LIttle things that annoy you about the league.....

[Duggie]

Little things that could be made better. Ill start. It annoys me that some teams have names on their jerseys and other teams dont. Why not? It looks a bit unprofessional that everyone cant have names on the back. Whats the big deal? Its should be a rule.

[KrisLetang]

Maybe they are embarrassed about who plays for them and don't want peeps to know?

[White Horse]

Using old crests of opponents in programmes and social media. So fuking lazy.

[Longfordian]

Everything about it after last Saturday.

[bluewhitearmy]

Travelling over 5 hours up the road to stand in the p1ssing rain for 25 mins for nothing.....that count?

[White Horse]

Travelling over 5 hours up the road to stand in the p1ssing rain for 25 mins for nothing.....that count?

That is not a little thing though.

[joey B]

Using old crests of opponents in programmes and social media. So fuking lazy.

I seen a betting site with Limerick down as 'Limerick 37' on Friday!!

[Duggie]

The lack of online merchandise. Some of the websites look like they were put together by a 10 yr old.

[bluewhitearmy]

That is not a little thing though.

Damn.Teams giving out tickets with the wrong game on them then just looks so amateur.

[outspoken]

Just the lack of advertising and promotion both online and locally by clubs like my own

[NeverFeltBetter]

The quality of video highlights from the Market's Field.

[Duggie]

That stupid half broken fence behind one of the goals in finn park. Like its an eye sore. Why not just take it down. Whos the groundsman there. Awful kip of a ground.

[SeanDrog]

Having to wait till Monday to see goals on highlight programme - would nice to also get the clips on the Saturday rather than 3 days later.

[patrickccfc]

Ger Canning saying Dundork

[atfconline]

Ger Canning saying anything.

[nigel-harps1954]

That stupid half broken fence behind one of the goals in finn park. Like its an eye sore. Why not just take it down. Whos the groundsman there. Awful kip of a ground.

That fence is one of the few things that stays together in Finn Park, and it isn't broken at all. It was only half made, for advertising hoardings.

It annoys me more than it rains rust during the game in the stand.

[osarusan]

I seen a betting site with Limerick down as 'Limerick 37' on Friday!!
Was just going to say this - using the name Limerick 37 was an error that persisted for a long long time.


Limerick FC announcer - "Let's make some NOISE".

MNS commentators getting players' names wrong - they are not even watching it live FFS.

The general crapness of the Airtricity League website.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

It's always amazed me that teams playing in the 6th tier of English football (and some lower) have nicer grounds than the biggest Irish teams.

Even teams in the 3rd tier (and some lower) of Scottish football have nicer grounds.

More fans might go to games if the grounds weren't so uninhabitable.

It's the same basic reason Juventus got such low attendances when they played in the Delle Alpi.

[gufcfan]

It's always amazed me that teams playing in the 6th tier of English football (and some lower) have nicer grounds than the biggest Irish teams.

Even teams in the 3rd tier (and some lower) of Scottish football have nicer grounds.

Clubs in those leagues have local and national government assistance.Sports capital funding doesn't go to the GAA first, then everybody else in the UK.

[nigel-harps1954]

Clubs in those leagues have local and national government assistance.Sports capital funding doesn't go to the GAA first, then everybody else in the UK.

And when funding is granted to GAA clubs, they actually receive their money.

[ger121]

That attendances aren't released and included in all match reports as they are in the UK

[dong]

The lack of live scores on electric bus stops and the limited use of large scoreboards to show video replays.

[Charlie Darwin]

The look is too cool and not bleak enough for me and my goth mates.

[Longfordian]

The fact that you can't get a direct bus from Phibsboro to Tallaght grinds my gears. Sort it out FAI.

[BonnieShels]

The fact that you can't get a direct bus from Phibsboro to Tallaght grinds my gears. Sort it out FAI.

http://www.biggertshirts.com/images/SpaceCadet_Art_Royal.png

Who needs a bus when you can use your spaceship.

[Philosophizer]

This might sound like a trivial thing, but when I see LOI on TV I’m frequently frustrated by how poor the product looks, mostly due to the poor positioning of the gantry.

Most casual soccer fans in Ireland are used to watching CL and PL soccer from the perfect viewing angle on TV. If LOI grounds look better on TV, it might convince viewers to actually attend the games in person and it could even encourage TV networks to show more matches.

LOI games get little TV coverage as it is, so the clubs should really make sure that the product looks as good as possible on camera. Derry are probably the worst culprits. They’ve a brilliant curved stand, but the gantry sits inside it, facing the other side, which is extremely unsightly. Whenever Setanta/Eir are there for a live game they must erect a scaffold or something because they always have the camera pointed at the curved stand and it looks great. Luckily this should be fixed with the creation of the new stand but they should have erected a permanent gantry on that side years ago.

Sligo’s gantry is too close to the side-line and too low, as is the case with many grounds, like Longford, Bray, Drogheda, Wexford and Dundalk.

