Away ends

[Sean South]

Don't want to start a new thread for this but if mods think its worth while split it. What's people's opinions on away ends in the LOI. Whats your favourte ground to visit overall and least favourite ground? Most clubs seem to see away support as an inconvenice. I'd imagine Dundalk, Bray, Sligo Rovers, Pats would be seen as the worst in the premier league for facilities, with Limerick, Shamrock (even though not all covered), and Cork as the best in terms of facilities. Shels (excluding the jacks), Bohs, and Drogheda don't have the best facilities but always seem to be a favourite with traveling LOI fans. What's the most important thing for visiting fans?

[White Horse]

What's the most important thing for visiting fans?

When I go to an away ground, the most important thing is that I can see the game.

I hate being stuck behind the goal or having a restricted view.

Even though the conditions may not to great, I like going to grounds like Tolka (despite the poor toilets) and Bray (despite the lack of shelter).

I don't like Dalymount, Drogheda, Brandywell, Tallaght, Richmond etc as the viewing position is poor.

[A face]

The away end in Turners Cross was meant to have units built for chippers etc. and it would also have toilets on either end but its not done yet and doesn't look to be happening any time soon. Its a pity because i think with that it would be a great venue to come to for away supporters.

[Dodge]

Oriel has the worst view (from the terrace) with the stand blocking a lot of the action. No cover doesn't help

Showgrounds has that awful fence and now pain on the walls

Brandywell's view is brutal as you're miles from the far goal

Tallaght is great

Turner's Cross is good but had no food the last couple of times

Thomond clearly the best for view, facilities etc

United park is another with somewhat covered view but for some reason I like this place

Dalymount is grand. Behind the goal but at least dry and access to food/drink

UCD has come cover and it's the same for everyone so no real complaints

Bray has no cover which can be a problem on cold, rainy nights

Tolka has awful views with all those poles. Apparently it didn't offer food either (but not that big a problem for Dub based away fans). Shame to see it the way it is tbh

[peadar1987]

Bray's rubbish for facilities, the toilets are pish, the food's overpriced, and there's no cover, but conversely, on a nice summer evening, when the weather's warm and the sun is out, the DART stand is one of the nicest places I could think of being.

[brendy_éire]

....on a nice summer evening, when the weather's warm and the sun is out, the DART stand is one of the nicest places I could think of being.

Love Bray during the summer. Definitely on of my favourite away trips.
Great view in UCD, enjoyable as well.

Worst these days is Sligo, which is disappointing, because it used to be one of the best. Horrible view from the cramped section of stand, made worse by the barriers they erected half way down a few years ago. And that paint stuff on the wall is a joke.

[Sean South]

Do people really consider food when going to football. I can understand if you have to travel 3-4 hours then 2 hours in the ground and a rush back to the bus after. But home fans and including away fans who only travel for an hour or two. If you can't go without food there is something wrong with you. Also the comment on the view position in Tallaght? Only one stupid exit sign is in the way, you can hardly expect them to give the centre of the stand to away fans.

For me what is important at away games is first a roof. Not just to keep you dry but it's needed to build up an atmosphere which is very hard to do in a open ground. Security/stewards/Gardai not been complete arseholes important. It can be very off putting when you're treated like some kind of criminal. Having a decent view helps, I don't mind the odd pole but I can imagine how away fans in The Showgrounds feel with loads of pillars/fence, so they stand down the front where they get covered in "anti climb" paint. Toilets again, not that pushed unless you need to take a dump. But it's not right expecting women to use a potaloo covered in pįss so I think it should be a priorty for clubs to sort that out. It's out of the clubs hands but part of the away day is meeting up with the rest of your support in a pub near the ground and heading in together. That's why I don't like Tallaght just one hotel really and worse again UCD.
Personally I like Derry, Bohs, Drogs, and Shels. All have a traditional feel in working class areas. Pats is grand when the Shed is open, other wise I don't like the place. Facilities in Limerick are great and the bar inside the ground helps too but I would like if more pubs were nearby, it just feels a bit plastic. Can't complain about Cork either decent facilities with a traditional feel to the place too. Least favourite grounds for me in the premier league.
1, UCD
2, Bray
3, Dundalk
4, Tallaght

[White Horse]

Do people really consider food when going to football. I can understand if you have to travel 3-4 hours then 2 hours in the ground and a rush back to the bus after. But home fans and including away fans who only travel for an hour or two.

Friday evening away kick-offs usually involve me leaving work, picking up the kids and going straight to the game. It's nice to be able to get a bite at the ground as it I wouldn't get home until after 11pm for most away games.

If I have three kids with me, it can get expensive at some grounds. It all adds up.


