LoI in Europe 2024

[Calcio Jack]

Tickets for Larne away finally coming out this week,bad news for non Rovers fans is they're only available to Rovers members and season ticket holders so no LOI/IL "neutrals" allowed in the away end- easily resolved I'd say by getting a ticket in the home end for those determined to see Rovers in the Conference league:)

You’d have to register as a member with Larne to buy an away end ticket ( only 3 match package available) and that would involve providing personal details e.g your address. So not that easy….. as for the security measures in place for us away fans ; they’re exceptionally oppressive /strict.

[Kingswood Rover]

You’d have to register as a member with Larne to buy an away end ticket ( only 3 match package available) and that would involve providing personal details e.g your address. So not that easy….. as for the security measures in place for us away fans ; they’re exceptionally oppressive /strict.

Complete nonsense, know some Rovers fans living in Belfast with no other allegiances who are very disappointed. cant see us selling 2.5k tickets with such restrictions.

[placid casual]

Would there not be tickets on general sale in the "home end" for IL neutrals to watch the game. Larne only have about 1,500 fans I'm told ,and the ground holds about 18,000 ..

[Nesta99]

I know they may not want to open other parts of the ground for expense reasons but if there was demand for general tickets sales is there a significant security risk, or any more so than any game, is it particualar caution in IL, historical, being IL v LoI, Rovers fans stellar rep etc. Its par for the course for LoI neutrals go to European games and mix in no issues, but it is very LoI maybe that club rivalries are dulled quite a lot for Europe.

Old Windor, in different circumstances you could think you were being 'detained' with police escorting busses to the old ground, barbed wire everywhere with riot police feeling like 1 to 1 ratio. Ive not been to new Windsor but Id say it going in to the ground is massively changed and it would be easier for security in smaller numbers. Regardless it'd be a shame that a 3/4 empty ground is 'sold out' when theres additional interest.

[dundalkfc10]

I know they may not want to open other parts of the ground for expense reasons but if there was demand for general tickets sales is there a significant security risk, or any more so than any game, is it particualar caution in IL, historical, being IL v LoI, Rovers fans stellar rep etc. Its par for the course for LoI neutrals go to European games and mix in no issues, but it is very LoI maybe that club rivalries are dulled quite a lot for Europe.

Old Windor, in different circumstances you could think you were being 'detained' with police escorting busses to the old ground, barbed wire everywhere with riot police feeling like 1 to 1 ratio. Ive not been to new Windsor but Id say it going in to the ground is massively changed and it would be easier for security in smaller numbers. Regardless it'd be a shame that a 3/4 empty ground is 'sold out' when theres additional interest.

I remember the Setanta Cup game in Windsor alright when we won 5-2. The security was off the scale and going in under the tunnel with all the bared wire and escorted out. No buses allowed travel only the official club buses etc
One of the best nights I ever had supporting Dundalk by the way

A few years back in the President's Cup final, it wasn't half as bad. We got our own bus from the pub we drink in and all buses had to meet the PSNI just outside Belfast at a retail park and they took us the long way around to Windsor and we were let off close to the away end but was plenty Linfield fans walking about that area

[Nesta99]

The ironically and oddly named, albeit sponsor Unite the Union Cup, rather then Presidents Cup but it was an era that was hard to keep track all the silverware!

[Acornvilla]

The first time I ever seen police on horseback was at a Setanta cup match in Longford :D

[Nesta99]

The first time I ever seen police on horseback was at a Setanta cup match in Longford :D

Maybe all the squad cars were in use elsewhere so had to revert to horses! I honestly think these units are for show more than anything for games involving LoI here. They have been occasionally at Oriel over the years but one or two units at most and the spend most of the time interacting with fascinated kids.

[bohsmug]

Maybe all the squad cars were in use elsewhere so had to revert to horses! I honestly think these units are for show more than anything for games involving LoI here. They have been occasionally at Oriel over the years but one or two units at most and the spend most of the time interacting with fascinated kids.

Saw a garda on a horse give a youngfella the best slap I've ever seen (not sure if that's the right award category, maybe it was the funniest) after a Bohs Rovers game. Gardaí must long for the days when we didn't all have cameras on our phones. Garda just said "go home" with a slap to the face that sounded like a Foley effect and your man did actually move so guessing it was a case of bark bigger than bite.

Anyway, pity if tickets are being limited. You'd like to see the two champions on this island play in front of the biggest crowd possible, especially in a game of such importance to both.

[Nesta99]

Saw a garda on a horse give a youngfella the best slap I've ever seen (not sure if that's the right award category, maybe it was the funniest) after a Bohs Rovers game. Gardaí must long for the days when we didn't all have cameras on our phones. Garda just said "go home" with a slap to the face that sounded like a Foley effect and your man did actually move so guessing it was a case of bark bigger than bite.

