Kerr unhappy with Unity tournament

[anto_123]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/2004/0601/ireland.html

Dont know if anybody seen it, i think its in the star in Ireland. Kerrs havin a rant (and entilted to) about pitch, attendance, lack of atmosphere.....

it WAS poorly organised, but how could this tournment been a success?? The home game against Romania and an away game against the Dutch was more than enough for the end for a season.

[only1kilbane]

yeah he is right to have a rant . Yet again the goons in the fai show their class in this tournament. Supposedly they are meant to be a new professional organisation but every quote from Fran Rooney just keeps saying we are still getting paid . thats all that seems to matter to him rather than the well being of our players with the disgraceful pitch and needless games .

Fai are back to there best !

[Adrianovic]

To be fair, there are a rake of reasons why the Unity Cup has proven such a failure. As someone who went to the first game, but can't go to the other, I think I'll shoot on what I think went wrong.

Firstly, The Valley is way out East, and not many Irish people live in that part of town. It took our lot quite a while to travel from West London to East London. If the game had been played in somewhere more central, like Loftus Road or, further West, like Vicarage Road, then you would be looking at more success. It was always clear that Nigeria and Jamaica were not going to make up much support, so I consider this a mistake on behalf of the tournaments organisers, or the FAI for not putting their foot down.

Next up is the ticket prices, £25/£30 to see a friendly game of two countries which are not the home nation. Indeed, I expected Ireland to put out a reserve side practically, given the commitments to the Romania game, and it seemed very steep. No disrespect to the likes of Clive Clarke and Martin Rowlands for example, but not many people are going to want to shell out that sort of money to see them.

The opposition wasn't exactly mouth watering, I understand that Ireland were the last team to enter into this competition, but why play two teams that won't offer much in the way of support or that we will learn something from. In my opinion, we'd be better off playing a European side that would be comparable to our 2006 qualifier opponents - failing that, just be happy with the Romania and Holland games!

Ade

[Plastic Paddy]

To be fair, there are a rake of reasons why the Unity Cup has proven such a failure. As someone who went to the first game, but can't go to the other, I think I'll shoot on what I think went wrong.

Firstly, The Valley is way out East, and not many Irish people live in that part of town. It took our lot quite a while to travel from West London to East London. If the game had been played in somewhere more central, like Loftus Road or, further West, like Vicarage Road, then you would be looking at more success. It was always clear that Nigeria and Jamaica were not going to make up much support, so I consider this a mistake on behalf of the tournaments organisers, or the FAI for not putting their foot down.

Next up is the ticket prices, £25/£30 to see a friendly game of two countries which are not the home nation.

What an excellent first post. You can come back again. :)

You're absolutely right about the location. West London - QPR especially - would have been the right place for these games. It's far more accessible for all the key markets for the tournament. However, no mainstream marketing or PR was a feature in the preparation. I haven't seen or heard about one terrestrial television piece even at the London regional level, for example, which is shocking for an event with such a large catchment. At best, it shows naivety on the part of the organisers as the specialist press used to publicise the event just do not have the reach in the communities they seek to serve. After all, if Australia versus South Africa at football can be a 17,000 sell-out locally then there's no reason why we shouldn't be.

The point about pricing is also crucial (although it didn't stop me shelling out £130 for tickets tomorrow night. :o ) I'd love to see the business case the organisers drew up. :rolleyes:

:D PP

[tricky_colour]

Stupid idea playing two matchs in less than two days.
You might at least have played them in the same country - doh!

There was no publicity over here (UK).

[supasparx]

I live in Harrow, officially London's biggest Irish community according to the Irish World. Yet hardly anyone I've spoke to locally knew these games were on.
I also think Loftus Rd. would have been a better choice of ground, has great transport links, good pubs close by and quite near to Heathrow for those flying in!
This tournament gives the impression of a 'get rich quick' plan by the organisers. Who I believe were Nigerian business men!

[tricky_colour]

I only heard about the match from this forum and I thought it was
a was some time in the future so I paid little attention to it.

I only find out it was last Saturday when I looked at a football
betting slip at Ladbrokes!!!!!!

