Premier League- the making of football memories

The English Premier League (EPL) has come around again! Since a very young age, I have followed each and every season with a great deal of enthusiasm. Whether it was finding out that my favourite team had won a match or opening packet upon packet of Match Attax (football cards), I always felt a sense of elation. As the season started last week I am eager to watch each and every game (that I am allowed to!). That feeling of excitement when your Mom or Dad says “yes you can watch the nine o’clock game today” is more joyous and exhilarating than you could ever imagine!

The EPL is played by a total of 20 teams across a 38 match format, I think that this format provides a long and interesting season giving every team more than just one shot at glory. EPL is widely considered to be the biggest sporting league on the planet, and according to Sportspedia, is watched by over four billion people. Why is it so popular? Well, they have gone to great lengths to market it. I got into the premier league via Match Attax cards, and

although I have a sporty family, the cards were the main reason for me starting to watch it because at the time I was only 4 years of age. This proves that EPL is big business. Did you

know the EPL is estimated to be worth around $17.9 billion? There are also other marketing possibilities with the league, the FPL (Fantasy Premier League) for instance has over 11 million players on the platform. Currently some of the big-names include Erling Haaland, Bukayo Saka, and Heung Min son, but back then you had names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and many more. It makes the league all the more exciting with big and up-and-coming players to watch. Kit sponsorships are also a good part of a club's revenue - in the 2019/20 season the total sales amassed to a massive £341.9 million. Also, as recently as 2022, EPL games were broadcast to around 800 million homes across 188 countries!

The great thing about the EPL is that there is always competition, be it in school with my classmates or at home with my family. It has a lot of rich history, being, in my opinion, the

biggest football league in existence. It feels good to know that despite life changing all around me some things can and will stay the same. However, I believe the EPL will have its share of development, as the game changes, for example, just recently a new rule regarding off-side was initiated to make the game more high scoring and therefore more exciting for viewers. The inspiration from my favourite players like Harry Kane who always plays giving a 100% on the field, is another thing which has had an important effect on my life. Some of my biggest role-models are players I see on the pitch.

One of my biggest hobbies when I was younger was collecting Match Attax football cards. Some of my most nostalgic memories were tearing open packets of cards and having that lottery-like feeling, expectantly looking at what I had gotten. Today I still have boxes stuffed to the brim full of cards - looking back, I think I can see why my mother didn’t want to buy any more! I also feel like the decisions you make as an individual stem from what is going on

around you. The EPL started just last week and I feel like it has definitely impacted my decisions. For example, in school I have to pick a sport to play but I was torn between football and cricket. However, football and the EPL have been a part of my whole life, therefore, I chose football.

The EPL will keep on making me feel thrilled and ecstatic. Watching the players pour their blood, sweat and tears on the pitch has inspired me to do the same. The EPL will keep on impacting my decisions and I am sure the EPL will keep providing nail-biting excitement well into the future.