Supporters Clubs in Colleges and Universities [Archive]

A face

09/09/2006, 9:50 PM

I was chatting to a girl who supports Rovers and i think she is in DCU or UCD anyway she told me they tried to start one up but only 7 turned up.

Ah but how much advertising did she do? how long did they run it for?
Also .... seven is a good number to start with. You obviously keep trying to get more.

How did they go about it though? through a guild yeah? What did they have in their proposal?

harpskid

09/09/2006, 10:18 PM

The Derry lads up in Queens have a really successful one going.

Aberdonian Stu

09/09/2006, 10:43 PM

The UCD Soccer Supporters' Society effectively morphed in the UCD Supporters' Club as we found that the needs of our non-Student members wasn't being met by a student only society.

Leeza

09/09/2006, 11:20 PM

I'm going to Trinity in a few weeks - does anyone know of any general EL supporters clubs? (Would be too much to expect a Monaghan United Supporters club)

derrymac

09/09/2006, 11:22 PM

The Derry lads up in Queens have a really successful one going.

Yeah, the QUBDCFCSC has been going for a few years and organise a bus to all the away games - that is every game... they even organised a bus for the Linfield match at Winsor Park in the Setanta Cup. They raise most of the money by winning the societies pub quiz every week. MariborKev was one of the organisors but keeps saying he is going travelling if Derry's european cup runs ends so hopefully he'll still be there for a while.

Red&White

10/09/2006, 1:29 AM

I'm going to Trinity in a few weeks - does anyone know of any general EL supporters clubs? (Would be too much to expect a Monaghan United Supporters club)

See PMs. :)

Raheny Red

10/09/2006, 1:38 AM

Only about 600 in my college and about 150 is male but a few go to eL games!

A face

10/09/2006, 2:14 PM

I have no idea to be honest and did not really care either.

Was it Sligo Rovers or Shamrock Rovers ??

holidaysong

10/09/2006, 3:56 PM

Red&White

10/09/2006, 4:10 PM

I go to Trinity and have only ever seen one person in the place (other than me) wearing an eL jersey - a Derry City one. He was wearing it the night of Ireland vs. Switzerland last year and some people thought he was supporting the Swiss!

That was me!! Should probably have thought it through as regards the colour but it was coming up to the end of the title race and I was wearing the shirt around Dublin as much as possible. :rolleyes:

Anyway, we're being joined by Leeza this year so there should be a Monaghan jersey around the place now!

holidaysong

10/09/2006, 4:27 PM

If we manage to stay top of the First Division I think my Dundalk jersies willl be getting a regular rotation back up in Dublin. I might even go for a wee walk around Tallaght to annoy some Rovers fans. Although doing the same in Drogheda once nearly got me killed. :D

LeixlipRed

10/09/2006, 5:35 PM

In my 4 years in Maynooth I've only ever come across one Rovers fan, A Longford fan and one of my lecturers was a Drogheda fan. The eircom league would probably be mistaken for some sort of telephone exchange by many of the students out there

Mr A

10/09/2006, 6:39 PM

There were quite a few eL fans at Maynooth when I was there, but no societies.

I remember the day we did the last exam of our finals and the physics department staff went for a drink with us. I was talking to the head of department when a drunk Bohs fan walked in and shouted 'Oi Harps, S**TE!' at the top of his voice and then left again. I was pretty embarrassed as everyone in the place were in a stunned silence, but the professor just raises his eyebrows and ask 'Does that happen to you often?' :)

MariborKev

10/09/2006, 9:34 PM

A face

10/09/2006, 10:40 PM

A face,

As mentioned, we run the Queens University Belfast Derry City Supporters Club.

Its obviously a well established club, been running for a few years now. Just wondering though .... was there any hassle geting it started first day though, were the societies committee reluctant to allow an domestic club start up. The reason i say that is that in the past there have been a few clubs fobbed off because they were ManU or Liverpool etc.

IMO ever eL club should be active in their local uni or institue, its probably the most obvious place to set one up but there doesn't seem to be alot of them.

