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JC_GUFC
07/07/2022, 9:29 AM
The only way a true pyramid system is ever going to work is if the FAI executive can effectively seize power from the junior and intermediate leagues. I'm not sure if the FAI set up actually allows them to do that, so it's possibly a futile exercise. The clubs will follow the money. So, if the FAI decides that beyond the third tier there's going to be three regional intermediate leagues, teams in these leagues will be the only ones that can play in the intermediate cup, FAI funding won't be available to clubs outside of this, FAI referees won't be available to leagues outside this etc. The same happens at junior level, some of the major local leagues could survive, but many of the smaller ones would be relegated to "casual football" where there's no FAI funding, refs, summer camps, coaches, etc. There's basic standards for clubs at junior level, slightly higher at intermediate and clubs have the option of promotion to national league level once they finish high enough in the intermediate league and facilities can reach the next level of standard.


Really there shouldn't be a Junior/Intermediate split - or at least they should be structured in the way the Leinster Senior League has achieved that clubs achieve promotion for winning their Junior League.

Just taking Limerick clubs, as an example, they place quite a bit of stock in winning the Munster Junior Cup but there seems to be little appetite to play these sides on a regular league basis.

legendz
07/07/2022, 10:12 AM
Football has a broad national appeal. There isn't going to be one LoI club per county but only 12 from 26 represents a failure somewhere.
19 of 26 are represented at youth level. A great improvement.
For arguments sake, let's say the third tier is established in a few years and the likes of Mayo, Cavan Monaghan, Carlow Kilkenny and Kildare are involved. One would hope it will create an environment where the likes of Meath will look more closely at their structures and what is required. There will be a clear pathway which should focus minds on what is realistically achievable.

nigel-harps1954
07/07/2022, 12:23 PM
Atlantic Technological University actually has at least 5 campuses - IT Sligo, LYIT, GMIT, Killybegs, and that nursing college St Something-or-other opposite ITSligo. I think they may even have another campus in Mayo too. Good luck trying to get a team out of all of that.

I think there were five GMIT campuses alone. Two LYIT, and two IT Sligo. They all come under ATU banner now.

Not sure how the university football split works with ATU now, or the other TU amalgamations nationwide. I'd presume they'll play under ATU Letterkenny, ATU Sligo, etc.

nigel-harps1954
07/07/2022, 12:25 PM
Football has a broad national appeal. There isn't going to be one LoI club per county but only 12 from 26 represents a failure somewhere.
19 of 26 are represented at youth level. A great improvement.
For arguments sake, let's say the third tier is established in a few years and the likes of Mayo, Cavan Monaghan, Carlow Kilkenny and Kildare are involved. One would hope it will create an environment where the likes of Meath will look more closely at their structures and what is required. There will be a clear pathway which should focus minds on what is realistically achievable.

I think you've ignored this several times now, but will attempt again. Cavan/Monaghan won't ever be a senior LOI entity. They're whipping boys in the underage leagues, they struggle to get players, referees, pitches, and much in the way of financial support or even anyone watching their games. I'm surprised they're still in the underage leagues at all with Monaghan United now back playing intermediate football and running their own underage setup again, seemingly pushing back towards LOI themselves long term.

EatYerGreens
07/07/2022, 12:28 PM
The report last November that suggested a third tier is on the cards suggested universities will be included.

I suspect that meant basically Maynooth University Town, who obviously have ambitions and feature in the Cup. Beyond them, when was the last time a non-UCD university side played in the FAI Cup ?

EatYerGreens
07/07/2022, 12:32 PM
Really there shouldn't be a Junior/Intermediate split - or at least they should be structured in the way the Leinster Senior League has achieved that clubs achieve promotion for winning their Junior League.

Just taking Limerick clubs, as an example, they place quite a bit of stock in winning the Munster Junior Cup but there seems to be little appetite to play these sides on a regular league basis.

