FAI Invites First Division Expressions of Interest

[gufcfan]

They have used TEK Utd grounds in Deansgrange in past for big games so I prusme its where they will play their home games, it seem a decent ground as it had an attandance of 2,500 at Man Utd leagends game just before christmas

You can fit that many around a pitch when there are no seats. I wouldn't read anything into that figure.

[Dodge]

Cabinteely are looking to use Blackrock College's Stradbrook Rugby Ground

[ltfc_2004]

Stradbrook has great facilties, having drank in the club bar a few times. It would be ok for a first division ground although a lot of the teams use the main pitch.

[wonder88]

Blackrock have debts of around 1.1 million, so they need to generate money from their facilities. There was a proposed deal where Cuala GAA would come in with 2.5m euro and develop some of their ground for gaelic games. That deal was called off recently. A very nice area, but can soccer develop is this part of Dublin?

[Captain2007]

Blackrock have debts of around 1.1 million, so they need to generate money from their facilities. There was a proposed deal where Cuala GAA would come in with 2.5m euro and develop some of their ground for gaelic games. That deal was called off recently. A very nice area, but can soccer develop is this part of Dublin?

If it were to happen it would be 13km and less than 15 mins from Bray , guess what would happen ?
Bray draw a lot of support from the borough of Dun Laoghaire currently, that in turn will be a new challenge for Bray Wanderers.
Of course the FAI would have looked at the implications of bringing a second LOI team within 13km of each other.:)

[pineapple stu]

Bit more than 15 minutes in fairness. The Bray exit of the M11 is more than 15 minutes from Bray when there's any bit of traffic sure. But yeah, it'd affect Bray (and UCD) to some extent. No idea how much though. I can't see them bringing in thousands like.

Interesting thing is that UCD have very strong Council links, so I don't think there'd be a huge amount of DLR CoCo support for Cabinteely if they join. I don't know how important that is though.

[adamd164]

Presumably the FAI are going to have to intervene here and ensure that 2 of Bray, UCD and Cabinteely are at home on different weeks to the other for the sake of the league. A rotation system would probably be fairest.

[Charlie Darwin]

Presumably the FAI are going to have to intervene here and ensure that 2 of Bray, UCD and Cabinteely are at home on different weeks to the other for the sake of the league. A rotation system would probably be fairest.
Yeah, it would be a logisitical nightmare to police three potentially explosive events on the same weekend.

[nigel-harps1954]

I think all three should be amalgamated and called FC South Dublin.

[littlebray]

You must mean North Wicklow West Brit College AFC, surely?

[pineapple stu]

Presumably the FAI are going to have to intervene here and ensure that 2 of Bray, UCD and Cabinteely are at home on different weeks to the other for the sake of the league. A rotation system would probably be fairest.
You mock, but we play on Fridays and Bray play on Saturdays.

It begins already. :)

[Bunny Kelly]

You mock, but we play on Fridays and Bray play on Saturdays.

It begins already. :)


Old school Sunday @ 3 for Cabinteely? Can fill the gap for those lost Rovers B supporters

[Mister X]

just another quick fix by the fai, no long term plan...

[Trainee]

just another quick fix by the fai, no long term plan...

Why do you say that?

Fai sent out an expression of intrest to join the league & they aplied to Join, My understanding is serval cubs appiled but pulled out for various reasons. A few clubs who appiled wanted more time & may consider joining next season so its possible that in 2016 First Div will 10 teams in it

[cobhlad]

so its possible that in 2016 First Div will 10 teams in it

10 Teams!!! Sure what would you want to get promoted for! First Division is where it's happening

[gufcfan]

Brian Kerr on the LOI (http://www.the42.ie/brian-kerr-interview-1892826-Jan2015/)


One idea that has been touted around, particularly in the last year, is that of abolishing the failing First Division and having 16 teams in one league.

“Going to one league would be disastrous. The idea of no promotion or relegation just wouldn't work.

I remember when we had that years ago and what happened then was that, once teams were out of contention for Europe, they reduced their wage bill by letting players go and a lot of the games towards the end of the season were non-events because there was no danger of relegation,” says Kerr.

