Football Pyramid

[Dodge]

So the concensus here then seems to be that people are happy the way things are....

The consensus is that there isn't a realistic, viable option elsewhere

[Charlie Darwin]

http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/5459-expressions-of-interest-invited-for-2015-first-division

[nigel-harps1954]

http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/5459-expressions-of-interest-invited-for-2015-first-division

They're early with it this year. Would be nice to see a few interested clubs come into the frame.

[luiz]

In the link:

"All necessary documentation including a club licensing manual and application pack will be forwarded, on request, to all interested parties."

I feel like coming up with a bogus team just to see the list of documents and requirements needed and what the so called licensing manual is made of.

[gufcfan]

In the link:

"All necessary documentation including a club licensing manual and application pack will be forwarded, on request, to all interested parties."

I feel like coming up with a bogus team just to see the list of documents and requirements needed and what the so called licensing manual is made of.

Good luck with that. They refused to give GUST the required application pack, never mind actually consider them.

[sligoman]

There was talk of Sligo Rovers being invited to include a reserve team in it this season.We were but turned it down.

[disgruntled]

The FAI need to grab football by the balls in this country and start it all from scratch again. Leave the various junior and intermediate leagues to run their own leagues if they want, but provide them with no funding. Instead, extend an offer to every single club in the country to join into the new pyramid system.
With promotion and relegation from each division, each club must meet certain criteria before gaining entry to the next division. Affiliation fees would reduce with each drop in division.

1. Premier Division (12 teams)
2. First Division (12 teams)
3. Second Division North (10 teams)
3. Second Division South (10 teams)
4. Ulster Senior League (10 teams)
4. Leinster Senior League (10 teams)
4. Connaught Senior League (10 teams)
4. Munster Senior League (10 teams)
5. Regional Lower Leagues (Based on current junior system, incorporating current intermediate clubs who don't make their respective divisions)

As we all know, however, the FAI won't ever do this, or anything similar to help growth of football in Ireland.

I would largely agree with the above.
Any physical objections like different seasons etc can be overcome but the main change needed would be one of mindset.
Mindset is the main problem to be overcome & I can't see this changing anytime soon.
There are too many administrators happy in their own little kingdoms.


How many (if any) non-Donegal clubs are in it? Or does it represent a province in the same way that the Munster Senior League does?

This should be renamed Cork Senior League & I use the word Senior with extreme caution.
The problem with this is the people who run it namely the MFA who are still back in the dark ages with no willingness for change & even less ambition.
I suppose in reality than sums up Irish Soccer in general.

[Pablo Escobar]

This should be renamed Cork Senior League & I use the word Senior with extreme caution.
The problem with this is the people who run it namely the MFA who are still back in the dark ages with no willingness for change & even less ambition.
I suppose in reality than sums up Irish Soccer in general.
34 clubs, all from Cork. It's ridiculous.

[disgruntled]

34 clubs, all from Cork. It's ridiculous.

It could have been 35 but they wouldn't let City in even after two clubs pulled out.
"It would not be in the interest of the other clubs" was their decision ?

[citybone]

Skibbereen AFC were looking into joining the league but being 50 miles from the city they decided not to bother as the travel and costs were too high, didnt want to travel as far as youghal lol. West Cork League is good enough.

[Neish]

http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/5459-expressions-of-interest-invited-for-2015-first-division

That the FAI's full effort of looking for new teams done for another year. Copy and past the post from last year. Job Done. Only response they are likely to get is one or two premier team apply with their B/Reserve sides

[TheBoss]

That the FAI's full effort of looking for new teams done for another year. Copy and past the post from last year. Job Done. Only response they are likely to get is one or two premier team apply with their B/Reserve sides

2013 Notice (https://www.fai.ie/domestic-a-grassroots/airtricity-league/news/102763-expressions-of-interest-airtricity-league-first-dvision.html) 2014 Notice (http://www.fai.ie/domestic-a-grassroots/airtricity-league/news/103418-fai-invites-first-division-expressions-of-interest.html) 2015 Notice (http://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/news/5459-expressions-of-interest-invited-for-2015-first-division)

Spot the Difference !

They're actually a few months early this year aswell.

[Longfordian]

Shamrock Rovers of Enniscorthy have expressed an interest apparently.

[luiz]

Shamrock Rovers of Enniscorthy have expressed an interest apparently.

Just to confirm, this is yet another joke with Shamrock Rovers B right?

[Longfordian]

Yes. Sorry :)

[luiz]

No bother. Don't know that much about Junior football so I didn't know how realistically would be that team applying for it. I was really doubtful.

[Longfordian]

They're a very small team. Wouldn't be anywhere near a national league standard.

[Nesta99]

They're a very small team. Wouldn't be anywhere near a national league standard.

As they made them they matched them so!:p

[Dodge]

They're a very small team. Wouldn't be anywhere near a national league standard.

Hasn't stopped <insert your local rivals here>

[Mr A]

Having an earlier call for interested teams has to be a good thing. But the chances of finding new clubs seem to remain remote. This needs to be looked at by the FAI- just doing the same thing repeatedly with no results isn't acceptable.

[Dodge]

Having an earlier call for interested teams has to be a good thing. But the chances of finding new clubs seem to remain remote. This needs to be looked at by the FAI- just doing the same thing repeatedly with no results isn't acceptable.

To be fair I know they do contact clubs, the Press Release on the website isn't the only thing being done. It's probably just some sort of legal requirement (like advertising jobs in FAS, for want of a better comparison)

[Stuttgart88]

Ok, do there's a fair bit of self-promotion here, but this interview with Jurgen Klinsmann is really interesting

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/06/jurgen-klinsmann-usa-coach-world-cup