20 Teams, 2 Divisions, 1 National League

[Elfman]

I probably fall somewhere between Burnsie and Roones26. Clubs absolutely have to look after themselves first and foremost but that's where you need a governing body that looks after every club. Similarly, you don't want a governing body just telling everyone what they to do without a mandate or members will break away to form their own body (Super League, Premier League even our own FAI started off as a breakaway group).

Burnsie is right that LSL and MSL clubs need a reason to join the pyramid outside of ambition but I'd also like to see a change to the make up of the respective FAs. For example, the Galway FA appears to have more power than the Connacht FA which seems to be tail wagging the dog in my head. Open to others thoughts on it as I don't really hear much chat about FAs since we naturally focus on teams and leagues.

[legendz]

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ireland and Football Association of Ireland:
15. Provide for the appropriate development of football pathways in a consistent and coherent manner nationwide, with a view to enhancing participation opportunities and ensuring greater inclusivity and access for children within Irish football.

Are the FAI in much of a position to dally on implementing the Pathways Plan?

Exemptions to implementing the calendar season are to be subject to biannual reviews to ‘assess progress and support the league’s eventual transition to alignment’.

Cooke wrote: “It strikes a crucial balance, providing necessary flexibility to our leagues while protecting the strategic integrity of the Football Pathways Plan as our ultimate goal remains unchanged.”

[Elfman]

Great point Legendz, I hadn't even thought of this. I viewed the exemption option, paired with the change of cup comps to the summer, as a message that lower leagues would be accommodated but not enabled.

It's definitely a strategy. I'd think the FAI would have to ensure the new leagues they introduce are as successful as the underage leagues in order for this to work though.

[yurt]

Looks like Lucan United are one of the teams I saw reported on reddit. https://loitalk.com/lucan-united-set-to-join-2026-fai-national-league/

The source doesn't seem like a great one but on the reddit thread the author mentioned he'd been talking to someone involved with the Lucan board. I guess we'll wait and see when/if the 16 clubs are announced in the coming weeks.

Although I don't know much about them having a good LSL club joining is a positive.

[nr637]

4 current youth league clubs and 3 Dublin clubs are likely to be among those joining the inaugural National League.

Any chance that you could add any possible names of these clubs please!

[pineapple stu]

Crikey, it feels like only last week we were all agreeing we didn't want pointless hypothetical lists...

[Buckett]

Well it's coming to the time of year when lists are made and are being checked twice!

[nigel-harps1954]

4 current youth league clubs and 3 Dublin clubs are likely to be among those joining the inaugural National League.

Source please and thanks.

[pineapple stu]

3 Dublin clubs
https://loitalk.com/lucan-united-set-to-join-2026-fai-national-league/

3 youth league clubs should be a given. Limerick FC noises seem indicative that they too will be in.
So rumours for the first part and your own suppositions for the second?

Great stuff - another baseless list

[legendz]

Vincent Borden to Kerry was in the rumour mill to Kerry during the week and then was a done deal. Strong rumours. Wild rumours. Anyone seeing 3 Dublin clubs and 4 youth leagues clubs as a wild rumour can turn a blind eye. It isn't a wishlist!
While I'm at it. Suggesting there won't be a fourth tier is actually speculation rather than the other way around. It is in the Football Pathways Plan. Suggesting otherwise is speculation unless advised otherwise.
There was a good run from 2015 of new youth leagues being formed. When the announcement for Tier 3 is made, hopefully there will be some insight shared into what to expect next in the process.

[nigel-harps1954]

3 Dublin clubs
https://loitalk.com/lucan-united-set-to-join-2026-fai-national-league/

3 youth league clubs should be a given. Limerick FC noises seem indicative that they too will be in.

So, wild speculation from a fairly questionable blog then.

No disrespect, but I've already asked for proper sourcing of any lists on here. And a blog that's littered with poor grammar and spelling, and no backed up sources of their own, just isn't that.

It's getting really frustrating having to repeat the same thing over and over again.

[Kiki Balboa]

So, wild speculation from a fairly questionable blog then.

No disrespect, but I've already asked for proper sourcing of any lists on here. And a blog that's littered with poor grammar and spelling, and no backed up sources of their own, just isn't that.

It's getting really frustrating having to repeat the same thing over and over again.

I don't think it is wild speculation regarding the Dublin clubs, as they supposedly informed the Leinster Senior League.

[pineapple stu]

Anything that "supposedly" happened is pretty much the definition of wild speculation to be honest.

[Kiki Balboa]

Like everything in Ireland, any potential expansion to LOI / development of non-current LOI clubs is going to be seriously hampered by facilities - the lack there of, and the lack of capital/will to provide them.

Unless the infrastructure is grandfathered in from another era - everything is seriously stuck in the country, and that is not just about football. At best, you might get a facility way outside of where people actually live and socialise, which generates its own problems regarding transport and keeping people engaged.

The price of land plus the complete lack of and distrust of urban planning is putting a heavy strain on grassroots football. The absence of pitches (and other social amenities) is crippling in some areas. I know for Drogheda, there are far more established soccer clubs in the countryside around the town, than actually inside it.

[Kiki Balboa]

Anything that "supposedly" happened is pretty much the definition of wild speculation to be honest.

Well its not 'wild speculation'.

There is a reason why those three clubs were named, and only them, was the LSL have been informed, and there was a meeting to discuss rules around player eligibility in LSL and LOI.

That is a lot of people getting involved, so leaks happen, people talk.

