FAI Invites First Division Expressions of Interest

[BonnieShels]

Aye but sure there are a few clubs that could be playing on the moon and get better crowds

Sure that was all Blatter's plan.

[disgruntled]

Sure that was all Blatter's plan.

The Moon would be the perfect place for Blatter

[nigel-harps1954]

Cabinteely expect their first game to be a sell out and releasing limited tickets to Wexford

[vinnie]

Cabinteely expect their first game to be a sell out and releasing limited tickets to Wexford

Nigel, I think Stradbrook where Cabinteely are playing only holds 500, Cabinteely have about 900 players in their schoolboy setup so if you get a quarter of them and their Da's to go that'd fill it.
Upside though is that there's a Bar in the Rugby club and a big window to watch the match out of

[Acornvilla]

Nigel, I think Stradbrook where Cabinteely are playing only holds 500, Cabinteely have about 900 players in their schoolboy setup so if you get a quarter of them and their Da's to go that'd fill it.
Upside though is that there's a Bar in the Rugby club and a big window to watch the match out of

Set up a TV in the pub showing the match and it'd be a sell out.

[TheBoss]

Aaron Shanahan, a player many of you may know from his various journeys around the league, now first team manager at Parkvilla as well as goalkeeper for Ards, believes Parkvilla should aim for the League of Ireland within the next 10 years.

http://navanecho.com/shanahan-villa-...ue-of-ireland/

[jbyrne]

Nigel, I think Stradbrook where Cabinteely are playing only holds 500, Cabinteely have about 900 players in their schoolboy setup so if you get a quarter of them and their Da's to go that'd fill it.
Upside though is that there's a Bar in the Rugby club and a big window to watch the match out of

1,400 at last Fridays game. there was one end with no one, the seats were pretty empty and the far side from the cabinteely side was sparse enough. could probably hold 1800

[Dodge]

The announced the capacity last week at just over 1,600 so not too far off

[Charlie Darwin]

Aaron Shanahan, a player many of you may know from his various journeys around the league, now first team manager at Parkvilla as well as goalkeeper for Ards, believes Parkvilla should aim for the League of Ireland within the next 10 years.

http://navanecho.com/shanahan-villa-...ue-of-ireland/

That's Aaron Shanahan of "sorry lads, I was ****" fame. Never forget.

[BoyInGreen]

I've been thinking over the last few days that a pure pyramid system is extremely unlikely to come to pass within 20 years. I think that a more realistic alternative would be to look to Brazil, where in Serie D, the top clubs in the State Championships not already in the National pyramid compete against each other in a Champions League style format. I think that something similar could work here, as clubs could continue to be big fish in their district leagues while competing against the best in the country. Obviously there would need to be changes to make it viable for amateur clubs to compete, such as each club playing only once, promotion to the LOI being optional and dependent on meeting the licencing criteria, and the group stage and early rounds being regionalised, possibly on a North-South basis. In detail, I propose the following:

FAI Trophy (now FAI Intermediate Cup)
Group stage-32 clubs in 8 groups of 4 4 groups in North and South pools., each club plays once, top 2 qualify for knockout stages and also for FAI Cup.
Round of 16- National pool,Group winners play at home
QF-Open draw, home team gets to nominate pitch other than their own, winners qualify for EA Sports Cup
SF-Open draw, neutral venue
F-held in Aviva Stadium, winner qualifies for LOI if interested, subject to meeting licencing criteria, FAI could subsidise entry fee for a number of years. Immunity from relegation for a set period also possible.

FAI Vase (now FAI Junior Cup)-Straight one-legged knockout
Round 1- 64 teams,Open draw, pooled in four groups
Round 2- 32 teams,Open draw, pooled in four groups
Round 3- 16 teams,Open draw, pooled in two groups
Round 4- 8 teams+ 8 third-placed teams from FAI Trophy,Round 3 winners get home advantage, pooled in two groups, winner qualify for FAI Cup
QF-Open draw, home team gets to nominate pitch other than their own
SF-Open draw, neutral venue
F-held in Aviva Stadium as curtain-raiser to FAI Trophy final

Qualification
Region FAI Trophy FAI Vase
Leinster Senior League 6 12
Munster Senior League 4 7
Ulster Senior League 1 2
Dublin/Meath Sunday 3 6
Dublin/Meath Saturday 3 6
Kildare / Wicklow / Kilkenny / Carlow / Wexford / Combined Counties 2 4
Galway 1 2
Cork Junior 2 5
Limerick 2 4
Tipperary & WWEC 2 4
Kerry/Clare/Desmond 2 3
Waterford 1 2
Mayo/Sligo/Roscommon 2 3
Ulster Junior 1 4


Each region gets the same national knockout round berths as it currently does, with roughly one-third allocated to the Trophy and roughly two-thirds allocated to the Vase. This ensures that both Intermediate and Junior clubs get to qualify for the Trophy and thus play for a chance to participate in the LOI.

I am of the opinion that this is probably the best realistic way forward for the amateur game which ensures that all regions are represented and will probably improve the standard of football in this country. This may also lead to more grassroots being unearthed by LOI clubs, as comparisons between Intermediate and Junior level will be much easier to make than currently. It is unlikely that an A Championship will be set up again in the current climate, but I think that this idea is a sustainable substitute for this.

[citybone]

I like it but you are still leaving some of League's out, West Cork League for example, although they could have pre qualifying with the Cork Junior league (aul?)

[BoyInGreen]

That's right, West Cork were included with the AUL, as was the B&SL. Essentially, the regional groups for qualifying for the national stages of the FAI cups will be the same for this system.

[Nesta99]

I've been thinking over the last few days that a pure pyramid system is extremely unlikely to come to pass within 20 years.

Do you want Legendz to spontaneously combust?

I like the thinking and a good bit of work in mapping out how it could work. Id say that there was more thought put in to the above than the powers that be have put in to football structures for the last 10 years combined. You should mail this off to Fran Gavin even if its just to see if you get a reply!

[Longfordian]

From: Fran.Gavin@fai.ie
To: BoyInGreen@foot.ie

Jesus Christ, go out and get laid will you.

Regards,

Fran

[patrickccfc]

From: Fran.Gavin@fai.ie
To: BoyInGreen@foot.ie
RE: I've a bone to pick with you Fran

Jesus Christ, go out and get laid will you.

Regards,

Fran

[legendz]

Do you want Legendz to spontaneously combust?

I like the thinking and a good bit of work in mapping out how it could work. Id say that there was more thought put in to the above than the powers that be have put in to football structures for the last 10 years combined. You should mail this off to Fran Gavin even if its just to see if you get a reply!

Unfortunately, my once favoured pyramid is unlikely to be built!
The lack of a national vibrancy about the league is disappointing. Obviously it's not something those within LoI communities will be too bothered about. The most disappointing this is that the FAI don't have any blueprints or ambitious plans to get teams involved from more areas. I've heard of some Premier clubs wanting some form of Reserve League. It's something aspiring clubs could get involved with as well. It's a pity those Premier clubs aren't having their calls for such a league answered.