Least favourite grounds for me in the premier league.
1, UCD
2, Bray
3, Dundalk
4, Tallaght

I actually like going to Belfield. We usually take 300-400 and the atmosphere is great. Having said that, in order to avoid the view being obscurred by poles, I usually sit at the front. This is quite a low viewing position, almost pitch level.

Bray, I like. Cover doesn't bother me. I own an umbrella and a shower jacket.

I wouldn't like Oriel Park as an away fan. In the corner, with the view of the Town End partly obscured.

Tallaght would be great if the viewing position wasn't so far away from the game.

As I said earlier, I prioritise viewing position above anything else.

[Dodge]

It's out of the clubs hands but part of the away day is meeting up with the rest of your support in a pub near the ground and heading in together.

To be fair you did ask about away ends, rather than away trips. Sligo is nearly always a great trip even with a crappy view. Think that's kinda why I like Drogheda too. just have had good times in/around that ground

[redobit]

Love Bray during the summer. Definitely on of my favourite away trips.
Great view in UCD, enjoyable as well.

Worst these days is Sligo, which is disappointing, because it used to be one of the best. Horrible view from the cramped section of stand, made worse by the barriers they erected half way down a few years ago. And that paint stuff on the wall is a joke.

Needs must Im afraid. When you have away fans on the pitch every other game and your stewards geing floored on the pitch then the club had to do somthing. And it seems to have proved a good deterent too.

The barrier was put up for similar reasons. Its unfortunate but like a lot of things the scum minority has affected the ordinary decent fan.

[Sean South]

To be fair you did ask about away ends, rather than away trips. Sligo is nearly always a great trip even with a crappy view. Think that's kinda why I like Drogheda too. just have had good times in/around that ground

That's true. I guess it's not just the end that makes the trip. Redobit have to disagree with you there, it's not like the paint stopped the Shams fan that jumped the wall to get at the fella being arrested from the home end when Gardai escorted him infront of them. If you want to cross the wall you still can do so.

[outspoken]

To give a first division view on this I'd rank my favorite away ends as

1: Athlone
2: Waterford
3: Cobh
4: Wexford
5: harps
6: mervue
7: salthill

Great stand in athlone with good facilities. Waterford same but that running track is a pain. Cobh was a great trip first time round but the second time we were thrown in behind the goals like a bunch of animals and the view was just awful and the stewards were @rseholes. Wexford is a windy old spot but at least there's some sort of cover and a great clubhouse, poles are annoying though. You have to pay into the stand in harps now so that's off putting but the food is great and pub on the corner, toilets are 3rd world standard. Mervue and salthill are both fields but better facilities for supporters in mervue.

[nigel-harps1954]

The away end in Finn Park is the gantry side. It has toilets of it's own, and is the best viewing in the ground. The toilets are of a good standard. The home toilets are indeed horrible though.
The only part you pay extra is into the seats, and that's only an extra 2 euro. Not exactly going to break the bank.

For the first division, its probably the only good point about it being there's no grounds with a particularly bad/obscured view. I enjoy visiting all the grounds in the First.

Quite like visiting Richmond, although we were never in the old shed, we were put into the seats behind the nets last time I was there.
United Park is a great wee ground to visit, even though there's so, so much wrong with it.

Hate both Sligo and Derry. Sligo used to be the best away area in the whole league, but since those barriers went in place it's destroyed it.
Derry is just so far from the pitch, looking up the slope..poor altogether.

[brendy_éire]

Do people really consider food when going to football. I can understand if you have to travel 3-4 hours then 2 hours in the ground and a rush back to the bus after.

Applies for Derry fans. We tend to leave around 2-3 for most away games, meaning your have to eat at the ground or somewhere along the way. In general, LoI food is fairly average. The Brandywell chippy is lovely, but Finn Park's is easily the nicest (and cheapest) in the country. Amazing chicken curry from there.
Other than those two, nowhere else stands out as having food of any notable quality.

[citybone]

