View Full Version : The Greatest League In The World- LOI Jersey Day 2015
Every year it seems the League of Ireland starts up again with little in the way of hype bar a few pullouts in the tabloids and excitement only among the people who are die-hards already. Clubs do try to generate a buzz, but with club volunteers flat out on a million different things it is not always possible to build things up as much as we'd like. On the other hand there are success stories- For example in 2010 Finn Harps ran a campaign and photo competitions via local media and facebook called “Revive and Thrive”. Over 1100 people paid in to the first home game against Salthill Devon with 300 children attending free, double what might otherwise have been expected for that game.
So this year let's try something, instead of complaining on here and elsewhere, let's try and get the buzz going ourselves. Let's try to harness the character, fun, togetherness, rivalry, colour, creativity, humour and sheer outright fecking insanity that you lot bring to the table. There is already a great example of fans drawing attention to their league- the #IrishLeagueBehavior hashtag ended up trending worldwide and got international attention as fan humour and passion struck a chord and the whole thing snowballed. The LOI already has a great hashtag- #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld with some great tweets illustrating the joy, the madness and what's good about our league.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7310/16289351028_d9aac6615f.jpg
We can't compete with the premiership on quality of football, facilities or glamour but we have connection to community and locality, we get to watch live in better than HD in 3D with full surround sound, we get to be part of it in a way you never can with a club across the water. And we can all help get that message out there. We (me on behalf of FHFC) presented this idea at the Irish Supporters Network gathering in the Aviva last year and it was well received, so we've decided to put it out there and see if people are willing to help. We have nothing to lose by trying and we might get a few people curious about the league or tempt a few lapsed supporters back through the gates.
In general we're asking three things:
The idea is that people post about the league and/or their club using the hashtag #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld on twitter. Pictures, especially those with people in jerseys are especially welcome and we'd ask that people keep things as positive as possible.
Post pictures and comments on the facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/GreatestLeagueIntheWorld2015/) and on their own, personal club and fan pages on facebook. Again, keep it light hearted and above all positive.
On LOI Jersey Day, wear your club shirt, take a photo somewhere interesting, with someone interesting or whatever and post it in all the above places.
But first of all we're asking for a bit of feedback- when should the jersey day be, the Friday or Saturday before the league starts or maybe even the Friday or Saturday that first weekend? Any other thoughts post away obviously. If people are willing to help in organising this post below or give me a shout via PM or email.
Great idea. Something positive that can be done quite easily.
I'm in New Zealand these days but will do something to keep the flag flying.
The main thing I miss from home is the league. Be grateful for what you've got.
outspoken
09/02/2015, 9:54 AM
Maybe the second week of the season would be a good time for the jersey day just to keep the momentum rolling over from the opening day and it might even entice a few passers by to a game when they see it all over social media. The idea is to tag other sporting accounts say the likes of paddy power, Boylesports, the FAI account etc and get them to RT a photo to promote LOI Jersey day and RT the fixtures for that weekend encouraging people to get out to a game.
cheifo
09/02/2015, 10:08 AM
Great thinking Outspoken. St Patricks day? Need to agree on a date.
Love that idea outspoken, and think Saint Patrick's Day would be perfect. Lots of interesting photo opportunities and most people are off so can wear what they like which may not be true on a normal weekday.
nigel-harps1954
09/02/2015, 10:16 AM
Good shout on that one outspoken. RT from the big players is a good one. Had thought getting celebs and irish internationals involved would be a good idea too.
Before we look for RTs and press coverage (a few promises lined up there from the Irish Supporters Network day) we need good content. So get posting people- and spread the word!
Easiest way on twitter is to RT these 2 introductory tweets:
https://twitter.com/aidanmcnelis/status/564568131889537024
https://twitter.com/aidanmcnelis/status/564570416367546368
I'll set up a dedicated twitter account this evening.
https://twitter.com/GLITW added as twitter account for this. I've retweeted a few of the recent contributions on the #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld hashtag.
A little more on the thinking behind this initiative- most LOI clubs are doing great stuff in their communities and with youth, but sometimes struggle to get that story out there. So apart from the banter, the craic and the messing, this is a chance for people to help increase awareness of the importance and contribution of clubs in their areas. People are so quick to run down the league and its clubs and we can do our wee bit to start changing perceptions for the better.
outspoken
09/02/2015, 10:06 PM
Cheers guys didn't even think about it being St Patrick's days, be great if there were a few LOI clubs in the parades too.
TonyD
09/02/2015, 11:02 PM
Love that idea outspoken, and think Saint Patrick's Day would be perfect. Lots of interesting photo opportunities and most people are off so can wear what they like which may not be true on a normal weekday.
