LOI Promotion Activities

[LTFC]

Nice piece in Star on Longford Town cup final win of 2003.

[pineapple stu]

This video has inspired another YouTuber crowd to come out the Bowl this evening. Sim2, who focus on FIFA. We get a bit of nerd kudos as the worst team in FIFA.

Fairly sure there was another French crew tonight too. That or I'm going mad
Here's the SIM2 feature. I preferred StuntPegg's style actually, but publicity is publicity. 30k views in the first 24 hours.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvVtTqpRBuk
Interestingly both videos say Haaland played in the Bowl when we told the guys he only played the second leg in Norway (because Molde were ****ed off at being taken to penalties with half an hour of the tie to go)

[Philosophizer]

Seems like a weekly occurrence now but another YouTuber (Scottish lad by the name of Blair McNally) was over to cover the cup final and playoff final.
https://youtu.be/mJjzOk_RE04?si=Fx96vpJva9_Nq-98

I heard it mentioned on a podcast recently that Irish football culture is much more similar to continental and Eastern European football culture than British, and it’s really true. My whole time at the cup final it kept reminding me of watching Italian games during the 90s where games would be delayed due to pyro smoke.

[Straightstory]

Seems like a weekly occurrence now but another YouTuber (Scottish lad by the name of Blair McNally) was over to cover the cup final and playoff final.
https://youtu.be/mJjzOk_RE04?si=Fx96vpJva9_Nq-98

An enthusiastic chap, but 'The penultimate game of the Irish football season'?? Either he's aware that the women's final is next weekend, or he doesn't know what penultimate means.

[Philosophizer]

An enthusiastic chap, but 'The penultimate game of the Irish football season'?? Either he's aware that the women's final is next weekend, or he doesn't know what penultimate means.

I’d say it’s the latter. anybody can become a vlogger, and many of them have no formal education or training in journalism or media. Some of them can still be great though.

[nr637]

Allegedly the FAI pay Jonathan Hill, the CEO of the Football Association of Ireland approximately €270,000 per year while the Airtricity Premier League winners receive a prize of €125,000.
So, Rovers 4 year reign has won them about €450,000, what is Hill's contract, a 3 or 4 year term?
The former commercial director was chosen because of his proven record in driving increased revenue, his previous roles were with Wembley Stadium, Euro 96 and Laureus World Sports Awards.

[listowelceltic]

Michael o Connors dig at government after Sundays women's final well worth a listen. On you tube for anyone that didn't hear it. Sorry can't do links.

[Martinho II]

Michael o Connors dig at government after Sundays women's final well worth a listen. On you tube for anyone that didn't hear it. Sorry can't do links.

Yeah saw his interview on RTE news. MOC is dead right in what he says!

[EatYerGreens]

Michael o Connors dig at government after Sundays women's final well worth a listen. On you tube for anyone that didn't hear it. Sorry can't do links.

One of the best take-downs of those in authority re the LOI in a long time. Very eloquently and calmly put. Fair play to the man.

[brendy_éire]

Institute are offering £5 match entry for Derry City and Finn Harps ST holders.

Nice idea. Do any other clubs, LSL.for example, do something similar?

[passinginterest]

Most of the article is paywalled. But it seems an investor was willing to put €90 million into revamping the league and creating an all island premier league. The problem child must be having a bit of a glow up!

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/fai-turn-down-us-investors-90m-plan-for-premier-league-ireland/a878154725.html

[A N Mouse]

Most of the article is paywalled. But it seems an investor was willing to put €90 million into revamping the league and creating an all island premier league. The problem child must be having a bit of a glow up!

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/fai-turn-down-us-investors-90m-plan-for-premier-league-ireland/a878154725.html

Thought that might get a thread of it's own.

Seems the article is similar to the proposal - light on detail

Gist is of the proposed 90M investment 70M would be ringfenced as prizemoney for first 7 years, and 10M for development and academies. Then unclear if other 10M is 8th year prize money, or some up front infrastructure improvements or just running the thing.
Clubs could expect to share the 70M, over 7 years, minimum or best case would see that rise by almost 50M.
Meanwhile the rights holder (the investors, not the new league company) expect to see 500M return, best case, over 8 years.

It's all based on one division - promotion/relegation or money to clubs outside this don't factor in.
And reading between the lines best case would very much depend on IFA clubs becoming involved and promoting an All-Ireland League.

Oh, and the FAI are supposed to have just stopped talking to them. Can't say I blame them.

And in other deja news - the ECJ is due to give it's verdict on ESL case against UEFA and FIFA soon

[EalingGreen]

It's all based on one division - promotion/relegation or money to clubs outside this don't factor in.
Then it won't get past UEFA, who require at least two divisions, with P&R, for them to recognise any league.



