Barstoolers Love-In

[BonnieShels]

Jesus has cried so many times in this thread it's not funny.


Instead there are millions around the globe whose devotion to United has no relevance to geography but is simply the end product of an arbitrary televisual preference which is at least partly facilitated by having a current team whose core contains players from Mexico, Brazil, Serbia, even north-east Ecuador.

I'd give him that if he wasn't then gonna ignore that rationale to support a team who are further from Ireland than Manchester.


In fact how long will it be before the ubiquitous “Man U” has about as much relevance to Manchester as the Los Angeles Rams had to LA after they moved to St Louis? Or the Baltimore Colts had after they moved to Indianapolis? That’s the thing about franchises on a major scale. They’re mobile.

If they are mobile then does it matter? They are mobile in another country... Whether Man United are in Manchester or in Carlisle... ;P still makes them an English team.
But the referencing of Franchises as if it is remotely contiguous with the well held notion of British, Irish and European soccer is just plain lazy and shows absolutely no regard or knowledge of the game or sport in general. I dare you tell a Packers fan or Hab that they supprt a "Franchise".

[SkStu]

It's not the slightest bit odd. It's perfectly natural for someone to support their national league. Irish football support in general is what the oddity is on the global scale. The oddity is in supporting a foreign multi-billion pound industry like the Premier League in a sport traditionally bound by a sense of community and identity, complaining that the commercialisation of the game is ruining it for you and consequently deciding to support Barcelona instead because they have Messi who apparently returns football to its magical roots. After all, everyone knows Messi's salary per game is a bottle of Lucozade and pack of cheese and onion Tayto... They've the highest average salary per player of all professional sports teams around the globe and are the bloody second-richest club in the world in terms of revenue, for God's sake!

you might have misunderstood my tone a bit Danny - i agree with everything you have said. I was just trying to point out that the practice of attending games from your domestic league which the author refers to as "a bit odd" is not odd at all and that it is pretty much the common practice in most other countries i.e. that you support your local team. Im not saying these people need to be hardcore fans who attend all home and away games. 5 home games a season would be alright. 10 Would be great and all home games would be a season ticket. People who dont attend (geographical limitations notwithstanding ;) ) are just not football fans and anything they say is just an excuse. Nothing more, nothing less.

[DannyInvincible]

you might have misunderstood my tone a bit Danny - i agree with everything you have said. I was just trying to point out that the practice of attending games from your domestic league which the author refers to as "a bit odd" is not odd at all and that it is pretty much the common practice in most other countries i.e. that you support your local team. Im not saying these people need to be hardcore fans who attend all home and away games. 5 home games a season would be alright. 10 Would be great and all home games would be a season ticket. People who dont attend (geographical limitations notwithstanding ;) ) are just not football fans and anything they say is just an excuse. Nothing more, nothing less.

Certainly. Wasn't disagreeing with you at all actually. I suppose I quoted you to kind of bolster or second what you were saying in response to what I also found to be a rather weird article and this notion that supporting the League of Ireland is somehow shamefully odd.

[Mr A]

It is pretty odd in fairness.

[marinobohs]

This is a most spectacular piece of barstooling, I have to say.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0523/1224297546760.html

He can't support Man United *anymore* because they've become too commercial and corporate. But he won't go to a League of Ireland game because his friends won't approve and they're not going to win the Champions League anyway. So he'll just stick with Barcelona because they have both the community links and billions of euro he needs to truly throw his support behind a football team. Mad stuff.

I actually felt his pain:mad:, imagine having to go all the way to Spain to find a team/club that is - owned by the fans, non money making machine, plays football,has links to its host community :rolleyes:.

if only we had them in this country

[Hurt Locker]

I'd say the st pats fan interviewed in o'connell street would write a better article for the times than that gobdaw!

[bluemovie]

Sure God love the poor pet, you'd have to feel sorry for him. Having nearly cried in 1979 when Man U lost the cup, he now realises he has no connection to them. He's clearly emotionally-repressed!!

