Earlier I was having a chat with my dad about Norwich and how it was nice to see them in the Premier League considering how few teams from our area represent and the very top of the game. It got me thinking is the reason that Norwich (and for that matter teams like Ipswich and Peterborough) don't do very well is because there aren't many rivals.
Here me out, if a player has a trial at Norwich and doesn't get into the club, the highest placed team in Norfolk other than Norwich would either be King's Lynn or Dereham, both teams being way below Conference level. That being said, if they don't get into Norwich, they aren't going to have decent development at any other club in Norfolk. So what, they have two choices, move to find more clubs, or give up.
If King's Lynn were a bigger club, a player that didn't make it at Norwich, got into King's Lynn would get a better development, and in the long run the whole area of Norfolk would be coached better, producing better players.
To put this another way, If Everton never existed (I don't need a history lesson about how we wouldn't if they didn't) would we be as successful, if the gap between the two best teams was Liverpool to Tranmere, would there have been as many decent scouse players produced?
If you look at the London area, there are many teams, quite a few in the Premier League, despite being rivals, I think the healthy competition and higher quality coaches help produce the better footballers.
What are people general thoughts on this, or is it similar where you live?
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