Ireland to face Colombia - London, 29th May

[gwhite]

Spain, Greece & Turkey mooted as opposition.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=55608-qqqx=1.asp

[RedMick]

Instead of going to London, what do you reckon the chances are of getting the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick for an afternoon kickoff? 50,000 capacity and still in our own country.

[NeilMcD]

Its only Croke Park that the GAA opened up.

[RedMick]

Well surely thats the thin end of the wedge?

[noby]

So you reckon there would be 50,000 at a friendly on a Wednesday afternoon in Limerick?

[paul_oshea]

id love if this match were in London.

[RedMick]

OK didnt realise it was a Wednesday :rolleyes: but why could there not be 50,000 in Limerick on a Saturday afternoon in the future?

[noby]

Because of what Neil said. And I'd imagine weekends around the end of May might already be busy for the GAA.

[shakermaker1982]

will save me on air fares and hotels!!!

[Fr. Murphy]

Instead of going to London, what do you reckon the chances are of getting the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick for an afternoon kickoff? 50,000 capacity and still in our own country.

A very small chance, I'd prefer to go to Africa:)

[Deckydee]

As it is going to be at Loftus Road

Wo Hoo!!

http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=55608-qqqx=1.asp

[NeilMcD]

the vital word there is could, still just a rumour. I would prefer a proper away trip than a trip to London to be honest.

[mr.untitled]

whatever about the gaa, what about thomond park

[noby]

That only holds about 13000, at a squeeze.

[janeymac]

whatever about the gaa, what about thomond park

Won't be completed until Nov. for visit of All Blacks :D (doubt if they would let the FAI steal their thunder).

It will only hold 26,000 anyway I think.

[Plastic Paddy]

As it is going to be at Loftus Road

Wo Hoo!!

http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=sport-qqqa=sport-qqqid=55608-qqqx=1.asp

I do hope you're right, as it's just a ten-minute walk from chez PP. :)

:ball: PP

[Sligo Hornet]

I do hope you're right, as it's just a ten-minute walk from chez PP. :)

:ball: PP

Not too far for me also!:)

[amaccann]

Interesting.

Is there any chance the new Thomand Park would ever be used for soccer, internationals or otherwise? Or am I just being daft?

[ifk101]

Interesting.

Is there any chance the new Thomand Park would ever be used for soccer, internationals or otherwise? Or am I just being daft?

It's available for sacar.

http://www.limerickleader.ie/lime-rugby/Thomond-Park-to-open-its.3503815.jp

[Lionel Ritchie]

Interesting.

Is there any chance the new Thomand Park would ever be used for soccer, internationals or otherwise? Or am I just being daft?

I wish they would but there seems to be grim determination to double and triple up on infrastructure. Some of my fellow shannonsiders are also of the opinion that people won't attend LOI unless it's in a "City centre venue".

I on the other hand contend that, if there was a successful team there competing for things, Limerick could play out of Glin and still get a good crowd. I know there's a chicken and egg conundrum there but there you have it.

I've never understood why, as far as I know, playing football at Thomond Park has never even been discussed.

[frankbrett]

I wish they would but there seems to be grim determination to double and triple up on infrastructure. Some of my fellow shannonsiders are also of the opinion that people won't attend LOI unless it's in a "City centre venue".

I on the other hand contend that, if there was a successful team there competing for things, Limerick could play out of Glin and still get a good crowd. I know there's a chicken and egg conundrum there but there you have it.

I've never understood why, as far as I know, playing football at Thomond Park has never even been discussed.

The soccer pitch in Glin is sorrounded by a housing estate. This would have to knocked down for expansion to EL standards :D

[Deckydee]

That only holds about 13000, at a squeeze.

Ahem? ;)

Actually it holds nearly 20000 when it is full/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loftus_Road

:cool:

[CJTheGull]

What about a friendly with Kosovo? Heard they might be looking for a game. :cool:

[Scram]

the vital word there is could, still just a rumour. I would prefer a proper away trip than a trip to London to be honest.

Absolutely or even to Scotalnd, or Wales, or RavenHill Belfast...has that been opened up to soccer?

Actually, on second thought, friends and family in London, could be a good outing

[Topman]

Come on Decky,

QPR fans should know that Loftus Road, the Mecca of Football has a capacity of 19,184.....all seater stadium since 1994-95 season.

Maybe Martin Rowlands might get a game

Plenty of Irish Pubs in Shepards Bush

UUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS:D

[ifk101]

What about Sunderland's Stadium of Light? :D

[noby]

Ahem? ;)

Actually it holds nearly 20000 when it is full/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loftus_Road

:cool:


Fascinating, but I was replying to the Thomond Park suggestion.

[amaccann]

Fascinating, but I was replying to the Thomond Park suggestion.
The new development though is supposed to hold 30,000 though, no? Which was my question as to whether the new Thomand would be a) ready (which it wont so feh) b) accessible to soccer if they so wished.

[beautifulrock]

Its been done before in the Unity Cup in The Valley, played Nigeria in the first game a terrible game and performance as it happens, lost 3 - 0 and the crowd if I remember correctly was no more than 8000.

[Plastic Paddy]

Had they have played the Unity Cup matches in the 'spiritual heartland' of Shepherd's Bush, the games would have been sold out, I can assure you. ;)

Modern and pleasant as The Valley is, Charlton is neither accessible nor accommodating.

:ball: PP

[beautifulrock]

Modern and pleasant as The Valley is, Charlton is neither accessible nor accommodating.

