The 2017 LOI Attendance thread.

[patrickccfc]

I was a bit disappointed with our crowd, but a lot of people would've prioritized the dundalk game. Weather probably played a part too. I was hoping for around about 4,500-5K.

[oriel]

Or another way of looking at last nights semi final crowd is, around 3k Cork fans turned up for a potential 'party' on Monday night.

I thought it would be a much reduced attendance and Limerick to be fair did their bit with 650, but a 50% drop is fairly significant.

It will be interesting to see the attendance tomorrow in oriel park, the main stand (1k -1.1k) was sold out on wed, and Rovers sold all their allocation (I think they only got 500 tickets, very low allocation if this is correct)

Anything over 4k should be the target but nothing is for certain in this league. (cup)

[El-Pietro]

Another way to look at is that we had over 10k through the doors in 5 days. We've two home games left and chance at another 10-12k from those two games. You can colour it anyway you like but every club on this island wishes they had our ability to tap into a floating support this large. Our core is probably under 2k. But when things are good we can pull huge crowds out. Hopefully we can bring a large crowd to Lansdowne road for a potential double. Whoever makes it there against us has a rivalry with us. It's either McGregor/Diaz part three or a Bradley cup final. Massive game either way.

[oriel]

Ha. Fair enough El P. Morley said exact same on TV. 10k at two games. Fair point. I'd say Cork's core is more 3k than 2 though.

It's a frustrating thing though, consistency with attendances and something we might never improve, take for example the likes of a club like Northampton in England. I lived there for a bit. It's a similar population to Cork, win lose draw they will get 4-5k min at home games, loads of reasons, 3pm every second sat, biggest sport in England, then again relatively quite an unsuccessful club, but like most teams in English lower leagues, fans come out and support their team regardless of a result and without having a party to celebrate.

[Philosophizer]

It's a frustrating thing though, consistency with attendances and something we might never improve, take for example the likes of a club like Northampton in England. I lived there for a bit. It's a similar population to Cork, win lose draw they will get 4-5k min at home games, loads of reasons, 3pm every second sat, biggest sport in England, then again relatively quite an unsuccessful club, but like most teams in English lower leagues, fans come out and support their team regardless of a result and without having a party to celebrate.

Whisper it, but the truth is that English ppl are a lot better at supporting their local clubs than we are.
Irish love a party and a **** up, and if there's a chance of winning something people will be bursting in the gate, but generally speaking there's no interesting in showing up week in, week it for the long slog of a football season.
It's the same for all our sports. Connacht's attendances were poor, but skyrocketed once they had a decent team doing well.

[corkery]

I believe we sold our allocation of 600. Was disappointed in the Cork attendance. Lots of empty seats in the Donie Forde stand.

It was raining and Limerick doesn't really attract a crowd for Cork. Also, I think people are getting sick of the draws and losses.

[nr637]

Dundalk v Shams looked close to 3,000 on TV, main stand more or less full 1,200+. About 500 away fans, another 500+ on the open seating and behind goals. The opposite side fairly packed in with another 1,000+

Anyone with the official figure for the accounts! :waiting:

[Mr A]

Whisper it, but the truth is that English ppl are a lot better at supporting their local clubs than we are.
Irish love a party and a **** up, and if there's a chance of winning something people will be bursting in the gate, but generally speaking there's no interesting in showing up week in, week it for the long slog of a football season.
It's the same for all our sports. Connacht's attendances were poor, but skyrocketed once they had a decent team doing well.

I agree with the first point. At one time I went door to door selling Harps draw tickets and noticed that every house with English or Scottish people seemed to know about Harps and were automatically supportive.

Disagree on Connacht though- they managed to build up their crowds before the team really took off. And their facilities aren't great. An interesting case study for clubs to look at- I'd love to get a few hours with the Connacht marketing and promotion guys because they're clearly very good at what they do.