Everyday is St Patricks day :cool:
(We have our own day ......etc)
Dodge
11/02/2015, 12:45 PM
not to put a downer on it but as the bloke who started using #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld for the LOI, it isn't always a positive thing. It's for the stuff that happens here that doesn't happen in other places. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. just unique
I don't think anyone can say I'm not positive about the league but we have to be able to make fun of where we fall down too
cheifo
11/02/2015, 3:15 PM
As we all know a lot of the coverage of the league tends to focus on the serious issues so it would be good if LOI supporters came together to show that it is actually enjoyable!
A Jersey day preceded by some good social media stuff is a simple idea but hopefully it would grow into something bigger.
There are already quite a few posts, including from me, that deal with the league's quirks and imperfections. I don't think anyone set out to paint it as all sweetness and light. We're never going to compete with the money machine across the water- but we can highlight that there are clubs doing really good things, great characters knocking around on and off the pitch, supporters who enjoy it all immensely and that there's rarely a dull moment.
Anyway, you're just annoyed because we included first division clubs.
Well when you tak about quirjy things, I assumed you'd include that.
I'm not annoyed (at all). I'm just saying be careful of relying on the hashtag as I, and others, use it sarcastically from time to time
Absolutely, but after many in depth consultations with various stakeholders in the LOI's brand value proposition we concluded that ownership of the foibles was a more beneficent approach than executing a strategy that may prove to have a less cromulent level of credibility with the cool kids.
Longfordian
11/02/2015, 5:18 PM
That's some real blue sky thinking there Mr A.
nigel-harps1954
11/02/2015, 5:36 PM
League of Ireland fans argue over the use of a hashtag to generate interest in said league. #greatestleagueintheworld
Some great stuff on this so far, mostly humourous stuff to date. Would like to see more people just posting good things about the LOI and their clubs. Like the mural the Patron Saints got done at Richmond, the Cork family section initiative, Bohs and their murals and community programmes, schools programme at Harps, City Cubs at Derry etc etc. The more people helping out the better- and some of the tweets do get a lot of retweets and attention.
Also think we should get as many people as possible to tweet using the #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld hashtag on the day of the league's kickoff on March 6th in an effort to get it trending.
In terms of the jersey day- should we just encourage fans to wear their jerseys all day the day of their club's first home match?
outspoken
17/02/2015, 10:48 PM
Some great stuff on this so far, mostly humourous stuff to date. Would like to see more people just posting good things about the LOI and their clubs. Like the mural the Patron Saints got done at Richmond, the Cork family section initiative, Bohs and their murals and community programmes, schools programme at Harps, City Cubs at Derry etc etc. The more people helping out the better- and some of the tweets do get a lot of retweets and attention.
Also think we should get as many people as possible to tweet using the #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld hashtag on the day of the league's kickoff on March 6th in an effort to get it trending.
In terms of the jersey day- should we just encourage fans to wear their jerseys all day the day of their club's first home match?
Second Friday of the season for Jersey day, keep the momentum going from week 1. Flood social media with photos of fans in Jerseys.
I see some premiership fans trying to hijack our hashtag tonight, the hoorbags.
Keep the tweets to the hashtag #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld, follows for https://twitter.com/GLITW and likes, shares and posts to https://www.facebook.com/GreatestLeagueIntheWorld2015 coming folks. Especially stuff about the great community programmes clubs are involved in. And funny stuff too obviously.
Please make an effort to tweet using the hashtag on March 6th in an effort to get it trending and build towards the league kick off.
Also in terms of the jersey day- for this year we'll just go with everyone wearing their shirts for as much of the day as possible on the day of their club's first home game.
Some great stuff posted already.
Right good people of the League of Ireland related interweb, let's be having you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_8JLkwzpd0
Use the hashtag, wear the shirt, post throughout the day. Let's spread the joy people!
Hitman
06/03/2015, 12:21 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB3oTLaUczY
I've long thought this should be adopted as the official league anthem.
Larry 'da' Wyse
06/03/2015, 12:30 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB3oTLaUczY
I've long thought this should be adopted as the official league anthem.
Class - forgot about that HMHB tune. Nice Sultans line in yer sig too!
No idea if we trended due to being in Tolka.. but there were loads of class tweets. Thanks to all who helped- and keep it going! Feck the begrudgers!
Some brilliant stuff on this hashtag over the weeknd, and indeed most weeks. The best I come across I add to the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GreatestLeagueIntheWorld2015
I think this is one of the best yet: https://www.facebook.com/GreatestLeagueIntheWorld2015/photos/a.1606469866277268.1073741828.1569292793328309/1605662413024680/?type=1&theater
nigel-harps1954
27/04/2015, 6:38 PM
Had a great laugh at that one alright. Utterly brilliant.
