League Launch & Guides 2013

[Iorfa2MaccaJim]

Hi lads.

I was just wondering will there be a Leagur launch this year. And does anyone know when the League of Ireland Guides from The Star & The Mirror are out.

[Dillonman]

Hi lads.

I was just wondering will there be a Leagur launch this year. And does anyone know when the League of Ireland Guides from The Star & The Mirror are out.

The Star's is normally out a day or two before the first fixtures and I think the Mirror's has come out the day of the first matches. Eitherway they are out the week of the first games.

[A face]

It would be great if there were a few TV and Radio previews, i'm sure NewsTalk will have one, how good it will be i'm not sure.

[nigel-harps1954]

The Star's is normally out a day or two before the first fixtures and I think the Mirror's has come out the day of the first matches. Eitherway they are out the week of the first games.

I remember on the trip to Limerick last season reading the Star League of Ireland pullout fixture rubbish. And what a load of rubbish it was.

The 'effort' put in by the journalists is awful.

[Iorfa2MaccaJim]

Thanks lads. Roll on March 8th.

[A face]

Well www.extratime.ie should have a good preview i'd imagine. www.rte.ie will have something half decent as well.

[A face]

To get the ball rolling .....

hZIvsfBDXjw

[Brusher]

Slightly off topic, but apart from these launches and guides, what the hell are the FAI doing to attract new fans ahead of the new season ? Just a couple of small things I believe they could be doing, would be running a monthly competition for both kids and another for adults on their web site, giving jerseys etc a s a prize.This would be simply a text your name competition, but they could also run a countrywide competition in conjunction with schools, where an essay style contest run over say the first half of the season, where they either experienced a LoI match or watched it on tv.

Also, at the forth coming international games, they could give out (yes free of charge), such things as pens/pencils/erasers, with clubs names and crests on them. All this I realise costs money, though surely they could use an Irish company, which would also bring them extra kudos.

[razor]

i'm sure NewsTalk will have one.I wouldn't bet on it.

[nigel-harps1954]

Slightly off topic, but apart from these launches and guides, what the hell are the FAI doing to attract new fans ahead of the new season ? Just a couple of small things I believe they could be doing, would be running a monthly competition for both kids and another for adults on their web site, giving jerseys etc a s a prize.This would be simply a text your name competition, but they could also run a countrywide competition in conjunction with schools, where an essay style contest run over say the first half of the season, where they either experienced a LoI match or watched it on tv.

Also, at the forth coming international games, they could give out (yes free of charge), such things as pens/pencils/erasers, with clubs names and crests on them. All this I realise costs money, though surely they could use an Irish company, which would also bring them extra kudos.


The problem is, that would make too much sense.

[A face]

http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/w540/Library/SF628/454660.jpg

http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/9223/eamon-naughton-re-elected-as-national-league-chair/

Eamon will have all the answers to that one .... he's been re-elected since early Nov 2012 for his second term i think

[SkStu]

^^I'm presuming he was told to "sh!t or get off the pot" and decided to take a sh!t?

[A face]

^^I'm presuming he was told to "sh!t or get off the pot" and decided to take a sh!t?

We'll never know, unless he tells us when he is getting re-elected next time, cos thats the only time we ever hear from him.

[Dodge]

I'm doing one a preview for balls.ie. As with most things there, it really ins't the most serious coverage of the league you'll find. Will be published in the week leading up to kick off

[JohnnyFootball]

What do fans want in League of Ireland coverage. We are working on our coverage of the League of Ireland this year at wordinsport.com and want to see what fans actually want.

[Sean South]

Slightly off topic, but apart from these launches and guides, what the hell are the FAI doing to attract new fans ahead of the new season ? .
The same could be asked about what are clubs doing themselves? Most don't lift a finger so don't deserve any help.

[peadar1987]

The same could be asked about what are clubs doing themselves? Most don't lift a finger so don't deserve any help.

Most don't have the finances because of the wages arms race that the FAI have done next to nothing to stop through licensing

[Martinho II]

What do fans want in League of Ireland coverage. We are working on our coverage of the League of Ireland this year at wordinsport.com and want to see what fans actually want.

plenty of stats on loi and interviews with loi players

[Dodge]

Official media launch today. I did a lighthearted bit on the photo here;

http://balls.ie/football/airtricity-league-2013-season-launch-picture/

Serious stuff to note;
11 of 19 clubs made a profit last year. Biggest loss was 40k. In total profit for clubs was 242k

League prize money remains the same; €241k for Premier, €74 for first. Winners of prem receive €100k, winners of EA Sports cup receive €25k

[Brusher]

I would have presumed that especially during a recession, that it would make sense that a body sucha as the FAI could have linked up with the Guaranteed Irish body or even Enterprise Ireland, and use their expertise in pushing the support of Irish soccer, and how much of a difference that an extra 500 people paying in to a LOI ground or just simply buying merchandise, could actually mean in terms of employment !

