Big Games Ahead in Thomond Park

[joeSoap]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/uefa-green-light-to-bring-soccer-stars-to-thomond-1570584.html

This would be great.

[LK37oldskool]

Not worth a damn if Limerick are not involved.They need some imput so they can get a cut from it. Nice idea,lets hope we get something out of it.

[Monkfish]

This means nothing to me......oooooooh VIENNA! :)

[sadloserkid]

Not worth a damn if Limerick are not involved.They need some imput so they can get a cut from it. Nice idea,lets hope we get something out of it.

Dead right. No reason that we shouldn't be invited on board either.

[Lim till i die]

If we're not invited on board for this I will go to Thomond Park for a few AIL games, you know when the place is deserted, and I will personally pi$$ on every third seat.

[gael353]

They need permission from the FAI and Limerick for this to go ahead. A private company offered this to Thomond park LTD and they went to the media before checking out was it permittable with the governing authorities

[Lim till i die]

They need permission from the FAI and Limerick for this to go ahead. A private company offered this to Thomond park LTD and they went to the media before checking out was it permittable with the governing authorities

Why do Thomond Park need permission from the FAI and (chuckle) Limerick to host exhibition games in their own ground??

[fc hammer]

[
The last time a high-profile soccer game was played in the stadium was in 1981 when Limerick United hosted Spurs in a friendly which the visitors won 5-2, with Glenn Hoddle scoring four times for the Londoners.


didnt chelsea and man city play there in the summer of 1991??

[Lim till i die]

didnt chelsea and man city play there in the summer of 1991??

They sure did

And what about Harchester United?!?! :p

[L37Ultra]

If we're not invited on board for this I will go to Thomond Park for a few AIL games, you know when the place is deserted, and I will personally pi$$ on every third seat.

I think that would be a better idea if the place was full :D

That's 7000 seats by the way

[osarusan]

didnt chelsea and man city play there in the summer of 1991??

I watched Man City beat Limerick 4-1 in about 1991 in Thomond.
Barry Ryan gave us the lead after about 90 seconds, after Brian Swords dispossessed a Man City defender and played him in.

No memory of Chelsea playing there. I think we played Stoke the same season, but don't remember where.

[harpin]

Chelsea played there after city alright remember Le Saux getting abused everytime he took a throw at the Balla side

[gspain]

[
The last time a high-profile soccer game was played in the stadium was in 1981 when Limerick United hosted Spurs in a friendly which the visitors won 5-2, with Glenn Hoddle scoring four times for the Londoners.


didnt chelsea and man city play there in the summer of 1991??

Both Chelsea and Man city played Limerick there. Stoke played at Jackman. the Tottenham game was 6-2 to Tottenham as well. Hoddle was unbelievable that day.

[joeSoap]

I used to babysit for John O'Dwyer (RIP) who was secretary of the club at the time so he brought me out to the Shannon Shamrock after the game (where Spurs were staying) and I got all the autographs...Hoddle, Hughton, Tony Galvin, Steve Archibald, Graham Roberts, Steve Perryman, Mickey Hazard, Garth Crooks...it was great for a kid to do that back then.

The West Ham game to re-open Jackman in 1989 or 1990....Liam Brady was with the Hammers. Miserable night, very foggy if I recall.

[harpin]

The West Ham game to re-open Jackman in 1989 or 1990....Liam Brady was with the Hammers. Miserable night, very foggy if I recall.

Couldnt see a thing in the second half

[Dodge]

Infairness to the FAI they've refused to allow these types of things happen with LOI teams involvement. Derry and Pats were involved in pre-season tournaments in Lansdowne (Derry with Newcastle, Celtic and PSV - Pats with Lazio, Liverpool and Leeds) in 1997 and 1998. A couple of years ago Shels and Pats were involved with Leeds and Aston Villa in tolka too. If Limerick aren't involved, they might nominate league of cup winners (or someother bull**** qualifier)

[gspain]

Infairness to the FAI they've refused to allow these types of things happen with LOI teams involvement. Derry and Pats were involved in pre-season tournaments in Lansdowne (Derry with Newcastle, Celtic and PSV - Pats with Lazio, Liverpool and Leeds) in 1997 and 1998. A couple of years ago Shels and Pats were involved with Leeds and Aston Villa in tolka too. If Limerick aren't involved, they might nominate league of cup winners (or someother bull**** qualifier)

Think you are spot on here. I can't see the FAI sanctioning this without an Irish team in it ( a real one :D). It would be great if we were included.

[joeSoap]

How about an Eircom League Selection?

[jebus]

The West Ham game to re-open Jackman in 1989 or 1990....Liam Brady was with the Hammers. Miserable night, very foggy if I recall.