And reading between the lines best case would very much depend on IFA clubs becoming involved and promoting an All-Ireland League.
If they can't persuade the FAI even to look at it, then there can't be much (any?) hope with the IFA.

While UEFA are also dead-set against cross-border leagues (explains why there aren't any, in Europe at least).

The key to this is to be found in Foley having been "involved" (he claims "heavily" so) in the Caribbean Premier League, which presents itself as the second biggest such league in world cricket. But whether or not it really was his baby; or whether it is so big as he claims; and even disregarding the fact that West Indian cricket is rather different from Irish football(!), ultimately we are talking about a 6 team franchise over there.

And the franchise model is fundamentally incompatible with the league structures which European football has built up over a century or more.

[pineapple stu]

Then it won't get past UEFA, who require at least two divisions, with P&R, for them to recognise any league.
San Marino and Gibraltar both have only one division and no promotion/relegation.

The rest of it does sound like some of the dafter proposals of the last 20 years though.

[A N Mouse]

Then it won't get past UEFA, who require at least two divisions, with P&R, for them to recognise any league.

If they can't persuade the FAI even to look at it, then there can't be much (any?) hope with the IFA.

While UEFA are also dead-set against cross-border leagues (explains why there aren't any, in Europe at least).

The key to this is to be found in Foley having been "involved" (he claims "heavily" so) in the Caribbean Premier League, which presents itself as the second biggest such league in world cricket. But whether or not it really was his baby; or whether it is so big as he claims; and even disregarding the fact that West Indian cricket is rather different from Irish football(!), ultimately we are talking about a 6 team franchise over there.

And the franchise model is fundamentally incompatible with the league structures which European football has built up over a century or more.

To be fair there some handwaving over P&R, but it's put firmly in the FAI's corner. Essentially adding to the longstanding issues with the overall structure of football, then taking any hypothetical extra revenue and ensuring it can't address the problem.

Does anyone honestly believe the global rights would at any stage be worth 50M plus annually? Or is that idea worthy of a soft furnished room?

Ignoring any other problem, best case by time the deal ended the rights would be worth enough to cover the prize-money. Worst case they're nowhere near that, and there no paddle on the canoe.

[yurt]

I am absolutely dying to know what exactly are the details around the proposal were. Not having relegation would make it a non-runner from the get-go but I'd wager it wouldn't have been the only controversial condition if the firm was stumping up the guts of 100m.

The most interesting aspect to this imo, is the fact that someone is actually coming to the table with a big chunk of money instead of just notions.

It's hard be too hard on the FAI for shutting down the conversations when we know so little about what it contained but I am just that little bit more skeptical of their competence once again given all the same old press we've read in recent weeks.

The simple fact of the matter is that clubs need money to build adequate facilities. As it stands the FAI aren't even going to be able to do enough to qualify for the government money they were promised, never mind lobby the government for the 100s of millions which they'd set out to do earlier this year.

From the outside it looks like the status quo is good for the FAI and not good for the clubs. Unless there's proper progress made on securing government funding I think talks of the clubs breaking away will only increase.

[EalingGreen]

San Marino and Gibraltar both have only one division and no promotion/relegation.They also have populations of c.33k. There is no way UEFA would similarly exempt ROI, with its population of 5m.


The rest of it does sound like some of the dafter proposals of the last 20 years though.Indeed.

[EalingGreen]

I am absolutely dying to know what exactly are the details around the proposal were. Not having relegation would make it a non-runner from the get-go but I'd wager it wouldn't have been the only controversial condition if the firm was stumping up the guts of 100m.

The most interesting aspect to this imo, is the fact that someone is actually coming to the table with a big chunk of money instead of just notions.

It's hard be too hard on the FAI for shutting down the conversations when we know so little about what it contained but I am just that little bit more skeptical of their competence once again given all the same old press we've read in recent weeks.

The simple fact of the matter is that clubs need money to build adequate facilities. As it stands the FAI aren't even going to be able to do enough to qualify for the government money they were promised, never mind lobby the government for the 100s of millions which they'd set out to do earlier this year.

From the outside it looks like the status quo is good for the FAI and not good for the clubs. Unless there's proper progress made on securing government funding I think talks of the clubs breaking away will only increase.The whole point about a franchise proposal like this is who controls it

Which would self-evidently be the franchise owners (Doh!).

Which in turn would never be acceptable to the FAI or UEFA - see eg the opposition to a European Super League.