Anyway, pity if tickets are being limited. You'd like to see the two champions on this island play in front of the biggest crowd possible, especially in a game of such importance to both.

I laughed so maybe the funniest works best, kind of a shame there wasnt a video of it so onomatopoeia could add to comedic value!

[dundalkfc10]

Saw a garda on a horse give a youngfella the best slap I've ever seen (not sure if that's the right award category, maybe it was the funniest) after a Bohs Rovers game. Gardaí must long for the days when we didn't all have cameras on our phones. Garda just said "go home" with a slap to the face that sounded like a Foley effect and your man did actually move so guessing it was a case of bark bigger than bite.

Anyway, pity if tickets are being limited. You'd like to see the two champions on this island play in front of the biggest crowd possible, especially in a game of such importance to both.

I managed to get a ticket in the home end, used a relations address in Belfast.

One my mates went in to get one today in the Larne end and their is none available

Absolutely crazy in this day and age in a stadium that size they are only going to let in 4 or 5,000 max

[Longfordian]

The first time I ever seen police on horseback was at a Setanta cup match in Longford :D

We lost a pile of money on that game due to the OTT policing costs. There wasn't a hint of bother, not even a controversial chant with the pope having died a couple of days earlier! Remember a few of us ended up drinking with a few Linfield lads until the small hours.

[dundalkfc10]

We played Coleraine in it, think it was the year we lost the final to Sligo, at half time after 5 mins begging the police and stewards (who were saying it won't be safe in there for you lads) they let a few of us around to their social club
Ended up missing half the second half as the lads in there were buying us shots and all

[pateen]

Is Larne FC setting the limitations or some else like IFA, PSNI etc

[sbgawa]

PSNI from what im hearing.
It is a farce though attendance will be way down on what it could be

[Calcio Jack]

PSNI from what im hearing.
It is a farce though attendance will be way down on what it could be

Numbers set by Gardaí/UEFA/PSNI

[Philosophizer]

PSNI from what im hearing.
It is a farce though attendance will be way down on what it could be
Terrible shame. I was planning to take a half day off work that day and head up to Windsor. Never been to a game there before - was really looking forward to it, but they’ve made such a bags of the ticket situation. Very disappointing that this game will be played in a mostly empty ground now.

[pineapple stu]

UCD's game in Kosovo on Wednesday has been moved to the national stadium now. Would be one of the biggest grounds we've ever played in (competitively anyway!) - and for an underage game.

Bit weird - I think they've relaid the pitch and this is a tester game for it?

[sbgawa]

Terrible shame. I was planning to take a half day off work that day and head up to Windsor. Never been to a game there before - was really looking forward to it, but they’ve made such a bags of the ticket situation. Very disappointing that this game will be played in a mostly empty ground now.


Its riddiculous Larne arent exactly Linfield and life has moved on since2013

[EatYerGreens]

I managed to get a ticket in the home end, used a relations address in Belfast.

One my mates went in to get one today in the Larne end and their is none available

Absolutely crazy in this day and age in a stadium that size they are only going to let in 4 or 5,000 max

There are still quite a few tickets available in the Larne end at the moment = Fanbase | Choose seats (fanbaseclub.com) (https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=7802)

[pineapple stu]

UCD's game in Kosovo is being streamed on rtklive.com apparently

Kicks off in five minutes. Hugh Parker left at home with an eye on the playoff tomorrow

[joey B]

6,000 tickets sold for Larne/Rovers tomorrow….

[EatYerGreens]

6,000 tickets sold for Larne/Rovers tomorrow….

The poor man's FAI Cup Final :p

[sbgawa]

i got an email from the club earlier saying 1600 tickets sold so Larne must have sold 4400.
Would have been a lot more traveling if it wasnt so restricted.
You didnt even get a ticket as a member or season ticket holder you got a voucher which you exchange outside the ground for a ticket, i assume after being identified as a member / ST holder.
Details being sent out later tonight suposedly.

[placid casual]

There wouldn't be any more people travelling.. we were offered 2,500 and 1,600 took up the offer.

[EatYerGreens]

i got an email from the club earlier saying 1600 tickets sold so Larne must have sold 4400.
Would have been a lot more traveling if it wasnt so restricted.
You didnt even get a ticket as a member or season ticket holder you got a voucher which you exchange outside the ground for a ticket, i assume after being identified as a member / ST holder.
Details being sent out later tonight suposedly.

