – the official premier league sponsor

Carling – the official carling cup sponsor

Nike -  the official sponsor/supplier of balls

CELEBRATING THE 20^TH SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF THE BACLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

AWARDS OF THE 20^TH SEASON:

The 20^th year premier league team: : Peter Schmeichel (GK), Gary Neville(RB), Tony Adams (CB), Rio Ferdinand (CB), Ashley Cole (LB), Cristiano Ronaldo (R.WIING/FWD), Roy Keane (DM), Paul Scholes (CM), Ryan Giggs (LM), Thierry Henry (FWD), Alan Shearer (FWD).

AWARD OF THE BEST MANAGER:

SIR ALEX FERGUSON

BEST PLAYER: RYAN GIGGS BEST TEAM: ARSENAL 2003/04 TEAM.

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 GLORY MOMENTS IN THE 20YEARS OF PREMIER LEAGUE EXISTENCE

1992/93

The FA Premier league was formed and 22 teams participated in its first season. Manchester United won the first title of the campaign. The premier league turnover was £46m.

1993/94

Carling became the first title sponsors and the competition was named Carling Premiership.

1994/95

Blackburn Rovers, Kenny Dalglish’s team won their first and ever premier league title on the final day of the competition; Alan Shearer equals Andy Cole's scoring record with 34. This was the last season the premier league competed with 22 teams – four were relegated and two teams came up from the lower League (championship).

1995/96

Manchester United completed the season with a double, and Eric Cantona was named the footballer of the year, still in the same season ManU recorded their biggest ever win in the premier league winning Ipswich by 9 goals to nothing. Alan Shearer recorded 31 goals in 38-matches of the season.

1996/97

Manchester United won their fourth Premier League trophy. Arsenal appoints Arsene Wenger as manager. He Arsene was barely known as at then.

1997/98

Arsenal wins the Premier League with a point above Manchester United, overhauling an 11-point lead in the process. Arsene Wenger became the first foreign manager to win the premier league. Arsenal became the fifth team in the 20th century to win the League and FA Cup double.

1998/99

The Premier League sets up an Academy system. Manchester United secures a 'treble' the (premier league, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League). Three England teams qualify for the UEFA Champions League place. The turnover of the premier league rises to £281m.

1999/2000

Manchester United wins the Premier League by a record 18 points. Kevin Phillips (Sunderland) became the third player to score 30 goals or more in one season.

2000/01

Manchester United wins yet again another premier league title and Sir Alex Ferguson became the first manager to win the English titles three times in a row. Ledley King scores the fastest goal in Premier League history (10 seconds). Four English teams qualify for the UEFA Champions League spot.

2001/02

Barclaycard comes in to become the league Title new Sponsor. Arsenal wins a League and FA Cup double and score in every Premier League game. The Premier League turnover rises to £570m.

2002/03

Manchester United wins their 8^th League title. Goes on an 18 matches unbeaten run from boxing day.

2003/04

Asia Trophy that took place in Malaysia becomes the first biennial pre-season. Arsenal nicknamed ‘The Invincibles’ going a whole season unbeaten. Thierry Henry became the fourth player to score 30 goals in a Premier League season. Chelsea has a new owner: Roman Abramovich.

2004/05

Barclays become the new Title Sponsor for the League. Jose Mourinho appointed as manager of Chelsea from Porto. Jose wins Chelsea’s first top flight title in 50 years with (29) wins and (15) conceded goals in a season. Goalkeeper Petr Cech keeps a 24 clean sheets record.

2005/06

Chelsea retains the Premier League title with (29) wins. Alan Shearer retires, having scored a record 260 goals. Arsenal leave Highbury for the Emirates Stadium and their striker Thierry Henry wins the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award for a record third time.

2006/07

Manchester United became the third different Club to win the League in four seasons. Fulham's Moritz Volz scores the 15,000th Premier League goal. The Premier League attendance record is set when 76,098 watch Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford on 31 March 2007.

2007/08

The Premiership is given a new name “Barclays Premier League”. The first all-English UEFA Champions League final takes place as Manchester United defeat Chelsea and the Premier League tops the UEFA Club Co-efficient for the first time. Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo was the top scorer with 31 goals - in just 31 Premier League starts – tying Alan Shearer’s record for a 38-match season.

2008/09

Manchester United won their 11th Premier League and equal Liverpool's record of 18 top-flight titles. Premier League turnover rises to £1.005bn, with £136m going to external good causes and solidarity payments.

2009/10

Carlos Ancelotti leads Chelsea to win the Premier League once again reclaiming the title from Manchester United, with his side scoring 103 goals – a new Premier League record – and winning The FA Cup.

2010/11

Manchester United wins their 12th Premier League title and 19th overall. A new record of 1,063 goals scored. Premier League turnover rises to £1.202bn, with more than £165m distributed outside of the League in solidarity, good causes and grassroots funding.

2011/12

Last day drama happens on City ground as the big spender club wins the premier league for the first time with a sensational final strike from Sergio Aguero securing Manchester City’s first ever Premier League title in a dramatic 3-2 victory over QPR as Manchester United finished second on goal difference. Chelsea lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy for the first time, ensuring that England was top of the UEFA League coefficient for the fifth season in a row. Aston Villa midfielder Marc Albrighton scored the 20,000th Premier League goal against Arsenal in December. The 2011/12 season was voted the best one yet in the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards, with the league title, Champions League qualification places and relegation all decided on the final day.