[sulywaterfordfc]

Poor attendance by Cork you have to say. In regardless of who it's against a FAI Cup semi on the normal Friday slot should be motativation in itself, opposition shouldn't matter. Poor excuse to use. Weather wasn't that bad in Friday either (I live by the ground)...

[Real ale Madrid]

Poor attendance by Cork you have to say. In regardless of who it's against a FAI Cup semi on the normal Friday slot should be motativation in itself, opposition shouldn't matter. Poor excuse to use. Weather wasn't that bad in Friday either (I live by the ground)...

We will just have to stumble on with over 10,500 in the gate in 4 days. The weather was absolutely shocking between 6 and 7 on Friday evening as well which would have deterred a lot from walking up. I Parked up about 6.30 on the Kinsale Road and had to wait 15/20 mins in car before heading down such was the downpour.

I'm surprised the TV Schedule didn't put the Dundalk / Rovers game on the Friday night and the "Munster Derby" on the Sunday. Would have made more sense. Great crowd down from Limerick - might have brought even more on the Sunday.

[Martinho II]

We will just have to stumble on with over 10,500 in the gate in 4 days. The weather was absolutely shocking between 6 and 7 on Friday evening as well which would have deterred a lot from walking up. I Parked up about 6.30 on the Kinsale Road and had to wait 15/20 mins in car before heading down such was the downpour.

I'm surprised the TV Schedule didn't put the Dundalk / Rovers game on the Friday night and the "Munster Derby" on the Sunday. Would have made more sense. Great crowd down from Limerick - might have brought even more on the Sunday.

interestingly enough why did RTE stop showing cup semis back to back?

[oriel]

Dundalk v Shams looked close to 3,000 on TV, main stand more or less full 1,200+. About 500 away fans, another 500+ on the open seating and behind goals. The opposite side fairly packed in with another 1,000+

Anyone with the official figure for the accounts! :waiting:

I was in the shed for the first half, and open seating section town side of main stand for the second, looked to be well over 1,000 on shed side (it has 1k seats but loads were standing at the front) and close to 1,000 in other home areas not including the stand. The terracing in front of the stand can hold a good bit too.

Haven't seen a figure yet but I'd say a little over 4K

[Real ale Madrid]

interestingly enough why did RTE stop showing cup semis back to back?

Stopped last year - there was some fixture congestion regarding Dundalk and the Europa league which necessitated a change IIRC. Lots on of a Sunday though so I don't think the Friday / Sunday time-slots are all bad.

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps v Dundalk - 626

[redarmyfaction]

2068 in the Showgs.

[redarmyfaction]

I know it was on Telly, but that is a very poor turn out for a team that was battling to stay up seeing there was ten times as many in Finn Park cheering Harps to go up last year.

[Olander]

Couldn't hear it clearly over the PA at the Carlisle, but 500+ was given as the official attendance. About 150 travelling GUFC fans.

[WoodquayBoy]

Couldn't hear it clearly over the PA at the Carlisle, but 500+ was given as the official attendance. About 150 travelling GUFC fans.
552 announced - 400 home fans with the club chasing a spot in Europe. Sad.

[joey B]

I know it was on Telly, but that is a very poor turn out for a team that was battling to stay up seeing there was ten times as many in Finn Park cheering Harps to go up last year.

100% agree, disgraceful turnout, Donegal is supposed to be a sport mad county but only when the goings good, embarrassing.

[CorribsideSteve]

From the vantage point of the live stream, it looked virtually deserted. Fantastic away support though. I would expect 2 k for our game next week v Pats.

[WoodquayBoy]

100% agree, disgraceful turnout, Donegal is supposed to be a sport mad county but only when the goings good, embarrassing.
Substitute Galway for Donegal and it's the same thing. Massive game at home to Pats next Friday, but doubt we'll top 2,500. In a 'sports mad' city of almost 80,000, and a county population of a quarter of a million.

[Philosophizer]

Substitute any county for Donegal and it's the same thing...

No place in Ireland can get on the moral high ground when it comes to support.
Not even Cork!

