Kerry FC

[culloty82]

I'll definitely take in a game in Tralee, with a night tacked on as well. I imagine a lot of people around the league would be up for it too. Obviously they'll need to build their own support locally, but I would think they'll get decent enough away visits for the first season or so anyway.

Particularly (even assuming Cork are promoted either directly or through the playoffs) when there could still be three other Munster teams in the division next season.

[2 Year Contract]

100% for me, night out in tralee beckons, hopefully we get them in the cup

Id love that too but wouldn’t hold my breath on a cup draw, I’m still waiting Pats to draw Cobh away in the cup as it’s the last ground in the LOI I haven’t been to. It’s been 14 years now since Pats have played there, the last time they were in the Premier

[sbgawa]

Been at cobh a good few times down the years following Rovers but have gone a few times as well to random matches when down in that part of Cork on holiday . Always a friendly welcome.

[Martinho II]

Been at cobh a good few times down the years following Rovers but have gone a few times as well to random matches when down in that part of Cork on holiday . Always a friendly welcome.

It has to be the hilliest loi ground followed by the Brandywell in my experinces going to matches over the yrs.

[nr637]

If there is potential talks of creating some 'Third Tier Championship' then should Kerry FC be considered for this first!

Are they trying to get in ahead now before something is set up by the FAI!

[sullanefc]

Anyone else feel that Kerry FC need an extra bit to their name like a "United" or "Celtic" or "Athletic"? Just to distinguish themselves from Kerry GAA in everyday conversations?

In Cork, "City" are the soccer team and "Cork" are the GAA team and in Sligo you have "Rovers" and in Longford you have "The Town" etc.

Imagine the conversation starting...
"good result for Kerry last night?"
"Which one?"
Etc

The alternative is that they beome to be referred to as "the soccer team" or just "FC". I think they'd be better off picking a name tbh.

[legendz]

If there is potential talks of creating some 'Third Tier Championship' then should Kerry FC be considered for this first!

Are they trying to get in ahead now before something is set up by the FAI!
There is a vacant spot in the First Division. Kerry are the only non league club at U19 level. If new clubs are to be encouraged to join the youth leagues, Kerry are first in line to set the example of a pathway to the LoI.


Anyone else feel that Kerry FC need an extra bit to their name like a "United" or "Celtic" or "Athletic"? Just to distinguish themselves from Kerry GAA in everyday conversations?

In Cork, "City" are the soccer team and "Cork" are the GAA team and in Sligo you have "Rovers" and in Longford you have "The Town" etc.

Imagine the conversation starting...
"good result for Kerry last night?"
"Which one?"
Etc

The alternative is that they beome to be referred to as "the soccer team" or just "FC". I think they'd be better off picking a name tbh. There is an obsession with names. Kerry is Kerry. Get on with the game!

[sbgawa]

Anyone else feel that Kerry FC need an extra bit to their name like a "United" or "Celtic" or "Athletic"? Just to distinguish themselves from Kerry GAA in everyday conversations?

In Cork, "City" are the soccer team and "Cork" are the GAA team and in Sligo you have "Rovers" and in Longford you have "The Town" etc.

Imagine the conversation starting...
"good result for Kerry last night?"
"Which one?"
Etc

The alternative is that they beome to be referred to as "the soccer team" or just "FC". I think they'd be better off picking a name tbh.

I agree 100%.
Kerry Rovers (just to annoy the Sligo fans) ;)

[WeAreRovers]

There is a vacant spot in the First Division. Kerry are the only non league club at U19 level. If new clubs are to be encouraged to join the youth leagues, Kerry are first in line to set the example of a pathway to the LoI.

And finally somebody hits the nail on the head.

[sullanefc]

I agree 100%.
Kerry Rovers (just to annoy the Sligo fans) ;)

Lol 😄

[culloty82]

Anyone else feel that Kerry FC need an extra bit to their name like a "United" or "Celtic" or "Athletic"? Just to distinguish themselves from Kerry GAA in everyday conversations?

In Cork, "City" are the soccer team and "Cork" are the GAA team and in Sligo you have "Rovers" and in Longford you have "The Town" etc.

Imagine the conversation starting...
"good result for Kerry last night?"
"Which one?"
Etc

The alternative is that they beome to be referred to as "the soccer team" or just "FC". I think they'd be better off picking a name tbh.