It is not just taken out of thin air.

It could be because other LSL clubs were interested, but these names were picked because they seem most likely (Lucan are spending big bucks, St. Francis applied recently to join the 1st, Home Farm also have a LOI history (although personally I didnt hear of a link up with DCU).

Everything is very behind the scenes with this process, so rumours and unconfirmed reports are everywhere - but this is as backed up as there is in comparison to everything else.

[Buckett]

https://www.mayonews.ie/news/soccer/1929506/were-building-something-special-says-mayo-fcs-anthony-oneill.html

I was expecting an announcement yesterday. Tomorrow's the last day of November. Maybe on Monday we'll all be put out of our misery!

[pineapple stu]

Well its not 'wild speculation'.

There is a reason why those three clubs were named, and only them, was the LSL have been informed, and there was a meeting to discuss rules around player eligibility in LSL and LOI.
Did that happen though? None of this is the "supposedly" that was in your original post.

[legendz]

So, wild speculation from a fairly questionable blog then.

No disrespect, but I've already asked for proper sourcing of any lists on here. And a blog that's littered with poor grammar and spelling, and no backed up sources of their own, just isn't that.

It's getting really frustrating having to repeat the same thing over and over again.

No disrespect but likely is likely. For anyone who has followed the rise and fall of the A Championship, the establishing of the youth leagues and the progression of a club to the First Division - the noises, pattern and bits of information around certain clubs seems consistent with clubs who are likely to join.

[pineapple stu]

No disrespect but likely is likely. For anyone who has followed the rise and fall of the A Championship, the establishing of the youth leagues and the progression of a club to the First Division - the noises, pattern and bits of information around certain clubs seems consistent with clubs who are likely to join.
No disrespect, but speculation is speculation. You've given nothing whatsoever to actually back up that view, or others on the thread.


I have been told from some involved in LSL that those chats have happe
So it's speculation then?

Gotcha.

[Kiki Balboa]

Did that happen though? None of this is the "supposedly" that was in your original post.

While you might think so highly of me that I am a journalist, unfortunately, I am not.

This is a Internet football forum - you should be prepared to handle information from informal sources and be happy to hear the general chatter that is happening around the place.

I am not apart of the board of the LSL so I dont have the minutes of a meeting on hand, rather I have heard from multiple lads that such things were discussed in relation to the new tier in LOI.

It could all be coming from a single erroneous source and be a case of Chinese whispers - so I am happy to qualify it.

But, its is a far more pointed discussion than the "wild speculation" that has been happening, and some people might find that kind of information interesting/enlightening.

[Kiki Balboa]

No disrespect, but speculation is speculation. You've given nothing whatsoever to actually back up that view, or others on the thread.


So it's speculation then?

Gotcha.

Ah lad - save yourself the hassle; Dont read forums and just wait for the official announcements then.

[legendz]

Ah lad - save yourself the hassle; Dont read forums and just wait for the official announcements then.
Agreed.

Honestly Stu and Nigel, calling on lads to cut out wild wishlists is fine. Shooting down informal sources and opinions from experiences is excessive.

[Martinho II]

Agreed.

Honestly Stu and Nigel, calling on lads to cut out wild wishlists is fine. Shooting down informal sources and opinions from experiences is excessive.

Agreed this is a football forum not a dicatorship! Think Donald Trump has ruined too many ppl here!

[Buckett]

Make Foot Great Again

[pineapple stu]

Ah lad - save yourself the hassle; Dont read forums and just wait for the official announcements then.

The point is it's continuous speculative nonsense from the same two posters at this stage and it's tiresome.

[legendz]

The point is it's continuous speculative nonsense from the same two posters at this stage and it's tiresome.


Lets list possible teams for the proposed North & South Divisions.

Some teams already mentioned are a Mayo FC team representing the Mayo football leagues and CK United covering the Carlow/Kilkenny areas, I think.

Just thought it might be interesting to see what fans around the country think what areas need representing outside the existing areas already covered!

To be fair to the original poster, he started this thread to list possible teams. Those looking for concrete lists are trolling his thread. Honestly, it is tiresome at this stage.

[redobit]

To be fair to the original poster, he started this thread to list possible teams. Those looking for concrete lists are trolling his thread. Honestly, it is tiresome at this stage.

Yeah sure what harm is it doing posting some teams.

I actually enjoy hearing about an obscure team, some that I never heard of before. Seeing what their teams are, their infrastructure, their future plans. Its nice to see what the grassroots are doing around the country.

[legendz]

Lets list possible teams for the proposed North & South Divisions.

Some teams already mentioned are a Mayo FC team representing the Mayo football leagues and CK United covering the Carlow/Kilkenny areas, I think.

Just thought it might be interesting to see what fans around the country think what areas need representing outside the existing areas already covered!
This thread can possibly get back on topic of listing possible teams, especially as the process nears end game and possible lists are more realistic. Anyone wanting to troll about concrete lists can jog on or simply wait for the official announcement. It is the off season. There's a bit of curiosity ahead of any official announcements.

"Lets list possible teams":
CK United
Klub Kildare
Limerick FC
Mayo FC
Lucan United
Home Farm FC
St Francis FC
Shamrock Rovers B

If any of the youth league clubs were unsuccessful, you'd imagine it would be known by now. Noises from informal sources seem to be strongly indicating 3 Dublin clubs joining the league. If B teams are included, will be surprising if Shamrock Rovers are not included.