View Full Version : Athlone may "drop out of League of Ireland football for the foreseeable future"
eelmonster
13/12/2008, 10:21 AM
What sort of crowds are Athlone town getting? The new stand looks fantastic.
Is there potential for Athlone to be a big club or is it a GAA area?
Athlone is a football town (like Dundalk and Sligo, it's one of the old garrison towns where 'soccer' has always been more popular than the gah), and ATFC were one of the first (the first? Does anyone know where Midland Athletic were based?) provincial town sides to enter the League of Ireland. They've been in the First Division doldrums for far too long (over ten years now! That's hard to believe) which has just about killed off their support. If they were playing in the Premier they'd probably attract a decent support, of course, the same could be said of Longford, Limerick, Waterford and Shels (:D)
I'd hate to see Athlone Town go under, I hope they can rescue their club.
citybone
13/12/2008, 1:43 PM
There'll be 33 games in the First Division next season. You've just reduced that by one. ;)
Though I like the idea of teams fighting to come bottom half!
i kopt on to my mistake when i was offline, oops! ya the 1 game less would not make a big differemnce. also i find it hard to understand why a team would want to finish in the bottom 6 and get less prize money & prob lower gates as well.
dcfcsteve
13/12/2008, 2:36 PM
and ATFC were one of the first (the first? Does anyone know where Midland Athletic were based?) provincial town sides to enter the League of Ireland.
Despite their name, Midland Athletic were a Dublin side.
Played in a ground called 'The Thatch', though no idea which part of town that was.
eelmonster
13/12/2008, 5:11 PM
Despite their name, Midland Athletic were a Dublin side.
Played in a ground called 'The Thatch', though no idea which part of town that was.
Cheers, Steve. So Athlone Town were the first team from outside of Dublin to be elected to the LoI? It would be a real shame if they didn't get a licence, perhaps the FAI cound buy Lissywoollen too to help them out.
The current plight of Athlone is another example of the existing structure that is the 2 team league not working. Athlone got a crowd fo 4,000 for the fai cup v Rovers only 2 years ago, this proves there is a support in the town.
The first div is a joke, no media interest and even less with fans.
A 16 team Prem league with a regional feeder lge beneath would be the way forward in my opinion.
This way we could cater for clubs stuck in the first with a decent history like Athlone, Waterford, Limerick, (Finn Harps) and Shels
Martinho II
13/12/2008, 7:04 PM
Athlone are not the only club in bother, at least 3 other first div sides are stuggling and calling for the season to be cut.
At Tuesdays meeting, 3 first division clubs called for each team to play each other twice leaving only 22 game season.
When it was suggested they also wanted out of the League cup and said they would not participate in a League sheild competition.
If its come to a stage where they feel they can only pay out for 22 games a season and no cup competitions then its painting a bleak picture.
i would safely say that we were one of the clubs as our costs are gone up hugely with less income to meet increasing debts.
Cheers, Steve. So Athlone Town were the first team from outside of Dublin to be elected to the LoI? It would be a real shame if they didn't get a licence, perhaps the FAI cound buy Lissywoollen too to help them out.
athlone town were the founding members in 1924 but then resigned and didnt come back into the league till the late sixties.
Im a Galway Utd fan but ill be gutted if they go.One of the few clubs with a real tradition in the league and ive good memories of going to see us against them in the old old old old old old Mels Park.I REALLY hope they can be saved.
atfconline
13/12/2008, 7:28 PM
athlone town were the founding members in 1924 but then resigned and didnt come back into the league till the late sixties.
Nope. League was founded in 1921, we joined the year after. We did play in the first Free State Cup though, and won that in 1924.
Sam_Heggy
13/12/2008, 8:21 PM
The current plight of Athlone is another example of the existing structure that is the 2 team league not working. Athlone got a crowd fo 4,000 for the fai cup v Rovers only 2 years ago, this proves there is a support in the town.
The first div is a joke, no media interest and even less with fans.
A 16 team Prem league with a regional feeder lge beneath would be the way forward in my opinion.
