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 ...

Shamrock Rovers supporter’s clubs have announced a boycott of all Bohemians merchandise and goods amid concerns over the threat their club faces from the Dalymount outfit.

The action follows closely on the heels of similarly effective action at Derry City last week, when hundreds of Hoops fans forsook the pleasure of a nine hour round trip to the North to make the arduous journey to their nearest television instead.

A statement posted on the club’s website states: ...

Wearing my Derry City shirt over here in England I do get the odd, er…odd look. I’ve been mistaken for a Stoke City, a Sunderland, and an Inter Milan fan, among others on occasion (home, home, and away kits respectively). We play ‘jumpers-for-goalposts’ (or Finn Harps) level football in the park at the weekend and while it’s can be a great way of breaking the ice with people, everyone spent last weekend asking me how I felt about losing the FA Cup to Manchester City.

Sadly, it’s the ...

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 ...

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 ...

Hi All,

This Saturday 24th July, the Airtricity League will host a Fans Forum in Abbotstown from 10am sharp.

The Forum will give Airtricity League fans the opportunity to learn more about the management of the League & offer feedback.

The Forum will include a presentation by Airtricity League Director, Fran Gavin followed by presentations from Licensing, Finance, Marketing & Communications.

We see the Fans Forum as a really important ...

Originally Posted by Eminence Grise

Long time lurker, finally getting round to contributing…


The nub of the issue is that clubs in Ireland are not solely in competition with leagues or clubs across the water. Nor are they solely in competition with the GAA and IRFU. Like it or not, football has become another part of the entertainment industry, and football fans, whether we like it or not, are consumers. But too many consumers want the best comfort, price and entertainment for the least possible effort.

...

What better way to bounce back from a rare defeat than the visit of the league champions. Monaghan United were somewhat unlucky to see their excellent recent run come to and end on Friday last against Derry City but Mick Cooke’s men have no time to lick their wounds as they face Bohemians this evening in the second round of the EA Sports League Cup at Gortakeegan.

As well as rising to third in the Airtricity First Division table in recent weeks, United have impressed in the League ...