Stadium Updates (All Clubs)

[oriel]

Would ye not trial some kind of fence between the pitch and the away fans?

A brand new fence going chest or elbow high was installed at front of the away end pre season, it would not obv prevent flares, but it would defer fans encroaching onto the pitch, one section was ripped down completely and another section buckled by Drogs fans in the same game.

Not sure what is next as you can't search kids who adults give flares to take in, or by other means, they could look at a heavy duty high net in front, but the more desirable option would be to expect future better behaviour by fans attending.

The club even arranged power hosing of the away end in a huge clean up, the damage to the seating also caused by their fans escaped the spotlight due to the pitch focus. The new high fencing to the left stand side of the away end remained intact.

Next visitors should notice a big clean up change, the jungle behind the section all cleared, and almost like a beer garden / BBQ now, could be used for that as its right next to LW lounge bar.

New perm away toilet blocks going into the away end also from April I think (same unit to be built on other corner near YDC entrance for Shed side fans).

Away end is obv far from ideal as still uncovered (talk of covering it and same for town side of the stand but wont be in 2026), then again Shels and Pats offer same uncovered for away terrace fans, albeit a better view.

[Cosmo]

We can test the levels of scumbaggery of each club. Precedence is set, clubs pay for the damage their fans cause.

I only wish Dundalk offered to pay for any damage done to united park in 2024 when they threw flares on to the pitch - or when they threw flares on to cobhs plastic pitch last year

Precedence is set alright - let’s see if it’s enforced for all supporters that do any sort of damage for any stadium facilities around the country….

[Longfordian]

Nobody ordered Drogs to pay for it so there's no actual precedent that could be enforced as such. It may be expected now but that's not the same thing.

[Nesta99]

I only wish Dundalk offered to pay for any damage done to united park in 2024 when they threw flares on to the pitch - or when they threw flares on to cobhs plastic pitch last year Precedence is set alright - let’s see if it’s enforced for all supporters that do any sort of damage for any stadium facilities around the country….More whataboutery! As your fan on Orielweb has said, one reason for grass pitches is the limited damage than can occur. I would be willing to pay for the damage to the pitch myself.Damage to the pitch was wrong end of, at Drogheda and Cobh. The bill should have been sent to Dundalk FC! It makes no difference that the security on the night wasnt searching everyone, its not an excuse. Shouldnt happen and clubs should be fined, billed, and fans banned, collective ban on a fan group if they dont shop the culprits and cant police themselves. Whether Drogheda volunteered to pay the fine or not there is now precedence. Whether that is followed is another thing but it will be expected and pressure will be applied to do so. Imo if this hadnt happened the sanctions from the FAI would have been more severe and the same will apply if necessary in future. I noted that there wasnt flares in the away section in Tolka that I could see, didnt seem to be in ED Park either. The whole this is our culture BS might fizzle out....our culture, jebus wept! Talk about sounding like a bunch of Northern Irish loyalists when burning flags and effigies of people

[oriel]

I only wish Dundalk offered to pay for any damage done to united park in 2024 when they threw flares on to the pitch - or when they threw flares on to cobhs plastic pitch last year

Precedence is set alright - let’s see if it’s enforced for all supporters that do any sort of damage for any stadium facilities around the country….

Every (most) clubs have idiots (we have) who get involved in small acts of bad crowd behaviour.

The visit of Drogs on 20 Feb was something else, this was pre arranged and well advertised too on their ultra socials, far from a one off this was planned to a tee, flares were continuously thrown and at very frequent intervals, seating damages in 3 separate rows, fence ripped down, I would think the damages would prob end up at 40k - just my guess, maybe a little more, but I think the two clubs have agreed to keep it private and that is the right thing to do.

[Nesta99]

Im not sure its the right thing to keep how much its cost a club quiet. But of course that assumes that these people care. With the 15k fine a guesstimate of 55-60k cost to a club should register with fans as unacceptable and damaging to ones own club. Of course the attitude could be that the owners have deep pockets so no big deal. Owners could have put support on notice that issues going forward that causes unnecessary costs would see them pull their ownership, well it would be interesting to see the response to a scenario like that.

[outspoken]

Im not sure its the right thing to keep how much its cost a club quiet. But of course that assumes that these people care. With the 15k fine a guesstimate of 55-60k cost to a club should register with fans as unacceptable and damaging to ones own club. Of course the attitude could be that the owners have deep pockets so no big deal. Owners could have put support on notice that issues going forward that causes unnecessary costs would see them pull their ownership, well it would be interesting to see the response to a scenario like that.