This way we could cater for clubs stuck in the first with a decent history like Athlone, Waterford, Limerick, (Finn Harps) and Shels
Why have you got Harps in brackets? :confused:
brianw82
14/12/2008, 8:15 AM
Why have you got Harps in brackets? :confused:
Coz they may or may not be in the First next year.
sligored
14/12/2008, 9:26 AM
i really hope athlone pull through. a great soccer town. its a no win situation because their presence in one top division will do them more harm than good because the likes of kildare monaghan athlone and mervue dont have the financial clout to compete and they would get stuffed week in week out. There must be a holy grail for well run clubs and putting substandard teams will only diminish the quality.
what can we do with the first division?
brianw82
14/12/2008, 10:18 AM
what can we do with the first division?
As much as the constant complaints of no MNS coverage from supporters of FD teams annoyed me during the year, I'm coming to the conclusion that it must be featured on MNS next year to a certain degree. Maybe one feature match a week? It'd be a boost to all concerned.
Raheny Red
14/12/2008, 10:51 AM
Whatever happens I can't see there being a one division league. A lot of first division grounds just aren't up to catering for large amounts of fans from well supported premier division teams.. At worst, I'm sure we'll get enough teams for two divisions of 10..
We encountered no difficulties last term :cool:
brianw82
14/12/2008, 11:22 AM
We encountered no difficulties last term :cool:
He's probably talking about Kildare, and the large amount of Dundalk fans that travelled for the last game.
What's a 'large amount' though? 300 would be the maximum that any PD team would bring anywhere bar special occasions (local derbies, etc.)
holidaysong
14/12/2008, 1:36 PM
We encountered no difficulties last term :cool:
Hence the reason I didn't say all first division clubs.. :rolleyes:
He's probably talking about Kildare, and the large amount of Dundalk fans that travelled for the last game.
What's a 'large amount' though? 300 would be the maximum that any PD team would bring anywhere bar special occasions (local derbies, etc.)
Somewhere like Jackman Park just isn't up to hosting premier division matches. Requirements like having a certain number of seats and having segregation and providing facilites like separate food stalls for away fans - Jackman Park just wouldn't be up to it.. Imagine Jackman Park hosting a premier division match between Limerick and Cork? It'd be a disaster..
MMVIII
14/12/2008, 3:27 PM
Really hope Athlone can make it through this, although it looks doubtful, but heres hoping.
Fond memories of going to watch Athlone in St Mels Park when i was a kid. Nicest chips ever :D
L37Ultra
14/12/2008, 4:00 PM
Hence the reason I didn't say all first division clubs.. :rolleyes:
Somewhere like Jackman Park just isn't up to hosting premier division matches. Requirements like having a certain number of seats and having segregation and providing facilites like separate food stalls for away fans - Jackman Park just wouldn't be up to it.. Imagine Jackman Park hosting a premier division match between Limerick and Cork? It'd be a disaster..
First of all, it looks unlikely that Limerick will be playing in Jackman Park next season.
Secondaly, Jackman Park hosted Limerick and Cork in the FAI Cup this season and it was far from a disaster.
holidaysong
14/12/2008, 4:20 PM
First of all, it looks unlikely that Limerick will be playing in Jackman Park next season.
I didn't know that.
Secondaly, Jackman Park hosted Limerick and Cork in the FAI Cup this season and it was far from a disaster.
The FAI cup isn't the same though. You don't have the same requirements for individual seats etc. in that that you do in the Premier Division. I'm not picking on Limerick by the way, I'm sure there are other grounds in the First Division that wouldn't have enough seats or be able to have proper segregation..
fionnsci
14/12/2008, 5:35 PM
First of all, it looks unlikely that Limerick will be playing in Jackman Park next season.
Will they be playing in Hogan Park? Is it much of an improvement?
Martinho II
14/12/2008, 6:10 PM
Nope. League was founded in 1921, we joined the year after. We did play in the first Free State Cup though, and won that in 1924.
thats where i got confused thanks for pointing that out atfconline..
i might go to the meeting as a neutral can I turn up at it??
atfconline
14/12/2008, 6:58 PM
Well by its nature, it's going to be an open meeting, so I can't imagine there will be anyone on the door spotting for LTFC fans (which of course there should be).