Food inside turners cross is awful and i never eat it. I go to Dino's, Like a 2 min walk away Great food. As for away trips. I love the Trip to Derry due to getting on with their fans soo well, The view is not great but not the worst. Sligo is a long trip and never had a good athmosphere up there. partly due to small travelling crowds every time i was there.
Finn Harps i liked, it was Summer and pleasent, i would not like to be on the gantry side in bad weather but we did just stand in the shed. I missed Terryland, Lovely city to stay in, Ground is good for atmosphere too with a fairly good view, Stewards weren't perfect but not bad. Longford was a fun away game, nice town. Athlone similar, i would say Longford has a better view due to being closer to the center of the pitch (we were in the main stand), Dundalk is a hole, The bar is nice but away terrace is awful and a roofed terrace behind the goal would help hugely but cant see that happening anytime soon.
Drogs i actually like, not a great view but a roofed terrace is great for a atmosphere, food and toilets are a kip and the stewards are *****. Tolka's toilets are awful but i love the riverside for a good atmosphere.
Dalymount depending on where you are put is good. Des Kelly Stand was good for atmosphere don't remember which is much better. The Connaght stand had a lot of history and i loved it cos of that but the facilities were crap. Never in the main stand but im sure that would be better facilities.
Richmond i liked but dont like being behind the goal in the lego stand. Either side of the main stand were good. Tallaght is very good but still quite open.
Bray is good on a Warm summers day but otherwise crap.
Wexford is nice summer away trip but very open for cold weather but too far from town. Waterford is alway good bar the athletics track. The new stand is nice pity they havent been in the top flight with it.
Cobh is nice but is horrible on a cold night.
Limerick old ground was a kip but Musgrave is better bar the horrible horrible stewards. Prob the worst i have encountered. Was freezing when i was there. I thought the bar area (which was nice) could be somewhat warmer but to no avail. Prob the best food i have got at a loi ground.
The norn Irish grounds like Dungannon had fantastic food. I was happy with the away terrace. Portadown had little complaints too. Windsor was a bit of a hole, Cruesaders i was happy with, Nice stewards.

[poster]

Away end in Tallaght was pretty good last night.

[Dodge]

Food in Cork last night so bump them up a lilttle from my previous imaginary rating

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Musgrave. Yet another different home for Limerick........

[adamd164]

Tallaght has the best facilities in Dublin, Richmond Park is decent when they put the away fans in the stand but is always a good trip anyway.

The away section in Drogheda has a low roof over it which makes for a decent atmosphere if there's a good away crowd, even if the ground itself is rubbish. Tolka and Dalymount are just falling assunder, which is sad.

Terryland Park in Galway is great for away fans, hopefully it makes a return to the premier division soon.

[luiz]

Applies for Derry fans. We tend to leave around 2-3 for most away games, meaning your have to eat at the ground or somewhere along the way. In general, LoI food is fairly average. The Brandywell chippy is lovely, but Finn Park's is easily the nicest (and cheapest) in the country. Amazing chicken curry from there.
Other than those two, nowhere else stands out as having food of any notable quality.

I've only been there once so I don't know if they have it every match, but Athlone Town's ground had an amazing pizza freshly made at decent prices. And Brandywell's chipper is indeed the best.

[adamd164]

How many does Athlone's away section hold? Looking forward to visiting there next season, another ground off the list.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

I miss The Mon Dog

[Candystripe]

I also miss the Mondog ;)

I always hear people complaining about the away end in the Brandywell but we have the same view from the opposite end of the stand and we always have plenty of home fans there Maybe it's just that the Brandywell has a bigger than normal pitch compared to other clubs. Their is nothing to restrict your view either but i agree that the stupid greyhound track doesn't help!

[atfconline]

How many does Athlone's away section hold? Looking forward to visiting there next season, another ground off the list.

There is no section as such, just the far end of the stand is designated for away fans. It would be up to the Club how much it wanted to give up.

[Dodge]

Their is nothing to restrict your view either but i agree that the stupid greyhound track doesn't help!

There's greyhound traps in the way

[ATFC-1887]

There is no section as such, just the far end of the stand is designated for away fans. It would be up to the Club how much it wanted to give up.
As far as i am aware, there will be work done on behind the far goal and away fans will be put in there. At the moment you cant because of the stones but i believe work is planned.

[nigel-harps1954]

As far as i am aware, there will be work done on behind the far goal and away fans will be put in there. At the moment you cant because of the stones but i believe work is planned.

That's fantastic news. Really hope they put in a decent little stand there as the ground is crying out for a bit more development.

[ATFC-1887]

Unfortunately Nigel i didnt mean a stand :( As far as i know its just a new surface that is being put down.

[Yossarian]

Unfortunately Nigel i didnt mean a stand :( As far as i know its just a new surface that is being put down.

I assume it won't just be putting in a level surface as you couldn't put a couple if hundred fans on a flat section without steps or any kind or tiering.

[Acornvilla]

How much would building a terrace cost these days anyway?

[nigel-harps1954]

Unfortunately Nigel i didnt mean a stand :( As far as i know its just a new surface that is being put down.

I'd assume it'll be angled concrete similar to Finn park so. Either way, it's badly needed there. Are there plans for a roof over it or are they simply putting in a fence behind it?

[outspoken]

Am I right in saying athlone will have to give up a certain proportion of the stand regardless if they develop behind the goals?

[ATFC-1887]

I'd assume it'll be angled concrete similar to Finn park so. Either way, it's badly needed there. Are there plans for a roof over it or are they simply putting in a fence behind it?
Genuinely have no idea. All this isn't even definite. Just what i was told. Might not happen. I would love a little roofed terrace behind the goal. Would make the stadium alot less open. At the moment its far to open. Needs another stand/terrace

[A face]

Am I right in saying athlone will have to give up a certain proportion of the stand regardless if they develop behind the goals?