I can't get my head around how junior and intermediate football works here. In England, Junior means under-age and intermediate means the middle level between totally amateur and properly senior. So one is basically kids/U21s and the other are clubs midway to having aspirations. Whereas here I honestly can't tell the difference between Junior and Intermediate level. Both seem to play adults and move in the same circles

Is the Irish model more about who organises the leagues than it is who plays in them ?

culloty82
07/07/2022, 12:45 PM
Pretty much - intermediate football is, nominally at least, within the remit of provincial football associations, even if Munster is effectively a Cork league, and Ulster a Donegal one, with the exception of Monaghan United, while junior football is largely organised by county.

nigel-harps1954
07/07/2022, 12:59 PM
Pretty much - intermediate football is, nominally at least, within the remit of provincial football associations, even if Munster is effectively a Cork league, and Ulster a Donegal one, with the exception of Monaghan United, while junior football is largely organised by county.

To be fair, it's not just Monaghan. Derry reserves are in USL too.
The Ulster SL couldn't really cover all of Ulster, given Cavan/Monaghan league is very small. Donegal and Inishowen are two separate football jurisdictions as well in junior circles.

Given two from Donegal, one from Inishowen, Derry/Harps reserves and Monaghan, it's about as broad as USL could be. The progressive path for intermediate football would be to invite Connaught to form a North-West intermediate league.

joey B
07/07/2022, 1:05 PM
The progressive path for intermediate football would be to invite Connaught to form a North-West intermediate league.

Or if the Donegal/Inishowen leagues actually fed into the USL ,but that’s never gonna happen!!

EatYerGreens
07/07/2022, 1:06 PM
To be fair, it's not just Monaghan. Derry reserves are in USL too.
The Ulster SL couldn't really cover all of Ulster, given Cavan/Monaghan league is very small. Donegal and Inishowen are two separate football jurisdictions as well in junior circles.

Given two from Donegal, one from Inishowen, Derry/Harps reserves and Monaghan, it's about as broad as USL could be. The progressive path for intermediate football would be to invite Connaught to form a North-West intermediate league.

Definitely. The 3 Ulster counties in the State are too small (Cavan/Monaghan) and spread out to form a viable league. It's hard to see how an Ulster league would ever work without an all-island structure for football, as it naturally belongs to the north structurally.

pineapple stu
07/07/2022, 1:10 PM
Beyond them, when was the last time a non-UCD university side played in the FAI Cup ?
UCC were in it in 2015. Trinity qualified in the mid-90s and again in the mid-00s I think. UCD's second string qualified in 2009 (and were promptly banned from entering again)

2 Year Contract
07/07/2022, 1:16 PM
UCC were in it in 2015. Trinity qualified in the mid-90s and again in the mid-00s I think. UCD's second string qualified in 2009 (and were promptly banned from entering again)

UCC were in the qualifying round of the 2019 FAI Cup also but lost to Malahide. They competed in the league cup too as recently as 2020

legendz
07/07/2022, 1:21 PM
I think you've ignored this several times now, but will attempt again. Cavan/Monaghan won't ever be a senior LOI entity. They're whipping boys in the underage leagues, they struggle to get players, referees, pitches, and much in the way of financial support or even anyone watching their games. I'm surprised they're still in the underage leagues at all with Monaghan United now back playing intermediate football and running their own underage setup again, seemingly pushing back towards LOI themselves long term. Are Monaghan United likely to step into the underage leagues in place of Cavan Monaghan?

Nah Nah Nah Nah
07/07/2022, 1:52 PM
Don't IT Sligo have some Sligo Rovers players on scholarship already ?

They do

EalingGreen
07/07/2022, 2:15 PM
I can't get my head around how junior and intermediate football works here. In England, Junior means under-age and intermediate means the middle level between totally amateur and properly senior. So one is basically kids/U21s and the other are clubs midway to having aspirations. Whereas here I honestly can't tell the difference between Junior and Intermediate level. Both seem to play adults and move in the same circles

Is the Irish model more about who organises the leagues than it is who plays in them ?
I think you are confusing "Junior" with Youth (or Schools).

In NI and Scotland for example, Junior Football refers to the lowest level of Adult football, with teams generally being amateur (though maybe basic expenses or the odd signing-on fee etc at leading clubs).

Intermediate football is the next adult level up in the pyramid, with clubs often offering "generous" expenses, plus other remuneration, sometimes close to semi-pro level.

While Senior football is the highest adult level (obv) and either semi- or fully- professional.

In both countries, this set-up allows for additional football eg leagues catering for Reserve teams, U-23 or U-19 etc.

legendz
08/07/2022, 7:31 AM
To be fair, it's not just Monaghan. Derry reserves are in USL too.
The Ulster SL couldn't really cover all of Ulster, given Cavan/Monaghan league is very small. Donegal and Inishowen are two separate football jurisdictions as well in junior circles.

