Joe Cole has made perhaps the most high profile switch of the summer thus far, and should be commended for making all the right noises which are bound to warm him to the Kop before a ball has even been kicked.

Stating that Liverpool are top cats in English football will be greeted in the red half of the city as if the former Chelsea man walked into a pub in Toxteth and told the barman to put everything on his tab. Well almost. These comments will be derided in Manchester, but then Cole probably does give an iota: “When I knew Liverpool were interested, it was a no brainer because they are the biggest club in the country. Everyone knows it is a massive club – but until you sign you don’t realise quite how big.”

Strong, and uplifting words which will no doubt encourage the following Liverpool contingent, who are accustomed to a degree of doom and gloom about the club. It is an argument which frequently rages between those who back the Anfield side and bitter rivals Manchester United. “Five European cups, 18 league titles” use to be the boast, but now United have of course equalled the latter. The deliberation could even be related to the success of your 6-a-side Leisure League team, in terms of what has been won.

Joe Cole signs for England's 'biggest' club

But what actually constitutes a ‘big club’? It is a debate which is often raged between friends who have elegancies to different teams. I for one, constantly find myself on the defence of Coventry City, and had to do so significantly more whilst residing in Liverpool.

Ok, so there is no realistic comparison between Joe Cole’s new employers and the Sky Blues, apart from that the Reds use to supply Coventry with at least three points a season in the Premiership glory years, but, whilst studying in Merseyside, a friend and I devised a number of key factors which would go some way to settling the argument.

These were some of the key indicators of how to define which club is the ‘biggest’:

• The size of a clubs ground
• Their average attendances for the past few seasons, possibly five
• The clubs honours, eg, League Titles, European Honours, Domestic Cups
• A clubs significance in history, for example, founder members of the Football League
• Away support (demonstrates how hardcore following is)

The above are the bread and butter, the basics to an argument when fighting your corner. Another one I always threw into the ring, as the individual I constructed the loose list with is a Derby County supporter, thus coming out on top of most, if not all of the above, was, surprisingly, the consistency of a club in the top flight.

Whilst the majority of the clubs in the Football League have experienced a number of promotions and relegations, yo yoing through the divisions, Coventry have been admirably, to a certain extent, consistent. Recent times have been somewhat of a bore, stuck in the doldrums, with the club entering its 10th successive campaign in the Championship, without even so much as a play off adventure.

However, before relegation in 2000-01, a relatively un-fancied outfit, unless you are Eddie Jordan or Brian McFadden from Westlife, enjoyed an uninterrupted 34 year stay amongst England’s elite. During that time, to name but a few, Highfield Road became the first all seater stadium in the country, Robbie Keane became the most expensive teenager, and not forgetting, the Sky Blues triumphed in what is often regarded as one of the greatest F.A Cup Final of all time.

Anyway, if someone attempts to put down your club after your game at your 5-a-side or 6-a-side football, give a few of the above pointers a run out. If none of these work, if all else fails, ask whoever you are debating with where they are from. If, by using an entirely random example, they say Watford or Chester, and hold a season ticket at Manchester United, not only is the argument now void, but you also hold a complete, untainted, moral high ground.

Support your local team – it means a lot, lot more when, or if, they actually get some success and recognition.

Alex Z