Take a leaf from the barcelona book

I'm posting an entire article i've read on the web that I've found interesting. I hope you'll share the writer's opinion, at least I do.

Author: Sefa Atay | Image © Action Images

?Mes Que Un Club? The four words seen all around the Camp Nou in Barcelona. Translated as ?More than a club?, it is a motto that is recognised all over the World, for Barcelona is a club that is exactly that. Not only do they have a team that has conquered everything in its path over the past 18 months but it is also a club than is ?run? by the people.

Having a season ticket at the Camp Nou does not just entitle you to watch the World?s most attractive team strutting their stuff every other week; you also become one of the club?s 156,000 owners. Approximately every five years an election is held among the socios to elect a new club president. The winning candidate installs a board of directors and determines the club policies.

All of this is possible because Barcelona is a club who do not seek to make profit. Until recently, the club didn?t even have a shirt sponsor. Any logos on the shirt are seen to detract attention from the aesthetic pleasure of the game. In fact, Barca only has Unicef on their shirts because they agreed to donate money to the charity. Just over £1million a year to be precise. Quite remarkable given the money they could have made if they had accepted a deal from any other company.

That is simply the Barca way.

A lesson for the Premier League? Most definitely. Could it happen here? Most definitely not.

The one thing Barcelona thrives on is tradition. This is a club who still go by the traditions that were installed when the club formed in 1899. In those days, the mere thought of advertising, merchandising and high wages was not even considered. The Premier League has gone past the point of no return and is seemingly rocketing towards a level of financial complexity that has never been seen before. Similarly to the US, sports clubs, or ?franchises? are seen, like any other business, as an opportunity to make money. Often forgetting the importance of the people who pack the stadiums week in week out to provide this revenue. The problem is, OUR club?s are being sold to people whose sole aim is to reap rewards for themselves.

To be a part of Barcelona, as a player, fan or board member provides enough satisfaction in itself. At least, that?s what they believe, and to be honest it is probably true.

A little show of appreciation to the people at Mansfield football club who, a few weeks ago, set up a ?pay what you like? day for their match against Gateshead. Over 7000 people turned up, 4000 more than the average attendance, to witness their club in action.

It may only be small fry compared to the likes of Barcelona, but it goes to show that there still are some people in the British game who appreciate the value of their fans.