The Sun have produced a #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld video.
http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/6575722/The-greatest-league-in-the-world.html?CMP=spklr-_-Editorial-_-TWITTER-_-IrishSunSport-_-20150805-_-SunIESoccer-_-218362160#ooid=gzaWpvdjp4a9fWA8vHLU_N90FGI8VOfe
Couldn't think of where else to put this: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNaV86IWEAAAOtr.jpg
colonelwest
27/08/2015, 1:28 PM
Couldn't think of where else to put this: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNaV86IWEAAAOtr.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/cars.aol.co.uk/media/2013/07/xkia-optima-1374750382.png.pagespeed.ic.20Gd9oQ-rL.jpg
After a few months the Rodsters will end up looking like this:
http://www.blogcdn.com/cars.aol.co.uk/media/2013/07/xrover-1374750206.png.pagespeed.ic.b9xGz3HnUw.jpg
The people who said Roddy would be a car crash in Waterford just got one step closer to being proved right.
Longfordian
27/08/2015, 5:00 PM
Giving Roddy a club car hasn't been a great idea in the past.
sulywaterfordfc
27/08/2015, 8:41 PM
It's part of the sponsorship with the car company. The last two managers had small vans afaik so it isn't a new thing either.
Real ale Madrid
28/08/2015, 7:40 AM
It's part of the sponsorship with the car company. The last two managers had small vans afaik so it isn't a new thing either.
Lets hope the slogan is interchangeable.
Nesta99
28/08/2015, 2:18 PM
Stephen Kenny was presented with his new car as an ambassador for somebody, It isnt personalised though, not screaming look at me like Roddys...
Ezeikial
28/08/2015, 3:33 PM
Stephen Kenny was presented with his new car as an ambassador for somebody, It isnt personalised though, not screaming look at me like Roddys...
So poor marketing then, or simply a wasted opportunty?
For sponsorship to flourish or grow, the sponsor needs to be able to get a return on investment. Many clubs consistently lose sight of that and wonder why sponsorship is so poor
http://talkofthetown.ie/2015/08/28/dundalk-manager-kenny-picks-up-brand-new-renault-fluence-from-blackstone-motors/
The wrap on the door of the last car just said 'Dundalk FC managers car sponsored by Blackstone Motors' or something like that anyway.
https://talkofdatown.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/renault-fluence-152-dundalk-fc.jpg?w=645&h=331
He's lost his fecking jumper again I see.
In further Roddy news..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lceGSxzXOC8
As far as I'm aware last Saturday was the first time #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld trended. https://twitter.com/TrendsDublin/status/640250976755060736
Some belting stuff on there recently.
Joe.ie with a compilation: http://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/21-reasons-why-the-league-of-ireland-truly-is-the-greatest-league-in-the-world/39640?utm_content=buffer4df2f&utm_medium=Social+organic&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer
Longfordian
18/09/2015, 6:57 PM
LTFC in red and black and Bohs in green in Dalymount tonight. Nobody is sure why.
Edit: nope both sides actually in their away kits as Town's away clashes with Bohs home apparently.
littlebray
18/09/2015, 9:13 PM
LTFC in red and black and Bohs in green in Dalymount tonight. Nobody is sure why.
Edit: nope both sides actually in their away kits as Town's away clashes with Bohs home apparently.
Anthony Buttimer please note!
nigel-harps1954
23/09/2015, 9:26 PM
http://dublinfestivalofhistory.ie/event/the-beautiful-game-or-the-garrison-game-a-history-of-league-of-ireland-football/
A history of League of Ireland football.
Only in the Greatest League in the World would such a brilliant event be scheduled for 8 o'clock on a Friday night full of League of Ireland fixtures.
patrickccfc
23/09/2015, 9:50 PM
Wow that is just unbelievable. Would the night before not be a viable option? I'd love to know the thinking behind that one #greatestleagueintheworld
outspoken
23/09/2015, 9:51 PM
http://dublinfestivalofhistory.ie/event/the-beautiful-game-or-the-garrison-game-a-history-of-league-of-ireland-football/
A history of League of Ireland football.
Only in the Greatest League in the World would such a brilliant event be scheduled for 8 o'clock on a Friday night full of League of Ireland fixtures.
Would have loved to have gone to it and all
Hitman
23/09/2015, 11:38 PM
"HERE’S a little known fact about All-Ireland final mascot Fionn — he has played Europa League football this season against a four-time World Cup goalscorer!
UCD midfielder Mark Langtry is the man inside the costume of Croke Park’s furry six-foot tall entertainer."
http://thestar.ie/its-a-dogs-life/
Martinho II
24/09/2015, 4:32 PM
seen that book about the Irish Split in easons today. anyone get a copy of it yet?
Hitman
14/06/2016, 9:43 AM
I can't help but hope that he ends up signing for Bray or Waterford.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/haunted-nun-ghost-threatened-gangsters-8184468#ICID=sharebar_twitter#GVtwVxHCJiUHLpOO.97
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