From what I've heard, the cost wasn't that bad, certainly no where near the 70k figure your boy Malone pulled from the sky. It was fixed up in an afternoon or two in the end.

[Nesta99]

Even if it was 30k, presented in the right way, eg unable to sign a pending unattached player due to cost, or whatever. Just my opinion that it should try to make the culprits think, if thats possible. Exaggerate if necessary.

[outspoken]

Even if it was 30k, presented in the right way, eg unable to sign a pending unattached player due to cost, or whatever. Just my opinion that it should try to make the culprits think, if thats possible. Exaggerate if necessary.

I get what you're saying but you're dealing with complete cavemen lad, I don't think they give a sh*te about anything other than themselves

[oriel]

From what I've heard, the cost wasn't that bad, certainly no where near the 70k figure your boy Malone pulled from the sky. It was fixed up in an afternoon or two in the end.

70k pitch repair cost is not correct, Gerry M feeds off info given to him prob sometimes in gest, and he immediately put its up, he is miles off with this.

[Nesta99]

Id love to know how the repairs were done. Did it involve replacing the entire section thats full length of the pitch or is there a way to do small sections. Not there first pitch to be fire damaged at Oriel by the way. A previous iteration was burnt after it was lifted and GM looked to cliam from insurance which was a bit of a stretch.

[nigel-harps1954]

They can put in small patches in astro pitches. They have a heavy adhesive patch under them that holds it in place, almost like massive gaffer tape. Its the same stuff they use to join together the rolls along the seams.

[outspoken]

Id love to know how the repairs were done. Did it involve replacing the entire section thats full length of the pitch or is there a way to do small sections. Not there first pitch to be fire damaged at Oriel by the way. A previous iteration was burnt after it was lifted and GM looked to cliam from insurance which was a bit of a stretch.

Nah it wasn't a massive job more of a patch up

[ger121]

Looks well whatever they did and sounds like a lot less than the 70k Gerry was banging on about.

[outspoken]

Looks well whatever they did and sounds like a lot less than the 70k Gerry was banging on about.

If he reported it was Christmas next week I'd go out and buy Easter eggs

[Nesta99]

Maybe Im being unfair but it seems now as if GM needs a scoop for credibility and employs a scattergun approach with a fear of being behind the other outlets so reports everything. Reminds me of the old Talk of the town website which started off as a gossip site for the whole town to the point of legally questionable. At least this is just footballing rumours. But I do think people suggest the wildest stuff just to see if he'll bite and report and I dont like it. Die hard fan, passionate, was with a network radio station until retirement age and I think deserves a bit more respect in general eccentric or not. That said, he doesnt listen to warnings that info is suss either.

[Stevie mac]

Apart from my 2 children being born, my divorce, and my marriage which was a good day, the day gerry blocked me on X for correcting one of his errors has been a blessing .
It truly was

[ger121]

Maybe Im being unfair but it seems now as if GM needs a scoop for credibility and employs a scattergun approach with a fear of being behind the other outlets so reports everything. Reminds me of the old Talk of the town website which started off as a gossip site for the whole town to the point of legally questionable. At least this is just footballing rumours. But I do think people suggest the wildest stuff just to see if he'll bite and report and I dont like it. Die hard fan, passionate, was with a network radio station until retirement age and I think deserves a bit more respect in general eccentric or not. That said, he doesnt listen to warnings that info is suss either.

I like Gerry personally. He does have a good voice for commentary and as you say is a die-hard fan. He definitely does get more stick than he deserves but unfortunately he tends to believe a lot of things he hears and then puts that out on social media.

[Buckett]

https://archive.ph/Ca9jg

What was their motivation for doing this?

[Nesta99]

Stupidity!

[brendy_éire]

Last match on the horrible plastic pitch at the Brandywell tonight. It's a pity Drogs fans are banned, they could launch all the flares they like onto it after FT.
Our next home match after this will be over a month away, 23rd April in Celtic Park. First match back at the Brandywell is late June, all going well.

Arrangements for Celtic Park seem to be that season ticket holders will be in the main stand, with non-season ticket holders and away fans on the terraces. It's a great view from the main terrace for GAA, but it is uncovered.