But you'll have to swear allegience to the memory of Orlando Robert Coote and
renounce the devil and all other Longford related products :D
See ya there Marty :ball:
Réiteoir
15/12/2008, 9:23 AM
"Do you rennounce Section O and all it's works?"
Battery Rover
15/12/2008, 10:31 AM
Can people text Midlands 103 with a call for people to support tonights meeting and keeping Athlone Town in LOI Football
Send your texts to 083 30 10 103
L37Ultra
15/12/2008, 12:05 PM
Can people text Midlands 103 with a call for people to support tonights meeting and keeping Athlone Town in LOI Football
Send your texts to 083 30 10 103
Done :)
LK37oldskool
15/12/2008, 12:58 PM
Will they be playing in Hogan Park? Is it much of an improvement?
More likely to be the Markets Field (Greyhound Track).its the spiritual home of soccer in Limerick.Have'nt used that pitch since the late 80s.Much better facilities......hopefully!:eek:
L37Ultra
15/12/2008, 1:04 PM
Will they be playing in Hogan Park? Is it much of an improvement?
Nope. Market's Fields.
See here (http://www.limerickfc.ie/Home/news/PR031208.html)
Jofspring
15/12/2008, 1:22 PM
More likely to be the Markets Field (Greyhound Track).its the spiritual home of soccer in Limerick.Have'nt used that pitch since the late 80s.Much better facilities......hopefully!:eek:
Only thing missing is floodlights and dressing rooms, which mean day time matches.
Réiteoir
15/12/2008, 1:35 PM
Only thing missing is floodlights and dressing rooms, which mean day time matches.
Licensing states that stadia MUST have floodlights though - no lights mean you can only compete in the A-Championship, not the League
L37Ultra
15/12/2008, 1:49 PM
Licensing states that stadia MUST have floodlights though - no lights mean you can only compete in the A-Championship, not the League
It also states that there must be a minimum of 500 seats which Jackman Park doesnt have.
I think were gone a bit of topic here by the way
LK37oldskool
15/12/2008, 2:10 PM
Still off topic, Are there not grants available from the FAI for Floodlights and such like.Pretty sure the lights in Hogan Park were paid through grants.
There was a previous scheme. Now, you pay for it yourself AFAIK
Battery Rover
15/12/2008, 2:32 PM
Thanks to all the people on here texting in to Midlands 103
We can do no more publicising this. All over the weekend and today we are doing hourly radio appeals and we have a spot on Des Cahills Drive Time at around 6.30pm along with a spot on the six one news around the same time.
Fingers crossed the people of Athlone and the midlands turn up for this
Magicme
15/12/2008, 2:50 PM
Just heard them plugging the meeting on i105-107
Good Luck at the meeting."Where theres a will theres a way":)
Black and White
15/12/2008, 5:08 PM
Make sure ye post the outcome up here as soon as possible!!
El-Pietro
15/12/2008, 5:21 PM
Thanks to all the people on here texting in to Midlands 103
We can do no more publicising this. All over the weekend and today we are doing hourly radio appeals and we have a spot on Des Cahills Drive Time at around 6.30pm along with a spot on the six one news around the same time.
Fingers crossed the people of Athlone and the midlands turn up for this
i text in earlier saying somethign like im a city fan, best of luck to athlone tonight for their meeting, would be a shame to see such a great team in trouble - was anythign like that read out?
holidaysong
15/12/2008, 5:50 PM
ATFC piece on RTÉ Radio 1 now.
Martinho II
15/12/2008, 7:16 PM
ATFC piece on RTÉ Radio 1 now.
what was said on it? know shannonside had a piece on longford town and athlone town tonight on sportsbeat but didnt listen to it. .did anyone hear of it on shannonside??
Martinho II
15/12/2008, 7:17 PM
:p
"Do you rennounce Section O and all it's works?"
never hence why I m not goin!!
