Promotion of UCD V Longford cup game

[De Town]

1250 official attendance, and from the numbers cheering when they scored, about 500 of that was Longford.


Seen as it wasn't half empty, the main stand being near full, that's some achievement.

Lads your having a laugh! If the official was 1250, at least 900 of that was Longford fans. How anyone can say it was 50/50 is beyond me.

[John83]

Lads your having a laugh! If the official was 1250, at least 900 of that was Longford fans. How anyone can say it was 50/50 is beyond me.
I'm amused then at how few of your 900 fans were pleased by your goal.

[jebus]

As a neutral who was in attendance I should be able to have the last word on this (but this being foot it will probably rage on for another 5 pages). 1,250 sounds about right attendence wise, the stand was 75% Longford fans, but the wall going all around the pitch was 95% UCD fans (I moved a lot during the game), so I would say the attendence was about 50-50 with the Longford fans making the most (noise wise) of their travelling support.

As for the game, how UCD didn't have it wrapped up in an entertaining first half is beyond me, should have had 2 or even 3 goals had their strikers been a bit sharper. The second half was as bas as you'd get at a Wexford Youths - Kilkenny match to be honest. If either of these teams (and I'm assuming Bray and Galway are of a similiar standard) come up against Cobh or Harps in the playoff then they will lose. Whoever finishes 2nd bottom in the Prem should pray for Dundalk to sneak their way into that playoff final

[dcfcsteve]

I know I'm prone to snipe at UCD for their low attendances, but my heart does go out to those involved with the club on this occassion.

An excellent amount of promotion went into this game - hard to know what more they should've done - yet it still had a very disappointing crowd. God knows what the attendance would have been like without their efforts.

It really is a thankless task trying to get support for UCD amongst what is a very large University.... :(

[pineapple stu]

As a neutral who was in attendance I should be able to have the last word on this (but this being foot it will probably rage on for another 5 pages). 1,250 sounds about right attendence wise, the stand was 75% Longford fans, but the wall going all around the pitch was 95% UCD fans (I moved a lot during the game), so I would say the attendence was about 50-50 with the Longford fans making the most (noise wise) of their travelling support.
Pretty much spot on. When Longford scored, two thirds or so of the stand cheered, but about two people outside the stand did. Would have said 500 Town fans, with the balance then UCD/neutral.

Would love to know where people saw the 900 Town fans!

[Poor Student]

I know I'm prone to snipe at UCD for their low attendances, but my heart does go out to those involved with the club on this occassion.

An excellent amount of promotion went into this game - hard to know what more they should've done - yet it still had a very disappointing crowd. God knows what the attendance would have been like without their efforts.

It really is a thankless task trying to get support for UCD amongst what is a very large University.... :(

The thing is to keep plugging away. Mass promotion like this has only started this season. There was encouraging results with the free beer promotion night with Cork. I think we can improve things incrementally over time.

I hate to get dragged into this debate over who supported who but one of the problems of the crowd perception was that Longford fans placed a banner about 4/5s into the stand away from the usual away section marking the whole stand for Longford fans. The block where we usually sit was nearly 100% UCD and half of the block beside that where the big Longford flag was. All of the fans in the stand behind the goal (not many I know) were UCD and so was most of the perimiter, a preferred location for a lot of Belfield regulars.

I was also sad enough to watch a recording of the game when I got home and the whole RTE attitude towards us was very negative. Pat Morely seemed unable to make a definitive statement about us having the upper hand in the first half. He'd sigh and say "They've probably just had the edge in terms of the play" and the likes. Darragh Moloney said things like "In spite of the crowd it's a lovely pitch to play on" or as you can hear "Allez les Bleus" signing "I can tell, you have only heard the Longford fans signing throughout!". There seemed to be no mention of praise of our being well run or producing a series of underage internationals. It hurts me to say but only Roddy gave us any fair appraisal. It makes it hard to turn a corner when you're dealing with negative stereotyped stuff from our national broadcaster. I'm not saying we deserved a fluury of unending praise but I thought there was too much unecessary negativity.

[RonnieB]

I have to say having watched the recording of the game , Roddys chant came across very well ;)

[DmanDmythDledge]

It hurts me to say but only Roddy gave us any fair appraisal.
And telling everyone that he's robbed one of our players for Gretna.

[Macy]

An excellent amount of promotion went into this game - hard to know what more they should've done - yet it still had a very disappointing crowd. God knows what the attendance would have been like without their efforts.
Friday night game probably would've bumped the attendance or even a non bank holiday weekend. Strange as it may seem, the timing probably effected our crowd too - a lot of the Dublin based fans would go down for the bank holiday weekend too.

