The Community Shield has always been a strange competition for us fans. It’s sandwiched between the end of pre season and the beginning of the league proper and as a consequence it’s neither one thing or another. It’s only a real trophy if you win it, but even if you do win it you can’t celebrate because it doesn’t really count.
It tends to be played at the pace of an exhibition match leaving fans to wonder why they made the trip. As a warm up game, there is no form to count on so you can’t even be sure if the team will bother turning up and putting in a performance.
There was a time when Wembley run outs were a rare thing and perhaps then the opportunity to play there really counted for something. These days the FA have been happy to rent out Wembley Stadium to the highest bidder. I mean even Tottenham and Grimsby Town have played there.
Consequently there isn’t much glamour to the Community Shield. It’s been devalued by the FA allowing everyone to play there.
As a northern based football fan playing games at Wembley is a massive expense. It’s expensive to travel to the capital city and the non friendly kick off time renders the experience less appealing to the average fan. Best save that money in the season kitty for a game that may actually count for something.
The thing is the Community Shield is a difficult competition to fall in love with. City have the joint 5th highest number of appearances in the competition. But that doesn’t count for much when you realise the current format of league winners vs FA Cup winners was only put in place in 1974.
In 1972 Man City won the Shield beating Aston Villla 1-0. But City only appeared in the final after Derby County as league winners and Leeds as FA Cup winners declined to take part. So City played in the final despite finishing 4th against Villa who were the Third Division Champions!
There is also another reason why fans are not keen on the competition which has been swept from the history books. It used to be known as the Charity Shield but there were concerns that little money ever made it into the coffers of any charity. Following an investigation by the UK Charity Commission in 2002, where they found dubious links to charity, the FA had to relaunch the competition as the Community Shield. A name which fails to be used.
So dubious competition, a pre season run out meaning little, no celebration of victory and it’s not a real trophy! Still given so many of the hardcore fans may stay away at least it gives an opportunity for other fans to see their club in action at Wembley
Anyway despite saying all of that, I will be there. Not missing a match even a pointless one!