[gael353]

Substitute Galway for Donegal and it's the same thing. Massive game at home to Pats next Friday, but doubt we'll top 2,500. In a 'sports mad' city of almost 80,000, and a county population of a quarter of a million.

Wow if thats not a reason for the fai to keep you in the premier over bray then what is. Were you on the galway set up years ago when in the first div claiming 1500 at every game trying to justify premier licence when your attendances included the swans from louch atalia

[red bellied]

Wow if thats not a reason for the fai to keep you in the premier over bray then what is. Were you on the galway set up years ago when in the first div claiming 1500 at every game trying to justify premier licence when your attendances included the swans from louch atalia

If Galway hit 2000 for the pats game I will be surprised.

[ToberonaTornado]

3437 in the SDCC tanight.700 Dundalk!

[Kingdom]

A small tangent, an odd one even.....I had hoped that a Kerry team would eventually push for LOI membership - especially considering the previous involvement at league cup level, and the current involvement in the national underage leagues - but one of the aspects that constantly gets thrown around is support levels.

All the local sports teams are well supported in Kerry, Gaa naturally, but also basketball. The Tralee team are pulling in 800+ attendances for the home matches in the SuperLeague, and while basketball has a great tradition in Kerry funnily enough, I would not have anticipated those figures. It would give me hope that a 1st Division Kerry League side would be able to at least pull the same regularly for a home game. Mounthawk Park while very acceptable as a local league venue, would need improvements to bring it up to LOI standard.

[seand]

3437 in the SDCC tanight.700 Dundalk!

Not much over 50% of capacity, and they restricted Dundalk's allocation to the minimum. Gottta love this league.

[redarmyfaction]

A small tangent, an odd one even.....I had hoped that a Kerry team would eventually push for LOI membership - especially considering the previous involvement at league cup level, and the current involvement in the national underage leagues - but one of the aspects that constantly gets thrown around is support levels.

All the local sports teams are well supported in Kerry, Gaa naturally, but also basketball. The Tralee team are pulling in 800+ attendances for the home matches in the SuperLeague, and while basketball has a great tradition in Kerry funnily enough, I would not have anticipated those figures. It would give me hope that a 1st Division Kerry League side would be able to at least pull the same regularly for a home game. Mounthawk Park while very acceptable as a local league venue, would need improvements to bring it up to LOI standard.

Counties from the 26 that have never had senior football.
Ulster - Cavan.
Connacht - Roscommon, Leitrim, Mayo.
Leinster - Carlow, Laois, Meath Offaly.
Munster - Clare, Kerry
So 10 out of 26 or nearly 40% have never had a club, until the 70's only Louth, Sligo, Dublin, Westmeath, Cork ,Limerick and Waterford held the privilege AFAIK , or did Bray Unknowns hold membership, anyways each of the old port towns was represented except Wexford (too small) and Galway(too poor), with Athlone thrown in as a wild card.

[stann]

So 10 out of 26 or nearly 40% have never had a club, until the 70's only Louth, Sligo, Dublin, Westmeath, Cork ,Limerick and Waterford held the privilege AFAIK , or did Bray Unknowns hold membership, anyways each of the old port towns was represented except Wexford (too small) and Galway(too poor), with Athlone thrown in as a wild card.
Bray Unknowns were active for quite a while many years before Wanderers entered the league, and Transport, the railway side, played out of the Carlisle Grounds for a bit in the '40s/'50s also.
Point is still valid, though, if I read it right - aside from all the other problems, there's a fair chance any new league clubs will have to battle against zero tradition of senior football in their area.

[Trainee]

If Galway hit 2000 for the pats game I will be surprised.

2,164 in terryland tonight

[kksaints]

Counties from the 26 that have never had senior football.
Ulster - Cavan.
Connacht - Roscommon, Leitrim, Mayo.
Leinster - Carlow, Laois, Meath Offaly.
Munster - Clare, Kerry
So 10 out of 26 or nearly 40% have never had a club, until the 70's only Louth, Sligo, Dublin, Westmeath, Cork ,Limerick and Waterford held the privilege AFAIK , or did Bray Unknowns hold membership, anyways each of the old port towns was represented except Wexford (too small) and Galway(too poor), with Athlone thrown in as a wild card.