[Bunny Kelly]

If the FD was regionalised into North/South is there any hope in hell you could get 16 clubs to commit to it given less costs for travelling? I don't see how anything less than 8 teams is sustainable

[Captain2007]

[QUOTE=pineapple stu;1801272]Bit more than 15 minutes in fairness. The Bray exit of the M11 is more than 15 minutes from Bray when there's any bit of traffic sure.

Stu you must drive like Miss daisy :)

[citybone]

If the FD was regionalised into North/South is there any hope in hell you could get 16 clubs to commit to it given less costs for travelling? I don't see how anything less than 8 teams is sustainable

I agree but we need 9 more teams. you lot, Kildare County, Mons, Tralee, Carlow, amateur fingal team, Castlebar, Fanad & ?

[Dodge]

Are we still just magicking up teams in our heads?

[Bunny Kelly]

Are we still just magicking up teams in our heads?


Unfortunately yes, the best solution would be regional divisions but the idea you could get 9 more sides is laughable. I'm more curious if it was regionalised how many clubs you could draw in as costs would be lower

[sulywaterfordfc]

If the FD was regionalised into North/South is there any hope in hell you could get 16 clubs to commit to it given less costs for travelling? I don't see how anything less than 8 teams is sustainable


It states "abolish the failing first division and having 16 teams in one league"..... It doesn't mention having a 16 team first division.


I also agree having just one division would kill the league altogether.

[JC_GUFC]

Am I right in thinking that Cabinteely don't have a senior team at the moment?

Surely if this is going ahead there must be some attempt at signing players - has anyone even heard any notice of that?

[Charlie Darwin]

They have an intermediate team in the LFL I think.

[Spudulika]

No mater what resolution is brought about, there will be cribbing and nothing that will be good for the league will come about. We need to take over Abbottstown, scare them! Now where's my can of petrol!

[Longfordian]

They have an intermediate team in the LFL I think.

Had to google that league as I'd never heard of it. I've never heard of any of the teams in it either. Where do they intend getting LOI standard players from? There aren't as many available as years gone by and every other team is back training.

[Titan]

The lack of communication from the Fai on this is laughable.
Even a holding statement just to let us know they are at least doing something would be a start.
7 teams? Cabinteely? Carlow? Roddys all star former wrestlers xi?
At least give us some inkling as to what's going on!!

[Charlie Darwin]

Had to google that league as I'd never heard of it. I've never heard of any of the teams in it either. Where do they intend getting LOI standard players from? There aren't as many available as years gone by and every other team is back training.
Who knows? A few players who've dropped out of the league I suspect. Dublin's not really short of players, but they might have to pay a bit to get guys away from LSL/AUL sides.

Cabinteely were, I think, in the LSL up until last season.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I don't think the FAI will really care about quality, they'd be expecting Cabinteely to be playing on a shoestring anyway.

[Macy]

Brian Kerr on the LOI (http://www.the42.ie/brian-kerr-interview-1892826-Jan2015/)
The league managed to survive for 60 odd years as a first division. The reality is that 7 teams isn't sustainable, so eventually more clubs will drop out and a single division will be inevitable. Or we go through this paper over the cracks process every bloody season.

[Spudulika]

That's what I was thinking as I read that. He is correct that we need some sort of competition, but joined up thinking is not a great strength (in general) in the FAI. The IRFU used to be the same, then changed due to the intrusion of professionalism and even then they have had their moments. There are too many little fiefdoms, too many vested interests, too many blazers, gravy trains and votes to have a really and truly vibrant soccer scene (local) in Ireland that gives our senior clubs and national teams real clout on the International level. Instead we'll continue to expect the sky/bt leagues to force our youngsters down the leagues. Export is something we do best.

[citybone]

Are we still just magicking up teams in our heads?

I was wondering what clubs could make up the 9 extra clubs he wanted, I used example from previously existing clubs in the last 10-15 years with stadiums suitable etc. Most of the clubs i mentioned were in the A championship and wanted to be involved in Senior football, although not all of them at this stage.

[eitoof]

If it's Cabinteely, you'd have the wonder at the wisdom of the club's committee taking up a league place. Can't see any potential benefits. Likeliest scenario is a bottom place finish for a year or two and back to intermediate/junior a lot less well off.