First ever live game I went to

My memories of it are as harpin says, still loved it and met Liam Brady afterwards :)

[LK37oldskool]

I still think Limerick FC need to have some involvement.Was'nt it mentioned earlier in the season that there was going to be a game against Celtic? there was a thread about this i think. It would be a good source of revenue for the club.

[joeSoap]

If Limerick FC are to have any involvement then they will have to work at it and become involved in it just like the rest of the interested parties. Thomond Park Ltd is a company looking to make money from this type of venture. Limerick FC have no God given right to any proceeds from such a tournament if it takes place. Why would they have? The opportunity would be there for Limerick FC to organise their own tournament, maybe look at renting Thomond Park for it, paying the exorbitant insurance it would cost, incurring the massive security and organisational overheads that go with it but I can't see any of that happening. At this moment in time the club doesn't have a pot to p1ss in and has no right to start making demands for involvement or proceeds from something they didn't think up, or put anything into.

[gspain]

If Limerick FC are to have any involvement then they will have to work at it and become involved in it just like the rest of the interested parties. Thomond Park Ltd is a company looking to make money from this type of venture. Limerick FC have no God given right to any proceeds from such a tournament if it takes place. Why would they have? The opportunity would be there for Limerick FC to organise their own tournament, maybe look at renting Thomond Park for it, paying the exorbitant insurance it would cost, incurring the massive security and organisational overheads that go with it but I can't see any of that happening. At this moment in time the club doesn't have a pot to p1ss in and has no right to start making demands for involvement or proceeds from something they didn't think up, or put anything into.

I was talking to somebody I know involved in Dundee United. They had no say in the running of the Barcelona game. They provided a team and made their ground available. They got a fee but the organsiers did everything else including sell tickets etc. They made very little money out of it but it was an opportunity to play Barcelona.

Limerick would be made to take this on and try and run it.

If a professional sports management company wants to run the event they need FAI approval. I can't see the FAI sanctioning a tournament involving foreign teams only in an Irish city. Cork or Galway may get asked instead but there will have to be Irish invovlement.

[Battery Rover]

I can't see the FAI sanctioning a tournament involving foreign teams only in an Irish city.


But if they are looking at holding the FAI Cup final in Thomond Park next season it might be part of the deal.

[LK37oldskool]

If Limerick FC are to have any involvement then they will have to work at it and become involved in it just like the rest of the interested parties.


Not going to argue with you on those points but i think it would be a disgrace if Cork or Galway were involved and Limerick were left looking on. I'm sure the club will do their upmost to have some involvement. I think public exposure would be as important as revenue in a situation like this.

[joeSoap]

I think an Eircom League representative side with local representation would be the best way to go with this, and Limerick FC involved in its promotion. However, the club will have to prove its ability to work on such a project, and at the moment thats unlikely.

[Lim till i die]

Nobody wants to watch that.

So small-time, wouldn't be any point.

[L37Ultra]

Nobody wants to watch that.

So small-time, wouldn't be any point.

They would if they were playing the likes of Barcelona though.

[joeSoap]

And if the Eircom League selection was managed by whoever the Limerick FC manager at the time is, with guaranteed on-field representation.

[joeSoap]

Nobody wants to watch that.

So small-time, wouldn't be any point. What sort of comment is that? At the moment, the club IS 'small time' as you put it. It probably cant get any more 'small time'. Involvement is such a tournament would increase the portfolio of the club enormously. Participation by the club in its own right would be a non-starter. We're quite simply not good enough, like it or not. And you can be sure that if full strength squads from big name clubs come to town then people will go.

[GenerationXI]

How about an Eircom League Selection?

I do like this idea. Everyone wins.




Not going to argue with you on those points but i think it would be a disgrace if Cork or Galway were involved and Limerick were left looking on. I'm sure the club will do their upmost to have some involvement. I think public exposure would be as important as revenue in a situation like this.

I don't get this at all to be honest. Limerick have no rights whatsoever where this is concerned. Proximity to Thomond Park shouldn't count for anything. By that logic any Junior club who happens to play nearer to Thomond than Jackman (get out your map and a protractor) gets to play before we do. I would rather see a representative side.

If there was to be a tournament then it could be fairly interesting to have a LOIPrem. XI and a LOIFirst Div. XI in the mix. Whatever about the rest of you more cultured fans, I'd definitely be interested in something like that.

If anything does go on in Thomond, the aim will be to create revenue for the company. In which case, we shouldn't expect too much.

[Dodge]

It won't be a LOI selection. The games would be at the height of the season with possible euro games for Pats, bohs, Sligo and Derry. They won't give up their players for a friendly that doesn't benefit them.

These tournaments need FAI sanction. The FAI have every right to impose a couple of conditions on Thomand before allowing the games to happen. One of these should absolutely be the inclusion of your club in any of the plans.

[Lionel Ritchie]

I do like this idea. Everyone wins.



