More Aggressive Approach Needed

[inchicore_saint]

Continuing on from the great Pats poster I think its time for the FAI to get more aggressive in their approach in trying to attract more people to Eircom League matches.IMO the eircom league adds currently on the tele do not go far enough,what is needed is a good TV add shown on Sky Sports during half time of big English Premiership matches (for viewers in Ireland only of course) basically saying if your Irish and a football fan then support your local football team.Also at Ireland games there is no one encouraging fans to go to Eircom League matches even an announcement at half time would be a good start.What do people think.

[Rovers Maniac]

Continuing on from the great Pats poster I think its time for the FAI to get more aggressive in their approach in trying to attract more people to Eircom League matches.IMO the eircom league adds currently on the tele do not go far enough,what is needed is a good TV add shown on Sky Sports during half time of big English Premiership matches (for viewers in Ireland only of course) basically saying if your Irish and a football fan then support your local football team.Also at Ireland games there is no one encouraging fans to go to Eircom League matches even an announcement at half time would be a good start.What do people think.

Those adverts for the league showing 2 guys in the ground talking about a match did nothing for me. Empty ground with no atmosphere the whole thing is a joke. Somebody posted some adverts of what they do in Norway and it was good a lot better.

[pete]

Will adverts attract people to LOI games?

[Rovers Maniac]

Will adverts attract people to LOI games?

It won't hurt Pete, i think but it will cost money and as i am no expert on the price to make an ad like the Norweigans made i would say it is money the FAI don't have to invest.

[Steve Bruce]

TV advertisements definitely work.

Look at the build up sky do for English league. They show great goals, crowds roar, bright colours and swift camera action, with a voice over with a radio like voice telling us about the great action.

I know after seeing this, it wets my appetite and I begin to look forward to the league season.

[Big Ears]

Will adverts attract people to LOI games?

Those Norwegian style ones just might, top class stuff really.

[thischarmingman]

I was actually thinking the other day about the FAI taking a Ryanair style approach to advertising the league. Thier ads have been in-your-face, cheeky, witty and memorable as well as disparaging of the bigger competition.

These are the sorts of ads they've been running;

http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/EFC718AB-3DCA-4862-8F1A-CDF8AE837265/1266/ryanair_ad.jpg

http://www.larryni.me.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/ryanair.jpg
http://www.airflights.to/Airlines/Europe/Ireland/RyanAir-flights/photos/RyanairSarkozy.jpg

[brianw82]

I think you're right.

The 'softly, softly' approach has been used, and has failed. It's time for a more blunt-force message. It it takes posters like the St. Pats one, laying the guilt trip on people, so be it. These barstoolers have done nothing to deserve anything else.

[Greenforever]

How about a coupon for free admission to an EL game included with Interantional tickets, each increase in international tickets of €2 would give a fund of c€100K to redeem vouchers.

This would be enough to redeem 6,500 tickets approx at €15 per ticket.

I know a lot of EL supporters go to internationals, who would be on a winner but it might just encourage a few more to attend.

Or coupon could be 1 free with a full paying fan, or €15 off admission price etc.

[inchicore_saint]

As another poster said the Ryanair way is the way to go, the cheeky adds will get the message across.That John Delaney needs a good kick up the arse,its so obvious what needs to be done but Delaney has his head stuck so far up Trapattonis arse he cant see whats going on in the league of Ireland.

[celticV3]

It's definitly time that the F.A.I in part with all the clubs get a lot more in the faces of those who choose to align themselves to british teams rather than support an Irish team and help further the league, the barstoolers have no good reasons to lay their loyalties to british teams and the sorry excuses can only be quashed with some more aggressive tactics by everyone concerned with the league.

If it is too late for the older barstoolers it may make all the difference with younger fans and may stop them supporting a team they have no connection with, that is completely over hyped and utterly insists upon itself! Something should be done s their is very little to lose?

[gufcfan]

Somebody posted some adverts of what they do in Norway and it was good a lot better.

Link?

I'd love to see them...

[Big Ears]

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[gufcfan]

Cheers... ah... Big Ears :D

[Louth4sam]

They should do what the GAA clubs do and give the bulk of International tickets to the clubs. So the season ticket holders at all LOI get first choice on tickets. This would definitely ruffle a few feathers in the ole ole crowd but it would reward the real football fans that go to matches every week and keep football alive in this country. Clubs would sell a lot more season tickets due to this, and more people will be compelled to go to matches because they have bought a season ticket.