I'd say there'll be quite a few interested neutrals there too amongst that Larne number. Maybe as many as 500 at a wild guess? I was toying with going myself, but it's a bit of a trek and the early KO pretty much killed the idea for me.

[pineapple stu]

2 Korriku 2-1 UCD in the end. Disappointing having gone 1-0 up but would be confident for the home game. We were the better team but ultimately they took their chances and we didn't

Home officials were reckoning about 3000 at it

[nigel-harps1954]

Toyed with the idea myself but decided against it. Would have been a novel game to attend as a neutral.

[ger121]

2 Korriku 2-1 UCD in the end. Disappointing having gone 1-0 up but would be confident for the home game. We were the better team but ultimately they took their chances and we didn't

Home officials were reckoning about 3000 at it

Just saw the result there. Disappointing as you say, after being 1 up but well in the tie.

[brendy_éire]

I'd say there'll be quite a few interested neutrals there too amongst that Larne number. Maybe as many as 500 at a wild guess?

More than that, I'd guess. Larne's average attendance is 1.5k odd. 4k would be just under a quarter of the town's population.
The fact it's in the Winsdor has definitely helped bump up the figures.

It's baffling that the attendance is limited. They (UEFA, PSNI, whoever) wouldn't limit the attendance to that if it was a north/south international match.
Windsor is an easily policed ground as you're going to get.

[sbgawa]

There would definitly be more in the away end if it wasnt limited to STH and members.
And its not like random fans can just get the link and get a ticket, you had to put your membership number and name in and you get a voucher which you exchange up the North on the day from Rovers stewards who are looking for iD......or at least saying they.

Its definitly put people off which is a pity, not saying thousends but these matches dont come along that often.

More importantly it will be interesting to see What team is put out, do we hold soemthing back for Sunday??

[pateen]

Were members/st holders allowed to bring a +1 with them. That could have been an idea, though perhaps challenging from an admin point of view.

[2 Year Contract]

Byrne, Watts and O'Neill on the bench for rovers, Bradley with one eye on sunday

[Straightstory]

Rovers 1-0 up after 3 minutes.

[2 Year Contract]

2-0 now. Larne look absolutely miles off the level of rovers technically

[EatYerGreens]

2-0 now. Larne look absolutely miles off the level of rovers technically

Rovers just so much stronger & physical too. Larne getting bundled off the ball too easily.

[2 Year Contract]

3-0 now. I genuinely think Drogheda would beat this lot

[EatYerGreens]

Larne being exposed and embarassed

[joey B]

Larne very early into the late tackles and sly digs!

[pateen]

3-0 now. I genuinely think Drogheda would beat this lot

Cobh Ramblers would beat this lot

[nigel-harps1954]

3-0 now. I genuinely think Drogheda would beat this lot

I think Finn Harps would put up a better showing.

[EatYerGreens]

Unless I missed something when putting the kettle on, Larne haven't had anything close to a shot in anger/on target yet, and have strugggled to even get out of their own half.

I can see Bradley resting some of the players in the second half, as it's mission accomplished now really.

[ger121]

Celje 3 up against Ba?ak?ehir. Those Turks were there for the taking in Tallaght. What might have been…

[2 Year Contract]

Bit of a mad one that all Larne had to do was beat a team from Kosovo and a team from Gibraltar to get group stage football

[joey B]

Anybody wanting an All Ireland league won’t be enjoying this hammering!

[pateen]

Celje 3 up against Ba?ak?ehir. Those Turks were there for the taking in Tallaght. What might have been…

Yeah Pats all over them in the first game.
Would have been the first LOI team to reach the group stages that didnt have the advantage of winning the league the previous year.

[ger121]

TNS game key now. Games get harder again after that one. I see Borac winning away to APOEL so they will be a tough opponent. Playing Rapid and Chelsea in later games might help a little. Especially Chelsea last game when you’d expect they’ll be well inside Top 8.

[ger121]

Yeah Pats all over them in the first game.
Would have been the first LOI team to reach the group stages that didnt have the advantage of winning the league the previous year.

Would have been well in the tie with a win in the first leg. Wins for Vikingur and Celje shows that Rovers played and beat some decent sides this season.

[Dermobohs]

Well he takes a bit of stick but Bradley got that one spot on, really think Honohan has been a terrific signing for them .
I reckon TNS will put up a bit more than Larne though, the premiership oop north is a ****ing low standard.

[Acornvilla]

Been watching the TNS match, 1-0 up v Astana, and possibly robbed of a penalty, keeper just flattened a man. They've been 2nd best, but winning, reckon they're a bit more solid than Larne, but not much better.

Thought there was surprisingly large gap in physicality and technical ability v Rovers and Larne. Great result.