Funnily enough, there already is a third-tier Welsh club called Kerry FC!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_F.C.

"County" would seem the logical suffix to pick if they had to, in keeping with the intended ethos and footballing tradition (Derby, Notts, Ross, Stockport, and Kildare previously of course).

As for "jumping the queue", as things stand, and as mentioned, they seem to be the only people in the queue, so the financial hurdle has generally proven the hardest for new applicants to overcome - would be interesting to see if they eventually consider a supporters trust model if they are accepted and medium to long-term stability has been secured.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

I agree 100%.
Kerry Rovers (just to annoy the Sligo fans) ;)

Kerrs

[EatYerGreens]

I'd vote for the Kerry Healy-Raes FC.

Branded flat caps available from the club shop. Post-match interviews with subtitles.

[Nesta99]

Joking aside, they will inevitably manage to weasel their way in to being involved somehow.

[Philosophizer]

The alternative is that they beome to be referred to as "the soccer team" or just "FC".
Why not go the other way and just abbreviate the whole thing to KFC?? 😁

[EatYerGreens]

Joking aside, they will inevitably manage to weasel their way in to being involved somehow.

'Soccer' is too urbane for the Healy-Raes though. Those fellas still stay indoors on a full moon, eat with their bare hands, and fornicate with their socks on.

[joey B]

Kerry Kings,catchy,unique and plays into the nickname of the county…

[EalingGreen]

There is a vacant spot in the First Division. Kerry are the only non league club at U19 level. If new clubs are to be encouraged to join the youth leagues, Kerry are first in line to set the example of a pathway to the LoI.


And finally somebody hits the nail on the head.
Aye, but isn't it the wrong nail?

That is, the admission of another club to the FD should be designed to strnegthen the Senior set-up, not the Youth set-up elsewhere (welcome though the latter side-effect may be)?

And going beyond that, there is something I really don't get about Kerry FC, though I'm very happy to be corrected.

I assume the team will be made up of late teenaged/early 20's players who have outgrown the U-19's category, plus maybe a few older Kerry players playing for other sides who might be persuaded to come back to the County. And for the beginning, at least, these will be amateurs.

In the end, such a team will either be up to standard, playing-wise, or they won't. If it's the latter, then the experiment will fail, which in itself will do nothing for your "nail" (recruitment to other youth leagues).

But even assuming it's the former, then how long before the other pro and semi-pro clubs come sniffing around, to lure away the best players/managers/coaches with the offer of a paying contract?

The rationale for the team is that it offers a "pathway" to players once they've outgrown the Youth league. But such players must by definition be ambitious to make the best of themselves, meaning that some at least will be open to playing at a higher standard for a bigger club, with the chance of a few Euro an added bonus.

While the bigger clubs would know that as amateurs, these players couldn't command a transfer fee, and (presumably) wouldn't be hard to pay, thereby making them very attractive as a cheap punt.

Which in turn would put pressure on Kerry FC to start paying their players, if only on a "generous expenses" basis. In which case, could the money be found before the club has become properly established (crowds, sponsors, advertisiers etc) to sustain that? Or are there wealthy benefactors in the background?

I may be way off beam here, but it seems to me that with previous failures in both introdiucing entirely new professional clubs to Senior football, or elevating (essentially) Intermediate clubs, the FAI is scratching around for a new way to solve an immediate problem (i.e. need for a 10th FD team), in the guise of addressing another problem (i.e. constructing a pyramid).

[nigel-harps1954]

Kerrs

Only if they have a pink jersey.

[legendz]

Aye, but isn't it the wrong nail?

That is, the admission of another club to the FD should be designed to strnegthen the Senior set-up, not the Youth set-up elsewhere (welcome though the latter side-effect may be)?...
There is a vacant spot. Currently there isn't a third tier. Kerry are next in line. It's just the way it is.
If there's a third tier in a few years time for the likes of Kildare, Mayo, Carlow Kilkenny and Cavan Monaghan, a club might be in possession of a First Division licence and more prepared for the step up.
If a club progresses from youth football to League of Ireland, it is an encouragement for others like Meath to give it consideration.
Kerry FC will be amateur. That's the reality of it. Going from the lowest youth league group all the way up to senior has taken a few years. Progressing from amateur to any direction towards professionalism will also take many years, if possible.