And he was so close to the truth. I can picture him in a psychiatrist's office coming close to a breakthrough. He has reached into the depths of his soul to search for a new level of self-realisation. He has come to terms with how empty his past life has been and how he truly seeks a sense of belonging, a more honest and fulfilling path. Here it is - his moment of clarity. Doctor Melfi braces herself for this revelation, this life-altering assertion and then......"I think I'll follow Barca instead" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH HHHH

It reminds me of a guy I knew who had heart problems and was advised to give up cigarettes......so he took up cigars instead!

So many of his points about Man U/the Premiership are spot on and Barca do play the best football in the world, but how on earth could he look himself in the mirror and say "I used to support Man U, but now I prefer Barcelona"? Of course, the advantage of switching to Barca is that he has even less chance of ever having to attend a match which is clearly a good thing in his mind. I love the line "there is no problem identifying what or who the 2009 winners represent". Not you, that's for sure. Not some journo asking the barman in Mulligans to put on Sky Sports Xtra. But he wonders why he no longer feels a connection with an English team.

And isn't it wonderful how Barcelona are a Catalan team and are run by the fans? The Catlan fans who want to keep the spirit of the club local, who don't even associate with the rest of Spain let alone some hack in D'Olier Street. Also, did anyone seriously believe that when one of the richest clubs in the world (and one of the biggest merchandise sellers) decided to go against their tradition by allowing (even paying for) UNICEF as a shirt sponsor that it was a completely altruistic move and not a gateway to a massive future revenue stream??

Don't get me wrong. I love watching Barcelona play. It's a thing of beauty. But if I became a Barca fan, would I have to deny myself any pleasure from watching Ozil or DiMaria for Real Madrid? Some of the best football I've seen was from Zidane and the traitorous Figo (who any true Barca fan would despise). And I wouldn't have been able to enjoy watching Sgorio when I was a kid to see Butragueno and Hugo Sanchez in Welsh! Far from being Luddite, League of Ireland fans tend to really appreciate football in all its breadth. Growing up, I was fascinated with the technique of Lobanovsky's Kiev. Then there was the sheer awesomeness of Milan 88-94, the teenage kicks of Ajax '95 and the joy of Arsenal's Invincibles. All the while, nothing could beat the thrill of live football (live being 'in the flesh' rather than 'live and exclusive').

That hack would probably love the right-on story of AFC Wimbledon - the ultimate no to franchise football. He uses the example of the Baltimore Colts. I have plenty of friends from around Baltimore. The reason they stopped following the Colts after the move to Indianapolis wasn't because of some disgust about greed-driven shipping out of a franchise, it was because they were no longer their LOCAL team. Baltimore went out and did to Cleveland exactly what Indianapolis had done to them: they stole their team. And now everyone in Baltimore supports the Ravens (formerly the Cleveland Browns) because they can attend games, interact with the team and because the team REPRESENTS them.

As my grandfather would've said "that fella needs some fresh air". It's been said here a million times, but nothing beats going to a game. He, and Mr A, are right. Being a League of Ireland fan is a bit mad. But so are most of the exciting, romantic, inventive things in life. When you love your club, yes, there is a small element of mass-like religious obligation about going when things are bad, but a life with the League of Ireland is genuinely thrilling, emotive and fulfilling. The interaction with the club, the social element, the moments of magic, the despairing lows and the unbridled highs. I never believe we should try to guilt people into going to football matches - it's their loss, they're the ones missing out on something special.

Thanks, Brian O'Connor. You have unintentionally reminded me why I love MY club and MY league. The League of Ireland: Football in Highest Definition!

[SkStu]

It is pretty odd in fairness.

just out of interest, why do you think it is odd? The concept of supporting your local team isnt odd to 90% of the football world. Except for those who are truly odd - you know who you are - we are only odd in the eyes of the barstoolers. To your average fan from countries all over the world, it is the barstooling lot that are the odd ones.

