FAI Invites First Division Expressions of Interest

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Would they not just have some sort of X Factor style show to get the 8th team? JD and Emma could be the judges.

[Charlie Darwin]

Would they not just have some sort of X Factor style show to get the 8th team? JD and Emma could be the judges.
It worked in 2007.

[Macy]

They could just get a club to throw in a team, on the basis of a 3 year commitment, and then do nothing if they pull out after a year.

[Charlie Darwin]

That sounds like a plan we can all get behind.

[culloty82]

Hearing the same old rumours going around, Carlow/Kilkenny team playing out of Buckley Park, Kerry League side, even Monaghan United returning.

Suppose we'll most likely find out around end of January.

Can 100% rule Kerry out of the running, focus entirely on the all-weather pitch, and even the talk that the U-19 League had been joined seems to have gone totally quiet.

[Dave77]

Was in tolka the other day, lad there had heard rumours of IT Carlow or cabinteely (no idea what club) had expressed interest. Can't see any club joining it. 7 clubs is what I'm thinking

[Charlie Darwin]

Was in tolka the other day, lad there had heard rumours of IT Carlow or cabinteely (no idea what club) had expressed interest. Can't see any club joining it. 7 clubs is what I'm thinking
Cabinteely?!?!

[Quayman]

Would a club like sheriff not be interested. They have put it up to league clubs over the last number of years in the cups and seem to dominate all the junior competitions they play in.

[Charlie Darwin]

Sheriff don't have a ground. They'd probably have to groundshare with Shels, added the costs of running a LOI team with a very small supporter base and they'd have to give up their position in the LSL. It just isn't worth the gamble for most Dublin clubs. The lack of a proper pyramid makes it very not worth their while.

[Longfordian]

The Mirror is reporting that Cabinteely FC want to join the league. I've never heard of them before. I'm not even sure where Cabinteely is.

[nigel-harps1954]

The Mirror is reporting that Cabinteely FC want to join the league. I've never heard of them before. I'm not even sure where Cabinteely is.

They seem like a small junior club. 12 pitches in Kilbogget Park, and a large enough youth setup according to their website. That'd be an awfully strange addition to the league. Another team with no decent stadium and no fanbase. It'd be like Salthill Devon all over again.

[BoyInGreen]

True, but there is a gap in the market for a team in the Dun Laoghire/SE Dublin area, and if it was well thought out, such a club could be successful. Also, I think Crumlin United should apply: they've dominated the LSL now for 2 years running, so they're clearly ready to move up.

[Charlie Darwin]

"Gap in the market" - perennial famous last words in LOI.

[ger121]

Played them years ago underage.They are a very small club. Surprised to hear they are interested.

[Azrob Spooh]

In the interests of accuracy, Sherriff don't play in the Leinster Senior League (LSL) CD. They are a Junior club and they are members of the Athletic Union League (AUL)

[Charlie Darwin]

Yes, sorry, I type faster than I think sometimes :)

[ybig]

I think IT Carlow should join tbh.. Full time football course there and fantastic facilities. They could also use Buckley park in Kilkenny for home games

[nigel-harps1954]

I hate this idea of "they dominated junior/intermediate football so are ready to step up". It's not about the first team or how well the club do on the pitch that matters. Most clubs who dominate junior and intermediate football barely get 50 people to watch a match and don't have anything near the same financial outgoings of senior clubs.

Again, it's the same as Salthill Devon or Mervue United. Granted, at least Meruve on occasion were able to get 200 or so to home games, but Salthill had nobody watching them, and it's effectively killed the once thriving junior club.

Crumlin United wouldn't be a good addition to the League of Ireland, not would any Dublin based side. The Dublin City and Sporting Fingal ideas should have been proof enough to everyone that nobody will take on another Dublin team. 'Gap in the market' isn't a suitable reason to bring in another club or for a club to reach too far beyond their capabilities.

I'd fully welcome a Carlow IT team, but I believe they already have a decent enough stadium within the college grounds with a seated stand and wouldn't need to use Buckley Park. Stand to be corrected on that one though.