[culloty82]

Aye, but isn't it the wrong nail?

That is, the admission of another club to the FD should be designed to strnegthen the Senior set-up, not the Youth set-up elsewhere (welcome though the latter side-effect may be)?

And going beyond that, there is something I really don't get about Kerry FC, though I'm very happy to be corrected.

I assume the team will be made up of late teenaged/early 20's players who have outgrown the U-19's category, plus maybe a few older Kerry players playing for other sides who might be persuaded to come back to the County. And for the beginning, at least, these will be amateurs.

In the end, such a team will either be up to standard, playing-wise, or they won't. If it's the latter, then the experiment will fail, which in itself will do nothing for your "nail" (recruitment to other youth leagues).

But even assuming it's the former, then how long before the other pro and semi-pro clubs come sniffing around, to lure away the best players/managers/coaches with the offer of a paying contract?

The rationale for the team is that it offers a "pathway" to players once they've outgrown the Youth league. But such players must by definition be ambitious to make the best of themselves, meaning that some at least will be open to playing at a higher standard for a bigger club, with the chance of a few Euro an added bonus.

While the bigger clubs would know that as amateurs, these players couldn't command a transfer fee, and (presumably) wouldn't be hard to pay, thereby making them very attractive as a cheap punt.

Which in turn would put pressure on Kerry FC to start paying their players, if only on a "generous expenses" basis. In which case, could the money be found before the club has become properly established (crowds, sponsors, advertisiers etc) to sustain that? Or are there wealthy benefactors in the background?

I may be way off beam here, but it seems to me that with previous failures in both introdiucing entirely new professional clubs to Senior football, or elevating (essentially) Intermediate clubs, the FAI is scratching around for a new way to solve an immediate problem (i.e. need for a 10th FD team), in the guise of addressing another problem (i.e. constructing a pyramid).

The model is intended to operate on the same lines as Wexford - yes, Dennehy would be delighted if players stayed with Kerry for the majority of their senior careers, but if a number clearly have the capability to excel in the Premier Division, and the leading clubs express an interest, than he wouldn't refuse them the chance to pursue such an opportunity. As for the question of amateur v semi-pro status, the former is just an initial position in order to avoid making the same financial mistakes that new clubs made in the past, and as you suggest, if/when the first season proves the sustainability of the project, they could scale ambitions up accordingly the following season.

[EalingGreen]

There is a vacant spot. Currently there isn't a third tier. Kerry are next in line. It's just the way it is..
Kerry FC are "next in line" solely because the FAI has said they are. But not only is there no Kerry FC yet, there's not a "line" either.

In other words, Kerry FC are a "sticking plaster".



If there's a third tier in a few years time for the likes of Kildare, Mayo, Carlow Kilkenny and Cavan Monaghan, a club might be in possession of a First Division licence and more prepared for the step up.

"A few years"?

Doesn't sound as if the FAI plans to wait that long:
"Commence consultation on the formation of an Irish football pyramid by Q4, 2022 with an agreed and transformed football pyramid structure in place by 2025"
https://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/fai...-2025-launched

While you've cited four possible entrants who, even if all are willing and successful, would still be somewhat short of a viable third tier of 8 clubs (minimum)



If a club progresses from youth football to League of Ireland, it is an encouragement for others like Meath to give it consideration.

Correction: "If a club progresses successfully from youth football to LOI etc". That is, if Kerry fails, that puts an end to that experiment.

And besides, apart from Meath, who else have you in mind? Remember, not every new entrant in a 3rd tier is sure to manage, even at that level, never mind progress to the next one. Meaning that the pyramid shouldn't just end at the 3rd tier, as though it was somehow hanging in the air, you need Promotion & Relegation in both directions for it to work.



Kerry FC will be amateur. That's the reality of it. Going from the lowest youth league group all the way up to senior has taken a few years. Progressing from amateur to any direction towards professionalism will also take many years, if possible.
Except that they haven't gone "from the lowest youth league group all the way up to senior [over] a few years", the club is effectively an entirely new creation, irrespective of where it hopes to draw its players and supporters from.

Anyhow, though I've only been to Kerry a couple of times, it seems a nice place with nice people, so good luck to them.