And imo, whatever the many and varied deficiencies of FAI/IFA/UEFA etc, I'd still far rather have them in charge of the game than some bunch of foreign money men. For at best the latter will make a profit, then take it out again; at worst they will make a loss, pull out, see the franchise collapse, then leave it to others to pick up the pieces.

[culloty82]

Kerry are holding a collection for Tralee Food Aid at Mounthawk Park on Friday during their kit launch - all supporters are asked to donate an item from the provided list:

https://kerryfc.com/kerry-football-club-to-team-up-with-tralee-food-aid/

[legendz]

https://twitter.com/LeagueofIreland/status/1732784612412203512?t=j2IbYbRvYQXg0T8224sIIg&s=19

A new Derby en route in Munster.

[nigel-harps1954]

Christ...I thought it was going to be a new club

[legendz]

Christ...I thought it was going to be a new club

Unlikely to be any new Munster club for a long time. A well run Treaty United will cover Clare and North Tipperary. A well run Waterford FC will cover South Tipperary.

[Buckett]

Ennis would be big enough to have a LOI team. Didn't Clare win a couple of Oscar Traynor Cups recently too? Galway Utd usually have a few Clare lads in the Academy and Senior squads

[legendz]

Ennis would be big enough to have a LOI team. Didn't Clare win a couple of Oscar Traynor Cups recently too? Galway Utd usually have a few Clare lads in the Academy and Senior squads

There are no signs of any LoI interest in Ennis or Clonmel.

[culloty82]

The guys who run the Kerry FC podcast plan to organise a supporters club away bus for next season:

1737903198348734660

[Martinho II]

Would be great to see that happen for Kerry FC!

[Mr A]

Not a club promotion activity but a charity link up, but probably fits better in this thread than elsewhere:

https://twitter.com/FinnHarpsFC/status/1737911475086283135

This is going to be great.

[2 Year Contract]

I don’t think I’ve seen a more on brand video that lives up to the Bohs stereotypes :D

https://x.com/robertlavelle81/status/1750650767545934195?s=46

[D24Saint]

Great turnout in Rascals brewery in Inchicore tonight for the Patron Saints season preview night. There was Jon Daly , Anto Breslin , Jamie Lennon & Marcelo Pitaluga in attendance.

[culloty82]

Not a club promotion activity but a charity link up, but probably fits better in this thread than elsewhere:

https://twitter.com/FinnHarpsFC/status/1737911475086283135

This is going to be great.

Similarly, Kerry recently hosted a charity soccer v Gaelic players match for a Tralee boy receiving cancer treatment - over €30k raised so far from the associated GoFundMe page alone.

[nigel-harps1954]

https://www.leagueofireland.ie/news/league-ireland-and-sse-airtricity-announce-rise-prize-money-ahead-2024-season/


Increase in prize money for the new season. Majority of it going to the womens league, which is fair given the paltry €55k they had on offer previously. Overall prize money gone up from €655k to €765k across the three leagues.

A step in the right direction, but still needs to be much higher.

[nigel-harps1954]

Warm weather training camp for Finn Harps last weekend.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Ua9j-Xt-U

[oriel]

Noticed this from Dundalk page, the amount of red-like or maroon tops for the PD, 7 in total from the 10.

Even begs the question why we went with pink for the second top, as can only use that v Rovers and Waterford, but still can't get over the amount of similar-ish colours.

https://x.com/DundalkFC/status/1755217575099695400?s=20

[Nesta99]

Noticed this from Dundalk page, the amount of red-like or marron tops for the PD, 7 in total from the 10.

Even begs the question why we went with pink for the second top, as can only use that v Rovers and Waterford, but still can't get over the amount of similar-ish colours.

https://x.com/DundalkFC/status/1755217575099695400?s=20

Can tend to ubiquitous!

[nigel-harps1954]

Noticed this from Dundalk page, the amount of red-like or marron tops for the PD, 7 in total from the 10.

Even begs the question why we went with pink for the second top, as can only use that v Rovers and Waterford, but still can't get over the amount of similar-ish colours.

https://x.com/DundalkFC/status/1755217575099695400?s=20

Best craic will be when Bray visit Finn Park. Green/White home kit clashes with Harps blue/white, and their second and third kits are both two different shades of blue. What sort of genius thought of two different blue kits for their change colours?

[yurt]

17% increase of sweet****all is still ****all but it's definitely a good news story all the same.

In the next 2 seasons the LOI should be hitting both 1 million in total attendence and price money.

[legendz]

https://twitter.com/KerryFC/status/1755295660222365769?t=VyCweK0nwoI1xwU9lP7HQw&s=19

Kerry have their open training session on Friday night. Another good profile event following the charity match last week and the provincial cup run.