Richmond park look’s half decent on TV, but the bloody floodlight poles are frequently in the way of the play. This looks awful when matches are broadcast live, as was the case with the cup semi final vs cork last yr.

Athlone have some scrub land behind one of the goals and it looks dreadful.

Luckily it’s not all bad. Cork, Sham rovers, Bohs, Galway, Shels and Limerick all have their gantry placement at a decent height and distance from the pitch, and the cameras point towards their best stands.

[Philosophizer]

One thing Galway could improve though, is that small perimeter wall around the pitch. Why not just give it a lick of paint. The parts of the wall that are visible on camera in between the advertising hoardings looks cat!

The rest of Eamon Deacy park looks v good on TV though, especially the paintwork on the larger wall behind the goals. Surely they could paint that small perimieter wall maroon and it would make the place look way better.

http://www.extratime.ie/media/extratime/images/articles/32981318961_ee3ace53c0_z.jpg

[Duggie]

One thing Galway could improve though, is that small perimeter wall around the pitch. Why not just give it a lick of paint. The parts of the wall that are visible on camera in between the advertising hoardings looks cat!

The rest of Eamon Deacy park looks v good on TV though, especially the paintwork on the larger wall behind the goals. Surely they could paint that small perimieter wall maroon and it would make the place look way better.

http://www.extratime.ie/media/extratime/images/articles/32981318961_ee3ace53c0_z.jpg

ya i see that. in general galways ground looks good and i agree about the paintwork behind the goal, good idea. what i can't understand is do grounds people not see these small little things everyday which could be fixed?? surely we can get the small things right. Surely!!!!

[Philosophizer]

ya i see that. in general galways ground looks good and i agree about the paintwork behind the goal, good idea. what i can't understand is do grounds people not see these small little things everyday which could be fixed?? surely we can get the small things right. Surely!!!!

Can't see the forrest for the trees

[dublinred]

The negative coverage in the press is appalling , breaking news in the indo now is about a well known journalist yet no mention of the code he was coaching while this happened , if it was someone you made one sub appearance for a LOI side it would be "LOI Star " in the headline.

[Longfordian]

I doubt that was for sporting bias reasons, more to do with legal reporting restrictions I'd say.

[onlooker]

The little TV coverage, the poor food on offer, the terrible weather for summer football. The fact that the kids always want to go with me so can't enjoy a pint afterwards. Thank heavens they never want to go to watch a local club game on Sunday mornings as I get to have a couple of sips in peace afterwards.

[oriel]

Some fans and I have heard even LOI managers refer to the Premier Div as 'the premiership'

Actually did anyone notice Croly when interviewed during the Rovers v Bohs match live, refer to his team as 'bohs' he then changed to 'we' ......not annoying just funny!

[Duggie]

United park in drogheda looked like an awfull dump on mns highlights. Bad weather aside it looks dirty and all round sh1thole. There should be some standard you have to get to for this league. That looks like there should be cows grazing on it.

[Nesta99]

United Park hs its charm! My own hate in saying this is whenever United Park gets criticised Drog fans say its not their ground to fix like as if it had been done even if the FAI hadnt bailed out the club by buying the ground early 90's (1992/3?). It is also an irritant the amount of people who are interested in results and ask how a game was but have hundreds of excuses not to go. The tannoy in Oriel Park when music is playing is a real big annoyance if not a big deal. Also that there isnt enough complaining about the Oriel Park pitch these days. The rdiculous name the Dundalk 'ultras' have - it maybe be an old name but you'd think that they would pronounce it correctly and even know who and what the Mujahideen are...

[joey B]

How fickle casual league of Ireland can be and how easily they drift when things are going badly.

[White Horse]

Fans giving out about other club's grounds even though their own ground has plenty of faults.

Tallaght is the only decent stadium in the premier division, and yet the pitch there is frequently rubbish.

[Duggie]

Fans giving out about other club's grounds even though their own ground has plenty of faults.

Tallaght is the only decent stadium in the premier division, and yet the pitch there is frequently rubbish.

i'll complain about all grounds, i'm not biased. but what annoys me is places like drogheda, finn harps, carlisle grounds and so on is year after year there never seems to be even the slighest improvements. they wouldn't have to be big ones just at least a slight change maybe. you look at utd park and has it changed any in the last 30-40 years? i'm not that old but since i was a child watching LOI about 20 years it looks the exact same. its 2017 and still some grounds are not fit to host a kick around you might have with your friends.

[nigel-harps1954]

If you've been going to Finn Park for 20 years and haven't noticed even a slight change in that time you need to get your eyes checked I'd think.

[KBurke]

Anthony Buttimer

[dundalkfc10]

i'll complain about all grounds, i'm not biased. but what annoys me is places like drogheda, finn harps, carlisle grounds and so on is year after year there never seems to be even the slighest improvements. they wouldn't have to be big ones just at least a slight change maybe. you look at utd park and has it changed any in the last 30-40 years? i'm not that old but since i was a child watching LOI about 20 years it looks the exact same. its 2017 and still some grounds are not fit to host a kick around you might have with your friends.