[Charlie Darwin]

just out of interest, why do you think it is odd? The concept of supporting your local team isnt odd to 90% of the football world. Except for those who are truly odd - you know who you are - we are only odd in the eyes of the barstoolers. To your average fan from countries all over the world, it is the barstooling lot that are the odd ones.
Like in India or Thailand? We are the archetypal barstool nation - the one from which every emerging football nation has studiously learned its Premier League obsession and absorbed all the lessons. We are, essentially, ahead of our time.

LOI fans are odd in the sense we are people in a country whose people would like to considered themselves football-mad who actually appreciate the game at all levels and not just use it as a status symbol. That's odd. I am so starved of football I might end up at Dalymount tonight.

[born2bwild]

Sure God love the poor pet, you'd have to feel sorry for him. Having nearly cried in 1979 when Man U lost the cup, he now realises he has no connection to them. He's clearly emotionally-repressed!!

And he was so close to the truth. I can picture him in a psychiatrist's office coming close to a breakthrough. He has reached into the depths of his soul to search for a new level of self-realisation. He has come to terms with how empty his past life has been and how he truly seeks a sense of belonging, a more honest and fulfilling path. Here it is - his moment of clarity. Doctor Melfi braces herself for this revelation, this life-altering assertion and then......"I think I'll follow Barca instead" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH HHHH

It reminds me of a guy I knew who had heart problems and was advised to give up cigarettes......so he took up cigars instead!

So many of his points about Man U/the Premiership are spot on and Barca do play the best football in the world, but how on earth could he look himself in the mirror and say "I used to support Man U, but now I prefer Barcelona"? Of course, the advantage of switching to Barca is that he has even less chance of ever having to attend a match which is clearly a good thing in his mind. I love the line "there is no problem identifying what or who the 2009 winners represent". Not you, that's for sure. Not some journo asking the barman in Mulligans to put on Sky Sports Xtra. But he wonders why he no longer feels a connection with an English team.

And isn't it wonderful how Barcelona are a Catalan team and are run by the fans? The Catlan fans who want to keep the spirit of the club local, who don't even associate with the rest of Spain let alone some hack in D'Olier Street. Also, did anyone seriously believe that when one of the richest clubs in the world (and one of the biggest merchandise sellers) decided to go against their tradition by allowing (even paying for) UNICEF as a shirt sponsor that it was a completely altruistic move and not a gateway to a massive future revenue stream??

Don't get me wrong. I love watching Barcelona play. It's a thing of beauty. But if I became a Barca fan, would I have to deny myself any pleasure from watching Ozil or DiMaria for Real Madrid? Some of the best football I've seen was from Zidane and the traitorous Figo (who any true Barca fan would despise). And I wouldn't have been able to enjoy watching Sgorio when I was a kid to see Butragueno and Hugo Sanchez in Welsh! Far from being Luddite, League of Ireland fans tend to really appreciate football in all its breadth. Growing up, I was fascinated with the technique of Lobanovsky's Kiev. Then there was the sheer awesomeness of Milan 88-94, the teenage kicks of Ajax '95 and the joy of Arsenal's Invincibles. All the while, nothing could beat the thrill of live football (live being 'in the flesh' rather than 'live and exclusive').

That hack would probably love the right-on story of AFC Wimbledon - the ultimate no to franchise football. He uses the example of the Baltimore Colts. I have plenty of friends from around Baltimore. The reason they stopped following the Colts after the move to Indianapolis wasn't because of some disgust about greed-driven shipping out of a franchise, it was because they were no longer their LOCAL team. Baltimore went out and did to Cleveland exactly what Indianapolis had done to them: they stole their team. And now everyone in Baltimore supports the Ravens (formerly the Cleveland Browns) because they can attend games, interact with the team and because the team REPRESENTS them.