Don't really see the point of arguing over a 100 fans here or there really. By far the biggest attendance I've seen at a UCD v Town match, so fair play to the efforts.

[Poor Student]

And telling everyone that he's robbed one of our players for Gretna.

Is that Bermo? Can't remember that bit.

[pineapple stu]

By far the biggest attendance I've seen at a UCD v Town match, so fair play to the efforts.
Should be noted we played you in the league last week, and trebled the crowd in that time. A lot of that was due to youz bringing and extra 300-400, but our own crowd about doubled as well (300 to 700 or so). So it worked to an extent, although not as much as the club would have liked.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Is that Bermo? Can't remember that bit.
Yeah. Singled him out before the game for praise, then said that he does a bit of scouting for Gretna and told them to sign him.

[pineapple stu]

Strange seeing as he's not going to Gretna. :confused:

[Poor Student]

Strange seeing as he's not going to Gretna. :confused:

Actually when the stories first came out about his departure they were saying either Stockport or Gretna.

[fbtn]

I know I'm prone to snipe at UCD for their low attendances, but my heart does go out to those involved with the club on this occassion.

An excellent amount of promotion went into this game - hard to know what more they should've done - yet it still had a very disappointing crowd. God knows what the attendance would have been like without their efforts.

It really is a thankless task trying to get support for UCD amongst what is a very large University.... :(

Have to agree with this.

The UCD fans that I've met up in Ballybofey are as committed and passionate as fans of any other club in league. The problem is that there are so little of them. It is a thankless task that takes a lot of time and effort trying to get more fans in the gate. Everyone club knows this, but to struggle for a cup semi must be very disheartening. Like you say PS, keep plugging away dude.

[Poor Student]

To be honest I'd rather add 5-10 hardcore regulars than call on a once off crowd of 1000 day trippers. Don't get me wrong, the big eventers are nice and every club has and needs them but we're thin on the ground for volunteers committed to assisting the club. 5-10 extra volunteers would make a big difference. Our promotional efforts over the last few months since the start of the academic year have resulted in the odd inquisitive e-mail to the club from people who are new to attending games. Nothing earth shattering but I think we're getting the club's name out there more than we have been since I've started supporting the club.

[Poor Student]

God knows what the attendance would have been like without their efforts.


That's one way of looking at it. The other is that the promotion just had little or no impact itself and whoever turned up would have anyway. I think the promotion in the college had no effect, I didn't notice many student looking people there. It was mainly families and kids. On another day of the week or indeed another week altogether perhaps the student support could have been mustered better. That's no fault of the promoting itself which was a good effort.

[Titan]

So it didnt go as well as we hoped (Understatement) F**k it.new game starts tomorrow morning 9am Pats at home this Friday. Our last ever game at Belfield Park (save for any playoff,shudder) Might get a decent crowd. I'm going to do a student promotion I think.Went welll lasttime anyway. Now wheres that wall til i give it a good slap with my head:D

[dcfcsteve]

So it didnt go as well as we hoped (Understatement) F**k it.new game starts tomorrow morning 9am Pats at home this Friday. Our last ever game at Belfield Park (save for any playoff,shudder) Might get a decent crowd. I'm going to do a student promotion I think.Went welll lasttime anyway. Now wheres that wall til i give it a good slap with my head:D

Keep the faith Titan.

I'm sure most of us would like to see a well-supported UCD, rather than a poorly supported one.

There's something interesting/romantic about a University team being in senior football in this part of the world. Now, if we could just get it to work support-wise....!

[el punter]

There's something interesting/romantic about a University team being in senior football in this part of the world. Now, if we could just get it to work support-wise....!

While I agree with that is mildly romantic, I think it also works against the club to an extent.

Feel free to correct me Stu, Schumi, Titan etc, but I suspect you all studied at UCD?

My opinion is that the club has no appeal to the public beyond current and former students. I think it is really unlikely to attract a floating league of Ireland supporter who has yet to give allegiance to a club.

Sometimes in business you have to something almost unthinkable to make the business tip over from struggling to successful - there's an apocryphal tale about selling the family mill I once heard - maybe it's time to start 'rebranding' and try to appeal to footballing public beyond the campus?

[Poor Student]

While I agree with that is mildly romantic, I think it also works against the club to an extent.

Feel free to correct me Stu, Schumi, Titan etc, but I suspect you all studied at UCD?

My opinion is that the club has no appeal to the public beyond current and former students. I think it is really unlikely to attract a floating league of Ireland supporter who has yet to give allegiance to a club.