:p
Lim till i die
15/12/2008, 7:57 PM
We encountered no difficulties last term :cool:
Large amounts of fans RR, large amounts
Nope. Market's Fields.
See here (http://www.limerickfc.ie/Home/news/PR031208.html)
Not a hope of that hjappening
Licensing states that stadia MUST have floodlights though - no lights mean you can only compete in the A-Championship, not the League
I'm sure we would have plans for floodlights, you know, maybe, possibly, at some stage, in the future, all things being equal.
That sort of assurance is normally cast iron enough for the oul licensing boys
Around 140 in attendence last night with a lot of local Junior and ADSL Clubs
represented and everyone there wants senior League of Ireland football in
Athlone.
Lots of points made and ideas put forward so it was a good platform to start
the rebuilding of the Club.
Patrons Scheme announced where the Club will be looking for 400 fans to
donate €1000 over a 2 year period which will go towards clearing debt and
giving team expenses a starting platform before sponsorships etc kick in.
I dont have the documentation with me today but in return Patrons will get
free entry to all home games over that period, yearly subscription to the Club
Lotto and also entered into a draw for International tickets.
(This might not be 100% correct, I'll recheck when I get the paperwork.
Was so busy last night not sure if any changes were made to the proposal)
Next meeting called for 5th January where applications for the Patrons
Scheme will be assessed to see if there is enough interest to get it started.
Application forms are available now however none will be processed unless
the targed number of applicants is reached.
If anyone would like an application form, please either PM me or Battery Rover :ball:
Lot of media intererst too with reports in from Shannonside, Midlands Radio and i105, along with RTE to name but a few.
Magicme
16/12/2008, 8:25 AM
[QUOTE=Ash;1075671]
Patrons Scheme announced where the Club will be looking for 400 fans to
donate €1000 over a 2 year period which will go towards clearing debt and
giving team expenses a starting platform before sponsorships etc kick in.
I dont have the documentation with me today but in return Patrons will get
free entry to all home games over that period, yearly subscription to the Club
Lotto and also entered into a draw for International tickets.
(This might not be 100% correct, I'll recheck when I get the paperwork.
Was so busy last night not sure if any changes were made to the proposal)
QUOTE]
Great idea and all but as with Drogheda, giving the season tickets as part of a bundle like that does the club out of revenue from paying punters at the gate for the season. 400 people less paying in through your gates is going to make cash flow difficult to say the least.
[QUOTE=Magicme;1075671]
Great idea and all but as with Drogheda, giving the season tickets as part of a bundle like that does the club out of revenue from paying punters at the gate for the season. 400 people less paying in through your gates is going to make cash flow difficult to say the least.
Not all of the people who will support the scheme would be regular attendees
to The Wollen, some people drove from Tyrone and up from Ennis to take part
last night, but for all who are, and sign up, the revenue that the scheme
will generate off season when there are no games is the key to its success.
Im open to correction on this as my involvement in last nights meeting meant that
I wasnt in the room for most of it but I think it was announced the plan is to allocate
€1000 of the funds raised per week to team affairs, with the rest to come in from sponsorship.
Then the rest of the money is to be used against the debt.
Magicme
16/12/2008, 8:34 AM
fair enough!
dapman1
16/12/2008, 8:45 AM
Any news on the monies owed to the players and when they will be paid?
Any news on the monies owed to the players and when they will be paid?
For licencing, all outstanding wages have to be paid by the 31st Jan as far as
I'm aware, so they will be paid by then.
Good luck with it Ash. Important that the junior clubs were present. Always good to get them onside.
Good luck with it Ash. Important that the junior clubs were present. Always good to get them onside.
Absolutely, rightly or wrongly there has been a big "us and them" attitude
between the sets stemming back donkeys years ... Im lucky enough to be able
to see it from both sides as I'm involved with ATFC and play for a local Junior
club, so now's the time to get everyone to the table, keep the club alive and
work towards rebuilding the trust, friendship and involvement that all parties
should have.
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