:ball: PP

very true, they actually had engineering works on that Saturday and it was nightmare to get to and from.

[backstothewall]

What about Windsor??

Stop laughing, I'm serious. Linfield could do with the money, If NI aren't using it that night why not??

[Sligo Hornet]

Had they have played the Unity Cup matches in the 'spiritual heartland' of Shepherd's Bush, the games would have been sold out, I can assure you. ;)

Modern and pleasant as The Valley is, Charlton is neither accessible nor accommodating.

:ball: PP

I agree PP, having visited the Valley last saturday, there is very little to excite you around the stadium.....very bleak place!:eek:

However, around the "Bush" there are food outlets to cater for ANY taste, some really good pubs, and very easy to get to from Central London.The Stadium creates a good atmosphere ( even if not full ) although is now looking "very tired" ( and that's being nice! )

[NeilMcD]

Although I am sure Shepherds Bush is lovely I would much rather some other Bush to be looking for I must say.

[stiofain]

Although I am sure Shepherds Bush is lovely I would much rather some other Bush to be looking for I mus say.

Good lad

[paul_oshea]

neil these sexual innuendos are getting better :D

still though sharon ni blowjob wins hands down everytime :D

To be honest whats in sheperds bush apart from that carling academy and the aussie place full of smelly aussie buffs?! Where are these great pubs i dont know about?!

[Irish_Praha]

Ah this thread brings back a lot of memories for me :) From exactly 10 years ago :eek: I was a football steward for the the 1997-98 season in London for the non-premiership teams. Charlton, Milwall, QPR and Fulham were my main stays. I have to agree that QPR had a much nicer stadium than Charlton at that stage. They (Charlton) had max. 16,000 capacity then. I know it's been upgraded since then though. Milwall was the best because they shared the leftover pies and rolls among the stewards instead 0of throwing them in the rubbish like the other clubs. Which was nice after 4 hours of standing around in the cold for 5 quid an hour.
Edited to say:
I forgot to mention that Charlton was handy for me because I lived in Plumstead but there was no tube station near there. However, the tube station in the Bush looked very 70's. Has it been renovated recently (since '98) or it still looks so cr@p with these 1" x 1" tiles, or was that Hammersmith (90% sure it was the bush)?

[Irish_Praha]

neil these sexual innuendos are getting better :D

still though sharon ni blowjob wins hands down everytime :D

To be honest whats in sheperds bush apart from that carling academy and the aussie place full of smelly aussie buffs?! Where are these great pubs i dont know about?!

Paul ye auld (young) pervert!

[lopez]

neil these sexual innuendos are getting better
How do you get to Shepherd's Bush? :confused:

Up the Shepherd's trousers. :D

I'll get my coat! :o

[Qwerty]

Instead of going to London, what do you reckon the chances are of getting the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick for an afternoon kickoff? 50,000 capacity and still in our own country.

Wow didn't realize that Limerick had a stadium with 50,000 seats...

[kingdomkerry]

Wow didn't realize that Limerick had a stadium with 50,000 seats...

Theres probably about 25k-30k seats in the gaelic grounds. Most are in the uncovered stand. This is before you put bucket seats in the terrace.

[Condex]

Was at the Valley(Charlton) a few years back when Ireland played Jamaica..
Poor crowd, crap match..

If they want to play another game in London make sure its in North London...

[Jerry The Saint]

I've never understood why, as far as I know, playing football at Thomond Park has never even been discussed.

Someone's thought about it, as well as the article above it was mooted at the FAI fans forum

http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=858661&postcount=75



FAI Cup
This will be the first time the FAI (EL) run the competition. They are looking to build it up and make the final a real showpiece. The final will be 2 weeks after the EL - i think this will be the same each year. Interesting to note thomond park a possible contender to host the final.

[gwhite]

It now seems that Colombia will be the opposition at Fulham's Craven Cottage.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=sport-qqqm=soccer-qqqa=sport-qqqid=55699-qqqx=1.asp

[ifk101]

What about Windsor??

Stop laughing, I'm serious. Linfield could do with the money, If NI aren't using it that night why not??

The capacity is too low and the place is falling apart. And then we have other options that are better. For example, the RDS' capacity is approx. 7,000 more than Windsor's.

[shakermaker1982]

I've not been to the Craven Cottage so it's another stadium I can say I have been too!

[NeilMcD]

Bush and now the Cottagers its one extreme to another.

[paul_oshea]

savage, i can see why craven cottage is being used - celtic get a huge following to it every year for a pre-season friendly. Its a lovely stadium, loads of good bars in fulham too, like the oneills ( great for a sing song after ) and that other irish bar that looks a bit like waxys on the inside. Great venue, bit of trek from town but well worth it! And neil there will be plenty of female WASPS there for you to have a gawk at! so alls happy

[Sligo Hornet]

savage, i can see why craven cottage is being used - celtic get a huge following to it every year for a pre-season friendly. Its a lovely stadium, loads of good bars in fulham too, like the oneills ( great for a sing song after ) and that other irish bar that looks a bit like waxys on the inside. Great venue, bit of trek from town but well worth it! And neil there will be plenty of female WASPS there for you to have a gawk at! so alls happy

Do you mean "Hornets";)

[Bluebeard]

celtic get a huge following to it every year for a pre-season friendly.
Same for Loftus Road too, I believe - packed for the friendly during the Summer, good place for a crowd, right in on the pitch.

There or Craven Cottage would suit me down to the ground.