2014 League of Ireland.

[oriel]

4,000 last year and that was week 2. Even allowing for growing apathy, I'd still be shocked if the decrease was anything close to 25%.


Didn't realise Rovers hit 4k for that game CD, apologies.

Well, there is only one way for fans of all clubs to make a difference and that's by attending the games in high numbers.

Be great to see big numbers out on the first weekend to kick things off.

FD fans forgive me, but no fixtures out, so obviously can't post anything.

[SkStu]

They do say you never know which Bohs will turn up*



*They probably don't

Well if they don't, they should.

[nigel-harps1954]

FD fans forgive me, but no fixtures out, so obviously can't post anything.

Poor excuse. Easily predicted. ;)

Galway v Harps
Shamrock rovers b v Shels
Cobh v Waterford
Longford v Wexford

[wonder88]

Galway will get at least 1500 for that game against Harps, and I expect 1k at Shamrock R v Shels on the sunday if the day is dry.

[outspoken]

Poor excuse. Easily predicted. ;)

Galway v Harps
Shamrock rovers b v Shels
Cobh v Waterford
Longford v Wexford

F*ck me when ya look at that it would depress the hell out of ya, what a graveyard.

[nigel-harps1954]

F*ck me when ya look at that it would depress the hell out of ya, what a graveyard.

Well, to put it this way, it's already better than last season. Shelbourne, Galway and Shamrock Rovers 'B' are bigger draws than Athlone, Mervue and Salthill respectively.

[Dodge]

F*ck me when ya look at that it would depress the hell out of ya, what a graveyard.
All of them bar Wexford (and Rovers B obviously) have been in the premier in the last 5/6 years. Not a bad bunch at all IMO

[Longfordian]

All of them bar Harps (and Rovers B obviously) have been in the premier in the last 5/6 years. Not a bad bunch at all IMO

And Wexford.

[nigel-harps1954]

Last time in the Premier:

Cobh Ramblers - 2008
Finn Harps - 2008
Galway FC - n/a
Longford Town - 2007
Shelbourne - 2013
Shamrock Rovers 'B' - n/a
Waterford United - 2007
Wexford Youths - n/a

Safe to say, it's potentially going to be one of the tightest First Divisions we've seen in a long, long time. 2 more teams would make the world of a difference, but really, it's looking like the strongest First Division since the year we had Cork, Derry, Limerick and Shelbourne in it last.

[ATFC-1887]

Had to laugh. Galway and Rovers youth team are bigger draws than us. Ok Nigel. Still have your bitterness towards us :) We clearly showed 2nd half of last season that if we can do well we have big potential as a club. What more do you want Athlone to do for you to take us seriously ha

[Charlie Darwin]

It's hard to know how popular Rovers B will be - a lot probably depends on the strength of the squad. The novelty value might be quite high, added to the general enthusiasm on the opening day, but if it's all U19s and lower FD standard players it might not be a huge draw. Same goes for the Rovers fans - if the A side aren't playing the same night, you might get a decent travelling crowd depending on the strength of the team. An away game against Longford on a Saturday night, if the A team are playing the night before or down in Munster, would be an attractive trip for a lot of people.

[Ezeikial]

What more do you want Athlone to do for you to take us seriously ha

For you to stop the "ha" at the end of every post

[nigel-harps1954]

Had to laugh. Galway and Rovers youth team are bigger draws than us. Ok Nigel. Still have your bitterness towards us :) We clearly showed 2nd half of last season that if we can do well we have big potential as a club. What more do you want Athlone to do for you to take us seriously ha

Well, that's not what I meant, but since you want to take your ridiculous agenda further, what I said was, Shelbourne bigger than Athlone, Galway over Mervue, and Shamrock Rovers B over Salthilll. But hey, if you want to believe that I have an agenda against Athlone, if it helps you sleep at night, then be my guest.

Your petty snipes really annoy me though. Besides, all three of those teams will arguably draw bigger crowds than Athlone at Finn Park anyway.

[ATFC-1887]

For you to stop the "ha" at the end of every post

no ha

[Dodge]

Had to laugh. Galway and Rovers youth team are bigger draws than us.

In what way do you think Athlone were a draw last year? Seriously?

[ATFC-1887]

Well most of the other 7 teams biggest gates of the season was when they played us. Just cant understand how playing Galway (mervue/salthill mix) and a rovers youth team is any attraction.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well most of the other 7 teams biggest gates of the season was when they played us. Just cant understand how playing Galway (mervue/salthill mix) and a rovers youth team is any attraction.
You're seriously misinformed about Galway football if you think Galway FC is just a merger of two barely-supported suburban junior teams.

