In launching the new Premier League season at the end of each summer, we get our first taste of what’s to come: the Community Shield. Widely seen as the event that kicks off the new campaign, it’s a significant event in the footballing calendar. But what is the Community Shield, and what’s the point? writes David Little, a partner in our Corporate and Commercial department who increasingly handles Sports Law cases, too.
For many fans, football is all about trophies. Many clubs can only dream about the prospect of bringing home a major trophy and adding it to a glittering cabinet; however, at the world’s biggest football clubs, all managers and coaches are ultimately judged on whether they’re able to deliver silverware, whether that means consecutive domestic titles or European trophy wins.
Officially titled the “Football Association Community Shield”, the “Community Shield” takes place annually at Wembley Stadium between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup. If the same team won both the Premier League and the FA Cup, they face up against the league runners-up in this match, which is recognised by the FA and UEFA as a ‘Competitive Super Cup’.
It’s maintained the one-off match has an important purpose. As indicated in the inclusion of ‘Community’ and previously ‘Charity’ in the title, the FA-organised competition is designed to raise funds to be distributed to community initiatives and charities across the UK. The 124 clubs who competed in the FA Cup the previous season (from the first round onwards) all get a cut of the money received from ticket and programme sales from the match, and revenue from the game is also directed towards the FA’s national charity partners.
Currently, the Alzheimer’s Society is the FA’s official charity partner, but numerous organisations have benefited from the competition in years gone by.
The first ever Community Shield took place well over a century ago, in the 1908-09 season. According to this football blog, it evolved from the Sheriff of London’s Charity Shield, which was launched in 1898 as a cup contested between professional players and amateurs that raised funds for hospitals and other charities. A restructuring in 1908 created the new format, which initially pitted the Football League First Division champions (the equivalent of the Premier League champions today) against the champions of the Southern League, a major division for amateur and semi-professional players.
The first-ever Community Shield was played between First Division winners Manchester United and Southern League champions Queens Park Rangers, who eventually lost the replay (after a 1-1 draw) 4-0.
Over the years, this cup has been tweaked and changed a fair bit. 1921 was the first year in which it was contested between the First Division champions and the FA Cup champions, and while the format then fluctuated between this structure and the previous amateurs vs professionals concept, organisers eventually landed on the format we have today. Other than a few notable exceptions, since 1930 the Community Shield has been played between the FA Cup winners and the winners of English football’s top division.
There’s been some precedent for teams refusing to take part in the cup. In 1972, league winners Derby County (managed by Brian Clough) and FA Cup winners Leeds United both refused to play each other, so it was instead contested by fourth-placed Manchester City and Third Division champions Aston Villa. Back then, there was still confusion about who should play in the match if the same team won both trophies — this was cleared up in 1974, when then FA secretary Ted Croker created the current format and moved the match to Wembley Stadium.
When the Premier League was formed in 1992, the Charity Shield became a showcase match; however, just a decade later, the Charity Commission found that the FA had not met its legal obligations under charity law, by failing to provide specific details about what ticket revenue was being directed towards charity. It was at this point that the name of the event was changed the Community Shield, which remains its title to this day.
Quite reasonably the Community Shield is seen as right down the pecking order when compared with the Premier League, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and any European trophies. It is not recognised as a major trophy. The competition is seen as a “Competitive Super Cup”. Ultimately, it cannot be considered to be a major trophy, because the definition of a “major trophy” is one in which competition is open to all teams from within a league system. As the Community Shield only features a couple of sides, usually from the Premier League, it doesn’t fall into this bracket.
The Community Shield is only ever competed by Premier League winners, Premier League runners-up, and FA Cup winners. Essentially, it’s the cream of the crop in English football. Therefore, the number of sides that have competed in this game since its restructuring in 2002 is actually fairly small. A few teams have registered repeated success in the Community Shield — but there’s one that sits at the top of the pile.
The record for the most victories in the Community Shield was held by Manchester United (who at 30 appearances have also appeared in it more than any other team).
The 13-time Premier League champions have won the super cup 21 times – but failed to make it 22 after being beaten by City in a 7-6 shoot-out victory at Wembley on Saturday.
The ceremonial friendly may not have the status of other cup competitions, but as well as those wins, it’s also provided Manchester United with some memorable moments, including Eric Cantona’s first career hat-trick in 1992.
But how’s this for a football stat… since the Premier League was launched in 1992, only eight clubs have gone on to win the League title after triumphing in the Community Shield in the same season.
So, is it a poisoned chalice?
The Premier League starts on 17 August and ends on 25 May 2025 – only time will tell!
David Little is a Partner at Bishop & Sewell in our expert Corporate & Commercial team. If you would like to contact him, please quote Ref CB488 on either 07968 027343 or, 020 7631 4141 or email: company@bishopandsewell.co.uk.
The above is accurate as at 12 August 2024. The information above may be subject to change.
The content of this note should not be considered legal advice and each matter should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