LFC in Exile

11/09/2006, 11:48 AM

Its obviously a well established club, been running for a few years now. Just wondering though .... was there any hassle geting it started first day though, were the societies committee reluctant to allow an domestic club start up. The reason i say that is that in the past there have been a few clubs fobbed off because they were ManU or Liverpool etc.

IMO ever eL club should be active in their local uni or institue, its probably the most obvious place to set one up but there doesn't seem to be alot of them.

A face, I remember the year before last someone trying to start a Cork City SC in UCC here. He wasn't successful - I understand that the reason was that the Soccer Club was already established and it would be possible to set up Liverpool SC and MUFC supporters clubs (Mancs not Mons). On reflection I think the approach to take was to set up a National League Supporters Society. There are horse racing societies, science fiction society, poker society etc - all minority interests. The eL is a minority interest. Also, by taking it away from the club element it broadens potential membership.

Strabane_Harp

11/09/2006, 12:01 PM

A face,

As mentioned, we run the Queens University Belfast Derry City Supporters Club.

We have around 60 members, with about forty of those students.

We run buses to nearly every game(as living in Belfast, a home game is an away game).

yes they even once kidnapped me, force fed me alcohol, made me listen to felix healy singing and assaulted me with a blow up sheep :D

Jaime

11/09/2006, 12:45 PM

Student Mullet

11/09/2006, 12:51 PM

During my time in UCD there were always plenty about, I suppose it just takes someone with the time and commitment to make the thing appeal to as many as possible. The Soccer Society did a job, but never really intended on being an NLSA-type group, which there probably is a niche for, ar at least there was.UCD is a special case though. You could have a general supporters' club in the other colleges but UCD's not going to provide facilities for our rivals' supporters.

Jaime

11/09/2006, 2:20 PM

UCD is a special case though. You could have a general supporters' club in the other colleges but UCD's not going to provide facilities for our rivals' supporters.

I'm talking about an NSLA-type general eL promotion / communication presence, not an SC exclusive to any one club. If UCD fans were against that, it would be a very bitter, stupid attitude.

bigmac

11/09/2006, 2:28 PM

I'm talking about an NSLA-type general eL promotion / communication presence, not an SC exclusive to any one club. If UCD fans were against that, it would be a very bitter, stupid attitude.

I don't think he's talking about the fans to be fair. I couldn't see UCD funding a club (via some form of grant) that supports a team in direct opposition to the university. It'd be like having a "We wish we were in Trinity College Club" or something.

Student Mullet

11/09/2006, 2:34 PM

I'm talking about an NSLA-type general eL promotion / communication presence, not an SC exclusive to any one club. If UCD fans were against that, it would be a very bitter, stupid attitude.You can call me bitter and stupid but I have no intention of putting up posters for Shams, Shels or anyone else.
We raise the profile of the league by promoting our own club. We've had plenty of non UCD fans in the past who joined to enter our table quizes or 5-a-side competitions but they knew when they joined that it is a UCD supporters' club.

Jaime

11/09/2006, 2:49 PM

You can call me bitter and stupid but I have no intention of putting up posters for Shams, Shels or anyone else.
We raise the profile of the league by promoting our own club. We've had plenty of non UCD fans in the past who joined to enter our table quizes or 5-a-side competitions but they knew when they joined that it is a UCD supporters' club.

Not denying UCD their right to have a funded SC, but I don't see how the two couldn't co-exist. Anyhow, there obviously isn't the demand to get the thing started in the first place so we'll leave it at that.

micls

11/09/2006, 4:12 PM

A face, I remember the year before last someone trying to start a Cork City SC in UCC here. He wasn't successful - I understand that the reason was that the Soccer Club was already established and it would be possible to set up Liverpool SC and MUFC supporters clubs (Mancs not Mons). On reflection I think the approach to take was to set up a National League Supporters Society. There are horse racing societies, science fiction society, poker society etc - all minority interests. The eL is a minority interest. Also, by taking it away from the club element it broadens potential membership.