There was a recent report done by a UK body, which suggested that Irish people spent €100 million a year going across the water supporting clubs over there.Now, I'm not going over old ground,about trying to dissuade them from going, but if even a small percentage of them bought some merchandise from a club here, imagine what a difference that could actually make ! If anybody has that report I would love to read it and even have re printed in a National newspaper !!

Hell, what about having a shop/unit in the airport Duty Free, that had souvenirs etc, from all LOI clubs.


Go easy on me guys, there just ideas !! Sometimes we just have to think outside the box !!

[adamd164]

Official media launch today. I did a lighthearted bit on the photo here;

http://balls.ie/football/airtricity-league-2013-season-launch-picture/

Serious stuff to note;
11 of 19 clubs made a profit last year. Biggest loss was 40k. In total profit for clubs was 242k

League prize money remains the same; €241k for Premier, €74 for first. Winners of prem receive €100k, winners of EA Sports cup receive €25k
Before even clicking that link I knew the pudding would be mentioned. :)

Also that Sligo jersey really does encroach on what Shels have always worn to be fair. Doesn't look like a Sligo jersey at all.

[adamd164]

Serious stuff to note;
11 of 19 clubs made a profit last year. Biggest loss was 40k. In total profit for clubs was 242k

League prize money remains the same; €241k for Premier, €74 for first. Winners of prem receive €100k, winners of EA Sports cup receive €25k
Have you got the breakdown of which clubs made profit and who made that 40k loss?

Interesting to note that winners of the Setanta Cup this year get 50k, which is twice the league cup prize money.

[Dodge]

Have you got the breakdown of which clubs made profit and who made that 40k loss?

Interesting to note that winners of the Setanta Cup this year get 50k, which is twice the league cup prize money.

No, they didn't release that.

Setanta Cup winners used to get €150,000 too

[legendz]

I would have presumed that especially during a recession, that it would make sense that a body sucha as the FAI could have linked up with the Guaranteed Irish body or even Enterprise Ireland, and use their expertise in pushing the support of Irish soccer, and how much of a difference that an extra 500 people paying in to a LOI ground or just simply buying merchandise, could actually mean in terms of employment !

There was a recent report done by a UK body, which suggested that Irish people spent €100 million a year going across the water supporting clubs over there.Now, I'm not going over old ground,about trying to dissuade them from going, but if even a small percentage of them bought some merchandise from a club here, imagine what a difference that could actually make ! If anybody has that report I would love to read it and even have re printed in a National newspaper !!

Hell, what about having a shop/unit in the airport Duty Free, that had souvenirs etc, from all LOI clubs.


Go easy on me guys, there just ideas !! Sometimes we just have to think outside the box !!

Crazy money spent going across the water alright. Not something that's going to change any time soon either. It's down to every club really to build their support base and work within their communities to raise their respective profiles. There is some thing the FAI could possibly do with the support of clubs, e.g. some deal for people going to an international game to go to a league game for half price etc.

LoI clubs with the support of the FAI, should be a focal point for the development of the game within their regions. I'd see it as a bad reflection on the FAI that a number or populated regions don't have a LoI club. While it's tough in the current climate, there should be positive noises, schemes and some form of blueprint from the FAI to work towards a wider spread of the league. It's something that will take years and has no quick solution.

[Jofspring]

Piece going to be on Today FM today between 2pm-3pm about the League of Ireland and Limericks return to the Premier. It was recorded last week in Thomond Park for anyone interested.

[A face]

3mYbrTpXakU

[Iorfa2MaccaJim]

I was just wondering has anyone seen a photo of the First Division players at the League Launch ?

Cheers lads.

[Jofspring]

I was just wondering has anyone seen a photo of the First Division players at the League Launch ?

Cheers lads.

Sportsfile website

[legendz]

I was just wondering has anyone seen a photo of the First Division players at the League Launch ?

Cheers lads.

I haven't. The division unfortunately doesn't get much coverage. It could possibly benefit from starting a week before the Premier?

[Iorfa2MaccaJim]

Thanks lads.

Yeah there's a photo on the Spirtsfile website. Just click on Airtricity League Launch 2013 and scroll down.

[adamd164]

Back to the topic of the newspaper league guides- I assume they're out this week, most likely on Friday? I recall the Star's one being on the first Friday of the season last year.