Given two from Donegal, one from Inishowen, Derry/Harps reserves and Monaghan, it's about as broad as USL could be. The progressive path for intermediate football would be to invite Connaught to form a North-West intermediate league.A Connaught -Ulster intermediate league would be sensible.
Leinster arguably could have separate north and south leagues but if they are content with one league, so be it
The Munster senior league as mentioned is a Cork league. A separate South Intermediate League might have to be formed for the remaining 5 counties. The Clare League, Tipperary North, Tipperary South, 2 Limerick district leagues, Kerry and Waterford could form a Southern Football Council to oversee the league. (West Waterford are tied in with East Cork.)
Is there currently a senior league club being held back from joining the League of Ireland?
There is merit in district leagues linking with intermediate leagues. For the finances required in obtaining a LoI license, there is arguably a place for an intermediary league between LoI and the intermediate leagues.

sadloserkid
08/07/2022, 10:29 AM
A Connaught -Ulster intermediate league would be sensible.

Would it though? Is it sensible for some team from Castleblayney or Clones or heaven forbid Emyvale to be potentially trekking across to Clifden or somewhere like that to play amateur ball. They'd probably drive their base in Ulster, through a good chunk of Leinster (could take a break in Athlone) to get to Connacht.

Obviously any regionalised league will have boundary issues but if your Super Premier Senior Leagues were pressed into action I'd suggest Monaghan and Cavan would be better accomodated in the Leinster section and if you want to try and stitch some Donegal/Connacht creation together that might make marginally more sense.

legendz
08/07/2022, 10:50 AM
Would it though? Is it sensible for some team from Castleblayney or Clones or heaven forbid Emyvale to be potentially trekking across to Clifden or somewhere like that to play amateur ball. They'd probably drive their base in Ulster, through a good chunk of Leinster (could take a break in Athlone) to get to Connacht.

Obviously any regionalised league will have boundary issues but if your Super Premier Senior Leagues were pressed into action I'd suggest Monaghan and Cavan would be better accomodated in the Leinster section and if you want to try and stitch some Donegal/Connacht creation together that might make marginally more sense. Valid points. North Donegal to South Galway is a long trip as well. The influence behind the Ulster and Connaught partnership discussion is because Ulster just about has a senior league and Connaught has none. Connaught has 4 district leagues and Ulster has 3 district leagues. It would seem a reasonable number of district leagues to feed into one intermediate league. Some distances as you say aren't ideal however.

EatYerGreens
09/07/2022, 10:13 PM
A Connaught -Ulster intermediate league would be sensible.

Sensible only on paper though. The distances and journey times would be harsh for clubs involved e.g. Letterkenny to Galway is 250km and takes up to 3 and a half hours.

nigel-harps1954
09/07/2022, 11:05 PM
If a club has ambition to step up the leagues, they'll have to travel. Once they get into the First Division or Premier they'll have to travel the length of the country.

A journey from the likes of Letterkenny to Galway shouldn't be a deciding factor against any league structure.

EatYerGreens
10/07/2022, 10:16 PM
If a club has ambition to step up the leagues, they'll have to travel. Once they get into the First Division or Premier they'll have to travel the length of the country.

A journey from the likes of Letterkenny to Galway shouldn't be a deciding factor against any league structure.

But we're not talking about clubs in the top 2 tiers. We're talking about the suggestion of a Connacht-Ulster amateur league. It's hardly unfair to factor in the cost and impact of travel distances on such leagues and their teams of very part-time players with extremely limited finances.

pineapple stu
10/07/2022, 10:21 PM
A division restricted to around one-third of the country seems reasonable for a third tier (if the MSL/LSL and this were to be third tiers)

It'd make the step up to a national second tier easier than jumping up from a county league, which I think was Nigel's point

nigel-harps1954
10/07/2022, 11:18 PM
But we're not talking about clubs in the top 2 tiers. We're talking about the suggestion of a Connacht-Ulster amateur league. It's hardly unfair to factor in the cost and impact of travel distances on such leagues and their teams of very part-time players with extremely limited finances.