As my grandfather would've said "that fella needs some fresh air". It's been said here a million times, but nothing beats going to a game. He, and Mr A, are right. Being a League of Ireland fan is a bit mad. But so are most of the exciting, romantic, inventive things in life. When you love your club, yes, there is a small element of mass-like religious obligation about going when things are bad, but a life with the League of Ireland is genuinely thrilling, emotive and fulfilling. The interaction with the club, the social element, the moments of magic, the despairing lows and the unbridled highs. I never believe we should try to guilt people into going to football matches - it's their loss, they're the ones missing out on something special.

Thanks, Brian O'Connor. You have unintentionally reminded me why I love MY club and MY league. The League of Ireland: Football in Highest Definition!
Carlsberg don't do forum posts, but...

[Mr A]

just out of interest, why do you think it is odd?

Because many of the LOI people I know are clean mental. :turtle::terror::victory:

It's a good laugh though.

[BonnieShels]

It reminds me of a guy I knew who had heart problems and was advised to give up cigarettes......so he took up cigars instead!

Wasn't that Uncle Buck?

Top notch postage.

[BonnieShels]

Carlsberg don't do forum posts, but...

...they do make exceedingly good cakes!

[Jinxy]

I often see lads whittling wood outside Dalyer.

[BonnieShels]

I often see lads whittling wood outside Dalyer.

They escaped from the Joy's woodcraft shop.

[bullit]

I often see lads whittling wood outside Dalyer.

I do often see lads outside Oriel whittling away at the wood.
http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=32879195
Hold on......... thats not whittling !!


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

[osarusan]

This is a most spectacular piece of barstooling, I have to say.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0523/1224297546760.html

He can't support Man United *anymore* because they've become too commercial and corporate. But he won't go to a League of Ireland game because his friends won't approve and they're not going to win the Champions League anyway. So he'll just stick with Barcelona because they have both the community links and billions of euro he needs to truly throw his support behind a football team. Mad stuff.

Is that Brian O Connor the racing correspondent? If it is, I remember a couple of years ago, in the early new year, some IT sports journos had their predictions fof the coming year (GAA winners, Derby winners, 6Nations winners) and one of the questions was for the EPL and LOI winners. His answer was something like "Chelsea for one, and who cares about the other?"

I sent an email of complaint to his editor about it (and the fact that it wasn't edited out) but never got a reply.

[Brusher]

Not sure this is the right place, but sweet jeez, what self respect has this country left ?! Last nights herald back page, a big pic of Man Utd. What chance has any sport to attract people when the only (I think) national evening paper fawns all over a foreign team ?

[razor]

Is that Brian O Connor the racing correspondent? It gets worse.
Seems like he's from Cork (http://writing.ie/meet-the-authors/non-fiction/brian-oconnor.html) too

[Rasputin]

What more would you expect from the West Brit media in Ireland?
Usual drivel.
Now I would love to see Eamonn Sweeney taking that article apart bit by bit and slaughtering him, it would help restore some sanity to the world.

[Red Army]

And I thought I come out with comple sh1t. That article takes the biscuit.

[Charlie Darwin]

Is that Brian O Connor the racing correspondent? If it is, I remember a couple of years ago, in the early new year, some IT sports journos had their predictions fof the coming year (GAA winners, Derby winners, 6Nations winners) and one of the questions was for the EPL and LOI winners. His answer was something like "Chelsea for one, and who cares about the other?"

I sent an email of complaint to his editor about it (and the fact that it wasn't edited out) but never got a reply.
That is tragic.

[marinobohs]

That is tragic.

Not tragic CD but indicitive of the cretinous attitude of the muppet that wrote it. i would suggest if he wrote that about any bogball sport (GAA stick fighting, womens stickfighting (chicks with .....), handball)it would have disappeared long before publication. many journo's are idiots that think themselves funny, its the editors job to weed out the crap.
The fact that the idiot that penned that joke article puts himself forward as a serious sports journalist says it all. :o

[Red Army]

Anyone see what the M.I.B. lads did to the jurnos did when they were outside Giggs's house? Direct action...

