Waterford United switching to Saturday nights [Archive]

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Tis-smeee

13/02/2009, 11:14 PM

dannydundalk

13/02/2009, 11:22 PM

well dundalk used to play home games on thursdays but they will now be on fridays

Rovers Maniac

13/02/2009, 11:45 PM

This season the blues games will be on on 7 o clock saturdays , will certainly make it easier for mervue and harps fans to travel , are any other clubs changing? What do people think of this experiment of sorts?

Great to hear i hope it works out as it is better for away fans, good luck with the move.

Darkglasses

14/02/2009, 12:53 AM

I'd be in favour of Saturday games also, travelling support would almost certainly increase, or fail that made alot easier for the travelling support. The first division has become a fair bit more spread out geographically, there's Dublin teams , Waterford/Wexford, Cobh, Mervue, Finn Harps, Athlone...

SPXcyan

14/02/2009, 1:42 AM

Love it :)
doubt the fai would do anything.. isnt it the clubs decision to make anyways?

mypost

14/02/2009, 1:53 AM

We are moving to Saturdays in Tallaght. As things stand, games will only be moved should there be clashes with international dates, tv coverage, and should we be at home on the last night of the season.

We are the only club in Dublin to play on Saturday nights. :)

Town Legend

14/02/2009, 2:48 AM

Yeah would prefer Saturday night games as well. As stated in above messages it would mean a lot more away fans can travel to the game and wouldn't have to look for time off work to make games on a Friday night.

The Lep

14/02/2009, 4:31 AM

Saturdays 3pm is the easiest for away matches, train down in morning with a few beers and train back after match with more beer. car or supporters bus if train not an option.
Teams up North seem to get a decent crowds for a 3pm sat kick off so why cant we? forget the excuse of people training or going to old trafford etc cos it wont affect the attendences much.

SMorgan

14/02/2009, 5:44 AM

Teams up North seem to get a decent crowds for a 3pm sat kick off so why cant we?

What??? The Irish League attendances are the best argument against playing games on saturday afternoons. Check out the IL attendances in the IL section of this forum.

oldyouth

14/02/2009, 8:28 AM

For me, any night will do, it doesn't matter. However, I think all clubs should decide on a night and stick to it. I think local distractions have to be considered. Let's face it, LOI football will nearly always come second when clashing with a high profile event

gufc2000

14/02/2009, 9:46 AM

We had to play on a Saturday night last year against Shamrock Rovers. I think it was the fourth game of the season and it was Tony Cousins last in charge. We got a crowd of 1600 which was dissapointing considering we had great attendances the year before it was a big let down. Our attendances never really recovered after that. Friday nights are the only option in Galway for us

gael353

14/02/2009, 10:49 AM

we suggested this weeks ago on our forum and we were lambasted. The suggetion came out of a miss quote in a local paper, result....all out war in the off season. Fair play to the blues, its an amateur to semi pro league and friday games can be expensive for players and clubs

Battery Rover

14/02/2009, 10:55 AM

We will play our games on a Saturday night at 8pm

Youths4Ever

14/02/2009, 11:05 AM

I wish Waterford the best with this but I am not convinced it will work for attendances.

Everybody saying that travel for away fans would be easier not necessarily true a lot of younger fans have to work on Saturdays to fund college school etc or have games of their own to play if then don't work.

Lot of people have more family based plans on Saturdays a lot of people partners may not be to impressed with "oh by the way every second Saturday or so for the next few months I wont be here"

When we clash we premiership season people with passing interest are not going to miss a big premiership game with 5.15 KO for the LOI. Don't come back with don't want these supporters the LOI needs as may people through gates as possible.

brianw82

14/02/2009, 11:52 AM

Everybody saying that travel for away fans would be easier not necessarily true a lot of younger fans have to work on Saturdays to fund college school etc or have games of their own to play if then don't work.

Very true, although a businessman might say that 'nobody ever made money from young people, except pubs' :)

Lot of people have more family based plans on Saturdays a lot of people partners may not be to impressed with "oh by the way every second Saturday or so for the next few months I wont be here"

On the positive side, there'd be a lot less half days to be taken with Friday night games.

Tis-smeee

14/02/2009, 11:56 AM

Same goes for people on shiftwork , will be alot more available on saturdays

Dunny

14/02/2009, 12:13 PM

Maybe someone should email the fai asking for consideration on this?

Whu don't you then.

stann

14/02/2009, 12:19 PM

As stated in above messages it would mean a lot more away fans can travel to the game and wouldn't have to look for time off work to make games on a Friday night.

Recent talk of Saturdays prompted a re-think at the Blues, and in the current climate this seems to have been the main reason behind the decision, but for the players and staff as much as anyone. Half the squad having to take half days for all home games as well as full days for the Friday away matches was seen as a bit much on them, particularly with the reduced wage bill.

It is hoped that the same will apply to fans, though there is the problem than more people do things on Saturday nights than Friday nights, and I don't mean the young lads with no attachments heading out for a bottle at the weekend (a demographic this site is skewed towards :D), I'm talking about the majority of fans, who have spouses/significant others/families and a life away from football that has to be looked after too.
Remains to be seen if it will improve attendances or not, but is well worth a try anyway.

While it will certainly be handier for away fans, I can't see it making much difference in terms of attendance, for ourselves I mean. Bar a couple of notable exceptions, even if away support doubled you wouldn't be talking about an appreciable rise in numbers.

