The FA Premier League Partnership was first founded in 1992 and is a league that is reserved for the top UK soccer clubs in the English system.  This distinction makes it England’s primary soccer competition.  Each year, 20 teams compete for the league championship but, oddly enough, only four teams have been crowned.  Why?  Because these four teams have dominated UK soccer since it’s inception.  These include Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea and Manchester United.  Of these four UK soccer clubs, Manchester United has been the most successful after having won the championship title on eight occasions.  The current league champions are Chelsea, who clinched their second consecutive title during the 2005-06 season.

The sport of UK soccer hasn’t always been as popular as it is today.  In fact, the 1980s marked a particularly low point for the sport.  Stadiums were crumbling, which left spectators facing poor facilities.  As attendance dropped and conditions worsened, UK soccer was banned from European competition.  By the time the 1990s rolled around, things were beginning to change and the ban formerly preventing English teams from competing was lifted.  

At the conclusion of the 1991 season, a proposal for a new league was presented and was one that would bring additional revenue into the sport.  The Founder Members Agreement, which was signed in July 1991, established the basic foundation for the FA Premier League.  The new division was given a license to negotiate broadcast and sponsorship agreements, which was a necessary part of successful competition.  In 1992, the FA Premier League was formed as a limited company and operated out of an office at the former headquarters of the Football Association.

The 1992-93 season marked the first of many competitions for the new face of UK soccer.  Due to the rules governed by the FIFA, the number of teams was reduced to twenty in 1995.  Today, the FA Premier League is a corporation that is owned by the 20 member clubs of UK soccer.  Each team is considered to be a shareholder and has the opportunity to vote on important issues, including rule changes and contracts.  Each team has the power to elect a Chairman, Chief Executive and Board of Directors to oversee their day-to-day activities.  The Football Association is not directly involved with these operations, but it does have veto power during team elections.

Today, a typical UK soccer season consists of 20 teams competing against one another on two separate occasions.  One half of the season is dedicated to home games and the second half, which repeats the same schedule as the first, entails each team playing their competitors for a second time at a different location.  For instance, the first half of a season may be comprised of home games and the second half would be played on the competitors home turf.  At the conclusion of each season, the champions are named according to points awarded throughout the season.  If a tie occurs, a one match playoff is held to determine which top four teams will qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

For additional information on the FA Premier League and/or UK soccer, fans may visit their official website at http://www.premierleague.com. Current standings, news, updates, photos, historical profiles and league news is available online.  A professional design with colorful appeal make this a very popular website among UK soccer fans.  Soccer, itself, remains a popular sport throughout the world and is celebrated in many different countries.  With legions of fans worldwide, it appears that soccer players will be kicking high for many years to come.

© The Canadian Press, 2007