Sorry, We Need To Talk About 'Barclays' Nostalgia

A wave of nostalgia for the 'Barclays' era of the Premier League, and for the iconic players of that era, who have been termed Barclaysmen, swept over social media over the most recent international break.

But was English football's top flight really better in the 2000s and early 2010s, when sponsored by Barclays, or is it just misty-eyed nostalgia?

In this video, HITC Sevens explores that question, whether this is anything new, and why so many football fans yearn for the past.

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[senorpython]

Sorry Alfie, We need to talk about my mail order bride from Laos.

[rimram]

I love the obvious influence of FIFA soundtracks on the music choices in these compilations

[joggle]

If a HITC vid starts with “sorry” you know it’s going to be a banger!

[albertmillerelectricbooga]

Part of that era that I really like is how smaller clubs made the finals of the cups more often, Fulham in the UEL, Cardiff vs Portsmouth in the FA Cup final, Wigan beating City, Bradford playing Swansea when in League One, and Brum beating Arsenal

[nocunoct]

I just like the aesthetics from the "Barclays era" more. I love the old fonts. There was an air of elegance that was lost with the change to the current logos and league identity. The old lion on the sleeve patch looked imposing and intimidating.

[FinW.]

alfie could have been a model, bro was majestic 😭

[fin-edoj]

When I woke up this morning, I didn't think I'd be watching a Nick Clegg hip hop edit on a HITC Sevens video

[footballunplanned]

Football magic is seeing those streets won't forget moments. If everything is so predictable it kinda gets boring. We need that spontaneous moments and pure football emotion.

[Shortdood]

speaking of being nostaligic for Carling, i genuinely am nostalgic for the days when the League Cup was called the Carling Cup as it was during the peak Barclays era (2003-2012)

[samt]

Could you ever imagine Aston Villa’s back up goalkeeper getting pegged nowadays? That’s why there’s nostalgia for this era

[jessegarcia]

Barclays era was not better in terms of skill, but in interest and entertainment.

[MakTheNormalOne]

I'm 41 years old and lucky to have watched football from the late 80s until today. I miss the Premier League, German League, Seria A and Spanish league between 1995 - 2009. In my opinion this was the best football era.

[Creamplayer]

I enjoy reflecting on that era of the Premier League (though I hate associating it with the sponsor, no thanks), but I also enjoy watching the Premier League of today. I do get a little tired of everybody thinking that everything peaked in the years that just so happened to coincide with them being about ages 13-21.

[madridfan]

The streets will never forget that jersey patch

[yonuqu]

alfie learning to put video clips in his videos is the best thing to happen to football youtube 😂😂

[David-qqbk]

in case you find it interesting, that phenomenon has already crossed borders. here in portugal, football twitter has been flooded with “sagresmen” posts, full of nostalgia for when sagres was our league’s main sponsor (liga sagres/ liga zon sagres eras), which coincided with the barclays era

[celtic]

can’t wait until Gen Z discover Premier League Years, especially the news segments

[andrewbarbarash]

Every era said it was better (entertainment authenticity wise). Nostalgia is both powerful and distorted.

[Mjwara]

Always remember that nostalgia makes people look at the past for what they want it be.

[AntoniusTyas]

Alfie is getting even more unhinged these days and I am all for it