[culloty82]

As of now, it would seem that the third tier of a pyramid would be akin to the old A Championship, largely fleshed out with reserve teams, and unless there is any news about new clubs expressing interest in the coming months, it's unlikely to begin until 2024 at the earliest, which is why Kerry ultimately have applied for the First Division. When it does get underway, promotion or relegation would probably operate in the same fashion as before, with the best non-reserve third-tier club playing off against the bottom FD team. Further layers would take more time to organise, given the summer vs winter calendar clashes.

[EalingGreen]

As of now, it would seem that the third tier of a pyramid would be akin to the old A Championship, largely fleshed out with reserve teams, and unless there is any news about new clubs expressing interest in the coming months, it's unlikely to begin until 2024 at the earliest, which is why Kerry ultimately have applied for the First Division. When it does get underway, promotion or relegation would probably operate in the same fashion as before, with the best non-reserve third-tier club playing off against the bottom FD team. Further layers would take more time to organise, given the summer vs winter calendar clashes.
Seems like a "fudge" to me i.e. not a "proper" third tier.

The IL has three senior divisions of 12 teams each. Now granted, some of the newer/lower ones in the Premier Intermediate (3rd tier) are decidedly small-time, low standard etc. Nonetheless they are all independent stand-alone clubs.

While the top two Senior divisions have their own entirely separate Reserve Leagues of 12 teams each:
https://www.nifootballleague.com/premiership-development-league/2021-2022/standings/
https://www.nifootballleague.com/championship-development-league/2021-2022/standings/

Also under-age leagues.

[legendz]

EalingGreen, you are like a man possessed!
There is a vacant spot in the First Division. Kerry are the only non league entity at U19 level. The application to join the First Division is in some ways a reflection of the hard work put into date.
A third tier type A Championship might sound fudgy but it is an Irish solution to an Irish problem! It's just the way it is! Roll with it or drive yourself bananas!
Ideally the third tier will have at least 16 teams split north and south. I think it is realistically 3 to 5 years away. If third level institutions come on board, a possible breakdown could be 8 to 10 LoI reserve teams, 2 to 4 or 6 third level institutions and 2 to 4 non league entities.
Non league entities should only be able to join if they are integrated into the youth leagues as well. LoI reserve teams should have a stipulation that at least 5 outfield players are U23. Third level institutions should be granted an exemption from the youth leagues but with a stipulation that there full squad is U23.

[EalingGreen]

EalingGreen, you are like a man possessed!

Er, ok...

[Buller]

Correction: "If a club progresses successfully from youth football to LOI etc". That is, if Kerry fails, that puts an end to that experiment.




There's clear LOI examples on both sides of the coin to be fair and its unfair to completely base the entire argument on them. I don't think its black and white. Some controls and some free market would be ideal.

Wexford FC are a example of a club appearing in an area where it was badly required and thriving - a successful experiment.

Mervue and Salthill progressing up and dividing an already small town is a major downside to full pyramid as suggested. They both have excellent facilities and couldn't have been better prepared for the step up to First Division national - esp with Galway Utd out of the picture at that time, it was best case scenario stuff. Happening naturally wouldn't have helped in any way IMO. And this would 100% happen in Galway in any pyramid system, diluting the already limited supporter base. It would not help football in Galway.
But this is just one example, a full pyramid could help football in Dublin. Who knows!

The system we're building out slowly from top down is the best way forward in my opinion. Im not sure directly copying NI's complete football pyramid would work in a country of this size. Could end up weakening Junior clubs like Salthill and Mervue as did last time - unless they refuse promotion to national level league.

[nigel-harps1954]

To be fair, I don't think either Mervue or Salthill had adequate facilities for League of Ireland football.

[culloty82]

It would be preferable, of course, if any pyramid were delivered from the bottom up, but I think clubs still remember Castlebar, Tullamore and Carlow being effectively stranded after the last experiment, so are reluctant to commit themselves to any new project. The local relationship between soccer and the GAA will be intriguing in the coming years - at present, the new communities in the county seem to be overwhelmingly opting for the former, rather than the latter, with Stefan Okunbor very much the exception to the rule. Also, since the minor grade in football was moved back to under-17, it means players have to decide at an increasingly early age about which sport they wish to focus on, well before they would be ready for the League of Ireland.

