There are a number of key dates in the Premier League that reveal so much about England's biggest sporting tournament.

So do you know what we're going to do? We're going to take you on a whistlestop tour of the Premier League history by examining these key dates. This will help you understand the origins, growth and much more of the EPL.

Then the next time you're watching a match with your friends or shooting the breeze the day after about awesome goals and more, you'll have even more to add to the conversations.

1. The origins start in 1888

The first major top level English soccer league was the Football League First Division. It was founded in 1888. However, from the 1980s onwards, English football was marred by several controversies and had a bad name. So in the early 1990s, a change was needed…

2. 1992, the year the Premier League was born

20 February 1992 is a key date in Premier League history. It marks the day the Premier League was founded. It came about when major clubs took the big decision to leave the previous reigning league, the Football League. The Premier League was arguably the first true TV league of the UK, with Sky paying big bucks to air the games.

Back then, players got paid an average of £75,000 for their yearly wage.

3. Play dates from August through May

Not so much of a date as a time period, the Premier League typically starts every year in August and play continues until the culmination in May. Over the course of these months, 20 teams compete through a gruelling regime of 380 matches to see who can top the league table. And every year, sports fans flock to the screens to see what will happen, match day after match day.

4. 2000s: The decade of the top four

Some say that the Premier League really came into its own in the first decade of the 2000s. This is when, almost every year, four teams dominated the top four slots in the Premier League table. These teams were Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. In fact, Arsenal and Man United were in the top four every single year of that decade, while Chelsea and Liverpool appeared in all but two or three years.

Manchester United also won the Premier League five times between 2000 and 2010. However, they have not won since 2013.

5. 2022-2025 TV rights in the UK

In 2021, a new deal was announced that revealed just how much TV rights for the English Premier League are up for. Covering seasons 2022-23 until 2024-25, Sky, BT and the BBC are thought to be shelling out £5.1 billion between them for the privilege of airing the matches and highlights in the UK. As well as that, Amazon Prime has thrown in an undisclosed sum too.

This is a distinct boost from the 2018 deal (covering 2019-20 until 2021-22), which was worth a reported £4.5 billion.

This is one of those key dates in the Premier League that shows this English soccer tournament is showing no signs of dipping in popularity.

6. All the action in the 2022-23 season

If you're interested in what's happening right now in the 2022-23 season, you're certainly not alone! You can bet on the games right now at one of our favorite online sportsbooks, bet365. Use this bet365 bonus code to get a sweet sign up offer. And once you're there, you can find a fantastic range of markets and odds, along with parlays, offside bets and much more.

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