Crave excitement, drama and passion? Then head down to the Championship

On Saturday 9th April 2011, Scunthorpe took on the runaway leaders of the Championship (QPR) at a packed and raucous Glanford Park and deservedly beat them out of sight, 4-1. That same Saturday, Manchester United bored and ground their way to a professional but slightly un-contestlike victory against a Fulham side with a marked inferiority complex at Old Trafford. My point here is that on any given day, a side at the bottom of the Championship can turn up against the team at the top of the league, and beat them convincingly. This is not as often the case in the Premier League, where ‘smaller’ teams seem to turn up to arena’s such as Old Trafford, Eastlands and Stamford Bridge in the resigned expectation and firm belief that their only achievable ambition is to keep the scoreboard respectable.

Also, there do seem to be games in the ‘Greatest League in the World’ (copyright Richard Keys), where the priority for both managers seems to be to ensure that they do not lose the game. Too often this results in matches devoid of an attacking thrust, or moments that get the crowd roaring with approval. There is no doubt that the Premier League is of the highest quality, but for sheer craziness and goalmouth action then the Championship is a better bet. In 20-odd games at the Madejski last season, I was privileged enough to witness a 4-3, a 5-2, a 2-3 and several very entertaining draws, mostly thrillers.

Another bone I pick with some of the European Leagues is the occasional soulless apathy that descends on their stadiums, with even the Bernabeu and the Nou Camp being affected by this. The grounds in the Championship on the other hand such as Fratton Park, Cardiff’s stadium and the City ground, are usually bouncing, with fervent expectation that brings them alive. The Play-off final at Wembley was a sell-out, and such a noisy occasion that no one could doubt the support of Championship clubs.

So there you have it. I do not claim that the Championship is the best league in the world, or that it is better than the Premier League. I merely state that anyone who doubts the passion, skill and entertainment found in this league needs to go to their local ground and see how wrong they are.