I don't get this at all to be honest. Limerick have no rights whatsoever where this is concerned. Proximity to Thomond Park shouldn't count for anything. By that logic any Junior club who happens to play nearer to Thomond than Jackman (get out your map and a protractor) gets to play before we do. I would rather see a representative side.

If there was to be a tournament then it could be fairly interesting to have a LOIPrem. XI and a LOIFirst Div. XI in the mix. Whatever about the rest of you more cultured fans, I'd definitely be interested in something like that.

If anything does go on in Thomond, the aim will be to create revenue for the company. In which case, we shouldn't expect too much.


I profoundly disagree ...and I used play for Balla.

I said on the other thread - we wouldn't be even discussing league XIs or whatever if this was happening at Turners Cross.

So what if it's an accident of geography? It should be a bit of good fortune for Limerick and might help increase revenue, support base, profile etc...

The company organising this thing knows well also that this town is teeming with bandwagon jumpers who will go along if it's pitched right.

[citybone]

It won't be a LOI selection. The games would be at the height of the season with possible euro games for Pats, bohs, Sligo and Derry. They won't give up their players for a friendly that doesn't benefit them.

These tournaments need FAI sanction. The FAI have every right to impose a couple of conditions on Thomand before allowing the games to happen. One of these should absolutely be the inclusion of your club in any of the plans.

so have the Representative side of players not playing in Europe from the premier division. that would mean cork city would benefit most:) though it could be sides not in settanta cup either.

[LK37oldskool]

.



"I don't get this at all to be honest. Limerick have no rights whatsoever where this is concerned. Proximity to Thomond Park shouldn't count for anything. By that logic any Junior club who happens to play nearer to Thomond than Jackman (get out your map and a protractor) gets to play before we do. I would rather see a representative side. "

Surely as the Senior team in the city they would get consideration.i never said any thing about proximity to the ground.Not much point in having a tournament without some Irish representation. Any financial reward is welcome no matter how small but i think exposure is far more important.Without some Irish/limerick involvment i would'nt be bothered to be honest.

[joeSoap]

It won't be a LOI selection. The games would be at the height of the season with possible euro games for Pats, bohs, Sligo and Derry. They won't give up their players for a friendly that doesn't benefit them.

Mick Devine (Cork City); Neil Horgan (Cork City) Dan Murray (Cork City); John Fitzgerald (Galway United) Danny Murphy (Cork City). Wayne Colbert (Limerick FC), Tommy Barrett (Limerick FC), Joe Gamble (Cork City) Joseph Ndo (Shamrock Rovers); Jason Hughes (Limerick FC) Derek Glynn (Galway United).

Subs: Barry Murphy, Aidan Price, Colin Healy.....

And I included none of the Drogheda palyers who might be transferred such as Zayed, Robinson, Gartland etc, or Jay O'Shea from Galway.

That side above might not be great, but it would be competitive. None of them will be involved in European football next season.

[Dodge]

Won't be that competitive as they won't have any training time together. But thats a complete non issue IMO

Even the clubs with players mentioned wouldn't like to give up players in the middle of the season for absolutely no gain.

[osarusan]

Even the clubs with players mentioned wouldn't like to give up players in the middle of the season for absolutely no gain.

Limerick's gain is the league's gain Dodge. Time and time again we've seen clubs freely give their time and effort in order that others may benefit. We're lucky not to have the internal squabbling that plagues other leagues. We all move on together or we dont move on at all. Whay can't you see it that way Dodge?

[Dodge]

How would it be Limerick's gain? I'm the one advoating that there MUST be a local presence. I just don't think a LOI selection is feasible

[osarusan]

How would it be Limerick's gain? I'm the one advoating that there MUST be a local presence. I just don't think a LOI selection is feasible

It was (maybe a poor attempt at) sarcasm Dodge. I agree completely that a LOI selection won't, and imo shouldn't happen.

[Dodge]

Oh right ted... missed that.

[Lim till i die]

What sort of comment is that? At the moment, the club IS 'small time' as you put it. It probably cant get any more 'small time'. Involvement is such a tournament would increase the portfolio of the club enormously. Participation by the club in its own right would be a non-starter. We're quite simply not good enough, like it or not. And you can be sure that if full strength squads from big name clubs come to town then people will go.

The club has nothing to gain stature wise by providing a few token selections for a "LoI Select XI" against Barcas youth side.

To even suggest an increase in profile as a result of such a farce is nonsense.

[joeSoap]

The club has nothing to gain stature wise by providing a few token selections for a "LoI Select XI" against Barcas youth side.

To even suggest an increase in profile as a result of such a farce is nonsense.

To suggest that it is nonsense and a farce is in my opinion, and to use your own terminology, 'small-time mentality'.

Firstly, I'm not suggesting a tournament involving Barca's youth side. I'm not even suggesting Barca at all. I think that a quadrangular tournament involving Celtic, a premiership club with an Irish interest; ie Sunderland or Reading if they get promoted and Ajax together with a LOI select would be a fantastic draw. Provided assurances can be got from these clubs that they would bring strong squads.