That doesn't really sound much like progression for me, in that case. I don't think labelling it an amateur league does much service to the suggestion of a third tier either. Most intermediate sides are already paying their players.


A division restricted to around one-third of the country seems reasonable for a third tier (if the MSL/LSL and this were to be third tiers)

It'd make the step up to a national second tier easier than jumping up from a county league, which I think was Nigel's point

Precisely the point. Going from local junior league, to regional intermediate, to national first division would be logical progression.

EatYerGreens
11/07/2022, 12:14 AM
That doesn't really sound much like progression for me, in that case. I don't think labelling it an amateur league does much service to the suggestion of a third tier either. Most intermediate sides are already paying their players.



Precisely the point. Going from local junior league, to regional intermediate, to national first division would be logical progression.

A Connacht-Ulster league isn't going to happen though - no matter at what tier - and is just more Fantasy League stuff.

legendz
11/07/2022, 9:22 AM
A Connacht-Ulster league isn't going to happen though - no matter at what tier - and is just more Fantasy League stuff.Is the glass half full or half empty? Is the suggestion fantasy or achievable?
What's the alternative route that you might suggest for district leagues offering promotion to an intermediate league?

nigel-harps1954
11/07/2022, 4:03 PM
A Connacht-Ulster league isn't going to happen though - no matter at what tier - and is just more Fantasy League stuff.

You could say the same about 95% of the suggestions on this thread though, what's one more to the equation?

To be fair though, Sligo Rovers had applied to join USL a number of years ago and the move was blocked when chat of a Connaught version reared it's head, if I remember correctly. Revisiting that idea might pave the way for a few more Connaught based sides.

The other alternative is to try and entice teams across the border to join. Belfast Celtic also applied to join a few years ago before joining the NIFL system.

legendz
11/07/2022, 4:38 PM
If something of a pyramid is built from district leagues to intermediate leagues, there should at least be two intermediate tiers.
3 Ulster district leagues linked to one intermediate league. 4 Connacht district leagues linked to one intermediate league. These two intermediate leagues then linked to one higher tier intermediate league.
In Munster then, Clare, 2 Limerick district leagues and Kerry league linked to one intermediate league. 2 Tipperary district leagues and 2 Waterford district leagues linked to one intermediate league. These two intermediate leagues then linked to one higher tier intermediate league.
Now Ulster only has something like 7 clubs in the USL? The appetite for district league clubs joining intermediate provincial leagues seems low. The above is merely a suggested route for building something of a pyramid system. The glass is definitely empty at this time.

EalingGreen
12/07/2022, 6:26 PM
The other alternative is to try and entice teams across the border to join.
Nigel, I always enjoy your posts, reasoned and reasonable, informed and informative.

But never mind that that suggestion is not gpoing to happen - indeed could never happen under UEFA Rules - but it is actually somewhat offensive.

I mean, how would you feel if the NIFL attempted to "entice" some of your clubs from eg Louth, Monaghan or Donegal?

What right do you imagine the LOI/ FAI has to just pick and choose clubs from another Association's jurisdiction?



Belfast Celtic also applied to join a few years ago before joining the NIFL system.
Correction: "Belfast Celtic FC 1978", formerly known as Sport and Leisure Swifts FC, applied to join the Ulster Senior League in 2019, having been members of the NIFL system since their original inception, 41 years previously.

And that suggestion was "laughed out of court" - pretty appropriate for a joke of a club. Though the true inheritors of the original Belfast Celtic were not at all pleased at this mob appropriating the famous name, except there wasn't anything in the IFA's rulebook to prevent it.

And as a spokesman for the Belfast Celtic Society noted:
“Our Society notes the decision of Sport and Leisure Swifts FC to change their name. We would reiterate our Society has no part in this decision and will have no involvement with Sport and Leisure FC going forward.”
Indeed the BCS refused even to meet Sport and Leisure, so annoyed were they with their presumption.

Meanwhile, the 1978 version of "Belfast Celtic FC" currently play in the Ballymena & Provincial District Leage, one of four divisions making up the fourth tier of the NI pyramid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belfast_Celtic_F.C._%281978%29

culloty82
12/07/2022, 6:56 PM
Of course, it could also be argued that Donegal Celtic are the sporting inheritors of the club, but ironucally, they now find themselves in the same division as the ersatz club.

nigel-harps1954
12/07/2022, 9:18 PM
Nigel, I always enjoy your posts, reasoned and reasonable, informed and informative.

