Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, especially in the United Kingdom, where the organized sport had its beginnings in the 19th century. Today, British soccer teams such as England's Manchester United boast international fan bases, and star players such as David Beckham, Alan Shearer, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney are among the most famous athletes in the world. In addition, national teams from the U.K. proudly represent their countries in international tournaments such as the World Cup.
League Structure
The football associations of the U.K. organize soccer clubs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland into hierarchical structures of professional and amateur leagues. In England, for example, the top professional leagues are the Premier League, consisting of the top 20 professional clubs, the Championship League, League One and League Two. England also has numerous amateur leagues comprised of dozens of clubs from towns large and small.
Promotion and Relegation
A system of promotion and relegation links the various leagues in the U.K. Under this system, the top teams in one league can be promoted to the next higher league, while the clubs at the bottom of the standings are relegated down one league. For example, at the end of a season, the top three clubs in the English Championship League standings receive promotion to the Premier League for next season, while the bottom three Premier League teams are relegated to the Championship League. Under this system, a top amateur club -- in theory at least -- could rise to the top of the Premier League, competing against top professional teams such as Liverpool and Manchester United.
FA Cup Tournaments
Soccer associations in the U.K. hold various tournaments pitting teams against each other. The Football Association, or FA Cup, is one of England's most prestigious soccer tournaments. As of 2010, Manchester United held the record for the most FA Cup wins, with 11. London clubs Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur followed with 10 wins and eight, respectively. Manchester United also had the most appearances in the FA Cup Final, with 18, followed by Arsenal with 17. Newcastle United, Everton and Liverpool each had 13 appearances. The Scottish FA Cup is Scotland's top tournament. Glasgow's Celtic has won the Scottish FA Cup a record 34 times followed by Rangers, another Glasgow team, with 33 wins.
National Teams
In addition to the many league teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each field national teams, comprised of those countries' top players. The national teams compete in tournaments such as the European Cup and compete for spots in the World Cup, the international soccer tournament held every four years. England's national team won the 1966 World Cup tournament, which the country also hosted that year. Among the U.K.'s national teams, England has appeared in 13 World Cup tournaments, Scotland in eight, Northern Ireland in three and Wales, one, according to information from the website of the International Federation of Association Football, or FIFA, the governing body of world soccer.
Richest Teams
Soccer is not only a popular sport in the U.K., but big business as well. In 2010, "Forbes" magazine released its list of the 10 wealthiest sports franchises in the world, which includes two U.K. soccer teams. Manchester United claimed the top spot on the Forbes list. In addition to its worldwide following and many F.A. Cup victories, Manchester United has a total value of more than $1.8 billion, "Forbes" reported. Arsenal, valued at $1.2 billion, held the seventh spot, according to "Forbes."
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