[Dodge]

Those Norwegian ads, and the adds for the premiership mentioned above aren't about getting people to th game, they're about getting people to watch it on TV. I'll grant you that if we built a TV audience, I'd like to think it'd trickle into the gates but TBH there's no point in a massive ad campaign if the people coming to the games find rubbish grounds when they get there.

[Greenforever]

They should do what the GAA clubs do and give the bulk of International tickets to the clubs. So the season ticket holders at all LOI get first choice on tickets. This would definitely ruffle a few feathers in the ole ole crowd but it would reward the real football fans that go to matches every week and keep football alive in this country. Clubs would sell a lot more season tickets due to this, and more people will be compelled to go to matches because they have bought a season ticket.

So anyone who is not an EL supporter should lose thier international tickets?

Why should an EL supporter get priority over the thousands of people that coach, manage and help out in schoolboy and junior football etc??

Why should an EL supporter get priority over somone on the block booking for the past 10 or even 20 years?

[Louth4sam]

So anyone who is not an EL supporter should lose thier international tickets?

Why should an EL supporter get priority over the thousands of people that coach, manage and help out in schoolboy and junior football etc??

Why should an EL supporter get priority over somone on the block booking for the past 10 or even 20 years?

I'd say there are less than 5,000 LOI season tickets holders and only a small percentage would be looking for International tickets. So it would hardly put too much of a dent in the total number of tickets. More people would buy season tickets though if they new it would guarantee them international tickets. This would not only give the clubs more money but would increase attendances too.
Fair point about the thousands of people that coach manage and help out with schoolboy football. Yeah your right they should be looked after if possible.

I don't think it would be a case of "EL supporter get priority over someone on the block booking for the past 10 or even 20 years" as the new Lansdowne has a far greater capacity then the previous one. Why not give first choice on these tickets to LOI season ticket holders before giving them to people on the waiting list or to the general public?

[paudie]

Those Norwegian ads are excellent. As Dodge said they are for TV coverage but wouldn't be surprised if they attracted people to go to games as well.

As part of a new sponsorship package (hopefully!) next year similar ads could be aired.
I'd imagine some recent film school graduate would put something decent together and it wouldn't cost the earth.

[Dodge]

So anyone who is not an EL supporter should lose thier international tickets?

Why should an EL supporter get priority over the thousands of people that coach, manage and help out in schoolboy and junior football etc??

Why should an EL supporter get priority over somone on the block booking for the past 10 or even 20 years?

Ware these mutually exclusive? Why can't someone who runs a schoolboys club be a LOI fan?

[Greenforever]

because an EL supporter is a proper football supporter is why, one who goes to actual Irish games and doesn't just go along with the ole ole barstoolers


So;

the person who coaches and or manages a schoolkids team isnt a proper football supporter

the person who puts up the nets and marks the pitches for others to play their matches isn't a proper football supporter

the person who is on the executive committee, who fundraises for thier local club isnt a proper football supporter


Do you think that anyone who does not attend EL games but is reading your posts would be encouraged to go and see a match? I doubt it.

[Greenforever]

Ware these mutually exclusive? Why can't someone who runs a schoolboys club be a LOI fan?

Of course they can be both, and can have an interest in the EL without actually going to matches.

Anyone involved in running a team generally are giving up 2 evenings and a half day at the weekend every weeek of thier time to football. Most of these people have families and you will find that just maybe to take another evening off a week to watch an EL game might just be too much of their family time.


What is needed is to encourage people to attend games and you dont do that by slagging them off.

[Dodge]

What is needed is to encourage people to attend games and you dont do that by slagging them off.

Plenty of people have given plenty of encouragement. It doesn't matter. Anyone who doesn't want to support their local loi team will just make up another excuses

Oh and in my experiences, the vast, vast majority of loi fans are involved with junior or schoolboy football. They manage to squeeze it in.

[Greenforever]

Plenty of people have given plenty of encouragement. It doesn't matter. Anyone who doesn't want to support their local loi team will just make up another excuses

Oh and in my experiences, the vast, vast majority of loi fans are involved with junior or schoolboy football. They manage to squeeze it in.

