http://www.myfootygrounds.co.uk/AreaMap.asp?view=ENGLAND
Probably the most glaring gap in terms of EPL geographical presence is the complete absence of sides from Yorkshire in the top league. Yorkshiremen may be annoying, opinionated, self obsessed and Boycottlike in the worst way but I feel they ought to be represented in the top flight. Prior to the re-badging of the old First Division, Yorkshire had a healthy sprinkling of sides who were regularly up in the top division. Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday and United, Bradford City, Huddersfield were all in there while Barnsley played in the EPL in the late nineties. More recently Hull City graced the EPL for a few seasons but some even doubt that Hull is a Yorkshire side at all! Of all the absences in this group, that of Leeds United is probably the most glaring. Financial problems did send the club down to League Two at one stage but even the most rabid hater of the club probably now harbours a sneeking hope that they will again grace the top competition, this writer included. I lived up there for four years and without doubt found it one of the most intimidating places to go even as a neutral! Their rivalry with Manchester United is one of the genuine club hatreds going around and has now been on hold too long.
While there has been a strong historical presence from the south coast, at the moment we see Brighton, Porthsmouth, Southampton all playing Championship football. The latter is leading the competition at the moment so the south coast may again be up there at the top quite soon.
London has five clubs in the EPL at this time.....this is historically quite typical....Arsenal Chelsea and Spurs have been in the EPL since its change-over while Fulham and QPR are present participants who have flirted historically between the top two divisions. West Ham are presently out as are Crystal Palace and Charlton. Leyton Orient played top flight for a season while the joint prayers of the other Football clubs seem to be keeping 'no one likes us' Millwall out at the moment.
The Midlands is represented by Aston Villa, Stoke City,WBA and Wolves. The underwhelming mediocrity of the regions EPL performance cannot be overstated even when the likes of Leicester, Birmingham are up occasionally doing their stuff. As a bottom line the Midlands can at least point to it's superiority over Yorkshire teams ....4-0 at the moment!
The North East has two EPL clubs Newcastle and Sunderland. Despite a lack of trophies the area is undoubtedly passionate....add Middlesboro if they come back up and you have a region with top line support.
It is the North West that at present dominates the EPL. True they lost Blackpool and Burnley in recent years but Man Utd and Citeh, Everton and Liverpool, Bolton, Blackburn and Wigan all have an EPL place. Even Preston can claim top flight history as can Oldham.
Why then is it important that the EPL has clubs from all over? The best argument really is for balance. Even having a Welsh side Swansea in the EPL has its merits. The promotion one day of Cardiff City will add a whole new dimension to the competition but that can be dealt with when it occurs. The EPL is a competition plugged in to the world media nowdays, so some would argue regionalism is less important because so many outsiders now follow the game. There was at one stage quite a strong push to make it a British competition with Glasgow Celtic and Rangers taking part. However UEFA politics precluded this when those sides were rich and there is even less chance now they are financially struggling.
To me the map of locations for EPL clubs is unbalanced and hopefully will one day put itself right bringing those happy Yorkshire folk back into the circle. I can't wait:)
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