Of those 10 only Kerry, Mayo, Carlow and possibly Meath really have the potential for a LOI team. The others are either too small or too Gaa.

[oriel]

Not much over 50% of capacity, and they restricted Dundalk's allocation to the minimum. Gottta love this league.

Nothing less than pure arrogance or couldn't be bothered by Rovers. Dlk had 1k enquiries. 300 were left without tickets, Rovers could easily have moved home fans up towards the end opposite to the square but it was too much hassle.

For the match last Sunday week, Dlk were restricted to selling 500 tickets for the match in oriel park due to the extreme limited facilities and capacity. They had no option.

There should have been no such excuse last Tuesday not to extend sales to meet demand, but it would appear that Rovers made that decision themselves.

The attendance figure as a result was probably a little disappointing but maybe not unexpected.

[Nesta99]

Nothing less than pure arrogance or couldn't be bothered by Rovers. Dlk had 1k enquiries. 300 were left without tickets, Rovers could easily have moved home fans up towards the end opposite to the square but it was too much hassle.

For the match last Sunday week, Dlk were restricted to selling 500 tickets for the match in oriel park due to the extreme limited facilities and capacity. They had no option.

There should have been no such excuse last Tuesday not to extend sales to meet demand, but it would appear that Rovers made that decision themselves.

The attendance figure as a result was probably a little disappointing but maybe not unexpected.

Small minded, small club thinking that is below the standing of Shams in the domestic game tbh, misguided arrogance too possibly.

[Candystripe]

1,700+ at Derry city v Finn Harps according to the Guards.

[nr637]

[QUOTE=Candystripe;1939849]1,700+ at Derry city v Finn Harps according to the Guards.[/QUO

I hope the 'Garda' figures add up! :struggle:

[White Horse]

Small minded, small club thinking that is below the standing of Shams in the domestic game tbh, misguided arrogance too possibly.

The pettiness they display is a betrayal of their history. If I was a rovers fan, I would find it embarrassing.

[Straightstory]

Nothing less than pure arrogance or couldn't be bothered by Rovers. Dlk had 1k enquiries. 300 were left without tickets, Rovers could easily have moved home fans up towards the end opposite to the square but it was too much hassle.

For the match last Sunday week, Dlk were restricted to selling 500 tickets for the match in oriel park due to the extreme limited facilities and capacity. They had no option.

There should have been no such excuse last Tuesday not to extend sales to meet demand, but it would appear that Rovers made that decision themselves.

The attendance figure as a result was probably a little disappointing but maybe not unexpected.

Really disappointing attendance. Rovers must take a lot of the blame. Game of the season - no doubt. Brilliant entertainment.

[ToberonaTornado]

The pettiness they display is a betrayal of their history. If I was a rovers fan, I would find it embarrassing.

Rovers though were within their rights to limit the amount of travelling supporters by giving Dundalk just 10% of the capacity of the ground.Dundalk got exactly that.

It didn't work out for them(Rovers) in the end but there was a purpose to it all.

[redarmyfaction]

Of the teams from new towns/areas/counties in the 26 that came since in since 1970 none have won a league , I think they have 5 cups between them and for each cup there had been at least one failure and for each failure, roughly, at the time of writing one success.

[nigel-harps1954]

1,700+ at Derry city v Finn Harps according to the Guards.

I thought there was a much bigger crowd the last time out between the sides at Maginn. Definitely less Harps fans traveled this time. Really disappointed with the size of the traveling support.

[Nesta99]

Rovers though were within their rights to limit the amount of travelling supporters by giving Dundalk just 10% of the capacity of the ground.Dundalk got exactly that.

It didn't work out for them(Rovers) in the end but there was a purpose to it all.