If people dont want to support their local loi team that is there preogative, my original post was that EL supporters dont have a right to get international tickets ahead of others just because they support an EL team.

Interestingly nobody commented on my suggestion to increase the price of international tickets and include a coupon for admission to an EL game. Surely this would have got a few people to give it a go.

The only posts are slagging off those who do not support EL.

Personally I am just as happy to watch a schoolkids game as an EL game or even a premiership game, and i dont go to the pub to watch super Sunday etc nor have Sky. I have been very involved with junior football and know plenty of people likewise who do not go to EL games.

Your claim that most EL supporters are involved in junior / schoolboy football may well be true, but surely if you genuinely want to increase attendances you need to reach out to those who dont go to EL games and slagging off people and saying they've had their chances etc doesnt actually put bums on seats.

[Greenforever]

bet they still find time to fit in a trip to the pub for "super sunday" to watch their english football heroes on the tv though

to be honest you are symptomatic of the just can't be arsed brigade who have stopped domestic football from thriving on this "football mad country" of ours


So what if people go to the pub thats their choice and right. I certainly would not feel like you would welcome me to an EL game, and I dont think others reading your posts would feel like they would be made welcome at your local club.

Domestic football - please define?

As having served on the executive committee of a major Dublin Club for a number of years, having managed both schoolboys and schoolgirls teams and been heavily involved in fundraising etc is this not helping DOMESTIC FOOTBALL, or if it's financially supporting EL clubs, I have been a donor to two of Dublins major clubs over the years.

There again at least I know the real people who support these clubs actually are a bit more knowlegeable about what is neede to help clubs survive, don't mind thrive.

[Big Ears]

bet they still find time to fit in a trip to the pub for "super sunday" to watch their english football heroes on the tv though

to be honest you are symptomatic of the just can't be arsed brigade who have stopped domestic football from thriving on this "football mad country" of ours

What about those that go to LOI games but do nothing with Junior or schoolboy football, are they any better ?

[Dodge]

The only posts are slagging off those who do not support EL.

2 people, no more.

And if its their peerogative not to support the LOI surely its the FAI's perogative to favour those who do?

It'll never happen obviously

[Greenforever]

2 people, no more.

And if its their peerogative not to support the LOI surely its the FAI's perogative to favour those who do?

It'll never happen obviously

Taken from the FAI website

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is the governing body of football in the Republic of Ireland. Today, over 180 000 people play football in Irish football clubs and schools and many more people are involved as coaches, officials and volunteers. The role of the Association is to promote, foster and develop this activity.


The EL gets a significant amount of money from the FAI and this money is generally generated by the success or otherwise of the national team.

While I don't have an issue with this there is an argument that they would be better off reducing the amount of money given to a league made up of clubs who can't live within their means. And using this money to provide more centres of excellence for schoolkids etc.

Yet again your post ignores my original idea to actually try to encourage more people to attend EL games. From this it appears you just want to stop those who get tickets to the Irish matches if they dont attend your league. The EL accounts for a small percentage of the football family and has no God given right to call the shots and be treated anybetter than any other section of the Football family on Ireland.

[Louth4sam]

While I don't have an issue with this there is an argument that they would be better off reducing the amount of money given to a league made up of clubs who can't live within their means. And using this money to provide more centres of excellence for schoolkids etc.

And where are they supposed to play their senior football if not in the LOI, should we just create a conveyer belt and train them until they are 15/16 and ship them off to England with no education and only a very small chance of making it as a footballer?
Would you not agree that a strong LOI with the best young players staying here instead of going abroad would be good for the national team.



Yet again your post ignores my original idea to actually try to encourage more people to attend EL games. From this it appears you just want to stop those who get tickets to the Irish matches if they dont attend your league.

Firstly, while your idea is good in theory it would never work in practice. I'd say 80% of people that go to Ireland matches couldn't give a crap about the league of Ireland so a free voucher to a league game isn't going to make a difference. For example i have a few relatives that go to matches and i wouldnt even call any of them football fans. They hardly ever watch games even on telly. Out of the 6 of them 5 don't follow football and one is a pats fan. I'd say there are thousands like them that go to matches.
And as for your second part i thought i replied in an earlier post.



I don't think it would be a case of "EL supporter get priority over someone on the block booking for the past 10 or even 20 years" as the new Lansdowne has a far greater capacity then the previous one. Why not give first choice on these tickets to LOI season ticket holders before giving them to people on the waiting list or to the general public?


