Éanna
31/10/2002, 10:32 AM
eleven--side (http://www.eleven-a-side.com/premier/story.asp?newsid=2599)
The small attendance of Shamrock Rovers fans at last Sunday’s FAI Cup final 1-0 defeat to Derry City has alarmed many Hoops officials and indeed supporters of Ireland’s domestic league.
Rovers, who were once the dominant force of Irish soccer and could average five or six thousand at most home games only a decade ago, have seen their support dwindle dramatically over the last few years.
Derry City fans had to undertake a relatively major journey to attend the Cup final, with the majority making the trek to Dublin and back on the same day due to the fact that Monday was not a Bank Holiday in the North. Yet they still outnumbered their opponents by a significant margin.
Indeed, the Candystripes allocation of 5,000 tickets was sold out in a matter of days, whereas a percentage of Rovers’ allocation of 4,300 was still on sale last Sunday.
The Hoops’ problems mainly stem from the club’s homeless status for the last number of years, and club officials will hope that the lost supporters return when Rovers’ new stadium in Tallaght is complete.
The small attendance of Shamrock Rovers fans at last Sunday’s FAI Cup final 1-0 defeat to Derry City has alarmed many Hoops officials and indeed supporters of Ireland’s domestic league.
Rovers, who were once the dominant force of Irish soccer and could average five or six thousand at most home games only a decade ago, have seen their support dwindle dramatically over the last few years.
Derry City fans had to undertake a relatively major journey to attend the Cup final, with the majority making the trek to Dublin and back on the same day due to the fact that Monday was not a Bank Holiday in the North. Yet they still outnumbered their opponents by a significant margin.
Indeed, the Candystripes allocation of 5,000 tickets was sold out in a matter of days, whereas a percentage of Rovers’ allocation of 4,300 was still on sale last Sunday.
The Hoops’ problems mainly stem from the club’s homeless status for the last number of years, and club officials will hope that the lost supporters return when Rovers’ new stadium in Tallaght is complete.