But never mind that that suggestion is not gpoing to happen - indeed could never happen under UEFA Rules - but it is actually somewhat offensive.

I mean, how would you feel if the NIFL attempted to "entice" some of your clubs from eg Louth, Monaghan or Donegal?

What right do you imagine the LOI/ FAI has to just pick and choose clubs from another Association's jurisdiction?



I would say apologies if it's deemed offensive. West side of N.Ire is fairly poorly represented within NIFL structures though. I'm simply suggesting those who share the viewpoint "nothing west of the Bann" may perhaps fancy their chances in an Ulster Senior League setup.

I could be wide of the mark, and living in fantasy land, but North-West of Ireland cross border intermediate cup this year was fairly successful and perhaps a blueprint for something bigger in future.

EatYerGreens
12/07/2022, 9:20 PM
Of course, it could also be argued that Donegal Celtic are the sporting inheritors of the club, but ironucally, they now find themselves in the same division as the ersatz club.

It credibly can't though. I can only assume you're going by the 'Celtic' name and being form West Belfast, as those are the only things the two clubs have in common. There is no commonality or link.

EalingGreen
12/07/2022, 10:42 PM
I would say apologies if it's deemed offensive.
Apologies accepted. :cool2:

(Amd while "Offensive" might be a bit strong, no-one likes to see their neighbours nipping over the fence to pinch apples from their tree, or eggs from their henhouse!)


IWest side of N.Ire is fairly poorly represented within NIFL structures though. I'm simply suggesting those who share the viewpoint "nothing west of the Bann" may perhaps fancy their chances in an Ulster Senior League setup.
Belfast Celtic [sic] are hardly West of the Bann!

Meanwhile regarding Senior football in NI, West of the Bann clubs include Dungannon Swifts in the Premiership (plus Colreaine on the Bann!); the Championship has Ballinamallard, Dergview and Institute; and from the Premier Intermediate League, there are Limavady, Moyola Park and Tobermore.

While the two westernmost of the four 4th tier Intermediate leagues have another 13 teams from West of the Bann.

And while I don't know how many Junior teams from the West there are, it must be close to 3 figures, eg the Fermanagh and Western alone has 30 separate teams in three divisions plus the same in three Reserve divisions.

In addition, a surprising number of the players at those clubs actually come from the border regions of ROI, since football is often better organised on the NI side than in their home counties.

Compare that level of represntation with that of whole swathes of Connacht in the LOI system, for instance.

Meanwhile, the Ulster Senior League has, I believe, a grand total of seven clubs, including the Reserve teams of Derry City and Finn Harps.

Therefore if there was to be any migration of clubs across the border, it would actually make more sense for the USL clubs to move into the NI system, before their league dies on its arse. (I'm not suggesting such a move, btw).



I could be wide of the mark, and living in fantasy land, but North-West of Ireland cross border intermediate cup this year was fairly successful and perhaps a blueprint for something bigger in future.There are excellent relations between clubs on both sides of the border - and long may it continue.

But that would very soon disappear if the LOI were to start "enticing" IL clubs to switch.

I mean, Ukraine got along fine with Russia until, well, you know where I'm going! (Joke, btw)

legendz
13/07/2022, 9:29 AM
"Under the Good Friday Agreement, Irish passports can be held by Irish citizens born on either side of the border."
CAS agreed that the above allows players from all 32 counties represent the Republic of Ireland.
If clubs identify with a 32 county Ireland, if they want to join the League of Ireland, if they meet the criteria and ifthe LoI/FAI are open to allowing them to join; should they be allowed to join?