Its not stopping anyone from getting tickets its rewarding those who go to league games first.

[Greenforever]

And where are they supposed to play their senior football if not in the LOI, should we just create a conveyer belt and train them until they are 15/16 and ship them off to England with no education and only a very small chance of making it as a footballer?
Would you not agree that a strong LOI with the best young players staying here instead of going abroad would be good for the national team..

IF we had a strong league yes, but at the moment we have too many clubs in an unsustainable league. Also the amount of foriegn players been brought into the league is increasing therefore reducing the amount of young local kids getting their chance.


Firstly, while your idea is good in theory it would never work in practice. I'd say 80% of people that go to Ireland matches couldn't give a crap about the league of Ireland so a free voucher to a league game isn't going to make a difference. For example i have a few relatives that go to matches and i wouldnt even call any of them football fans. They hardly ever watch games even on telly. Out of the 6 of them 5 don't follow football and one is a pats fan. I'd say there are thousands like them that go to matches. .

Yet they go to internationals that rarey sell out. There are very few home games where tickets are actually very scarce. People who really want tickets can generally get them. Anyway the thread was about encouraging people to go to El games, so have you any ideas for actually promoting the league to those who dont go to matches.






Its not stopping anyone from getting tickets its rewarding those who go to league games first.

As Ive pointed out the El has no right to tickets over and above any other affiliate to the FAI. Surely you want to encourage more peole thru the turnsiles and not just reward those who already go.

[Dodge]

As Ive pointed out the El has no right to tickets over and above any other affiliate to the FAI. Surely you want to encourage more peole thru the turnsiles and not just reward those who already go.
But surely new LOI fans ouwld be eligible for the tickets meaning that them going to games would be "rewarded" (your word, not mine)

Its a stoopid thing to be arguing about as it'll never happen though

[jebus]

Probably not going to be a popular point of view but I was talking about the future of the LoI in the pub with LtiD on Friday and the conclusion reached was that there is no future for LoI in it's current state. Personally I think the talk of Platinum One being our saviour and pushing attendences up by 150% is nonsense, don't get me wrong, it's whats needed, but it's not going to happen. With that in mind I honestly can't see backers like Jack McCarthy at Limerick, or Arkega at Cork, sticking around for even the medium term, I mean why would they? But as far as POne pushing attendences up, well I'd love to see their actual plans for this. So far they've said it will be marketed better, but no matter what they do it won't be marketed as well as the established Premiership over here. How else do you then get people in the gate? At a time when communities in cities are breaking apart we can hardly appeal to that, the standard isn't even up to League One, so that's not going to get people in, and the production quality on our TV broadcast are **** poor compared to our opposition.

I've said before that we need to accept that our generation of football supporters are the lost generation of League of Ireland supporters, that clubs need to target u-16s and try and build their support from there, but that's as pie in the sky as any POne plan. Truth be told I'm starting to believe that there is no future for League of Ireland football

[Greenforever]

But surely new LOI fans ouwld be eligible for the tickets meaning that them going to games would be "rewarded" (your word, not mine)

Its a stoopid thing to be arguing about as it'll never happen though



EL clubs already get an allocation of intenational tickets and it's up to them what they do with them. I believe most of them pass them on to their sponsors at inflated prices, eg take a full page in the match programme for a season at full price and you can purchase 2 tickets for each international.

I'd agree as the thread was about getting people to support EL and ive seen no posts to actually suggest ways of increasing attendances apart from copying foriegn advertising which may or may not work.

[Greenforever]

Probably not going to be a popular point of view but I was talking about the future of the LoI in the pub with LtiD on Friday and the conclusion reached was that there is no future for LoI in it's current state. Personally I think the talk of Platinum One being our saviour and pushing attendences up by 150% is nonsense, don't get me wrong, it's whats needed, but it's not going to happen. With that in mind I honestly can't see backers like Jack McCarthy at Limerick, or Arkega at Cork, sticking around for even the medium term, I mean why would they? But as far as POne pushing attendences up, well I'd love to see their actual plans for this. So far they've said it will be marketed better, but no matter what they do it won't be marketed as well as the established Premiership over here. How else do you then get people in the gate? At a time when communities in cities are breaking apart we can hardly appeal to that, the standard isn't even up to League One, so that's not going to get people in, and the production quality on our TV broadcast are **** poor compared to our opposition.

