Amalgamation of Junior Leagues

[BoyInGreen]

I know that the creation of a pyramid system here has been talked about ad nauseum on these boards, but I am surprised that the merger of the various district leagues hasn't been discussed here. It would allow for greater competition between the top junior clubs in the country without the risk that uprooting to a new league brings. Here's an example of what I am talking about for Munster.

Leagues Season 1:

Kerry/Limerick Desmond
Limerick District/Clare
AUL/West Cork/East Cork (aka Cork County League) (direct promtion to MSL, which will be renamed Cork Senior League)
Tipperary North and South (aka Tipperary County League)
Waterford/ West Waterford (aka Waterford County League)

Season 2:

Kerry/Limerick/Clare
Cork
Tipperary/Waterford

For Season 3, the top divisions of the super-districts will merge to form a truly representative Munster Senior League.

I suspect politics will mean that this is unlikely to happen in practice, but if it were done with an open mind, it would improve the standard of local soccer considerably.

[Innishvilla]

Can't see how some of this would work in cork just purely on the distances involved. A premier division could contain teams from Skibbereen, Cork City & surrounds, Michelstown, Youghal. There are a couple of 4 hour round trips there - just the logistics never mind the politics of such a move...

[BoyInGreen]

Can't see how some of this would work in cork just purely on the distances involved. A premier division could contain teams from Skibbereen, Cork City & surrounds, Michelstown, Youghal. There are a couple of 4 hour round trips there - just the logistics never mind the politics of such a move...

Fair point, although this would be only be for the premier division, at which level one could be reasonably expected to travel greater distances. The lower divisions will be regionalised. In the case of Cork, I would be thinking along the lines of Cork Metro, West, North-West and East as potential sub-divisions.

[peadar1987]

I played hockey in Leinster when I still lived in Ireland. Most of the clubs were centred on Dublin, but there was no regionalisation. One year we were fighting relegation to the division below, one which contained Navan, Skerries, Sutton, South-East Wanderers, Mullingar and North Kildare. Nobody wanted to go down to that division!

For South-East Wanderers, even their nearest clubs are a 90 minute round trip. It can be done.

Here's the map, if anyone's interested: http://goo.gl/maps/DYoQt

[Shuffleruns]

Would love this to happen. Sounds like a great idea imo

[last man back]

It's a good idea alrite , but as previously stated the travel time would be a disadvantage. Plus if players are using there own transport will clubs reimburse them the cost.

[BoyInGreen]

It's a good idea alrite , but as previously stated the travel time would be a disadvantage. Plus if players are using there own transport will clubs reimburse them the cost.

Again, this would only be at the top of the pyramid. The lower divisions would effectively be unchanged. Also, bigger games should result (at least hypothetically) mean greater crowds and fundraising abilities.

[Shuffleruns]

Again, this would only be at the top of the pyramid. The lower divisions would effectively be unchanged. Also, bigger games should result (at least hypothetically) mean greater crowds and fundraising abilities.

MAKE IT HAPPEN! It would improve the standard of football so so much IMO

[Insidetherock]

cost would be the biggest issue.. simple as that.. plus time. We're talking about amateur players here.. some of who might have to give up their whole Sunday going and going to a game. Yeah, it would be great for supporters.. but players and their families have needs as well