[Mark]

You're 100% correct. A very controversial time in Irish football and that start of the downward spiral that Limerick football is only coming out of now. I'm actually writing a book on the history of the League of Ireland and that episode is featured prominently. There's a little taster here at my blog.

https://cumminsmedia.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/excerpt-from-a-history-of-the-league-of-ireland-1983-84-season/

[Martinho II]

piece in yesterdays sun saying that Eddie Gormley who is currently director of football in Cabinteely will be mgr if they get the 1st div licence!

[citybone]

Does anyone have references? cos i haven't seen anything other than rumors.

[wonder88]

Thanks Mark for that info. 9 nil was the score, brings back some memory of reading the Irish Press on a monday for the reports on the league of Ireland. My interest started then i suppose, as I had no club near me to go and watch senior soccer at the time. I remember the envy I felt when two class mates of mine managed to go get to a Limerick game in the Market Field during Eoin Hands time. So looking forward to finally watch a game there this season. However the few games I managed to get to Thomond Park for were enjoyable.

[Sheridan]

You're 100% correct. A very controversial time in Irish football and that start of the downward spiral that Limerick football is only coming out of now. I'm actually writing a book on the history of the League of Ireland and that episode is featured prominently. There's a little taster here at my blog.

https://cumminsmedia.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/excerpt-from-a-history-of-the-league-of-ireland-1983-84-season/
Are you the notorious Mark O'Neill and/or Cummins? :eek:

[Mark]

Very often the whole back page on a Monday was dedicated to the LOI!, and if we were lucky there was another half a page of reports inside. I was at games v St Pat's and Dundalk at Thomond Park last season and they were brilliant but it still felt different considering the size of the stadium. The Markets Field will be much more suitable for them in the short term and the space is there to increase seating capacity if and when it is needed.

[Acornvilla]

It's certainly going to be more a case of if than when, the way things are shaping up.

[littlebray]

Nostalgia corner: I came across this in an Indo from late last August.


St Patrick's Athletic and Cork City are in talks with the FAI about entering reserve sides into next season's First Division. Shamrock Rovers are set to continue with their second string in the division.

Wonder who was feeding them OllieByrne-isms?

[NeverFeltBetter]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/blackrock-say-deal-that-may-bring-soccer-to-stradbrook-makes-financial-sense-1.2080474?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


Cabinteely chairman Martin Smith (http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Martin%20Smith&article=true) agrees: “It’s a good fit. There’s a bit of an overlap at the start and the end of our season, but we’ll cope with that.”
Smith declined to discuss the club’s proposed membership of the SSEAirtricity League (http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?q=SSEAirtricity%20League&article=true)in any detail, citing confidentiality clauses in the application process, but confirms that the club has submitted a licence application and expresses the hope that they will receive news of how they have fared over the next week or two.

[Neish]

Hopefully this is it sorted now & they can get fixtures out in next week or two

[the 12 th man]

Small article about Cabinteely FC
http://balls.ie/football/cabinteely-fc-likely-latest-addition-league-ireland/

[Mr A]

38 days before the first game we finally get a semi-concrete indication of who the eighth team will be.

[Spudulika]

If they do it right, they can be a decent club in a number of years (at LOI level). With such a large number of under age teams they should be bringing in 500 a game and their under 15's now will be ready in 4-5 years etc. Maybe it's a good new sign for the LOI.

[outspoken]

If they do it right, they can be a decent club in a number of years (at LOI level). With such a large number of under age teams they should be bringing in 500 a game and their under 15's now will be ready in 4-5 years etc. Maybe it's a good new sign for the LOI.

If they bring in anywhere near 500 a game il be shocked

[Longfordian]

Mervue and Salthill had lots of underage teams. They got great crowds.

[gufcfan]

Mervue and Salthill had lots of underage teams. They got great crowds.

Apparently Salthill gave out hundreds of passes for their first game in Terryland during the SD Galway farce. Around 150 there and that was probably a record in itself.

LOI football was not in the best interests of Salthill or Mervue. It's still biting Salthill in the ass bigtime.

[Captain2007]

Mervue and Salthill had lots of underage teams. They got great crowds.

Lots of underage teams in Bray down the years, plus the population of 35,000 and we get an average 700/800 gate, don't know the population of South Dublin, Hope Cabinteely and the FAI have done their homework. :confused2: