The Premier League is celebrating its 30th anniversary on 15 August, looking back on the memorable moments of the last three decades on and off the pitch and thanking fans and unsung heroes connected to clubs as the Trophy embarks on a tour of England and Wales.
The first Premier League matches took place on 15 August 1992, with Sheffield United’s Brian Deane scoring the first-ever goal in what was then a 22-team division. Over the next 30 seasons, 4,488 players from 120 different nations have featured in 11,646 fixtures.
Fifty clubs have featured in the Premier League, with seven of them winning the title. Manchester United are the most successful club, having been crowned champions 13 times.
Global success
The Premier League has become the most popular football league globally thanks to the world-class players and managers who have delivered captivating football. The League is broadcast to 800million homes in 188 countries. Crowds attending matches last season were at an all-time high, with a total attendance over the 380 matches of 15.2million.
This growing popularity has enabled the League to provide a significant level of financial support throughout the game and to communities across England and Wales, which is unparalleled in professional sport.
Over the next three years, the League will continue its world-leading levels of support by contributing £1.6billion to communities and the wider game.
Increased opportunities
The PL30 campaign activity kicks off on Monday 8 August in Manchester when the Premier League Trophy begins its seven-week tour of England and Wales. The League’s all-time leading scorer Alan Shearer will see the Trophy off as it visits Premier League, EFL, non-league and women’s clubs who have benefited from Premier League investment.
Clubs across the football pyramid will name a Community Captain – one of the many people who have been a part of the Premier League’s success and had a positive impact on the lives of people connected to their football club. The tour will also visit the studios of Sky, which has broadcasted live Premier League football throughout the last 30 years.
During the tour, the League will be announcing new financial commitments to benefit fans and communities. This includes increased investment into the Premier League Fans’ Fund, with £5m available to support fan engagement projects across the top four divisions of the football pyramid. The League is also investing an additional £13.5million into the Football Foundation to create small-sided pitches in the heart of communities that need them the most. The tour will also give an opportunity to highlight new Premier League investment into women’s and girls’ football, including the Emerging Talent Centres announced earlier this summer.
Memorable moments
There will be an Iconic Stories content series launching on 8 August, focusing on 10 of the most memorable on-pitch moments of the last three decades. This includes some of the best matches, goals and title triumphs, such as Leicester City’s fairytale 2015/16 season and Sergio Aguero’s dramatic late winner to clinch the 2011/12 title for Manchester City.
Fans around the world can view one video per day at our YouTube page and are invited to share their own favourite memories of the Premier League era over social media using #PL30.
Former Premier League players Michael Owen, Jamie Redknapp, Micah Richards and Teddy Sheringham, along with West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, feature in a PL30 advert which will be broadcast on television and online. This will launch on 12 August and captures the magic of the last 30 years while looking to the future through the eyes of a young fan.
All Premier League fixtures between 13 and 22 August will be dedicated to the 30th anniversary, giving clubs an opportunity to celebrate their own history in the competition.