[ybig]

I dont thnk IT Carlow have a football pitch witha stand .Their GAA team does I Think.. They mainly use 3G Astro pitches in the college. With the FAI course in the college they could develop a decent following in the town

[nigel-harps1954]

According to their website, the main stand in the college has 660 seats, and 'state of the art' changing facilities with another 250 seat stand in the Rugby pitch. I'm sure the main arena could easily be altered for use as a football pitch if they got into the league. They've a 4G artificial pitch too. So, it seems the facilities are definitely there.

[Martinho II]

The Mirror is reporting that Cabinteely FC want to join the league. I've never heard of them before. I'm not even sure where Cabinteely is.

Cabinteely have a thriving ladies football team.Its where Stephenie Roche started her career!

[pineapple stu]

True, but there is a gap in the market for a team in the Dun Laoghire/SE Dublin area, and if it was well thought out, such a club could be successful.
Why would Cabinteely be any more successful than UCD or Bray, two clubs in basically the same catchment area?

[wonder88]

The real gap in the market in Dublin is down near where the Irishtown Stadium is in Ringsend. The market would be the recent migrants to Ireland many of whom work in the financial and IT industry. But as some wise business folk often ask; "is there a market in the gap?"

[Darklordsbane]

Do you even need a stand as far as I remember Mervue didn't have one

[nigel-harps1954]

Do you even need a stand as far as I remember Mervue didn't have one



Technically, you're meant to have 500 seats for First Division as far as I'm aware. 2,500 for Premier Division.

[Dodge]

Technically, you're meant to have 500 seats for First Division as far as I'm aware. 2,500 for Premier Division.

First Division

The stadium must have an approved Safe Holding Capacity of at least 200 spectators, as
determined by an approved safety engineer.
The Safe Holding Capacity for the ground must be relevant and safe for the match it is
intended to host.
The Safe Holding Capacity should be defined in terms of individual seats, standing places
and total number for each section of the ground and for the ground in total.
Spectator accommodation must be provided in at least 2 areas of the ground.

Premier Division

The stadium must have an approved Safe Holding Capacity of at least 2500 spectators, as
determined by an approved safety engineer.
This must consist of at least 1500 individual seats, of which at least 500 must be covered.
The Safe Holding Capacity should be defined in terms of individual seats, standing places
and total number for each section of the ground and for the ground in total.
Spectator accommodation must be provided in at least 2 areas of the ground.

http://www.fai.ie/sites/default/files/atoms/files/FAI_Stadium_infrastructure_Criteria_2011.pdf

So the requirements are

First Division
Capacity - 200
Seats - 0

Premier Division
Capacity - 2,500
Seats - 1,500
Covered seats - 500

[Macy]

Or plans to meet the requirements.

[cheifo]

Carlow IT have ruled themselves out on their Twitter page. Hope this is sorted over next 2/3 weeks.

[citybone]

First Division


Premier Division


http://www.fai.ie/sites/default/files/atoms/files/FAI_Stadium_infrastructure_Criteria_2011.pdf

So the requirements are

First Division
Capacity - 200
Seats - 0

Premier Division
Capacity - 2,500
Seats - 1,500
Covered seats - 500

Drogheda? isn't the capacity about 1,800?

[Dillonman]

There is that Meath Utd team that was set up a few months ago. Although its gone very quiet with them the last while!

Mullingar is a big town with no team.

[Longfordian]

I believe there's been a long running feud between the two teams in Mullingar, they won't co-operate in any way apparently so the football people there are divided. It'd be hard to run a LOI team there in the circumstances. I've heard it said that some would rather support Longford than see the other lot in the LOI. They wouldn't support Athlone as they don't like them either. Welcome to Irish football.

[Dodge]

Drogheda? isn't the capacity about 1,800?

I'd have thought it was a good bit more tbh.

[cheifo]

I believe there's been a long running feud between the two teams in Mullingar, they won't co-operate in any way apparently so the football people there are divided. It'd be hard to run a LOI team there in the circumstances. I've heard it said that some would rather support Longford than see the other lot in the LOI. They wouldn't support Athlone as they don't like them either. Welcome to Irish football.