If it were to do with trying to minimise any advantage Dundalk might have with a vocal traveling support so be it. But not taking in to considerations of the limitations of Oriel Park they met like with like - number of tickets available in a half empty stadium, portaloos only when there are toilets under the stand, a disproportionate amount of gardai! and security for the numbers in fear of their own supporters being aped. All points to low brow thinking that pervades Shamrock Rovers FC at times and it really is they type of behaviour they should be above! With the great strides made with the academy, the calibre of coaching staff there, the modern ground that they have to rent, potential of a young team etc. It is a pity that some in the club lower their stock to childish decisioons; Justified by some by baseless allegations of poor behaviour during a previous visit...ironicly proactive considering the tolerance shown to the questionable behaviour of Shams' club members. It is not a surprise hence when less than half of the ground was filled by home support in a cup semi-final replay offering a pop at a first cup final win in 30 years. Locals have their doubts too obviously.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Justified by some by baseless allegations of poor behaviour during a previous visit...ironicly proactive considering the tolerance shown to the questionable behaviour of Shams' club members. It is not a surprise hence when less than half of the ground was filled by home support in a cup semi-final replay offering a pop at a first cup final win in 30 years. Locals have their doubts too obviously.
If the club did it because of whats been said its clearly not baseless, then theres also some key points youre omitting, it may have been an sdcc decision not rovers and the limited allocation may have been for logistical reasons, if you move the separation meshing any further south i think you quickly encounter exits so they might cause problems as far as increasing away capacity is concerned but im no expert so i dont know for sure if it would.
As for the attendance it wasn't great no but it was a Tuesday night which is not only an inconvenient night as far as getting to and from the ground if you have a bit of a travel as many rovers fans do, see the flags at games for examples of the journeys some make, but Tuesday is also a big training night for clubs in various sports so that may have been a factor. So to say locals have their doubts is baseless

[Nesta99]

If the club did it because of whats been said its clearly not baseless, then theres also some key points youre omitting, it may have been an sdcc decision not rovers and the limited allocation may have been for logistical reasons, if you move the separation meshing any further south i think you quickly encounter exits so they might cause problems as far as increasing away capacity is concerned but im no expert so i dont know for sure if it would.
As for the attendance it wasn't great no but it was a Tuesday night which is not only an inconvenient night as far as getting to and from the ground if you have a bit of a travel as many rovers fans do, see the flags at games for examples of the journeys some make, but Tuesday is also a big training night for clubs in various sports so that may have been a factor. So to say locals have their doubts is baseless

Here we go with the travel excuses - are you Mypost? No direct busses or space ships to gst people to Tallaght? Its Dublin itself ffs not Leitrim you are trying to get from - public transport aint that bad!! Tuesday night, Friday nights, makes no difference as one doesnt need a bucketfull of pints, for example, to go to a game, especially on a school night....

Tallaght is a modern stadium so dont try the inflexible stuff like the super intelligent automatic sprinklers that cant be turned off type bs. The entire Shams crowd virtually could have been accomodated in one stand if buffer zones are an issue, Dundalk fans dont tend to jump the wall when a goal is scored and an entire width of a pitch is almost needed as a seperation. Shifting of a few square metres of plastic mesh isnt a big deal and if exits are an issue in a modern municipal stadium then SDCC planners need to be moved on!!

Really so SDCC could say to Rovers at any time no need for a 2nd stand to open as ones enough at current average gates, dictate ticketing allocations etc. I know you rent the ground but that is a rubbish lease. Its a bit like renting a house to someone and the telling the tenant who they can invite round for Sunday dinner or not.

As 'because of whats been said' by one individual and not a regular poster, not backed by any of the more easily agitated Sham support on here who would be shouting from the rooftops about faeces found after a game in the stand - it clearly is as baseless as we suspect it to be without the usual furore if such a turd happened!!