Longford and Waterford's two biggest gates were for Athlone - both were for critical games at the end of the season where they were challenging for the title/play-off spots, and obviously Longford's biggest game will be their next door neighbour in a crucial end-season match. The other one was Salthill and god knows where they pluck their attendances from. You're hardly the biggest draw in the league, otherwise Harps wouldn't have attracted twice as many people when Longford came to town.

[ATFC-1887]

They didnt? When Longford played them mid season the attendance was 400. When we played them mid season the attendance was 436 :) Mervues biggest gates was also against us Not that it really matters.

[Charlie Darwin]

Harps' biggest attendance was 723 v Longford. They didn't play Longford at home mid-season. Mervue's biggest was 1,000+ for the playoff.

[ATFC-1887]

Apologies, but anyways Harps played them 2nd home game of the season. When they were expecting to challenge for the league. We played them in June when they were effectively out of the title race. Cant really compare crowds when ya take that into account. And as for Mervue, the attendance of the 1st leg in Mervue was 607. Not 1000+. Their attendance against us near the end of the season was 700 and something.

[Charlie Darwin]

You know what? You're right, I'm wrong. I look forward to Rovers hosting Athlone at a packed out Aviva in May.

[tippex]

I know all discussion is frowned upon.
But Bray are today labelled a joke shop in the mirror (apparently a former player from last seasons squad is quoted) no way to narrow it down as I am sure most feel that way.

[ATFC-1887]

You know what? You're right, I'm wrong. I look forward to Rovers hosting Athlone at a packed out Aviva in May.

But i am

[sadloserkid]

We played them in June when they were effectively out of the title race. Cant really compare crowds when ya take that into account.

By the same criteria (or opposite criteria I suppose really?) all your crowds in the second half of the season are irrelevant as you were pushing for the title by then. It's hardly a true reflection of your real 'average' crowd (if such a thing exists).

[nigel-harps1954]

Apologies, but anyways Harps played them 2nd home game of the season. When they were expecting to challenge for the league. We played them in June when they were effectively out of the title race. Cant really compare crowds when ya take that into account. And as for Mervue, the attendance of the 1st leg in Mervue was 607. Not 1000+. Their attendance against us near the end of the season was 700 and something.

A very poor memory.


If it wasn't for two or three big attendance at the end of the season, Athlone average attendance would have been 400. Don't call them a big draw, as they weren't for anyone.
I have statistics to back it up too before you bark on about it.

When Harps played Athlone on June 8th, Harps were 2 points ahead of Athlone. Very far out of the title race indeed. It was that loss that saw us start to fall down the table. We were in 2nd place at the time, and going well, yet the visit of Athlone drew our then worst home crowd of the season by 150 people. A real big draw. ;)

I'll get the stats out for the rest of the teams too if you want?

[ATFC-1887]

Never said we were "a big draw". Read what i say before you comment.

You claim that was your worst crowd by 150 people??
If you look at your attendances, the crowds were declining week by week before ye played us and continued to do so after ye played us.

And as for stats on the other teams?? Im looking at all the official attendance stats right now! What can you show me that i can't already see.

[bluewhitearmy]

I know all discussion is frowned upon.
But Bray are today labelled a joke shop in the mirror (apparently a former player from last seasons squad is quoted) no way to narrow it down as I am sure most feel that way.

Is there any news on if ye will even be around next season?

[wandererfan]

Is there any news on if ye will even be around next season?
yes the club is safe. dont know where these rumours of the club going bang are coming from. there are changes behind the scenes and thats all i can say

[Dodge]

yes the club is safe. dont know where these rumours of the club going bang are coming from. there are changes behind the scenes and thats all i can say

They came from people believeing Devlin is retiring/leaving and the underklying belief of many that B*** are in trouble if/when he goes.

Good to hear that at least one of those believes is wrong

[nigel-harps1954]

Never said we were "a big draw". Read what i say before you comment.

"Well most of the other 7 teams biggest gates of the season was when they played us".

Not insinuating that you were the biggest draw last season at all.



You claim that was your worst crowd by 150 people??

Read what I say before you comment.



If you look at your attendances, the crowds were declining week by week before ye played us and continued to do so after ye played us.

As I said, we only got 12 points for the rest of the season after we played Athlone in June. Attendances were hardly going to increase.



And as for stats on the other teams?? Im looking at all the official attendance stats right now! What can you show me that i can't already see.