If the LOI select were to be managed by the Limerick FC manager of the time and a few of the squad were involved, then I believe it would do the profile of the club no harm at all, and start a foundation for future events like it.

The club has to learn to walk before it can run, and this sort of event would provide an invaluable stepping stone.

[GenerationXI]

The company organising this thing knows well also that this town is teeming with bandwagon jumpers who will go along if it's pitched right.

I agree with you there.


Surely as the Senior team in the city they would get consideration.

I would hope they'd be included as the senior team in the city, all I'm saying is, unfortunately, the kind of people that set these things up would happily overlook Limerick.


Not much point in having a tournament without some Irish representation

Agree completely.


Without some Irish/limerick involvment i would'nt be bothered to be honest.

I'll be honest here. If Man Utd and Liverpool were playing in Thomond on a Friday night and I had free tickets, I wouldn't go if it clashed with a Limerick game. That will come as no surprise to anyone on here. You wouldn't find the LTIDs, JoeSoaps, GSpains etc. (ad infinitum) up there either. We'd be knocking around a desolate Jackman park watching our lot concede penalty after penalty at the Club House end! :p
The point is, if something like this goes ahead my fear would be that Limerick would be ignored, simply because anyone who actually gives a fcuk about football in the city is virtually (note: virtually is an exception) powerless to make the organisers of such a competition include us in the name of exposure or any other such noble gestures.


i never said any thing about proximity to the ground.

True that. Apologies. :o

[citybone]

Won't be that competitive as they won't have any training time together. But thats a complete non issue IMO

Even the clubs with players mentioned wouldn't like to give up players in the middle of the season for absolutely no gain.

have a merchandise stand or a few withing/around the ground with merchandise of each loi club especially limerick and cork city (likely to have most of a representive side) would bring a good bit of cash!

[gspain]

This will only be allowed happen with the FAI's permission.

It will not be allowed to go head to head with a Limerick game.

I can't see it getting the go ahead without a benefit to local football. This will probably mean Limerick being involved and making some money out of it but with no costly match guarantees.

[manalishi]

[QUOTE=gael353;1073753]They need permission from the FAI and Limerick for this to go ahead. A private company offered this to Thomond park LTD and they went to the media before checking out was it permittable with the governing authorities[/QUO

I hope limerick gave elton john and rod stewart the all clear to use thomond park as well.Will ye lot give over bleating, ye can`t organise yourselves to run a bath never mind a european tournament.

[Dodge]

I hope limerick gave elton john and rod stewart the all clear to use thomond park as well.Will ye lot give over bleating, ye can`t organise yourselves to run a bath never mind a european tournament.

You realise Elton John and Rod Stewart weren't playing football, don't you?

[sadloserkid]

Anybody who is advocating a representative side as the best option here (which I don't think includes JoeSoap to be fair) is not a true Limerick fan. Pure and simple. I would sooner see four foreign clubs playing in this mooted tournament than some mickey mouse selection. People are going to be going to see the foreign sides anyway and there will be no negative affect on gates if we were to be involved rather than some thrown together collection of the league's B-listers.

As Lionel Ritchie has said it's a happy coincidence of geography that we're the senior side in position. I can't see us making any major cash off it anyway aside from maybe some merchandise as it's very much a Thomond park initiative but by virtue of the fact that, rightly or wrongly and for better or worse, we're the local senior club we are the natural Irish team to consider. Us or the national side. Nothing else.

[joeSoap]

In ideal circumstances theres nothing I'd like more than Limerick FC to be the host club, but for a whole host of well documented reasons it is not feasible, both on and off the field. I cant see the National side participating in this...maybe the Under 23 side, which is the EL selection anyway. I just believe that this sort of selection would be better than giving the likes of Cork City or Galway United the kudos.

[jebus]

Anybody who is advocating a representative side as the best option here (which I don't think includes JoeSoap to be fair) is not a true Limerick fan. Pure and simple. I would sooner see four foreign clubs playing in this mooted tournament than some mickey mouse selection. People are going to be going to see the foreign sides anyway and there will be no negative affect on gates if we were to be involved rather than some thrown together collection of the league's B-listers.

As Lionel Ritchie has said it's a happy coincidence of geography that we're the senior side in position. I can't see us making any major cash off it anyway aside from maybe some merchandise as it's very much a Thomond park initiative but by virtue of the fact that, rightly or wrongly and for better or worse, we're the local senior club we are the natural Irish team to consider. Us or the national side. Nothing else.

That's the way I would see it too.

Money wise we won;t see much from the tournament, but the FAI should realise the wonders it could do for the club if they put us out there with La Liga or Premiership sides. It might spark a lot of interest in the club to be fair