Anyone know why it is called the Unity Cup by the way?

Have we been at war with Nigeria, Jamaica and Holland recently?

[liam88]

Have we been at war with Nigeria, Jamaica and Holland recently?
The Hooland match wasn't part of it-it's for the 3 biggest ethnic minorities in the Enlgnad i.e Ireland, Nigeria, Jamaica
Good Idea :D

[thejollyrodger]

Bang on for Kerr giving out loads, it was in the Irish Times today and the Indo yesturday.

TBH Kerr was totally right, he got shafted right from the start, with the new electronic/computerised Air Traffic Control system in Dublin airport, which delivered him straight into London traffic at peak time, arrive at a stadium (if u can call it that) with 7,000 people there and the pitch that look like it was ploughed and having to play 2 games in less than 48 hours.

Its not exactly the place where legends are made.

Mc Geady is going to get a game next match against Cameroon isnt he ?

[Duncan Gardner]

Adrianovic & Liam 88: there are plenty of Irish in the Greenwich/ Lewisham/ Southwark areas of London. Charlton isn't signifcantly more difficult than Shepherd's Bush (QPR) to get to on London's public transport from Heathrow, Stansted or Luton. Indeed it's much closer to an airport (London City) than Loftus Road is.

This tournament could have sold had you not been playing the Romania and Holland games, and if the organisers had made a bit more effort. Treating Charlton as it was somewhere near Charleroi and blaming CAFC is unfair!

[Pat O' Banton]

In fairness the whole tournament was a great idea, using football to promote some form of unity, giving people (esp. Nigerian and Jamaican fans) a chance to see their team in the flesh) it just seems a pity that no-one really thought of organising the whole thing properly.
The following thing to find out is, with Ireland out of the European championships for months now why was the tournament not organised in time to give fans a chance of cheap flights. This would of also allowed the FAI to sort out dates for friendlies. It would have also allowed time for publicity to be properly given (rather than a few posters up on the Kilburn High Road)
I remember reading something about the possibility of a tournament in the Tribune in mid April or early May, and this was saying that it was a concrete proposal at the time so this can hardly have been sprung at v. short notice on the faatball associations.

Secondly Charlton was a bizzare spot for to play the games, not just QPR would have been a better choice but Preston, Leeds and Birmingham would all have decent size grounds with a decent size immigrant community and would have done as venues with as good transport links for travelling Irish support.

[Pat O' Banton]

Adrianovic & Liam 88: there are plenty of Irish in the Greenwich/ Lewisham/ Southwark areas of London. Charlton isn't signifcantly more difficult than Shepherd's Bush (QPR) to get to on London's public transport from Heathrow, Stansted or Luton. Indeed it's much closer to an airport (London City) than Loftus Road is.

This tournament could have sold had you not been playing the Romania and Holland games, and if the organisers had made a bit more effort. Treating Charlton as it was somewhere near Charleroi and blaming CAFC is unfair!

Not too sure on the figures here but I remember speaking to a woman who worked with the Irish in this area and she made the complaint that geographically the Irish in the Woolwich area was very isolated.

[Duncan Gardner]

Charlton isn't geographically isolated- it's 7-8 miles from central London, served by plenty of trains (usually), and with an underground station and even an airport just up the road :)

The Irish community (in the widest sense) is large in the three local boroughs I mentioned. Many would be descended from people working in the old docks etc. There is an acknowledged, disproportionately high incidence of social problems (alcoholism, illness etc.) amongst those identifying themselves as Irish- but this has little to do with the size of the community.

As for the other cities mentioned- Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester/ Preston, there are certainly plenty of Irish and Jamaicans but fewer Nigerians. They are very much concentrated in London.

[supasparx]

Mc Geady is going to get a game next match against Cameroon isnt he ?


Next match Vs Jamaica, not Cameroon. Looking forward to a look at McGeady!!

[Declan_Michael]

I was a little peeved that this tournament was held in London. I was free on Saturday and had two options;

1. Spend 5 hours on a coach to London

2. Spend £85 single on a train with 5 changes to Charlton.

It would have been cheaper and 4.5 hours shorter travelling to Dublin! As I said on a another thread the last Ireland game played in England was a friendly on a week night drew over 30,000 supporters. If these things happen again suggest a Northern ground or Villa Park.