[Iorfa2MaccaJim]

I'm looking forward to them. I always enjoy a look at them.

[nigel-harps1954]

Something to pass half an hour on the trip to Waterford.

[TommyT]

LoI clubs with the support of the FAI, should be a focal point for the development of the game within their regions. I'd see it as a bad reflection on the FAI that a number or populated regions don't have a LoI club.

But if these populated regions cannot sustain an intermediate club, what's the point, aren't we just building ourselves up for another Monaghan incident ?

Maybe they should learn to walk before they run.

[juan]

League prize money remains the same; €241k for Premier, €74 for first. Winners of prem receive €100k, winners of EA Sports cup receive €25k

I knew things in the first were bad but not that bad! :p

[legendz]

But if these populated regions cannot sustain an intermediate club, what's the point, aren't we just building ourselves up for another Monaghan incident ?

Maybe they should learn to walk before they run.

Yeah, that's a fair point as well. As far as I'm aware, the league is still open for clubs to make an application to join. Obviously not for this year but for next so it's down to any aspiring clubs go get themselves in a position so succeed.

[gufcfan]

Yeah, that's a fair point as well. As far as I'm aware, the league is still open for clubs to make an application to join. Obviously not for this year but for next so it's down to any aspiring clubs go get themselves in a position so succeed.
You have to be invited to apply.

[legendz]

You have to be invited to apply.

The following suggested different:

http://www.fai.ie/domestic-a-grassroots/airtricity-league/news/102763-expressions-of-interest-airtricity-league-first-dvision.html

[adamd164]

My understanding is potential new clubs are asked to submit an 'expression of interest', and then basically told whether it's worth pursuing.

GUST submitted one this year and were told not to bother with a full application cos it wouldn't be accepted.

[gufcfan]

GUST submitted one this year and were told not to bother with a full application cos it wouldn't be accepted.
I'm not trying to start an argument, but I'm just going to say that you can't just apply. You need an application pack from the FAI, which they will not give to you if they don't want you to apply.

In my opinion, it allows the FAI to screen clubs, for whatever reason :rolleyes: , so that a club that would possibly satisfy licencing requirements can't enter the independent appeals process if they are denied a licence. How I see it anyway is, if they accept your application, you are then in the licencing process and therefore entitled to appeal if turned down.

GUST couldn't have applied, as the FAI would not let them.

[adamd164]

I'm not trying to start an argument, but I'm just going to say that you can't just apply. You need an application pack from the FAI, which they will not give to you if they don't want you to apply.
That's exactly what I said - FAI told GUST not to bother cos it wouldn't be accepted!

[gufcfan]

That's exactly what I said - FAI told GUST not to bother cos it wouldn't be accepted!
You replied before I edited the post probably, but what I'm saying is that GUST could not apply. You need permission from the FAI to apply basically. Anyway, I'll leave it be.

[gspain01]

Back to the topic of the newspaper league guides- I assume they're out this week, most likely on Friday? I recall the Star's one being on the first Friday of the season last year.

I have heard friday for the Star and none from the Mirror this year.

[Dodge]

Wasn't the Mirror one the PFAI one?

[Martinho II]

Wasn't the Mirror one the PFAI one?

correct. thats surprising if that is the case.

[Guinney]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/a-league-stuck-at-a-crossroads-29106456.html

Irish independent preview by Dan McDonnell, in the preview in the paper he goes through each team but not included in the online version.

Back page football guide here

http://backpagefootball.com/league-of-ireland-premier-division-preview/54390/

[Guinney]

Dundalk Democrat for The Big Kick-off, a 12-page pull out preview on the start of the new season.


Featuring interviews with Stephen Kenny, Vinny Perth, John Dillon, Tiarnan Mulvenna, Keith Ward, Derek Foran, Graham Byrne and many more.


A look back at six previous opening day meetings between Dundalk and Rovers.


A club by club guide to the 2013 season.


https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/733871_10151736703607306_1113769499_n.jpg

[legendz]

You replied before I edited the post probably, but what I'm saying is that GUST could not apply. You need permission from the FAI to apply basically. Anyway, I'll leave it be.

What's the FAI's problem with GUST. With the FAI having gone all out in the past to ensure senior football remained in Limerick and despite demoting Cork and Derry for well known reasons, there was positive noise from the FAI for having Cork and Derry involved in the league.

[Jofspring]

Something similar in the Limerick Leader. The first time there was ever anything like this for us.

http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/554947_10200809247933992_1952518086_n.jpg

[Dillonman]

Only mention of the stars guide is in rodericks column in the middle of the paper and he says its out some time this week!! very good exposure for the league there!!