Dear oh Dear what are we like in this country. We'll never move forward unless this stuff is confronted and dealt with. Judean peoples front/Peoples front of Judea etc

[outspoken]

There is that Meath Utd team that was set up a few months ago. Although its gone very quiet with them the last while!

Mullingar is a big town with no team.

Meath united was a joke set up on twitter. Royal meath FC is probably who you are thinking of but they are solely focused on entering the U-17 set up and that's only a 50/50 shot at best.

[ybig]

a 7 team league is hardly feasible. Surely another team will join the league..tbh it needs another 3 to make it 10 but that will not happen for obvious reasons

[Martinho II]

I believe there's been a long running feud between the two teams in Mullingar, they won't co-operate in any way apparently so the football people there are divided. It'd be hard to run a LOI team there in the circumstances. I've heard it said that some would rather support Longford than see the other lot in the LOI. They wouldn't support Athlone as they don't like them either. Welcome to Irish football.
were they feuding in 2001 when Mullingar Town tried joining the loi?

[Longfordian]

Don't know to be honest but I believe it's a long running thing. I'm open to correction from someone more familiar with the clubs concerned.

[bennocelt]

I believe there's been a long running feud between the two teams in Mullingar, they won't co-operate in any way apparently so the football people there are divided. It'd be hard to run a LOI team there in the circumstances. I've heard it said that some would rather support Longford than see the other lot in the LOI. They wouldn't support Athlone as they don't like them either. Welcome to Irish football.

As a mullingar head, thats all true, one team gets all the funding and fawning (The one where JD likes to hang around), the other doesnt!
I regularly go to see Longford when I'm home, and Athlone on the odd occasion, but its extremely hard to find anyone who will drive to Athlone with me. Welcome to small town Ireland, ha:D

edit: of course there is a lot more to it than that but.............

[avvenalaf]

What happened with that caper where some Mullingar head in Londoin with more money than sense sent a rakalunvners over to play for Mullingar with Champions League in five years being on the cards?

[bennocelt]

What happened with that caper where some Mullingar head in Londoin with more money than sense sent a rakalunvners over to play for Mullingar with Champions League in five years being on the cards?

Was a mad buzz in the town when that happened. The coach, who was brought over as well, still lives in the town. They were mostly playing the under 21 LOI league, when Mullingar had two teams in it!

As said a while ago, Mullingar town applied for the LOI and were denied a place that was given to Dublin City and Kildare town. Thats enough to stop ambition for a long long time.

[Eminence Grise]

What happened with that caper where some Mullingar head in Londoin with more money than sense sent a rakalunvners over to play for Mullingar with Champions League in five years being on the cards?

One of the players is doing time for armed robbery.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Sestanovich - he used to be be a handy player in lower leagues in FM and CM!

[cheifo]

Any rumours about 8th team? .....or even any rumours about rumours?

[Charlie Darwin]

Any rumours about 8th team? .....or even any rumours about rumours?
Cabinteely FC is the one the papers ran with a while back but no word since. Carlow have ruled themselves out. It might be Cork B or Pats B. Truth is we can't be sure the FAI even know.

[cobhlad]

Clubs are going back to training this week and there are no ideas of fixtures, not even how many clubs will be in the Division. This has gone beyond a farce. How will a new club even get up and running so quickly. Looks more like an implausible seven team league as every week passes

[eitoof]

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?

[Ezeikial]

Decent article from Macdara Ferris in extratime.ie about Shamrock Rovers B

http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/13487/

Former captain Michael Kelly is not at all complimentary about the attitudes at Rovers



It’s the dedicated players who played without any pay [on amateur contracts] that I’m frustrated for. Some of the lads travelled for an hour to training and then the length and breath of the country for fixtures but they didn’t even get a call on their future in the end.

[Professor K]

Hearing rumours started by myself about Gweedore Celtic.

[SeanDMRooney]

Such probably consider Letterkenny Rovers at this stage :p

[nigel-harps1954]

Given that the 2014 First Division fixtures were released on the 14th January last year, can we expect some sort of announcement this week? A list released with 'AN OTHER' or 'TBC' filling in the gaps?

[Mr A]

It'd be great if clubs had something to plan around, but I doubt it. Scary how little word there is of an eighth team.