EalingGreen
13/07/2022, 9:50 AM
"Under the Good Friday Agreement, Irish passports can be held by Irish citizens born on either side of the border."
CAS agreed that the above allows players from all 32 counties represent the Republic of Ireland.
If clubs identify with a 32 county Ireland, if they want to join the League of Ireland, if they meet the criteria and ifthe LoI/FAI are open to allowing them to join; should they be allowed to join?
Dear God... :pray:

pineapple stu
13/07/2022, 10:07 AM
Are we leaving aside the fact that the FAI was admitted to FIFA with an explicit mandate for just the 26 counties? (Derry being a one-off exception for well-discussed reasons, none of which are close to relevant now)

legendz
13/07/2022, 10:27 AM
Are we leaving aside the fact that the FAI was admitted to FIFA with an explicit mandate for just the 26 counties? (Derry being a one-off exception for well-discussed reasons, none of which are close to relevant now)Belfast Celtic left the Irish League for political reasons, less than 40 years before Derry City joined the League of Ireland. It's a pity there wasn't foresight in 1949 to allow Belfast Celtic join the League of Ireland.
The GFA arguably gives a new mandate for 32 county Republic of Ireland representation. Why exclude clubs who would associate with the Republic of Ireland?

sadloserkid
13/07/2022, 10:45 AM
Why not Glasgow Celtic Colts for the shiny, new Mega A Championship National League then?

pineapple stu
13/07/2022, 10:47 AM
The Good Friday Agreement has nothing to do with UEFA/FIFA

What you identify as or how excluded you feel don't really have anything to do with the real world.

EalingGreen
13/07/2022, 11:06 AM
Belfast Celtic left the Irish League for political reasons, less than 40 years before Derry City joined the League of Ireland. It's a pity there wasn't foresight in 1949 to allow Belfast Celtic join the League of Ireland.
The GFA arguably gives a new mandate for 32 county Republic of Ireland representation. Why exclude clubs who would associate with the Republic of Ireland?
Please, someone, make it stop.

Now.

EalingGreen
13/07/2022, 11:10 AM
Are we leaving aside the fact that the FAI was admitted to FIFA with an explicit mandate for just the 26 counties? (Derry being a one-off exception for well-discussed reasons, none of which are close to relevant now)
Indeed.

Meanwhile:
https://www.nifootballleague.com/all-clubs/derry-city-women/

Partizan
13/07/2022, 11:16 AM
Are we leaving aside the fact that the FAI was admitted to FIFA with an explicit mandate for just the 26 counties? (Derry being a one-off exception for well-discussed reasons, none of which are close to relevant now)

Then Derry City should rejoin the IFA since the reason of their original expulsion/exemption no longer exists.

EalingGreen
13/07/2022, 11:23 AM
Then Derry City should rejoin the IFA since the reason of their original expulsion/exemption no longer exists.
Fair enough - though they'd have to start at the bottom of the pyramid.

(Oh and while we're at it, does everyone on here know what a league pyramid is? ;))

legendz
13/07/2022, 11:38 AM
Donegal Celtic were denied access to the Irish League for years. Lurgan Celtic also had problems with the IFA. An opportunity was lost to welcome them to the League of Ireland?
I'll keep discussion on these clubs to a minimum. The desire to join the League of Ireland should come from these clubs, if they are supporters of the Republic of Ireland and if they want to be part of a 32 county league.

Buller
13/07/2022, 1:35 PM
Donegal Celtic were denied access to the Irish League for years. Lurgan Celtic also had problems with the IFA. An opportunity was lost to welcome them to the League of Ireland?
I'll keep discussion on these clubs to a minimum. The desire to join the League of Ireland should come from these clubs, if they are supporters of the Republic of Ireland and if they want to be part of a 32 county league.

Glasgow Celtic, welcome to the LOI Third Tier Championship A Mk II! :D

GUFCghost
13/07/2022, 3:11 PM
Alrighty, I'll try and carve up intermediate football myself then. This is built on the assumption that junior clubs want to play at a higher level.

Mid-West Football League.
Feeder leagues; Galway, Mayo,Roscommon, Combined Counties (Midlands)

Seems pretty straight forward to me, maybe some midlands clubs already in the LSL would object but the recent good performances of Connacht sides in the FAI Junior Cup should ease their worries.

North-West Football League.
Feeder leagues: Sligo & Leitrm, Donegal, Inishowen, Monaghan & Cavan.

Essentially just the USL plus Sligo & Leitrim.

Promotion and relegation should be easy enough seeing as it's only four feeder leagues in each. Idk enough about Leinster & Munster to pontificate on those leagues, but I really wish the LSL would do a bit of a rebrand. Cut this Major 1A Premier Senior Alliance Tuesday crap and just have a single Premier Division, no day of the week mentioned please. It'd be nice if everything below that was simply first, second, third etc.

