2017 Fixtures

**sbgawa** · 22/12/2016, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Its like Christmas morning .....
Please Santa give me bohs for first home match

Thanks Santa ...First home match Boh's : ))

**sbgawa** · 22/12/2016, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Harps v Cork
Bohs v Derry
Galway v Drogheda
Pats v Bray
Limerick v Sligo

Did you forget about us ??
Dundalk v Rovers

**brendy_éire** · 22/12/2016, 12:16 PM

Some we're going with a mixture of Friday and Sunday matches then. Bit unusual.

**nigel-harps1954** · 22/12/2016, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Did you forget about us ??
Dundalk v Rovers

That game doesn't count.

Interesting few things to note. Derry play Sundays at 2:30pm until April, and then Fridays at 7:45pm until July where they switch back to Sundays at 2:30pm.

FAI Cup first round is in August. 1st Round: w/e 13th August. 2nd Round: w/e 27th Aug. Quarter: w/e 10th September. 3 rounds of the cup within a month and the league cup final a week later. Ridiculous bit of planning just to please junior/intermediate clubs in winter seasons.

Still two sets of midweek fixtures.

Summer break still lasts two weeks from 3rd-15th June.

**holidaysong** · 22/12/2016, 12:24 PM

A round of fixtures on St. Patrick's day March 17th. I assume most clubs will move these?

I can't remember ever being at a game on St. Patrick's day before, there ever been games on this day?

**harps1954** · 22/12/2016, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Summer break still lasts two weeks from 3rd-15th June.

It's just the one weekend without games though (10th June). Games on 2nd June and 16th June, so in theory it's just a one week break. Last year it was two full weekends without a game.

**Lim till i die** · 22/12/2016, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by patrickccfc

Hoping for limerick away..

Close Enough.

I'm liking our first three fixtures nine points at the end of those will send a message out

**pineapple stu** · 22/12/2016, 12:54 PM

Three down, one up confirmed too.

**ForzaHoop** · 22/12/2016, 1:01 PM

That is DAFT ! ! !

**Mr A** · 22/12/2016, 1:07 PM

So it seems the PCA are calling the shots now..

Following a proposal from the Premier Clubs Alliance (PCA), the Board of the Football Association of Ireland has ratified the SSE Airtricity League switching to a 10-team, two division structure from the 2018 season.

So who voted and which way? If the vote was 5-5, did both Limerick and Drogheda later vote for the ten team premier to carry the vote? And how can it possibly be fair to exclude D1 clubs from voting on a new structure?

And with the new season not far away and most clubs with plans in place- the landscape is changed radically.

Regardless of people's views on what the structure should be, this whole thing absolutely stinks.

**Philosophizer** · 22/12/2016, 1:22 PM

Yea the fact that D1 clubs weren't involved in discussions is mad.

The Sun says that Prem div clubs were "broadly in favour" of the restructure.

I'd love to know how this will affect prize money. Previously the 11th and 12th placed teams in the prem received 17k each. Will that money now be moved to the 1st Div??

**centre mid** · 22/12/2016, 1:23 PM

Very odd to change the structure with a few weeks to go before season kicks off. Although in keeping with how the FAI have administered the league generally.

**blueblood** · 22/12/2016, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

So it seems the PCA are calling the shots now..

So who voted and which way? If the vote was 5-5, did both Limerick and Drogheda later vote for the ten team premier to carry the vote? And how can it possibly be fair to exclude D1 clubs from voting on a new structure?

And with the new season not far away and most clubs with plans in place- the landscape is changed radically.

Regardless of people's views on what the structure should be, this whole thing absolutely stinks.

Surely to god either Longford/Wexford or Limerick/Drogheda had a say in this too, I doubt 6 or 7 clubs want only 10 teams but you'd never know.

**Mr A** · 22/12/2016, 2:06 PM

What I heard was Limerick and Drogheda were to be consulted. So either both voted for, or one did and the other abstained. This all needs to be made clear. Quite why the PCA get to choose at all is beyond me.

**Jofspring** · 22/12/2016, 2:45 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

What I heard was Limerick and Drogheda were to be consulted. So either both voted for, or one did and the other abstained. This all needs to be made clear. Quite why the PCA get to choose at all is beyond me.

We need confidential transparency.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 22/12/2016, 2:48 PM

This effects all 20 clubs. Obviously I hope Limerick had a say, but if you're in the LOI you shouldn't be waiting to hear what the Premier clubs are recommending, whether you're Cabinteely or Wexford.

A ten team league isn't going to destroy the league by any means, but it won't make it better by any means either. The First Division will obviously benefit, and I won't begrudge any club in that mess of a tier the opportunity to make a bit more money with more games and potentially higher profile opposition.

But none of this goes anywhere close to solving the fundamental problem that the FAI won't even acknowledge in their reports, namely that we have reached a point where the League of Ireland is an unattractive prospect to every viable club that exists outside of it, and nothing is going to be done to rectify this. With this alteration, the FAI are signaling that they don't think this is an avenue even worth considering anymore.

Looking at the last two weeks briefly: Galway/Limerick and Harps/Bohs. Could be two very important games for those clubs with three going down.

**Charlie Darwin** · 22/12/2016, 3:24 PM

Originally Posted by Mr A

So it seems the PCA are calling the shots now..

You know as well as the rest of us that the FAI call the shots. The statement is worded so the FAI can deflect the blame when the inevitable backlash comes.

**Martinho II** · 22/12/2016, 4:58 PM

Originally Posted by Brusher

Any word on the Athlone Town situation ? The silence has been very worrying.

seen somethin in one of the papers that Athlone Town are now up to date along with I think Waterford in what was owed last season. Doenst say though which Athlone Town will be though?

**placid casual** · 22/12/2016, 8:07 PM

Are dundalk gonna have that $hithole of a ground upgraded before we visit for the 1st game in the season, or are they too busy giving their money away to the likes of kilduff & rogers with new contracts?

**Mr A** · 22/12/2016, 8:50 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

You know as well as the rest of us that the FAI call the shots. The statement is worded so the FAI can deflect the blame when the inevitable backlash comes.

Yeah, seems like maybe a classic divide and conquer move. The PCA need to come out and make their position and the details of the vote 100% clear or their credibility is gone. I always thought it was stupid and indeed a bit suspicious that an organisation was set up that represented only some clubs.

The majority of clubs do not want this change and they need to speak with one voice to oppose it.