[legendz]

Yeah. Castlebar, Carlow, Tralee and Tullamore were left stranded when the rug was pulled out from the old A Championship. Once bitten, twice shy!
The youth leagues have become a continuation of representative football from the Kennedy Cup. The Oscar Traynor Cup was a good competition once upon a time.
Bringing this representation football into the youth leagues and potentially a third tier in years to come isn't an alien concept.

[EatYerGreens]

Kerry FC are "next in line" solely because the FAI has said they are. But not only is there no Kerry FC yet, there's not a "line" either.

In other words, Kerry FC are a "sticking plaster".


"A few years"?

Doesn't sound as if the FAI plans to wait that long:
"Commence consultation on the formation of an Irish football pyramid by Q4, 2022 with an agreed and transformed football pyramid structure in place by 2025"
https://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/fai...-2025-launched

While you've cited four possible entrants who, even if all are willing and successful, would still be somewhat short of a viable third tier of 8 clubs (minimum)


Correction: "If a club progresses successfully from youth football to LOI etc". That is, if Kerry fails, that puts an end to that experiment.

And besides, apart from Meath, who else have you in mind? Remember, not every new entrant in a 3rd tier is sure to manage, even at that level, never mind progress to the next one. Meaning that the pyramid shouldn't just end at the 3rd tier, as though it was somehow hanging in the air, you need Promotion & Relegation in both directions for it to work.


Except that they haven't gone "from the lowest youth league group all the way up to senior [over] a few years", the club is effectively an entirely new creation, irrespective of where it hopes to draw its players and supporters from.

Anyhow, though I've only been to Kerry a couple of times, it seems a nice place with nice people, so good luck to them.

There aren't enough teams in the First Division currently. Which forces one club to sit it out every week in terms of fixtures, which is just a ballax.

Kerry FC have expressed an interest in stepping up to fill that vacant spot in the FD. There is nothing to stop any other club from saying they're interested too, but as far as I'm aware none have. And there won't be a third tier in place for at least 3yrs.

These are all the facts of the situation. It is therefore completely logical to let Kerry FC make the step up to fill the vacant spot. It helps solve a problem for the league if they do, and broadens the geographical reach of the LOI. All positive stuff. The only possible downside is if they don't last at that level. Firstly - give them a chance before writing them off for feck sake. Secondly, if they can't hack it at that level then we'll be much nearer to the 3rd tier that you're demanding by then anyway. So hopefully they would just bow out and be replaced by the best club from the tier below. If they do join and it doesn't work out before the 3rd tier is in place then hey - that's life. There is no guarantee that a club coming up via a 3rd tier wouldn't hit the wall mid-season either, so it's hardly a bulletproof model. The worst case scenario is that the league ends up back where it is now - with a 9 team FD until a 3rd tier happens. As for any dent to the league's credibility - that's overplayed really (and seems to be more of an issue for those with an axe to grind against the league).

You can continue to argue for a reality that doesn't exist, and you are offering no realistic alternative to the problem we currently have of a 9 team FD and no route for entry. There won't be a 3rd tier introduced for next season, and Kerry FC make sense to extend the league to solve that issue. Plus they're the only team that has publicly said they're interested. This is all just the reality of the situation. Argue all you like in a way that is divorced from that reality and which presents no realistic alternative, but it just sounds like arguing for the sake of it tbh.

[legendz]

Kerry joined the U17 league in 2016. It was a tough season. All the squad were U17 in the following season. Kerry had won the Kennedy Cup in 2015 and the U15 Galway Cup.
Kerry joining the First Division will be just as difficult and under much more public scrutiny for obvious reasons.
Kerry have competed well in the Oscar Traynor Cup and in the League Cup down through the years. There is a bubbling footballing pedigree. It'll take 2 to 3 years to gain a reasonable foothold in the First Division. Kerry aren't going for the Sporting Fingal approach. It's going to be a slow burner and a difficult one.
Looking at other sporting codes like basketball and hurling, Kerry do compete in those sports. There will be a quiet confidence that if the club can avoid financial difficulties and coming in as the 10th team, that there can be a competitive challenge to those a place or two higher in the league. Time will tell of course.