Why so because? Just not heard of this before is all? Licensing condition or something you mean?

[adamd164]

Away clubs are usually entitled to 5% (I think) of the overall ticket capacity.

[bluewhitearmy]

Am I right in saying athlone will have to give up a certain proportion of the stand regardless if they develop behind the goals?

If there is no seats put in behind the goals then yes you have to have seats for away fans.

[citybone]

I thought it was 10%? Derry and us had that problem a few times playing each other. It could be worse In the USA its like 2% allocated to away fans, due to the large distances that most games are.

[born2bwild]

I've ranked the only away grounds that are relevant to me from the best to the worst:

1. RSC - decent ground but could do without the running track
2. Finn Park - I like leaning on that farmer's gate on the halfway line under the tv gantry
3. Ferrrycarraig park - ok view from the ikea stand

I've never been in Cobh

4/5. Fahy's Field/Drom (will these even be LoI grounds next year?)

If Bray win the play off tonight Longford's ground would be my number one; if Longford win I'd put Bray 4th - I really don't get the 'I do like to be beside the seaside' thing with the Carlisle: cold, windy, bad view, crap parking.....

Of course, if there's going to be a single division for 2014 then ignore this post.

There are too many 'Ifs buts and maybes' in Irish football.

[Fivesilver]

Ah lads, quit complaining about the paint in the Showgies. If you had any initiative you'd do like Shams and bring boiler suits so you could get close enough to abuse players properly.

[A face]

Do people consider the security staff when rating away ends? Who are the best/worst in the league?

[nigel-harps1954]

Do people consider the security staff when rating away ends? Who are the best/worst in the league?

Security staff? Well, I can tell you for a start, there's none more comical than Harps 'stewards' when it comes to dealing with anything at all. Without even seeing the rest of the league this season, I can safely say we're any trouble to break out in Finn Park, they'd be the first to run the other way.

[brendy_éire]

Do people consider the security staff when rating away ends? Who are the best/worst in the league?

Usually not a major issue. UCD have the worst though, one or two fellas in particular.

[Macy]

Do people consider the security staff when rating away ends? Who are the best/worst in the league?
The crowd the FAI get when they control security.

I thought that away clubs had to be given access to a certain proportion of seats - you can't just put them on an uncovered terrace and that's the lot?

I still find it hard to believe the Sligo security paint on perimeter wall passes Health and Safety requirements, never mind any football issues.

[outspoken]

Security staff? Well, I can tell you for a start, there's none more comical than Harps 'stewards' when it comes to dealing with anything at all. Without even seeing the rest of the league this season, I can safely say we're any trouble to break out in Finn Park, they'd be the first to run the other way.

Il never forget the harps stewards telling de town fans to sit down when we were celebrating a goal in a cup game up there. Then he picked out someone for shouting at the ref despite the dogs abuse that was been thrown down at us, he was probably the worst steward I've ever seen, bitter and comical at the same time.

[A face]

I still find it hard to believe the Sligo security paint on perimeter wall passes Health and Safety requirements, never mind any football issues.

I do find it hard to believe that they have to go to those lengths to ensure the crowd are contained. At the same time, i've been in grounds in Italy that have 10 deep, 10 foot wide gaps in between the away end and the pitch, definitely stops crowds rushing onto the pitch.

[citybone]

I do find it hard to believe that they have to go to those lengths to ensure the crowd are contained. At the same time, i've been in grounds in Italy that have 10 deep, 10 foot wide gaps in between the away end and the pitch, definitely stops crowds rushing onto the pitch.

There would be no room left in the away stand for away fans lol

[Charlie Darwin]

I do find it hard to believe that they have to go to those lengths to ensure the crowd are contained. At the same time, i've been in grounds in Italy that have 10 deep, 10 foot wide gaps in between the away end and the pitch, definitely stops crowds rushing onto the pitch.
I think massive spikes and landmines around the pitch would be a compromise we can all agree on.

[A face]

There would be no room left in the away stand for away fans lol

Not suggesting we installed them, just that paint is Sligo isn't that big of a deal in comparison, although not ideal :)

[Macy]

Not suggesting we installed them, just that paint is Sligo isn't that big of a deal in comparison, although not ideal :)
It's all fine, until there's a genuine need to evacuate the stand quickly and the paint causes delay/ confusion. Are people forgetting why on these islands the need for easy escape on to the pitch is there?

[redobit]

It's all fine, until there's a genuine need to evacuate the stand quickly and the paint causes delay/ confusion. Are people forgetting why on these islands the need for easy escape on to the pitch is there?

I take your point but there is more than enough room to escape from that stand. The pitch would only be the secondary means of escape anyway, especially given there are no stairs to negotiate and its at ground floor level.