Youths4Ever

14/02/2009, 12:23 PM

meant to say there where rumors last night that Wexford looking at Saturday night's as well for reasons Stann gave about players and time off work etc

Battery Rover

14/02/2009, 1:42 PM

Completed my first ever 100% home and away attendance last season and going to try repeat again this season so starting to sort my travel plans already.

have all teams finalised their nights

Athlone Town - Saturday 8pm
Finn Harps - ??????
Waterford Utd - Saturday 7pm
Wexford Youths - ?????
Limerick FC - My shortest trip of the season. Will it still be Friday nights 7.45pm until the Markets Field is ready
Longford Town - Saturday 7.30pm
Shelbourne - Friday 8pm ???
Sporting Fingal - ?????
UCD - ?????
Cobh - ?????
Kildare County - ?????
Monaghan United - ?????
Mervue - ?????

Battery Rover

14/02/2009, 3:14 PM

It means they dont get home for about 10.00 at the latest,with a 7pm k.o they would get home at 9.00 which is grand.

We found big problems with 7pm and 7.30pm on Saturdays due to it clashing with parents having to bring kids to mass. With 8pm we might get them attending after the weekly ritual.

holidaysong

14/02/2009, 4:45 PM

We found big problems with 7pm and 7.30pm on Saturdays due to it clashing with parents having to bring kids to mass. With 8pm we might get them attending after the weekly ritual.

I'm sure they would get more praying done watching Athlone Town than going to a church.

Sheridan

14/02/2009, 5:11 PM

We found big problems with 7pm and 7.30pm on Saturdays due to it clashing with parents having to bring kids to mass. With 8pm we might get them attending after the weekly ritual.
If that's a serious problem I'm a Dutchman's codpiece..

gufc2000

14/02/2009, 5:23 PM

mypost

14/02/2009, 6:13 PM

We had to play on a Saturday night last year against Shamrock Rovers. We got a crowd of 1600 which was dissapointing considering we had great attendances the year before it was a big let down. Our attendances never really recovered after that. Friday nights are the only option in Galway for us

Let's correct a few things there shall we? :o

You chose to play us on a Saturday night, in order not to clash with egg-chasing the night before. You got a crowd, of which a huge amount of our fans went down for, taking the opportunity of a Saturday night game.

Your attendances never recovered until late that season, Every other game bar one, you played on Fridays saw no significant increase in attendances, even after you reduced your ticket prices. It was not the night that was the problem, it was the attitude of the Galway football public, who only came out to watch them in numbers, when they had a decent chance of beating the drop.

a lot of people partners may not be to impressed

I have no sympathy tbh. Football v pinky = football win. It's 2 hours of your time every week. Football is permanent, pinkys have to understand that.

Battery Rover

14/02/2009, 6:33 PM

If that's a serious problem I'm a Dutchman's codpiece..

It is an issue in rural areas the same as summer soccer

stann

14/02/2009, 7:38 PM

If that's a serious problem I'm a Dutchman's codpiece..

Gert de Kok?

oldyouth

14/02/2009, 9:42 PM

meant to say there where rumors last night that Wexford looking at Saturday night's as well for reasons Stann gave about players and time off work etc
Jaysus Y4E, from who?. Your sources are usually reliable

Neish

14/02/2009, 9:47 PM

Harps to play fridays this season again AFAIK. Waterford may be worth a overnight trip espically there playing saturday nights

Youths4Ever

14/02/2009, 10:25 PM

I have no sympathy tbh. Football v pinky = football win. It's 2 hours of your time every week. Football is permanent, pinkys have to understand that.

more than 2 hours for any away trip which is what the point was. also add kids to that equation not as easy as that.

Jaysus Y4E, from who?. Your sources are usually reliable

i will fill u in Wednesday night :p

corkharps

14/02/2009, 11:59 PM

It is an issue in rural areas the same as summer soccer

Thankfully this is becoming less of a problem BUT it still is!!!!!!!!!

pineapple stu

15/02/2009, 11:02 AM

Completed my first ever 100% home and away attendance last season and going to try repeat again this season so starting to sort my travel plans already.

have all teams finalised their nights

UCD - ?????

Pretty sure we're staying Friday night. Prefer Fridays to Saturdays myself; something to look forward to at the end of the working week.

gufc2000

15/02/2009, 11:18 AM

Let's correct a few things there shall we? :o

You chose to play us on a Saturday night, in order not to clash with egg-chasing the night before. You got a crowd, of which a huge amount of our fans went down for, taking the opportunity of a Saturday night game.

Your attendances never recovered until late that season, Every other game bar one, you played on Fridays saw no significant increase in attendances, even after you reduced your ticket prices. It was not the night that was the problem, it was the attitude of the Galway football public, who only came out to watch them in numbers, when they had a decent chance of beating the drop.

I have no sympathy tbh. Football v pinky = football win. It's 2 hours of your time every week. Football is permanent, pinkys have to understand that.

Calm Down! Leave us to worry about what night and what time we play our games. We realise that some people only support us when we go on a run, which I don't like either. But if you remember back to the previous season even when we were struggling at the bottom we were getting crowds of 1500-3000. We finished 8th but still had the 3rd highest attendance in the league. Not bad was it. Rovers were challenging for Europe but their crowds still weren't as big as ours. So don't start giving us lectures of fans attitudes towards their own teams

mypost

15/02/2009, 5:02 PM

Not bad was it. Rovers were challenging for Europe but their crowds still weren't as big as ours.

If our circumstances were like other clubs at the time, we'd be sold out every week.