Do you not see the contradiction in your last sentence "Tuesday is also a big training night for clubs in various sports so that may have been a factor" - so doubts over the importance and interest of the locals in Shamrck Rovers is not baseless. it is debatable but not baseless. Every night has some attraction that can take from attendances so why a Tuesday is so especially bad ... just more excuses ala mypost era!

[brendy_éire]

I thought there was a much bigger crowd the last time out between the sides at Maginn. Definitely less Harps fans traveled this time. Really disappointed with the size of the traveling support.

Definitely was bigger last time round. Though official capacity is 1,730 odd.

[Charlie Darwin]

Here we go with the travel excuses - are you Mypost? No direct busses or space ships to gst people to Tallaght? Its Dublin itself ffs not Leitrim you are trying to get from - public transport aint that bad!! Tuesday night, Friday nights, makes no difference as one doesnt need a bucketfull of pints, for example, to go to a game, especially on a school night....

Tallaght is a modern stadium so dont try the inflexible stuff like the super intelligent automatic sprinklers that cant be turned off type bs. The entire Shams crowd virtually could have been accomodated in one stand if buffer zones are an issue, Dundalk fans dont tend to jump the wall when a goal is scored and an entire width of a pitch is almost needed as a seperation. Shifting of a few square metres of plastic mesh isnt a big deal and if exits are an issue in a modern municipal stadium then SDCC planners need to be moved on!!

Really so SDCC could say to Rovers at any time no need for a 2nd stand to open as ones enough at current average gates, dictate ticketing allocations etc. I know you rent the ground but that is a rubbish lease. Its a bit like renting a house to someone and the telling the tenant who they can invite round for Sunday dinner or not.

As 'because of whats been said' by one individual and not a regular poster, not backed by any of the more easily agitated Sham support on here who would be shouting from the rooftops about faeces found after a game in the stand - it clearly is as baseless as we suspect it to be without the usual furore if such a turd happened!!

Do you not see the contradiction in your last sentence "Tuesday is also a big training night for clubs in various sports so that may have been a factor" - so doubts over the importance and interest of the locals in Shamrck Rovers is not baseless. it is debatable but not baseless. Every night has some attraction that can take from attendances so why a Tuesday is so especially bad ... just more excuses ala mypost era!
Rovers never give an extra allocation to any team - a lot of season ticket holders sit down beside the away section and the club rightly gives them priority over away fans. It's nothing personal. Some Rovers fans get annoyed about being given the minimum allocation in other grounds but it's no different to what we do. The closure of the toilets, from what I've been told, was a deliberate response to the dirty protest.

[RathfarnhamHoop]

Here we go with the travel excuses - are you Mypost? No direct busses or space ships to gst people to Tallaght? Its Dublin itself ffs not Leitrim you are trying to get from - public transport aint that bad!! Tuesday night, Friday nights, makes no difference as one doesnt need a bucketfull of pints, for example, to go to a game, especially on a school night....

Tallaght is a modern stadium so dont try the inflexible stuff like the super intelligent automatic sprinklers that cant be turned off type bs. The entire Shams crowd virtually could have been accomodated in one stand if buffer zones are an issue, Dundalk fans dont tend to jump the wall when a goal is scored and an entire width of a pitch is almost needed as a seperation. Shifting of a few square metres of plastic mesh isnt a big deal and if exits are an issue in a modern municipal stadium then SDCC planners need to be moved on!!

Really so SDCC could say to Rovers at any time no need for a 2nd stand to open as ones enough at current average gates, dictate ticketing allocations etc. I know you rent the ground but that is a rubbish lease. Its a bit like renting a house to someone and the telling the tenant who they can invite round for Sunday dinner or not.

As 'because of whats been said' by one individual and not a regular poster, not backed by any of the more easily agitated Sham support on here who would be shouting from the rooftops about faeces found after a game in the stand - it clearly is as baseless as we suspect it to be without the usual furore if such a turd happened!!