Sometimes in business you have to something almost unthinkable to make the business tip over from struggling to successful - there's an apocryphal tale about selling the family mill I once heard - maybe it's time to start 'rebranding' and try to appeal to footballing public beyond the campus?


Most of the core regulars have attended UCD although a few started to support UCD AFC before attending there. The club does happen to be our local club too though for most of us. There is a UCD footballing crest in the works for the purpose of marketing the club but college ties mean their crest must always take primacy and still be used. You certainly raise an interesting point but only so much rebranding can be done (if that's even desired) under the college banner.

[pineapple stu]

Feel free to correct me Stu, Schumi, Titan etc, but I suspect you all studied at UCD?
Yes for me and schumi; don't know for Titan.

But the likes of Bald Student, Aberdonian Stu, Student Mullet and John-boy (who hasn't been seen on here for a while...) were going to games for years before going to college, while dmandmythdledge is doing the Leaving Cert this year. Similarly, if you look at the TV footage from yesterday, you can see a fair few young kids with UCD jerseys or UCD face paint.

As another aside, I think we've sold more scarves this year than any previous years, including 12 yesterday alone, so that's a sign of a bit of improvement.

The point about the college links alienating people don't hold water. Kids of ten or twelve who go to the soccer camps, for example, don't see the club as a college based team - they just see players coaching them, being a bit of fun, and then enjoying the chance to see their coaches play in a serious game. That's the route we're going to be going further down from next season with the launch of the academy.

[Poor Student]

Similarly, if you look at the TV footage from yesterday, you can see a fair few young kids with UCD jerseys or UCD face paint.

I'm seeing more and more blue and club merchandise on people with each passing season. While some of it is just down to the availability of merchandise it's a positive sign.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Poor Student

The availability of merchandise means more people will want it. It was the same with jerseys . I started bringing these into the club shop about 12 years ago I ordered the equivalent of a squad set the first year. I sold them all by mid-season.
Next year I had to double the order. Nowadays the demand is such that they get enough to sell over an entire season in advance. And you see a lot more shirts at matches than ever before. Now if we can stop our fan base emigrating we might be getting somewhere :D

[sonofstan]

Bit off the top of my head this, but in a way, college kids are the worst target group for football. Boys (usually) if they are going to get into football at all, and particularly the local game, will do so well before university (usually before puberty); either as underage players or as fans; if they aren't already confirmed fans by the time they get to uni, they won't discover the bittersweet joys of that kind of commitment during their most distractable - and also poorest - years. A walk around UCD will reveal a load of Leinster rugby shirts and assorted GAA colours; allegiances formed at school, either in Southside rugby schools or at home in the bog. The rare LOI fan in this environment will have a prior allegiance.

My own experience of football fandom is of being a teenage obsessive, followed by a slackening of interest when I went to college and discovered girls and stuff; active fandom only revived when I was old enough to take my own kid to matches - I know I'm not alone in this pattern.

UCD's best hope is to attract local schoolage kids who aren't big or thick enough for rugger and families - and, just as Pat's and Bohs have large numbers of immigrants in their respective hinterlands to target, so do UCD; there are many middle class professionals from outside ireland on the southside, and just like their working class equivalents, they are much more likely to be attracted by a football club than by Rugby or Gah.

Students will only ever turn up on gala occasions, if that - they way they turn up for the colours match; they are the wrong age for fandom. College sport in America is big business - firstly because it is the acknowledged path to the pro leagues, but also because the players are seen to represent the student body; which isn't the case with UCD. The club's best hope might be to loosen the link with the college - go back to being called Pegasus? -and appeal to it's hinterland - they are, after all, currently the only southside team in the league.

[CollegeTillIDie]

son of stan

Some of your points are valid but just to correct an inaccuracy, Pegasus , is a separate club most of whose players base is UCD graduates.
The committe is almost exclusively UCD graduates and many of their players have played for UCD either the Under 21's or Intermediate teams operating in the Leinster Senior League.

They raise funds jointly with UCD and are a huge assistance to the club in keeping it going. In return for which they have the use of our playing facilities on the campus.

[pineapple stu]

As noted, the club's name has nothing to do with anything, and changing it won't alter anything.

We can't go back to being called Pegasus because they are a different (if linked) team.

The players, as noted, aren't seen by ten to twelve year old kids (the best people to target) as representing the college body. That's an existing preconception among current eL fans, which they erroneously put into the minds of kids who know next to nothing about the eL.

[sonofstan]

Sorry, didn't realise the distinction.

[Paddyfield]

What if UCD changed their name? To what? I don't know.
Perhaps something that would entice lay people who have no affiliation with the Univesity.

Off the top of my head...

