The Demise of UK Owners of Football Clubs: A Changing Landscape

The Americans are buying up lock, stock & barrel - why?

Football was once the beating heart of Britain’s working-class culture. While the elite enjoyed the ballet or the opera, the workers of the nation found their solace in the terraces of their local football clubs. Kick-offs were at 3pm on Saturdays because the traditional British workweek consisted of five and a half days, with workers spilling out of factories at 12:30pm and making their way straight to the ground. Clubs were owned by local businessmen who had made good, individuals who were part of the community and understood the importance of the club as a social and civic institution.

But those days are long gone. Now, the ownership of English and Scottish clubs has become increasingly dominated by foreign investment, particularly from the United States. The game, once a localised passion, has transformed into a global commercial enterprise, with profit, branding, and international markets taking precedence over tradition, identity, and community.

The Shift from Local to Global Ownership

It wasn’t long ago that most football clubs were owned by individuals with deep roots in their local communities. Businessmen who had grown up supporting the clubs they later came to own were a familiar presence in the boardroom. These owners, for all their flaws, understood the cultural and emotional significance of football in Britain. The club wasn’t just a business to them; it was a living, breathing part of the community.