Rovers and the RDS

**Poor Student** · 13/09/2006, 2:56 PM

I know Rovers played in the RDS from 1990-1996 and they won the title there in 1994. I also read they had some decent crowds there at the start. What happened while they were there? Why did they leave?

**NY Hoop** · 13/09/2006, 3:08 PM

First day McNamara said there was 22,000 at it when questioned by journalists. In reality it was about 18,000. Because of the awfulness of opening game and the, ahem, defensive abilities of the 2 sides thousands stayed away.

Second game almost 10,000 turned up and the crowds went down to about 3,000 in the first season. Very average team didnt help. Bad crowds next couple of years but went up when we won the league playing some great football.

In retrospect it was a bad idea leaving there as crowds plummeted when we did. At least we had some continuity there and it was near Milltown. Great for away fans too as without floodlights games were always sundays. The stumbling block was the high rent but some deal should have been done IMO.

One example was the last time we played boez there was 6,000 at it (a 1-0 win

) the following season in tolka despite being higher in the table there was half that crowd (a 3-2 win

)

In the end new owners came in and we were shipped to tolka

KOH

**Poor Student** · 13/09/2006, 3:11 PM

Was the rent demanded ridiculous or were the owners tight fisted? A bit like Dublin City moving further and further South (don't turn this into a Dublin City debate) it seems like Rovers jumped further and further from Milltown.

**NY Hoop** · 13/09/2006, 3:20 PM

Apparently the rent was very steep alright. New owners turned out to be clueless but they wanted a clean break from the McNamara era.

Cant see how you can compare us to something like CHF

Tolka has the most seats and oily will never turn down money.

KOH

**Poor Student** · 13/09/2006, 3:32 PM

Just mean Dublin City moved from Whitehall (their catchment area, don't laugh or take this off topic) further South to Tolka and then further South to Richmond. Rovers have gradually moved further and further from Milltown over the last 16 years.

**NY Hoop** · 13/09/2006, 3:44 PM

Well we were in Richmond a few years ago so not true. Its not intentional to move all around the city really...........

KOH

**Poor Student** · 13/09/2006, 3:50 PM

It's not really relevant anyway, it's UCD territory now.

**NY Hoop** · 13/09/2006, 3:55 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

It's not really relevant anyway, it's UCD territory now.

What is??! UCD territory? That's a new one

KOH

**Poor Student** · 13/09/2006, 4:00 PM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

What is??! UCD territory? That's a new one

KOH

Milltown, Ballsbridge etc.

**manic da hoop** · 13/09/2006, 4:05 PM

In hindsight it is perhaps very easy to say we should never have left, but when taken in the context of our final year in the RDS there was only one decision that could be made. Our landlords had promised us state-of-the-art improvements to the arena to suit our needs - this was at a time when the venue was struggling to attract business and Rovers were considered a high-profile tenant. However, once matters bgan to improve for the Society (that's the 'S' in RDS) it was clearly that we were rapidly sliding down their priority list. Hense, the demilition of the Grand Stand to be replaced with a gaping hole that hasn't (eleven years on) since been filled, coupled with the deterioration of the pitch, no sign of floodlights and very high rent. Our lease expured in 1996, and it had become all too obviuos throughout 95/96 that our landlords had no intention of renewing it.

**BohsPartisan** · 13/09/2006, 4:07 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

Milltown, Ballsbridge etc.

I was just asking the question in the Tony McDonnell Q & A if UCD should rebrand and try and market themselves to the local D4/D14 community seeing as how this community has had no team since Rovers left the RDS.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 13/09/2006, 4:11 PM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

I was just asking the question in the Tony McDonnell Q & A if UCD should rebrand and try and market themselves to the local D4/D14 community seeing as how this community has had no team since Rovers left the RDS.

I seriously think that been named after a college has influenced some people's opinions of the club.

**Poor Student** · 13/09/2006, 4:11 PM

Originally Posted by BohsPartisan

I was just asking the question in the Tony McDonnell Q & A if UCD should rebrand and try and market themselves to the local D4/D14 community seeing as how this community has had no team since Rovers left the RDS.

I think we're gradually emerging out of their shadow since they've left. I understand that in the early 80's when we were winning the cup and up near the top of the table we had average crowds of 150. We're probably one of the few clubs that have doubled our support in the last two decades. It'll probably take a few more decades before whatever paltry few people orientated towards the eL in the general area don't remember Rovers at all as a club of that part of Dublin.

**Poor Student** · 13/09/2006, 4:13 PM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

I seriously think that been named after a college has influenced some people's opinions of the club.

It doesn't affect Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Catolica or Universitatea Craiova.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 13/09/2006, 4:16 PM

Originally Posted by Poor Student

It doesn't affect Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Catolica or Universitatea Craiova.

Well it may be just a young people thing but I've been on the receiving end of a lot of jokes in school about it.

**LeixlipRed** · 13/09/2006, 10:01 PM

What sort of juvenile jokes would you let get to you? Rebranding a team in UCD's position won't work. What would you call them for one?

**DmanDmythDledge** · 13/09/2006, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by LeixlipRed

What sort of juvenile jokes would you let get to you?

They don't, I was just pointing out some people's opinion of UCD.

**gspain** · 13/09/2006, 10:18 PM

The RDS was a terrible place to watch football. You were miles form the pitch and there was always something blocking your view.

Frankly I was glad when Rovers left. I don't remember the crowds being that big apart from the huge crowd for the first game v Pats. I saw a European game there too - Gornik I think and the crowd was pretty poor.