[bennocelt]

Anyone see what the M.I.B. lads did to the jurnos did when they were outside Giggs's house? Direct action...

I dig what your saying:mad::p

[harleyleeds]

Just read through this thread and I am not sure but is the general concensus that LOI fans should not support an English team as well or is it just knocking the English supporting ones that dont go to LOI games . Really my question is are ye making any distinction or are they all sc*m. I love my English team even when they dropped to the 3rd div and noticed that lots of the smaller teams in that division (which I would think would be one higher than LOI premier) followed premier teams too . Sligo rovers would of course be my team and would never suffer cos of LEEDS so Im not seeing the problem following a foreign team. I remember coming down from the Showgrounds and upon entering the bar being asked the score to which I always said you should have gone to the game . Was I being an ass**le? In hindsight maybe I should have told them and then explained what a good night it was and good atmosphere and all that to encourage them. Also while the ground has undergone many improvements it was ,to be fair, very uninviting at that time . I think whoever (I forget) earlier said if you have an interest in football you can be swung over to LOI is possibly on the right track.

[Dodge]

Jesus harleyleeds, why do you care?

Some fans of Irish teams have no interest in the English game, some have a huge interest in it. There's no uniform thought. Enjoy supporting your Irish team, and do what you like with your spare time

Brian O'Connor, on the other hand, is clearly an idiot. Sadly though, he's closer to most football fans in Ireland than those of us who go to games each week. The fact that himself and <superinjunction>phile Tom H<superinjunction> were allowed write such anti Irish football drivel shows that the mainstream doesn't care about us

Their loss

[harleyleeds]

Jesus harleyleeds, why do you care?

Some fans of Irish teams have no interest in the English game, some have a huge interest in it. There's no uniform thought. Enjoy supporting your Irish team, and do what you like with your spare time

Brian O'Connor, on the other hand, is clearly an idiot. Sadly though, he's closer to most football fans in Ireland than those of us who go to games each week. The fact that himself and <superinjunction>phile Tom H<superinjunction> were allowed write such anti Irish football drivel shows that the mainstream doesn't care about us

Their loss


Thanks for response , appreciate it . Whats the" Jesus harleyleeds, why do you care? "
for though. Why would I not care how the LOI is going?

[Dodge]

It was 'why do you are what a bunch of Irish football fans on the internet think of you?'

[harleyleeds]

It was 'why do you are what a bunch of Irish football fans on the internet think of you?'

Of course I dont care what you think of me I got the feeling from reading several of the posts that many had an almost snobby notion about their support of their local team and no affiliation twoards an english one, and that they felt that to watch english football on tv was taboo. I was trying to understand the mentality here. Your explanation was good but I was curious as to why you felt the need to say "why i care" and now Im wondering would you not class me as a LOI fan because I live here and support an english team as well . Again Im just curious to understand mindset thats all . I contribute about 5-800 euro to Sligo rovers each year , not alot I appreciate but all helps so does my non attendance disqualify me (I dont go to Elland road either)? Still I am only curious as I said to understand more the thought process of the younger fans . Thanks again.

[Hurt Locker]

Still I am only curious as I said to understand more the thought.



In the following order:

Support

Local junior team (every Sunday)
Local League of ireland team (season ticket holder)
National team (Only the decent matches or bringing some kids from the club)
EPL (sky moth when i get time, been to a load of matches when i worked in London)

[Macy]

It's the internet - it's not feckin representative of anything let alone the "average LoI fan", who simply doesn't exist. No one I know could give a toss whether someone who goes to games also follows a UK Club. Most couldn't even give a toss about the ones that don't go, but support UK clubs. The only one's that get any real stick are those clueless idiots who slag the league off, like the tool who wrote that article, from a position of zero knowledge and ridiculous logic (again like that tool).

Anyone who takes whats said on a forum to heart is just looking for an excuse - if it wasn't that it'd be some other bs excuse. It's their loss - what they don't realise is that as much as helping the league, if they get into going to live football they'll be helping themselves have a better, more fulfilling life. Unless they go to Athlone.

