The Premier League was born in 1992 after some challenging times for English football. Attendances had declined in the eighties and frustrations loomed large between the Football League clubs.
There were many issues that galvanised the five most glamorous clubs at the time: Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to start afresh – creating the Premier League.
The first seven years saw the new league safely airborne but we didn’t know how high it was going to fly! During Richard Scudamore’s tenure the plane has reached unprecedented heights.
When he joined as Chief Executive in November 1999 there was only one international broadcast deal and the competition was known as 'the FA Carling Premiership'.
Calculated risks
It was the season after Man Utd's brilliant treble and the Premier League was on the rise but to get to the very top it needed someone to corral the clubs into believing they could grow together, to take some calculated risks and to steer them through some serious turbulence along the way.
Richard, aided by his very talented crew, has achieved so much in the past 19 years, delivering incredible broadcast deals for the clubs, ensuring matches can be watched in 189 countries, seeing-off regulators who wanted to break-up the Premier League model, driving positive change in the Academy system and helping set up the Football Foundation.
A couple of weeks ago I flew on Etihad Airways from London to Abu Dhabi. I watched both Manchester City v Everton and Spurs v Burnley live on the plane. Who could have thought that would be possible 26 years ago when the League was formed?
One of Richard's greatest attributes has been the ability to guide the 20 clubs and despite their personal interests ensure that the whole was more important than the individual parts.
'One of Britain's biggest exports'
Today the Premier League is one of Britain's biggest exports.
The Premier League boasts the finest stadia and training grounds in the world and continues to showcase some of the greatest talents.
Richard leaves the League in an enviable healthy condition and deserves the gratitude of us all.
I am sure I speak for everyone in the English game congratulating him wholeheartedly on receiving a CBE for services to football.
"The Premier League would like to congratulate David Dein for his own honour, a very well-deserved MBE for services to football and for voluntary work in schools and prisons. David played an important role in the formation of the Premier League and has consistently supported the League's development over many years. He has also used his position to inspire young people in schools across the country, and recently launched a programme that links football clubs with prisons to support the rehabilitation of offenders."