Do you not see the contradiction in your last sentence "Tuesday is also a big training night for clubs in various sports so that may have been a factor" - so doubts over the importance and interest of the locals in Shamrck Rovers is not baseless. it is debatable but not baseless. Every night has some attraction that can take from attendances so why a Tuesday is so especially bad ... just more excuses ala mypost era!
Wow you're so blinkered it's unreal. Any club will get a worse attendance for a Tuesday night game. It's a bad night for long distance fans and non regulars.
If you actually cared to look at the main stand in Tallaght you'd see if you move the mesh you encounter what would be an awkward sequence of entrance/exit stairways and steps which you cant put the mesh over which is what I was referring to. As for the one stand thing how does that work, inconvenience half your regulars and limit the number of people who can pay at the gate to allow the opposition to have more fans? pull the other one.
It's like any rent, best not to **** off who you're renting off or you could lose and leeway you previously had, it's a bit like renting a house, throwing a party with loads of people, the house getting wrecked and the owner paying for repairs and asking you not to have so many people around again you'll probably be pretty co-operative.
I'm saying if that is why the Dundalk's allocation was capped then it's not baseless which is pretty obvious, also regular poster does not have any influence on the accuracy of info posted.
yes there are attractions on other nights but on midweek nights they're more likely to be at clashing times at opposed to on weekends. Again the training in a factor for non regulars, the regulars probably would miss training to go to the match but the non regulars, ie the people who boost the attendances for these kinds of matches, could go either way. It's not a contradiction you could be a huge rovers fan but if you've training on and missing it would result in you not playing in the next game then you might decide to miss the match that'll have highlights on tv anyway that you can watch.

[mcgonigle]

Rovers never give an extra allocation to any team - a lot of season ticket holders sit down beside the away section and the club rightly gives them priority over away fans. It's nothing personal. Some Rovers fans get annoyed about being given the minimum allocation in other grounds but it's no different to what we do. The closure of the toilets, from what I've been told, was a deliberate response to the dirty protest.

What was the purpose of closing off the back rows of the stand? This meant that the allocation was less than usual. Just as well the heavy rain held off. The whole night stunk of pettiness, the allocation, closing the back rows, the toilets, moving the touch line in etc.

Also not that I believe the rumours but how does closing the toilets stop people from s***ing in the stand? Surely it would have the opposite affect if anything

[Ezeikial]

Rovers never give an extra allocation to any team - a lot of season ticket holders sit down beside the away section and the club rightly gives them priority over away fans. It's nothing personal. Some Rovers fans get annoyed about being given the minimum allocation in other grounds but it's no different to what we do. The closure of the toilets, from what I've been told, was a deliberate response to the dirty protest.

Absolutely untrue as regards there being a "standard" allocation - the away section has been extended beyond 10% of capacity for Rovers - Dundalk matches in the recent past.

There is little doubt that the closure of the toilets was a deliberate act, but there is not a scintilla of evidence or credibility in the faeces yarn.

Even if it was true, it beggars belief how closing toilets is an appropriate response.

In my view it is simple another petty move that reaffirms the low tone that seems to permeate through the Shamrock Rovers club. It must be difficult for decent Rovers supporters to witness this race to the bottom.

[Charlie Darwin]

If the away section has been significantly extended for a non-FAI game before I didn't notice. The dirty protest stuff I've heard from people who I have no reason to doubt, but I don't really care and wouldn't tar Dundalk fans in general for it. I don't know what cordoning off the extra bit of the stand was for.

In any case, I don't have a problem with limiting teams to minimum allocation or with giving them extra. It makes no difference to me.

[Ezeikial]

If the away section has been significantly extended for a non-FAI game before I didn't notice. The dirty protest stuff I've heard from people who I have no reason to doubt, but I don't really care and wouldn't tar Dundalk fans in general for it. I don't know what cordoning off the extra bit of the stand was for.

In any case, I don't have a problem with limiting teams to minimum allocation or with giving them extra. It makes no difference to me.

Honest question to you Charlie - Do you every get embarrassed by the behaviour at your club of any of (a) Club board (b) Fellow supporters (c) Manager / team officials (d) Team disciplinary record?