[Jinxy]

Not tragic CD but indicitive of the cretinous attitude of the muppet that wrote it. i would suggest if he wrote that about any bogball sport (GAA stick fighting, womens stickfighting (chicks with .....), handball)it would have disappeared long before publication. many journo's are idiots that think themselves funny, its the editors job to weed out the crap.
The fact that the idiot that penned that joke article puts himself forward as a serious sports journalist says it all. :o

Handball is the actual name of the sport though.
It's crying out for someone to come up with a witty replacement name like 'bogball' or 'stickfighting'.
I like the ring of 'squash for culchies' myself.
See also 'baseball for culchies' (rounders).

[razor]

It's crying out for someone to come up with a witty replacement name like 'bogball' or 'stickfighting'.
how about BogStick and Fightball?

[Jinxy]

Bogfighting and stickball would probably make more sense.

[nigel-harps1954]

Stickball is already taken though isn't it? 'Too fast, wheres the ball?' is more apt.

[Dunny]

Brawlball?

[mr.untitled]

Sure God love the poor pet, you'd have to feel sorry for him. Having nearly cried in 1979 when Man U lost the cup, he now realises he has no connection to them. He's clearly emotionally-repressed!!

And he was so close to the truth. I can picture him in a psychiatrist's office coming close to a breakthrough. He has reached into the depths of his soul to search for a new level of self-realisation. He has come to terms with how empty his past life has been and how he truly seeks a sense of belonging, a more honest and fulfilling path. Here it is - his moment of clarity. Doctor Melfi braces herself for this revelation, this life-altering assertion and then......"I think I'll follow Barca instead" AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH HHHH

It reminds me of a guy I knew who had heart problems and was advised to give up cigarettes......so he took up cigars instead!

So many of his points about Man U/the Premiership are spot on and Barca do play the best football in the world, but how on earth could he look himself in the mirror and say "I used to support Man U, but now I prefer Barcelona"? Of course, the advantage of switching to Barca is that he has even less chance of ever having to attend a match which is clearly a good thing in his mind. I love the line "there is no problem identifying what or who the 2009 winners represent". Not you, that's for sure. Not some journo asking the barman in Mulligans to put on Sky Sports Xtra. But he wonders why he no longer feels a connection with an English team.

And isn't it wonderful how Barcelona are a Catalan team and are run by the fans? The Catlan fans who want to keep the spirit of the club local, who don't even associate with the rest of Spain let alone some hack in D'Olier Street. Also, did anyone seriously believe that when one of the richest clubs in the world (and one of the biggest merchandise sellers) decided to go against their tradition by allowing (even paying for) UNICEF as a shirt sponsor that it was a completely altruistic move and not a gateway to a massive future revenue stream??

Don't get me wrong. I love watching Barcelona play. It's a thing of beauty. But if I became a Barca fan, would I have to deny myself any pleasure from watching Ozil or DiMaria for Real Madrid? Some of the best football I've seen was from Zidane and the traitorous Figo (who any true Barca fan would despise). And I wouldn't have been able to enjoy watching Sgorio when I was a kid to see Butragueno and Hugo Sanchez in Welsh! Far from being Luddite, League of Ireland fans tend to really appreciate football in all its breadth. Growing up, I was fascinated with the technique of Lobanovsky's Kiev. Then there was the sheer awesomeness of Milan 88-94, the teenage kicks of Ajax '95 and the joy of Arsenal's Invincibles. All the while, nothing could beat the thrill of live football (live being 'in the flesh' rather than 'live and exclusive').

That hack would probably love the right-on story of AFC Wimbledon - the ultimate no to franchise football. He uses the example of the Baltimore Colts. I have plenty of friends from around Baltimore. The reason they stopped following the Colts after the move to Indianapolis wasn't because of some disgust about greed-driven shipping out of a franchise, it was because they were no longer their LOCAL team. Baltimore went out and did to Cleveland exactly what Indianapolis had done to them: they stole their team. And now everyone in Baltimore supports the Ravens (formerly the Cleveland Browns) because they can attend games, interact with the team and because the team REPRESENTS them.

