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New Labour, New Britball?

We at Blunt Views are fed up hearing about how Britball is dying. That it's done it's bit and given up the ghost. But there is a logical equation here if Britball goes so does the WLAF in the UK. There's been talk in the Press in First Down (say hello to us Keith Webster next time you have a column by the way?) of a Crisis in Britball. They are even having a major letters page to deal with it. Well we've put our plan on-line before. In our very first Editorial no less.

Now it's time to help get people organised and that's exactly what BV is about. Getting Fans together.

With the new Government installed in the UK they bring a Minister for Sport in Tony Banks who really cares about Sport. We at BV believe that with the Ministry's support Britball can be reborn and flourish like it once did. Before nay sayers pipe up about what does the government (or anyone else for that matter) know or care about Gridiron we'd like to point out that there is already a link for us to approach Tony Banks. Mr Banks is a Chelsea supporter, the London Monarchs play at Chelsea's home ground of Stamford Bridge. There is the first chink of light in approaching the Ministry of Sport in the hope of helping out Britball.

That's all well and good. But there's something missing here and that's a grand plan to get Britball together. The question is do you support the game or a team ? For this is not going to be easy or painless. Harsh sacrifices are necessary.

The Overall Plan

There is to be ONE governing body to represent ALL American Football teams. However this body must be run professionally. It is NOT responsible for running leagues or teams. Rather it represents the sport.
There HAS to be ONE SUPER LEAGUE above all others which is supreme. It must have priority in all matters such as scheduling. This SUPER LEAGUE must consist of no more that 12 teams with NO promotion or relegation for 5 years. The teams will belong to the League Board and be owned by no individual.
This League should be a Professional league with the cream of UK talent. Based in set locations and playing in quality grounds. The league Board will be responcible for co-ordinating ALL promotions and deal with national sponsors and Television.Yes you heard me right Television
Any other smaller amature local teams are to support the SUPER LEAGUE and act purely as a feeder to the SUPER LEAGUE. Smaller teams are to be affiliated to SUPER LEAGUE teams and if possible share training resources and equipment.
College Teams are to share the same purpose as local teams in providing training for players.
Each SUPER LEAGUE team MUST have a youth policy of at least a Flag set-up co-ordinating with local teams and schools. As the SUPER LEAGUE staff will be full time (including coaches) this should help maintain a presense during the off-season.
A set session must be agreed by all levels. This should avoid clashes. The SUPER LEAGUE will not commence until AFTER the WLAF has finished. Playing through the summer to October. Flag leagues should play in two seasons one during the summer along side the SUPER LEAGUE, one during the Spring (March to May). This will allow Flag teams to use the WLAF and the SUPER LEAGUE to attract players. College seasons and local team seaons should be over the same period.

Yet you might ask how or why have a SUPER LEAGUE ? The benefits of a professional League are plentyful. A fixed number of paid players will allow teams to maintain player commitment and entice other un-paid sportsmen. These players will not be full time even during the season. They will be expected to commit to a contract of 10 hours a week (4hrs playing 6training).

If the league is Professional then the quality of play should be better as players train together and learn from each other. Better quality of play means better entertainment factor. Better entertainment factor leads to crowds and crowds lead to sponsorship, sponsorship to Television.

The Maths isn't as terrible as you might think. This is possible. The whole of the SUPER LEAGUE will have a budget of around 3million pounds. Yet if there are only 6 games a week with 5000 attendance at 6 pounds a head 2.2million can be rasied for a 12 week league program on ticket sales alone.

With a good product 5000 per game is very possible as each team will play in a major city. Basketball and Ice-Hockey have shown that this is more than possible to obtain.

That leaves a short fall of 1million (to be safe) now 1million pounds is about the cost of 1hr of quality drama bringing about 9 million viewers. A 12 week season + 2 weeks for play offs = 14 weeks @ 3 hours a week = 42 hours of possible LIVE sporting action. This package could well attract a terrestial channel (either Channel 4 or 5). This point is vital it must not be on Satelite or cable. The purpose of the SUPER LEAGUE is to promote the game and provide quality playing by UK players.

So where do you come in ? We at Blunt Views don't have the capital to even try and attempt to do this however we do believe it is the way forward. Believe me should someone give us 3million pounds to set it all up, you'd have a professional league in less than 2 years.

In the meantime we as fans have to attempt to convince those with power and influence to help support our game. First you have to find your local team and try and convice them of this mission. Then the next stage is very important. This is where the new Government comes in.

We ask you to write to your MP asking them to help support your local team. Then also write to Tony Banks Minister for Sport asking for his support for the game in general. Ask him to help provid backing for the game to set up a super league which will be non profitable. Mention the possibility for a youth policy and how a game like football teaches team working far better than any other sport (you try throwing a touchdown when our line man gets the wrong block or your WR is on the wrong side of the pitch).

Then try and get interest in the game among your friends and push your local teams to co-ordinate with other teams including the WLAF. The whole of the game must agree to the next step whatever that is. The time for rivalies is over in Britball... leave that for the pitch. Time to work together.

To Contact the Minister for Sport Mr Tony Banks write here

Mr Tony Banks
Minister for Sport
Department of National Heritage
2-4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5DH

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