Yeah that was my boyfriend. Theyre going to try it again this year as there are more hardcore city fans going into first year. Trying o find a way around it by maybe having a group/club rather than society. Won't get the funding but at least there'l be something

BohsFans

11/09/2006, 4:24 PM

Would never happen/work in Dublin, way too many colleges. Fans of different clubs are spread out all across the city unfortunately.

LFC in Exile

19/09/2006, 1:03 PM

Yeah that was my boyfriend. Theyre going to try it again this year as there are more hardcore city fans going into first year. Trying o find a way around it by maybe having a group/club rather than society. Won't get the funding but at least there'l be something

If I was in charge of clubs and socs would be against CCFC Supporters Club on campus. Next stop Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea SCs. The only way to go is to have an eL Supporters Club (which would of course given the location be dominated by CCFC lads). But there are also a lot of Waterford and Kilkenny students (and a smattering from Limerick) who might join an eL club but wouldn't go near a CCFC club. And for clubs and societies numbers is the name of the game.

A face

19/09/2006, 9:45 PM

If I was in charge of clubs and socs would be against CCFC Supporters Club on campus. Next stop Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea SCs.

Its all in the proposal !!

If people took a bit of time to think it through and present their case properly, then it wouldn't be a problem. If you support an eL club then you could be a student society that would have a positive effect on the student body, encouraging support for, and participation in, sport in the life of college students.

eL clubs provide a great structured, event with security and facilities (licencing pays off) and in alot of case is the biggest event in those clubs towns in any weekend, and eL societies can be more than just fans supporting their clubs, they can be as active as you want, charity events etc. while promoting the club, and in the name of the club giving something back to the community.

It might be argued that eL clubs give nothing to the community, but with a collective of likeminded fans all pushing in the same direction you could turn that around. eL societies are a perfect vehicle for that.

If presented properly and well intended, then there is no reason that a society should be turned down. Its a given people would have to put in a bit of work but if it meant subsidicign tickets to games for students then i'd say they would go for it.

BohDiddley

20/09/2006, 8:34 AM

IMHO the best way, and certainly the first step, to promote clubs in colleges, beyond the hardcore, is simply by postering. You don't need a society to do that.

Poor Student

20/09/2006, 8:40 AM

IMHO the best way, and certainly the first step, to promote clubs in colleges, beyond the hardcore, is simply by postering. You don't need a society to do that.

Doesn't work.

LFC in Exile

20/09/2006, 8:48 AM

Its all in the proposal !!

But is it an eL supporters club or a CCFC supporters club?

A face

20/09/2006, 3:11 PM

Student Society started today in CIT and 170 signed up so far. Mostly Cork city fans, but a few Waterford and Limerick fans. Cork City tickets �13 will be subsidised to �10, other clubs, nothing is final yet.

The first meeting will take place in the New Student Services building on Tuesday (either 5.00 or 6.00, not sure yet) in meeting room One and we'll have tickets there for sale.

Can anyone confirm if anything is starting in WIT or LIT ??

LFC in Exile

21/09/2006, 9:09 AM

Best of luck with it A Face. I thought you were talkign about UCC, not CIT. UCC refused a CCFC SC last year. Obviously CIT clubs and socs are a much more enlightened bunch.

A face

21/09/2006, 7:39 PM

Best of luck with it A Face. I thought you were talkign about UCC, not CIT. UCC refused a CCFC SC last year. Obviously CIT clubs and socs are a much more enlightened bunch.

Yeah, they more geared to helping and facilitating students to be honest. They have welcome every single idea that has been suggested so far .... every single one, you cant do better than that to be honest.

Dassa

22/09/2006, 1:09 PM

Yeah, the QUBDCFCSC has been going for a few years and organise a bus to all the away games - that is every game... they even organised a bus for the Linfield match at Winsor Park in the Setanta Cup. They raise most of the money by winning the societies pub quiz every week. MariborKev was one of the organisors but keeps saying he is going travelling if Derry's european cup runs ends so hopefully he'll still be there for a while.

seems to be a very well ran club. see them about QUB at the quizes when in competition with the NI club for the money,and also had a sizeable crowd in Speakeasy before the Linfield game last year . I doubt that QUB would give much support or any to any supporters clubs not aimed at the uni teams, but not sure.