As my grandfather would've said "that fella needs some fresh air". It's been said here a million times, but nothing beats going to a game. He, and Mr A, are right. Being a League of Ireland fan is a bit mad. But so are most of the exciting, romantic, inventive things in life. When you love your club, yes, there is a small element of mass-like religious obligation about going when things are bad, but a life with the League of Ireland is genuinely thrilling, emotive and fulfilling. The interaction with the club, the social element, the moments of magic, the despairing lows and the unbridled highs. I never believe we should try to guilt people into going to football matches - it's their loss, they're the ones missing out on something special.

Thanks, Brian O'Connor. You have unintentionally reminded me why I love MY club and MY league. The League of Ireland: Football in Highest Definition!

excellent post.
Just to add my two cents worth. I support both Drogheda united and Everton. I emigrated from Drogheda to Boston about 3 and a half years ago (just after the drogs won the league!). Here in Boston a few of us set up Boston Evertonians. There are about 100 members and about 20 of us watch the games together at stupidly early hours. I have been to see the New England Revolution a few times but it is hard to get into as they are about 20 miles away and the fact that they have a fan base of about 10,000 playing in a 80,000 seater stadium doesn't help. I like catching the ocasional live game. the USA are playing Spain here next week and the Revs are playing LA tomorrow, and I like the craic sitting in a bar early on a Saturday morning watching the toffees loose to West Brom but nothing compares to league of Ireland football, I never realized how much I'd miss it until it was gone. So appreciate what you've got and don't pay any heed to barstool LoI bashers. sure LoI fans are a bit odd and there might be a superiority complex there but thats all part of it, Its like being part of a big family (with that ****** brother from Oriel Park).
LoI haters never really bothered me but the attitude of the press has always gotten to me. I listen to 'off the ball' at work here and Roddy never has anything positive to say about the league and he's their expert. Ken Early, their football supremo, knows sfa about the LoI and cares even less. Surely there must be some sort of way of sponsoring him to pick one club and follow them for a season. His football show lasts an hour four nights a week and them lads would do anything for a few bucks!
Rambling a bit now, Fu*k what the barstoolers think, appreciate what you've got because I wish I had it.

[DannyInvincible]

It's a shame that elements within the country's mainstream media are so openly hostile and unnecessarily condescending towards their own national league and for what really? What harm has it ever done them or the game they apparently love in general? In that sense, it'd be different from those, say, in the English media who decry the commercialisation of football in England and castigate the Premier League as a symptom of this.

[bullit]

There is a radio station around these parts called LMFM who give sweet fcuk all coverage to the two LOI clubs within their catchment area(Dundalk & Drogs).I dont even think that they had live commentary on the last local derby? But they will cover any(and i mean any) bogball or stick fighting match or event.What chance is there that the mainstream media will pay attention/some respect to LOI when the local crowd dont give a c*ap ?? (and full respect to DundalkFM and the Dundalk Democrat for their top class coverage of DundalkFC games)
Fair play to you DannyInvicible,you certaintly have a strong passion for this subject. Maith Thu.

[DannyInvincible]

Fair play to you DannyInvicible,you certaintly have a strong passion for this subject. Maith Thu.

Ah, I'm not actually a Mancunian if that's what you were getting at, in case the location confused you. I was actually born in Donegal. Back in my pre-adolescent days, I used to frequent Finn Park on a regular basis with a Finn Harps-supporting neighbour who drove me up to Ballybofey for my first dabbles with live football. I also attended the Brandywell on occasion as I lived a lot closer to Derry. In later formative years, I've been known to attend the Brandywell exclusively for Derry games, although I generally keep some of my earlier childhood activities under wraps now for obvious reasons. :p But I've always lived just outside the city, went to school there and my social life generally centres around it whenever I'm home, after all, so it made and makes sense to me in order to get my fix of local football. Whether others would accept that rationale or not is another matter...

