Recent Blogs Posts

I attended the Soccerex European Forum in Manchester in April and hope to bring you a series of pieces on some of the takeways for the Irish game from the week.

Gianni Infantino, UEFA General Secretary, revealed at the conference that UEFA had agreed a deal with the European Broadcasting Union (“EBU”) for the televised rights for the Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018 qualifiers. Interesting, but what is the relevance for Irish football fans?

RTÉ is one of over thirty ...

Both sides of Manchester will be celebrating this weekend as both United and City clinched the top prizes in English domestic football. For them and, indeed, all British clubs, players and fans, it's almost time for a well-earned breather before the pre-season matches, transfer speculation and season 2011-12 preparations get fully underway in July.

On this side of the water through, we're just into a dozen games into the season with plenty to come, not least the inevitable trials ...

We’ve all heard it; like a particularly tone-dead, annoying, half-witted cuckoo heralding the Spring, it recurs with depressing regularity, often around this time of the year as the Premiership season nears it’s conclusion.

Yes, it’s that hoary old chestnut, “I don’t go to League of Ireland games because the fans are too cliquey and they won’t make someone outside their gang feel welcome.” League of Ireland fans “look down from a self-appointed pedestal,” denigrating those foolhardy ...

Occasionally, just occasionally, I regret being a League of Ireland fan. It can be downright torture. Most people living in Dublin recognise the infamous rivalry between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers, even if they have little interest in the League. Bohs-Rovers derbies are greeted by certain tabloid newspapers as the coming of the apocalypse in sporting terms. When violence rears its head on these occasions, it receives blanket coverage. You try to hold your head up as people quiz you about the ...

This is the inaugural Foot.ie Advert / Short Film Competition and below are the entries to it. The inception of it was a bit rough and ready, with the guidelines and rules being conceived within a very short time frame. It was a good bench mark though and it should give people a good idea of what to expect every November and even give them a whole season to gather footage and content for an entry into the 2012 Competition.

So, enjoy the clips and watch this space !!!
...

From the FHFC programme for the league game against Cork City.

Harping On

Last weekend was not a good one to be a Harps fan. Apart from being heavily beaten in Waterford, our beloved neighbours regained the initiative at the top of the division as they won easily and Monaghan were beaten in Cork. And then of course there was the nightmare in the Aviva Stadium. As these things go, the train did not so much come off the tracks as fell off a bridge on to a hospital ...

“It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone.”
A. Bartlett Giamatti

Strange things, leads. Like an investment banker checking his bank balance, you can never be too far in front. And when things go the other way, any lead at all will inevitably ...

Finn Park will play host to a special visitor on Friday 27th August when the Henri Delaunay Trophy will be on view at the ground. The Henri Delaunay Trophy is awarded to the European Football Champions, with Spain the current holders having won the Euro 2008 Tournament two years ago.

The trophy will be on display before and during the FAI Ford Cup fixture between Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers at Finn Park on 27th August. An opportunity to have your photograph taken with the trophy will ...

Athlone Town FC is to host a free open day at Athlone Town Stadium, Lissywoollen on Sunday next.

A memorial match in honour of the late Brideswell resident John (Sean) Gately will be held as part of an Athlone Town FC Open Day on Sunday next, August 15, in Athlone Town Stadium. John passed away suddenly in July 2009 aged just 52.

Cam Celtic, of which John was a founder member, will take on Willow Park in a masters (Over 35) friendly at 2pm. The game, organised ...

Finn Harps Football Club are delighted to announce that they will be hosting a Match against the Celtic Legends on Friday 13th August, KO 7.30pm.

The Match will be followed by “An Evening with the Celtic Legends” including interviews with the Bhoys and live Music taking place in Jacksons Hotel from 10.30pm to late.

Celtic, who will be captained by Tommy Boyd, will also include Frank McAvennie, Reggie Blinker, Darren Jackson and Tommy Johnson in their travelling party. ...