All Ireland League

[David]

I know this has been debated many times but if such a thing was to happen what do you see as the main benefits and disadvantages. Personally I see few disadvantages. The travel thing will be thrown up but this island is relatively small and I would say the furthest any club would have to travel is for a fixture that in existence in the Eircom League when Derry City play Cork. Away crowds would also be seen as a problem but other than our big derby game against the Glens the away crowds that we get are already poor and we would still have the derby game.

The biggest problem I see is how do you feed into such a league with promotion and relegation as I do not think a three or four division (or even two division) all island set up is viable. Whilst not ideal I think there should be at least two regionalised divisions (not necessarily NI and ROI) feeding into it. It may lead to an inbalance but clubs would find their own level. The summer/winter football debate could also be a problem.

The advantages would be many. I feel that all clubs in such a set up could go properly full time with the additional sponsorship and television money that I believe such a set up would bring. I believe it would be a lot more competitive although admittedly the EL has already achieved this with 4 realistic championship contenders.

To me the ideal set up would be 18 teams with initially 10 EL teams and 8 IL. Would be interested to hear views on this from EL supporters.

[monkey magic]

well i think 18 teams would be too much for a start and i would'nt be in favour or regionalised divisions. two all ireland divisions of twelve each woulld be best imo and put the rest of the teams into a regionalised non league set up with promotion to the league through application - results and facilities being the criteria

[David]

well i think 18 teams would be too much for a start and i would'nt be in favour or regionalised divisions. two all ireland divisions of twelve each woulld be best imo and put the rest of the teams into a regionalised non league set up with promotion to the league through application - results and facilities being the criteria

Would just be in favour of the regionalised as lower divisions. Eighteen teams playing each other twice is pretty perfect for a league campaign in my opinion although 16 would not be bad either. I feel a league of 12 is a very awkward number to work with. Personally I do not like the idea of playing each other 3 teams, could end up unfair although I realise this is how EL operates at minute.

[monkey magic]

hmmm thats a fair point, my only concern would be about the quality - would such a league really be able to put out 18 relatively competitive teams each season?? imo no it would'nt and the quality would suffer as a result.

14 or even 16 might be workable but i also believe an all-ireland league would need a second division to back it up and provide new teams to prevent it from beconimg stale as well as giving it the excitement of a proper promotion/relegation playoff.

[bigmac]

Firstly I think there'll be the same problem as there is when discussing an All-Ireland team - if the Republic are in a strong phase they say what's the point, nobody from the North would get in the team, but then it's a great idea when NI have players that would be a good addition to the Republic's team.

At the moment, the EL is stronger (IMO), so there would probably be more opposition from the IL teams who would see their chances of European football greatly decrease. Either way, the loss of 4 (including intertoto) European spots would be difficult to sell to any clubs.

I think it'd be a good idea if the logistical nightmares could be overcome (who runs the league etc..) but not sure about the composition of it - I have no idea what the standard at the bottom of the IL is like. Maybe a 20 team league to start with and then lots of relegation after the first season - would give teams a chance to sort out the order on the pitch.

[sonofstan]

I'd be with David on this one - 16 or better, 18 teams playing each other once home, once away, rather than 10 or twelve. The comprehensive relaunch it would involve might just be the stimulus needed to get clubs in order, get TV and press interest and finally get people going to matches.

In terms of Population and so on the balance should really be 12 el/ 6 IL, which would mean over half of the current el- both divisions - would get a place whereas less than half of the current IL premier would - are there more than 6 teams in the IL capable of making a step up to a predominantly pro set up? Linfield, Glens, P'down, Swift? Cliftonville? Not stirring it or anything, just observing that honours up north seem to have stayed with the same few clubs, whereas in the EL, our 2 teams in the UEFA cup this season were relegation fodder 2 seasons ago, whereas Pats and us who looked like major players at the turn of the decade and are both now languishing (a lot of the reasons for this are financial of course, but it keeps it interesting)

[pete]

I was very enthuasiastic about this but after seeing the standrad & crowds in the Setanta Cup is debatable what IL sides outside Linfield & Glentoran would bring to the eL. Dungannon were 4th best side & while they have great crowd & setup would be minnows in the eL Premier let alone an Al Ireland League.

I don't think IL sides are ambitious enough to make changes either - obcessed with saying need to be fulltime to succeed when reality is very fulltime clubs in the eL.