My parents still live on the Donegal-Derry border and, as I said, I'd generally still consider it home.

[nigel-harps1954]

Ah, I'm not actually a Mancunian if that's what you were getting at, in case the location confused you. I was actually born in Donegal. Back in my pre-adolescent days, I used to frequent Finn Park on a regular basis with a Finn Harps-supporting neighbour who drove me up to Ballybofey for my first dabbles with live football. I also attended the Brandywell on occasion as I lived a lot closer to Derry. In later formative years, I've been known to attend the Brandywell exclusively for Derry games, although I generally keep some of my earlier childhood activities under wraps now for obvious reasons. :p But I've always lived just outside the city, went to school there and my social life generally centres around it whenever I'm home, after all, so it made and makes sense to me in order to get my fix of local football. Whether others would accept that rationale or not is another matter...

My parents still live on the Donegal-Derry border and, as I said, I'd generally still consider it home.


We don't take kindly to your kinda folk around here ;P

[bluemovie]

Wasn't that Uncle Buck?

No. Genuine idiot that used to live with me. Don't get me started!

[BonnieShels]

No. Genuine idiot that used to live with me. Don't get me started!

I think we already have. :)

He's probably on snoos now.

[TiocfaidhArmani]

See when people use the term 'bogball' or 'stick fighting' all the while moaning about showing disrespect to our national league, you really make yourself look silly and a bit of a hypocrite.

And just to say maybe why it gets coverage is because it's actually popular, the LOI isn't - so lose the chip on your shoulder. I find the LOI is usually a turn-off for a lot of people. The attitude stinks.

[Straightstory]

See when people use the term 'bogball' or 'stick fighting' all the while moaning about showing disrespect to our national league, you really make yourself look silly and a bit of a hypocrite.

And just to say maybe why it gets coverage is because it's actually popular, the LOI isn't - so lose the chip on your shoulder. I find the LOI is usually a turn-off for a lot of people. The attitude stinks.

You really don't belong here.

[Dodge]

I find the LOI is usually a turn-off for a lot of people

no one ever said it was an aphrodisiac...

[peadar1987]

See when people use the term 'bogball' or 'stick fighting' all the while moaning about showing disrespect to our national league, you really make yourself look silly and a bit of a hypocrite.

And just to say maybe why it gets coverage is because it's actually popular, the LOI isn't - so lose the chip on your shoulder. I find the LOI is usually a turn-off for a lot of people. The attitude stinks.

The attitude to the GAA from sections of the LOI is, I think, based in no small part on the GAA's historic attitude towards "foreign sports", and specific incidents like the Tallaght saga, and ploughing that football field in Kerry. You don't see the same degree of hostility towards, say, rugby.

[Dunny]

See when people use the term 'bogball' or 'stick fighting' all the while moaning about showing disrespect to our national league, you really make yourself look silly and a bit of a hypocrite.

And just to say maybe why it gets coverage is because it's actually popular, the LOI isn't - so lose the chip on your shoulder. I find the LOI is usually a turn-off for a lot of people. The attitude stinks.

Wrong forum buddy. I think Hoganstand is thataway ---> http://www.hoganstand.com/forum/forumpage.aspx

[BonnieShels]

The attitude to the GAA from sections of the LOI is, I think, based in no small part on the GAA's historic attitude towards "foreign sports", and specific incidents like the Tallaght saga, and ploughing that football field in Kerry. You don't see the same degree of hostility towards, say, rugby.

Yeah. But roll on Sunday and 2 from 2 for the mighty Dubs in the Championship in bog ball and stickfighting. :)

On a barstooling matter to see parents purchase their young children English/Scottish soccer paraphernalia is another aspect which starts Irish lids on the long road down the slippery slope if barstooling.