[2 Year Contract]

First PR own goal of the season goes to the Galway United media team posting a picture of Ed McCarthy with a stop sign and a driver behind him, with ‘Murder on the dance floor’ as the song on the post. McCarthy was charged with causing the death of a man through dangerous driving in 2020. I’m sure (I sincerely hope to god) how the post looks was unintentional but it’s incredible negligence from the media team regardless of the fact that they’re probably volunteers, not least the player himself who should surely have clocked that holding that prop in particular was a bad idea given the past

https://x.com/rcronin97ryan/status/1756682998324351196?s=46

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/cork-city-player-admits-dangerous-driving-causing-death-1040819.html

[Longfordian]

It'll be hard to top that for social media stupidity though no doubt some clubs will try.

[total hoofball]

I noticed on the Sportsfile website for their portraits a few other Galway players posing with that driver and other random nonsense but you would have thought all LOI social media teams would have been well briefed for any of their players who may hold a criminal conviction of any sort let alone something as tragic as a road death to pay that extra bit of attention with cotton wool involving the player and second checking

[Nesta99]

If there was no back story, what was the stop sign, driver and choice of music trying to portray? Saying that social media teams didnt know doesnt stack up - fans of clubs tend to know things like suspened convictions of players and driving bans and Im sure they are fans. Idiotic stuff on behalf of a few people including the player!

[WoodquayBoy]

Incredible levels of idiocy achieved by our ‘media’ team, a bunch of college-fresh wannabes who have zero media training and seem to only be interested in pathetic jabs at other clubs (the Bray DART poster last year is one example) than actually providing genuine information for our fans.
Thanks to them, the whole league now seems to know about McCarthy’s conviction but we can’t get any info out of the club about how home fans can get tickets for the Pats game on Friday.
It’s all about the ‘likes’ apparently and to hell with being of any actual use with providing info

[Another Bohemia]

If there was no back story, what was the stop sign, driver and choice of music trying to portray? Saying that social media teams didnt know doesnt stack up - fans of clubs tend to know things like suspened convictions of players and driving bans and Im sure they are fans. Idiotic stuff on behalf of a few people including the player!

The music is just the go to for social media posts since it was used in saltburn. Little to no thought was likely put into the music itself just it's just part of the current zeitgeist. If this was posted during the summer it would likely be some other song.

[D24Saint]

Incredible levels of idiocy achieved by our ‘media’ team, a bunch of college-fresh wannabes who have zero media training and seem to only be interested in pathetic jabs at other clubs (the Bray DART poster last year is one example) than actually providing genuine information for our fans.
Thanks to them, the whole league now seems to know about McCarthy’s conviction but we can’t get any info out of the club about how home fans can get tickets for the Pats game on Friday.
It’s all about the ‘likes’ apparently and to hell with being of any actual use with providing info

A couple of clubs seem to have similar issues these days. Imo it’s best not too clever with social media posts and just keep it simple.

[EatYerGreens]

The music is just the go to for social media posts since it was used in saltburn. Little to no thought was likely put into the music itself just it's just part of the current zeitgeist. If this was posted during the summer it would likely be some other song.

Maybe the coincidence of the music combined with the coincidence of the Stop sign and the coincidennce of the driver all together in the one visual is just all one massive joint-coincidence?

Or maybe not.

[Another Bohemia]

Maybe the coincidence of the music combined with the coincidence of the Stop sign and the coincidennce of the driver all together in the one visual is just all one massive joint-coincidence?

Or maybe not.

Probably not all coincidences no but I would be willing to bet the music was the laziest choice anyone made in this. It's literally everywhere now because of Saltburn. Load up any social media app and scroll and you will come across multiple posts with this song as the background. If you are working in social media now you are going to make at least 1 post with this song.

[Buckett]

Maybe the coincidence of the music combined with the coincidence of the Stop sign and the coincidennce of the driver all together in the one visual is just all one massive joint-coincidence?

Or maybe not.

Are you suggesting that GUFC intentionally tried to link one of their own players to a tragic accident that he caused? Or was it a dig at the victims family? Or maybe they wanted to inform any LOI fan that didn't already know about it?
It was stupidity by a young volunteer that didn't know Ed's background. All social media posts within the club should be supervised by a PRO or Club Secretary.

[pateen]

Anyone want to explain the picture. Stop sign, golf club .... what on earth were they trying to portray?

[Eminence Grise]

When I heard the music I thought they were lining up a high profile French manager, because it's murder on Zidane's floor...


I'll see myself out.

[2 Year Contract]

PR own goal 2 of the season: Bohs helping fans get up for the match

https://x.com/loifantv/status/1757782878941856153?s=46