[Poor Student]

I wouldn't mind a two layered set up like in Brazil with the state and national championships. Retain the national leagues with their European places but with a reduced amount of fixtures, maybe ten team league with two rounds from March to July/August and then an All-Ireland league from say Sept-Dec.

[Red&White]

Sorry, slightly off topic, but this article appeared in Belfast Telegraph today...


Here's to Derry enjoying Swede dreams in Europe


By Steven Beacom

24 July 2006
Linfield have gone. Glentoran and Portadown are likely to go the same way this week.

But there is always Derry City.

Our great hope in Europe.

Yes, they compete in the eircom League, but they still play their home games in Northern Ireland.

It's a pity they didn't play their away fixtures here as well, but we'll come back to that later.

On Thursday night Derry City meet IFK Gothenburg in the second leg of their first qualifying round UEFA Cup tie.

They will enter the fixture 1-0 up. It's worth pointing that out again.

A team from our wee country defeated former UEFA Cup winners on their own turf.

In my opinion that goes down as one of the greatest results ever achieved by an Irish football team.

It's amazing to think that a few years ago Derry were struggling to avoid relegation.

Then the uncompromising Stephen Kenny came in as manager and everything changed.

The Candystripes have won the League Cup under Kenny and last season were one game away from clinching the title.

This season they are also in championship contention thanks to a brilliant record at the Brandywell.

Derry's ground is well known for creating an intimidating atmosphere.

Gothenburg will experience it first hand on Thursday.

Just as Linfield and Glentoran have in the Setanta Cup.

It's a pity other Irish League teams don't get the chance to sample the unique Brandywell welcome.

With the structure and future of the domestic game being considered here, an offer will soon be put on the table for Derry to return to Northern Ireland football.

It's a romantic notion bringing the Derry boys back, but I fancy they are more than happy where they are at present.

The League in which Derry compete has become full-time and the summer football played in the eircom clearly helps the clubs in Europe.

Cork City for instance were successful in their Champions League tie last week.

Why would Derry want to come back to Irish League football?

Yes, there has always been a desire for City to play the Blues and Glens but they can do that anyway in the Setanta Cup without going headlong into the troubled Irish League.

Victory over Gothenburg will strengthen the view that they should stay where they are.

When the UEFA Cup draw was made, most people thought that Derry had no chance of overcoming the Swedes.

They have already proved many wrong. Here's to Kenny's men finishing the job.

...and the reaction on the DCFC forum: http://www.derrycitychat.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5914

[holidaysong]

I think it would be great to be honest. A local derby against Newry "City" would be class.

[Speranza]

What would an AIL do to bring the barstoolers to the terraces? It would only make the league more exciting for those who already punters. I laugh at the thought of us being asked to rejoin the IL, they can go and whistle. They need us and I can't help but sneer at the demise of their league.

[Dyl10]

Whats the comparison in sponsorship, prize money and Tv coverage like between the leagues?

[dcfcsteve]

What would an AIL do to bring the barstoolers to the terraces? It would only make the league more exciting for those who already punters. I laugh at the thought of us being asked to rejoin the IL, they can go and whistle. They need us and I can't help but sneer at the demise of their league.


It would generate a lot of media coverage - at least at the start anyway.

It would be a bigger market-place (5.6m vs 4.1m), and therefore attract more advertising, sponsorship etc.

The 'natural' home of soccer in Ireland is the north-east. Belfast and surrounding area/counties is the strongest soccer territory in the country. Having that strongest territory involved with EL teams should increase the commercial appeal of the league.

Setanta obviously saw something in all-island football to invest money in it specifically. If that was only a taste of what would be on offer for a combined league, then why the hell not !

As for the bar-stoolers - if the media are talking about it and the TV cameras are covering it, some of them will get attracted to it. That's how these things work. We'll never know until we try it - and it couldn't be any worse than what either league experiences now....

[Aaron]

As always there is goin to be stumbling blocks. How do we sort out who runs the league? How do we agree if summer soccer stays or return to winter football? Who do we exclude from the new league and why? Are the clubs invited stable on a financial front? This cud run on and on and as much as i wud love to have derbys against coleraine and limavady aswell as harps and sligo, i cant see it happening anytime soon:(

[thejollyrodger]

best of luck Doire!!