[culloty82]

Basketball is an interesting case in Tralee - the Superleague games regularly draw attendances of roughly 1,000, so one could argue that the club draws on home support (with admittedly the odd American import) to be competitive at the top level, rather than fans jumping on a bandwagon, but it also shows that it isn't just Gaelic that has a support base waiting to be tapped into. As legendz says, though, it's a question of whether that enthusiasm would last through the long-term strategy of gradually climbing the table season by season.

[legendz]

Cabinteely's progress over 7 seasons:
'15. 8/8, 20 points.
'16. 7/8, 16 points.
'17. 6/8, 38 points.
'18. 7/10, 30 points.
'19. 4/10, 50 points.
'20. 7/10, 26 points. (18 matches)
'21. 9/10, 25 points.

The gradual progress by Cabinteely over the first 3 seasons is interesting. In 2019 then they reached the playoffs.
If Kerry can challenge for the 5th play-off spot after 3 or 4 years, they'll be going well. Bray Wanderers who merged with Cabinteely are a bit a drift of the playoffs in 7th. A reflection of the difficult challenge that lies ahead.
Knowledgeable people who know football and the competitiveness of the league, will not be expecting an overnight success. Kerry FC were making the right noises last week in setting very realistic expectations.
A lot of families have had someone play for the Kerry youth sides in recent years. Mounthawk Park has been used for a lot of local league matches. Mounthawk was packed to the rafters for the U17 final against Bohemians 3 years ago.
Kerry FC joining the First Division will be the fruition of many years of hard work. The key is to have a core support group to journey with them in what they are seeking to achieve.

[Martinho II]

To be fair, I don't think either Mervue or Salthill had adequate facilities for League of Ireland football.

Have to agree with you on this Nigel. Reminds me of the time I had the car I spent a full hr navigating the back rds trying to find SDs ground. It wasnt on the satnav at all! Stopped a local he never heard of them finally after speaking to another person he sent me on the right path. Trouble was I missed the whole first half. Think it was last game of 2011 season!

[sbgawa]

I think kerry will surprise people.
By their nature they stick together and rally around locals.
Us against the reat. Think the healy rays.
They are also ferocious networked and money raisers.
Talking modestly is the way they do things but something tells me they will be planning for more

[legendz]

I think kerry will surprise people.
By their nature they stick together and rally around locals.Hurling and basketball have their core support. Time will tell if the KDL community will get behind Kerry FC. Bringing that community along on the journey, with a grounded reality on ambitions and targets, is crucial.
Clubs have been known to leave their core support disgruntled. Something that must be avoided.

[culloty82]

From today's Kerry's Eye ​we learn that the astroturf at Mounthawk Park must be upgraded from "quality" standard to "professional" by February, and all the seating must be similarly replaced. Also, that an average attendance of 1,500-3,000 "depending on the opposition" is being targeted, but in truth 500-1,000 would seem far more realistic for the First Division, with that doubled at a push for a home Cup tie against a Premier club.

[legendz]

The reported required ground improvements seem fair. A crowd of 500-1500 would seem more realistic alright in the league, with double that for a high profile Cup clash.
The more Munster clubs in the First Division the better, for the first season. An extra reason to want Cork to slip in their promotion push! 😉

[Philosophizer]

Those figures are wishful thinking. Established Dublin clubs sometimes struggle to get those numbers at times.
Cabinteely attendances would be a more accurate barometer. I think they had 1.5 - 2K in their 1st ever match and then attendances dropped and dropped and eventually levelled off in the low hundreds.

[EalingGreen]

You can continue to argue for a reality that doesn't exist, and you are offering no realistic alternative to the problem we currently have of a 9 team FD and no route for entry.
I described KFC as a "sticking plaster" i.e. solves the FD/9 team problem, for the moment at least*.

But while some people are getting excited about what it does for regional expansion and Youth League development etc, it does nothing for a 3rd tier, never mind a pyramid stretching further down below that.

All of which reflects that the present organisation of domestic adult football in ROI is simply unfit for purpose, which I'm sure you all know far better than me. But what nobody seems to acknowledge is that it surely needs to be torn up and replaced by a completely new structure which would allow for P&R from the ground up i.e. from Junior, through Intermediate, to Senior.