The grounds are not half as bad as made out! Heres my view on away ends

Bray: Away end is grand..Seats at 1st bit for elder support/families, good space for more vocal crowd past the Tv Gantry. Cant see the sideline on the away side (not really an issue, as you cant in most grounds)

Bohs: Away end is a bit of a dump, but its covered and has ample space. Viewing can be pretty poor if a large away crowd.

Cork: Top Quality Away End

Drogheda: My personal favourite, When the Cow Shed (away end) has 7/800 in it, the noise it generates is fantastic. Cant see the sideline though and theres plenty of Poles.

Derry: Plenty of space, very far away from the pitch. As for getting home on a bus :soldier:

Sligo: Good space, covered. Cant see half of one pitch with all them fences up seperating home and away fans.

Rovers: Fantastic, apart from the atmosphere being non-exsistent.

Galway: Top notch, Plenty of space (we never really bring a crowd for some reason) Covered

Finn Harps: As bad as Oriel, but not as bad as people make out

Pats: Stand is grand, apart from not being able see one sideline. Behind the goals entrance side is grand once standing up the back. Shed is shocking!

Limerick: Decent pop up stand, good atmosphere! Great City and the locals love an old sing song before and after the match

[EatYerGreens]

This might sound like a trivial thing, but when I see LOI on TV I’m frequently frustrated by how poor the product looks, mostly due to the poor positioning of the gantry.

Most casual soccer fans in Ireland are used to watching CL and PL soccer from the perfect viewing angle on TV. If LOI grounds look better on TV, it might convince viewers to actually attend the games in person and it could even encourage TV networks to show more matches.

LOI games get little TV coverage as it is, so the clubs should really make sure that the product looks as good as possible on camera. Derry are probably the worst culprits. They’ve a brilliant curved stand, but the gantry sits inside it, facing the other side, which is extremely unsightly. Whenever Setanta/Eir are there for a live game they must erect a scaffold or something because they always have the camera pointed at the curved stand and it looks great. Luckily this should be fixed with the creation of the new stand but they should have erected a permanent gantry on that side years ago.

Sligo’s gantry is too close to the side-line and too low, as is the case with many grounds, like Longford, Bray, Drogheda, Wexford and Dundalk.

Richmond park look’s half decent on TV, but the bloody floodlight poles are frequently in the way of the play. This looks awful when matches are broadcast live, as was the case with the cup semi final vs cork last yr.

Athlone have some scrub land behind one of the goals and it looks dreadful.

Luckily it’s not all bad. Cork, Sham rovers, Bohs, Galway, Shels and Limerick all have their gantry placement at a decent height and distance from the pitch, and the cameras point towards their best stands.

I'd agree with this.

I guess the problem is that a lot of LOI grounds have one side that's in good condition, and another that's less so - a bi like Scottish lower league and English non-league grounds. And the facilities all tend to be put into the good side - including the TV gantry - so you get a camera view taken above a busy stand which is looking over at an empty part of the ground.

That's not the case for all grounds, but seems to be the rule for many of them.

[Mr A]

People slagging off the Gabay Report for saying small details are important, then saying small details are important :)

[Charlie Darwin]

Drogheda: My personal favourite, When the Cow Shed (away end) has 7/800 in it, the noise it generates is fantastic. Cant see the sideline though and theres plenty of Poles.

Racist.

[bluewhitearmy]

Any away section with no cover is a joke for the top tier of football in the country imo. Buncrana exceptionally awful where you had the choice of stand at the back near the wall to stay some way dry and not be able to see anything or see the game and get soaked, no food hot or cold available to away fans either really annoying.

[Larry 'da' Wyse]

Pat Fenlon ;-)

Actually it annoys me when so much of the media refer to our league as the League of Ireland. If we are trying to attract sponsorship then the FAI should hammer home the SSE Airtricity league as much as possible. Branding is important in any attempt to attract new investment. It must drive the sponsors crazy to see their name dropped so frequently in the print, tv and radio coverage.

[Straightstory]

. Cork, Sham rovers, Bohs, Galway, Shels and Limerick all have their gantry placement at a decent height and distance from the pitch, and the cameras point towards their best stands.
Don't think that's true of Cork - the camera is situated in the main stand, so the view is of the much smaller one on the other side of the pitch.

[blueblood]

Don't think that's true of Cork - the camera is situated in the main stand, so the view is of the much smaller one on the other side of the pitch.
And shamrocks rovers fans are under the camera with the emptier stand shown on TV

[Philosophizer]

Don't think that's true of Cork - the camera is situated in the main stand, so the view is of the much smaller one on the other side of the pitch.

Fair point, although the main stand doesn't stretch the full length of the pitch.

[Philosophizer]

And shamrocks rovers fans are under the camera with the emptier stand shown on TV

The cameras do point at the larger stand in Tallaght though. You're right that the "ultras" tend to position themselves under the gantry in the east stand but i'd still say that the main stand usually has more ppl in it.