EalingGreen
13/07/2022, 3:50 PM
The opening post of a 2005 thread entitled: "Potential New EL Teams"

"The thread on re-election to the first division got me thinking about potential areas/clubs for new EL clubs. Kildare Countys recent addition has been a success and they are certainly a positive addition to the league. With good community backing there is certainly a few potential areas/clubs who could also be an addition to the league.

Mullingar currently have two teams competing separately in the Under 21 EL which would suggest the potential is there.

The Kerry League and Mayo League have also got teams at EL under 21 level and perhaps places such as Tralee/Killarney or Castlebar might have the population to be able to sustain a local team.

The Wexford league are making great strides at underage level under the astute guidance of Mick Wallace.

And perhaps other towns/citys such as Ennis, Cavan and or in Tipp (in Thurles/Roscrea or Nenagh) would have the potential as well.

Also with the growing population of Dublin satelite towns there could be the potential for an EL team in the likes of Navan, Naas, Maynooth and Wicklow Town.

Obviously forming an EL team from scratch would be no easy task, and huge work and investment would be required. But it would be great to see the EL diversify a little (especially with there being only ten teams in Division one)."
https://foot.ie/threads/26166-Potential-New-EL-Teams?highlight=Potential+new+EL+Teams

Haven't we seen this movie before?

legendz
13/07/2022, 4:38 PM
Glasgow Celtic, welcome to the LOI Third Tier Championship A Mk II! :D
😉

Alrighty, I'll try and carve up intermediate football myself then. This is built on the assumption that junior clubs want to play at a higher level.

Mid-West Football League.
Feeder leagues; Galway, Mayo,Roscommon, Combined Counties (Midlands)

Seems pretty straight forward to me, maybe some midlands clubs already in the LSL would object but the recent good performances of Connacht sides in the FAI Junior Cup should ease their worries.

North-West Football League.
Feeder leagues: Sligo & Leitrm, Donegal, Inishowen, Monaghan & Cavan.

Essentially just the USL plus Sligo & Leitrim.

Promotion and relegation should be easy enough seeing as it's only four feeder leagues in each. Idk enough about Leinster & Munster to pontificate on those leagues, but I really wish the LSL would do a bit of a rebrand. Cut this Major 1A Premier Senior Alliance Tuesday crap and just have a single Premier Division, no day of the week mentioned please. It'd be nice if everything below that was simply first, second, third etc.
Very sensible. An extra step would be for your North-West and Mid-West leagues to then to offer promotion to one Western League.
Munster could have a South-West League (Clare, Kerry and 2 Limerick district leagues) and a South-East League (2 Tipperary district leagues and 2 Waterford district leagues). An extra step here then would be for the South-West and South-East leagues to then to offer promotion to one Southern League. As you say, these structures would require a desire from district leagues to play at a higher level.

EalingGreen
13/07/2022, 6:26 PM
Alrighty, I'll try and carve up intermediate football myself then. This is built on the assumption that junior clubs want to play at a higher level.

Mid-West Football League.
Feeder leagues; Galway, Mayo,Roscommon, Combined Counties (Midlands)

Seems pretty straight forward to me, maybe some midlands clubs already in the LSL would object but the recent good performances of Connacht sides in the FAI Junior Cup should ease their worries.

North-West Football League.
Feeder leagues: Sligo & Leitrm, Donegal, Inishowen, Monaghan & Cavan.

Essentially just the USL plus Sligo & Leitrim.

Promotion and relegation should be easy enough seeing as it's only four feeder leagues in each. Idk enough about Leinster & Munster to pontificate on those leagues, but I really wish the LSL would do a bit of a rebrand. Cut this Major 1A Premier Senior Alliance Tuesday crap and just have a single Premier Division, no day of the week mentioned please. It'd be nice if everything below that was simply first, second, third etc.
Summer football?

Winter football?

Both?

culloty82
13/07/2022, 6:36 PM
That's where the FAI should step in, as they did with senior football in the early 2000s, saying there would be a short transitional season in the autumn, in order for all the intermediate and junior leagues to align to the summer football calendar.

GUFCghost
13/07/2022, 8:55 PM
Summer football?

Winter football?

Both?

Probably both, leaving a permanent gap between senior and intermediate. Nobody will be happy, the earth will keep spinning