[Slash/ED]

Yeah, Anfield would probably be the best stadium for us to play in in England I'd imagine.

[Greenbod]

yeah he is right to have a rant . Yet again the goons in the fai show their class in this tournament. Supposedly they are meant to be a new professional organisation but every quote from Fran Rooney just keeps saying we are still getting paid . thats all that seems to matter to him rather than the well being of our players with the disgraceful pitch and needless games .

Fai are back to there best !

I can't help thinking if McCarthy was still manager he would be getting 100% of the blame on these boards for the enitire shambles against Nigeria including the state of the pitch.

[only1kilbane]

Dont think thats so true. The Fai are the ones who got involved in this sham and even in Micks day they got there fair share of abuse. Its just sad to see every comment from Fran Rooney is all about we got paid our money. So what , what about the players fran ! The pitch was worse that saipan and poland ! Glad Roy did not come along he might have had a rethink about coming back ..

[NeilMcD]

Dont think thats so true. The Fai are the ones who got involved in this sham and even in Micks day they got there fair share of abuse. Its just sad to see every comment from Fran Rooney is all about we got paid our money. So what , what about the players fran ! The pitch was worse that saipan and poland ! Glad Roy did not come along he might have had a rethink about coming back ..


I know i maybe been a bit pedantic here and i do agree with most of your post as i do believe that people did criticise the FAI in Micks day and maybe some of Micks critics were so, as he did not come out against them. However how do u know the pitch was worse that Saipan, or was that just a throwaway comment. I was neither in Charlton or Saipan so i dont know which was worse. I suppose only people who were at both places could say that. Ok challenge of the day, list the players that would have both played in on the saipan and charlton pitches


I have Cunnigham
Robbie Keane
Matt Holland
Steve Finnan
Clinton Morrison
Mark Kinsella

[only1kilbane]

sorry just so annoyed at pitch. Was at charlton and poland so should have left to that really. Pitch in poland was slightly better which is not saying much. To have had 29 games after the end of season shows how much charlton care about there pitch. Are any of the members of the fai on the charlton board ? they seem to have the same ideas about money anyway. Be all and end all still for the fai !

[Pat O' Banton]

Charlton isn't geographically isolated- it's 7-8 miles from central London, served by plenty of trains (usually), and with an underground station and even an airport just up the road :)

The Irish community (in the widest sense) is large in the three local boroughs I mentioned. Many would be descended from people working in the old docks etc. There is an acknowledged, disproportionately high incidence of social problems (alcoholism, illness etc.) amongst those identifying themselves as Irish- but this has little to do with the size of the community.

As for the other cities mentioned- Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester/ Preston, there are certainly plenty of Irish and Jamaicans but fewer Nigerians. They are very much concentrated in London.

I mean from the rest of the Irish communities in London, which largely centre around three or four London boroughs and are based in North West London.
I think that i am right in saying that the London GAA was based for many years in beautiful Eltam not far from Charlton, but they choose to move.

The simple fact that Loftus Road is based right at the heat of a large section of the Irish Community, and for that matter West Indian and African community would have made it the better choice for people.

[only1kilbane]

Well to be honest though they made a lot of noise there was not that many nigerians there on saturday. They would have been much better holding the game in manchester liverpool or birmingham where transport to and from games much easier for fans from both sides of the water and attendances would have been much higher. Really surprised how poor a stadium the Valley was .

[Jon'o]

dont see ireland playing in england again, unless we get drawn in a group with england.

guess there will be more 3 game friendly packages, problem with that is that the next friendly date is in august and then feb and im not sure of when after that.

any news who we are playing in august?

[lopez]

They would have been much better holding the game in manchester liverpool or birmingham where transport to and from games much easier for fans from both sides of the water and attendances would have been much higher.Not if the railway network is closed down. The M1 going north was a car park out of London when I was going south on Saturday. At least southbound it was moving.

[Jon'o]

Don't expect a full-strength side for us!

Didnt they say that on saturday??