Belfield FC
South Dublin FC
Dublin 4 FC (a bit like Limerick 37:D)

The name of a club is important. A few years ago , Salthill Devon FC took over the running of Galway United and there was talk of a name change to Salthill Devon FC. I know a lot of people would have stopped supporting the club if the name changed - including myself despite the fact that I was brought up and schooled in Salthill.

Salthill Devon jumped ship two years ago and we all lived happily ever after.

[Schumi]

Dublin 4 FC (a bit like Limerick 37:D)

LOL. :D

[dcfcsteve]

We can't go back to being called Pegasus because they are a different (if linked) team.



When were you called Pegasus ? Was that your pre-senior football name ?

[DmanDmythDledge]

When were you called Pegasus ? Was that your pre-senior football name ?
No, Pegasus was a team set up for graduates of UCD. They played in the LSL, but I'm not sure if they still do. Kevin Moran is the most famous player to have played for them. See more here- http://www.pegasusfc.com/history.php

[sonofstan]

Dublin 4 FC

'D4 Until Oy Doy!'

(Cheap, I'm sorry)

[CollegeTillIDie]

If we wanted to go like Limerick 37 We would have to be Dublin 95 as we were founded in 1895.
Dublin 1895 maybe we could ask Munich 1860 for a friendly :D And play Schalke 04 and Limerick 37 in the pre-season :D

[pineapple stu]

When were you called Pegasus ? Was that your pre-senior football name ?
Sorry, yeah, didn't make that clear. Pegasus, as dmanetc pointed out, are the graduate team, so we were never called Pegasus. Our only previous name is Catholic University. Pegasus are still in the LSL, and have one team in the Superleague.

[Student Mullet]

Sorry, yeah, didn't make that clear. Pegasus, as dmanetc pointed out, are the graduate team, so we were never called Pegasus. Our only previous name is Catholic University. Pegasus are still in the LSL, and have one team in the Superleague.[Pedantic]The club has changed names at least twice; from Catholic University to UCD and from UCD to UCD, NUID.[\Pedantic]

[Jerry The Saint]

Bit off the top of my head this, but in a way, college kids are the worst target group for football. Boys (usually) if they are going to get into football at all, and particularly the local game, will do so well before university (usually before puberty); either as underage players or as fans; if they aren't already confirmed fans by the time they get to uni, they won't discover the bittersweet joys of that kind of commitment during their most distractable - and also poorest - years. A walk around UCD will reveal a load of Leinster rugby shirts and assorted GAA colours; allegiances formed at school, either in Southside rugby schools or at home in the bog. The rare LOI fan in this environment will have a prior allegiance.


To be fair, it's not just a problem for UCD AFC. Even the UCD rugby and GAA teams get very poor attendances and this is replicated all over the country. We just don't have a culture of supporting college sport in this country.

Almost by accident, the Dublin clubs are in the process of carving up the county in a convenient way and this definitely seems to be the future for UCD (if they have one :eek: :))

Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown - UCDD
Dublin City - Pats
Fingal - Bohs, Shels, eh Fingal
South Dublin - Thomas Davis

[pineapple stu]

We just don't have a culture of supporting college sport in this country.
I think the word "college" is superfluous there. It's not as if there's eleven teams with 10,000 crowds and UCD with 500.

[Jerry The Saint]

I think the word "college" is superfluous there. It's not as if there's eleven teams with 10,000 crowds and UCD with 500.

My point being that UCD rugby and GAA clubs also get poor attendances. Certainly the GAA teams, despite recent success, would probably be the least popular teams in the county.

[Poor Student]

I've been told before that UCD are one of the better supported AIL rugby teams. Is that not true?

[Schumi]

I've been told before that UCD are one of the better supported AIL rugby teams. Is that not true?Crowds are usually a couple of hundred which wouldn't be unusually small for the AIL from my experience (although very small in EL terms) but I think the likes of Garryowen, Shannon & Cork Con would get a good bit more.

As a completely made up comparison, it might be a similar situation to a club which gets crowds of about 1,100 in the EL premier.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Having been to many of the AIL grounds in Dublin, my experience is that UCD tend to get better crowds typically than the likes of Blackrock and St Mary's.

[DRDoc]

This thread has had quite a few more views than the actual game had paying spectators
:eek:

[John83]

This thread has had quite a few more views than the actual game had paying spectators
:eek:
There aren't six of me in real life.

[Schumi]

There aren't six of me in real life.

Joke too easy...

must resist...

[John83]

Joke too easy...

must resist...
Yes, yes Schumi, we all know about your hextuple vision. Lay off the masturbation. ;)