It makes English football unique - why the Football League is important too

It makes English football unique - why the Football League is important tooPublished10 April 2026136 CommentsI've written a lot in this column about my experiences as a Premier League manager, but I also have many unbelievable memories of my life in the lower leagues, having been promoted out of each division.Sometimes the rest of English football - anything outside the top flight - feels overlooked, but it shouldn't be.England is unique in world football for the strength in depth of our professional leagues. No other country can compare with the number of professional clubs we have, or the standard of football as you go down the divisions.Of course the Premier League is the centre of attention. It's world renowned and has undoubtedly captured the market of football fans not only in this country, but all over the globe.Its revenue stream attracts the top players internationally and finances the signing of the best foreign imports into our top league, more than any other country, so I understand why it gets most of the focus from abroad.At home, however, it should be different. I wonder how many of our foreign viewers would recognise that the supporter base of the 72 clubs in the English Football League [EFL] is larger than the 20 teams in the Premier League - it's certainly not reflected in the coverage they get.Why do the lower leagues attract so many die-hard fans?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lincoln City have secured promotion to the Championship with five League One matches still remainingThis week, Lincoln City became the first club in the English Football League to be promoted this season, and they are back in the second tier of English football for the first time in 65 years.It's a fantastic achievement but, over the past 10 months, their success has mainly only been followed by their own supporter base.They have been rewarded for all the money they've spent on tickets, home and away, plus travel - including journeys...