Which, even if the vision, commitment and funding were there, would take a decade to implement (minimum), or more likely two. Yet while this is a compelling argument for starting now, beyond a couple of vague sentences in some glossy FAI Mission Statement, there are no signs yet of any of it happening anywhere.

Thats it, really.


* - What would happen if, eg, Athlone were to fold? Where would the next Kerry FC come from?

[EalingGreen]

I might have added that all of the above is outwith the thorny problem of accommodating the Summer/Winter calendar problem.

[sbgawa]

Those figures are wishful thinking. Established Dublin clubs sometimes struggle to get those numbers at times.
Cabinteely attendances would be a more accurate barometer. I think they had 1.5 - 2K in their 1st ever match and then attendances dropped and dropped and eventually levelled off in the low hundreds.

Cabinteely could only dream of low hundreds.
I remember a club official telling me they ran a promotion free pint and a burger with your €10 admission and 96 people paid in....

[culloty82]

I described KFC as a "sticking plaster" i.e. solves the FD/9 team problem, for the moment at least*.

But while some people are getting excited about what it does for regional expansion and Youth League development etc, it does nothing for a 3rd tier, never mind a pyramid stretching further down below that.

All of which reflects that the present organisation of domestic adult football in ROI is simply unfit for purpose, which I'm sure you all know far better than me. But what nobody seems to acknowledge is that it surely needs to be torn up and replaced by a completely new structure which would allow for P&R from the ground up i.e. from Junior, through Intermediate, to Senior.

Which, even if the vision, commitment and funding were there, would take a decade to implement (minimum), or more likely two. Yet while this is a compelling argument for starting now, beyond a couple of vague sentences in some glossy FAI Mission Statement, there are no signs yet of any of it happening anywhere.

Thats it, really.


* - What would happen if, eg, Athlone were to fold? Where would the next Kerry FC come from?

In the same article, it was mentioned that the Conference League third tier was scheduled to begin in 2024, with the Mayo, Kilkenny and Kildare District Leagues all cited as sides who would be involved - whether that date actually holds is another matter, but it's probably the best that can be practically hoped for in terms of expanding the geographical range of the League.

[sbgawa]

I described KFC as a "sticking plaster" i.e. solves the FD/9 team problem, for the moment at least*.

But while some people are getting excited about what it does for regional expansion and Youth League development etc, it does nothing for a 3rd tier, never mind a pyramid stretching further down below that.

All of which reflects that the present organisation of domestic adult football in ROI is simply unfit for purpose, which I'm sure you all know far better than me. But what nobody seems to acknowledge is that it surely needs to be torn up and replaced by a completely new structure which would allow for P&R from the ground up i.e. from Junior, through Intermediate, to Senior.

Which, even if the vision, commitment and funding were there, would take a decade to implement (minimum), or more likely two. Yet while this is a compelling argument for starting now, beyond a couple of vague sentences in some glossy FAI Mission Statement, there are no signs yet of any of it happening anywhere.

Thats it, really.


* - What would happen if, eg, Athlone were to fold? Where would the next Kerry FC come from?

Athlone Town 2022 Limited

[EatYerGreens]

* - What would happen if, eg, Athlone were to fold? Where would the next Kerry FC come from?

Presumably the same place that the last Kerry FC came from :D

[EatYerGreens]

Anyone know what the capacity of Mounthawk Park is, or will be ?

[nigel-harps1954]

Anyone know what the capacity of Mounthawk Park is, or will be ?

Stand holds 500 as it currently sits. Don't see any other terracing or covered spectator areas. Given that, you'd have to guess around 2,000 capacity with 500 seats?

[legendz]

Jackman Park has 261 seating and a safe capacity of 2450. Mounthawk Park just has that stand. Wikipedia would seem to be right about 500 seating and safe capacity of 2000.
Ballybofey noted as 400 seating and 4600 safe.
Gortakeegan 620 (2000) and Ferrigcarrig 609 (2000) are other notable mentions for comparison.
The Markets Field 1710 (3075) is a good target plan depending on progress. A full length stand would double seating capacity.

[pineapple stu]

* - What would happen if, eg, Athlone were to fold? Where would the next Kerry FC come from?
Either Athlone II (as sbgawa says) or - well, there's a reason the LoI has reduced from 22 teams to 19 in the past 15 years...