Cobhs biggest attendance was Wexford.
Harps biggest league attendance was Longford.
Longfords biggest was Athlone. In a local derby game.
Mervues biggest was Athlone. Both teams chasing a league title.
Salthill didn't even have attendances. Every single one was below 200. Anyone that went was away fans.
Waterfords highest was Wexford.
Wexfords highest was Waterford.

Only 3 teams had Athlone, the league champions, as their highest attendance. 3 teams didn't even have them as their second highest attendance.


Also very nice of you to completely avoid the rest of my previous post that also proved you wrong. Now, anything else to strengthen my Athlone agenda?

[ATFC-1887]

Salthill vs Athlone was 400 :D

Alot of very angry people on here :)

[nigel-harps1954]

Salthill vs Athlone was 400 :D


194..

[Charlie Darwin]

194..
+ 206 committeee members.

[ATFC-1887]

Exactly Charles.

[wandererfan]

They came from people believeing Devlin is retiring/leaving and the underklying belief of many that B*** are in trouble if/when he goes.

Good to hear that at least one of those believes is wrong
oh devlin is gone alright. was ment to announce it at the end of last season. but didn't for some reason. unless he's going to do a u-turn again. I dunno

[gufct]

Might get into trouble over this but wasn't Pat Devlin a major shareholder in Bray??

[gufct]

Athlone haven't been a big draw since the early 80's even in Galway where Bar one cup replay when Michael Donnellan was a bigger draw than Athlone. ATTFC 1887 its only in the last year you have been blowing your trumpet despite beimg a member since 2009. Mervue have never had a gate of 1,000 in the 1st Division Likewise with SDGFC with 600 and your total lack of knowledge of Galway Soccer and its history shows your age.

I went to St. Mels before we had a LOI side in Galway 72 to 77 and Athlone were a draw then,

[Nesta99]

I went to St. Mels before we had a LOI side in Galway 72 to 77 and Athlone were a draw then,

1877! Impressive - Athlone were a huge draw 10 years before they were even formed - well that sticks it to Charlie and Shamrock Rovers A + B...

[ATFC-1887]

Athlone haven't been a big draw since the early 80's even in Galway where Bar one cup replay when Michael Donnellan was a bigger draw than Athlone. ATTFC 1887 its only in the last year you have been blowing your trumpet despite beimg a member since 2009. Mervue have never had a gate of 1,000 in the 1st Division Likewise with SDGFC with 600 and your total lack of knowledge of Galway Soccer and its history shows your age.

I went to St. Mels before we had a LOI side in Galway 72 to 77 and Athlone were a draw then,

Can you show me where i said Mervue and Salthill had 1000 and 600 at a LOI game?? I believe it was Nigel who said that. I also never once said we were a big draw. Not once. I said last year most clubs had bigger attendances when we played them. We brought the most away fans in the 1st division also. Yes its clearly because we were doing well, but what club isnt the same. Its all about success unfortunately.

[sadloserkid]

I said last year most clubs had bigger attendances when we played them.

No you didn't. What you actually said was:


Well most of the other 7 teams biggest gates of the season was when they played us.

This was proven not to be true. Three of the seven clubs drew their biggest home gate against you. Three out of seven is not 'most'.

[nigel-harps1954]

I believe it was Nigel who said that.

You must be getting tired of being wrong at this stage?

[ATFC-1887]

Nigel you did say Mervue had over 1000 at a game...

[Charlie Darwin]

That was me who said they had 1,000. I mixed up the home and away legs of the playoff.

[ATFC-1887]

Ah my bad. Apologies Nigel

[nigel-harps1954]

Ah my bad. Apologies Nigel


http://blog.logmycalls.com/Portals/155740/images/Shocked-Face.jpg

[oriel]

Any volunteers to kick off the usual finishing place predictions in both divisions for 2014?

I would start it but can't make my mind up of a few sides in the PD, including Dundalk!

Most squads are now complete, so we should know each teams strengths and any weak areas by now.

[wonder88]

I feel Pats won't retain the title, a more detailed prediction later. By the way, I tipped Pats to win last year and Athlone to win the 1st division on this forum, but one should not be showing off. There could still be some vital signings in the next month or so, therefore a bit early yet I think to select the winners and losers.

[oriel]

Yes agreed, prob makes more sense to kick off the usual predictions of finishing places closer to the kick off. Some clubs are not yet done in terms of squads.

[adamd164]

Apparently our game vs Pat's opening weekend is live on RTE on the Sunday.

Hate Sunday afternoon games.

[wonder88]

McPhail going to Shamrock Rovers could be one of the most important signings for the new season.