I've said before that we need to accept that our generation of football supporters are the lost generation of League of Ireland supporters, that clubs need to target u-16s and try and build their support from there, but that's as pie in the sky as any POne plan. Truth be told I'm starting to believe that there is no future for League of Ireland football

The reality is there is no future in LOI football unless there is a major overhaul and reduction in clubs trying to compete on a fulltime basis.

The only answer is a small number of clubs competing in a pan european style league.

Off course this wont happen because of the vested intrests of clubs with limited fan bases and no resources burying their heads in the sand.

An all Ireland league will not boost attendances and not lead to a higher playing standard.

[Terry]

you haven't been reading a lot about the LOI lately have you? Galway, harps and probably sligo will be going back to semi-pro next season, and rumours are circulating that derry are also. The league is going from a twelve team to a ten team also.

[Greenforever]

you haven't been reading a lot about the LOI lately have you? Galway, harps and probably sligo will be going back to semi-pro next season, and rumours are circulating that derry are also. The league is going from a twelve team to a ten team also.


so all the leagues problems are solved, brilliant.

we'll see progress now and have a team in the group stages of the champions league next year.

the total average attendance of all clubs last season was 27,570, that is not enough to support 2 top clubs don't mind 10.

cut backs are essential but a drastic overhaul is the only chance of survival and competing in Europe.

slagging off posters doesnt add numbers to attendance figures, what will is a reduced number of clubs max 4 or 5 competing in a higher standard league.

[TonyD]

The reality is there is no future in LOI football unless there is a major overhaul and reduction in clubs trying to compete on a fulltime basis.

The only answer is a small number of clubs competing in a pan european style league.



So, your idea for the future of the league is 4 or 5 teams (I presume that's the kind of number you had in mind, or perhaps it was even less ?) playing in a totally different league (which doesn't exist, or look likely to in the near future ... but we'll leave that argument). In what way exactly is this a future for the league ?

[Dodge]

Truth be told I'm starting to believe that there is no future for League of Ireland football

The future will be grand, just like the present and the past. If you accept that most people just don't give a ****, you can get on with supporting your team and stop trying to worry about those who just don't get.

We're a niche market, we ain't a mass appeal product

[jebus]

The future will be grand, just like the present and the past. If you accept that most people just don't give a ****, you can get on with supporting your team and stop trying to worry about those who just don't get.

We're a niche market, we ain't a mass appeal product

No I realise this, what I mean is that the future will probably be a lot worse than even the level we are at right now. People expect it to go forward but I personally think it will go backwards. We'll still be here of course

[Greenforever]

So, your idea for the future of the league is 4 or 5 teams (I presume that's the kind of number you had in mind, or perhaps it was even less ?) playing in a totally different league (which doesn't exist, or look likely to in the near future ... but we'll leave that argument). In what way exactly is this a future for the league ?

The league has no future but if you ever want to see top level professional club football in Ireland the only way is through a league with clubs from 5 or more countries. Ireland could provide realistically 2 or 3 clubs which would attract the required amount of sponsorship etc.

However if you're like Dodge you are happy with the status quo and dont really want or care about a successful club in Ireland that can compete on the international stage. We're a niche market as he says, I just wonder does he speak for the majority of Irish football fans? Maybe he does and thats why more support the premiership than the EL.

[paudie]

The league has no future but if you ever want to see top level professional club football in Ireland the only way is through a league with clubs from 5 or more countries. Ireland could provide realistically 2 or 3 clubs which would attract the required amount of sponsorship etc.

However if you're like Dodge you are happy with the status quo and dont really want or care about a successful club in Ireland that can compete on the international stage. We're a niche market as he says, I just wonder does he speak for the majority of Irish football fans? Maybe he does and thats why more support the premiership than the EL.

In saying the league has no future do you mean that the league will not be around at some stage in the near future?

[Greenforever]

In saying the league has no future do you mean that the league will not be around at some stage in the near future?


The league will be around, but in no better shape, and with no biiger attendances or bigger successes in Europe if the status quo is mantained.

I mean find me one manager that truly believes his club could qualify for the group stages of the champions league under the current set up.

It is not a point of attributing blame for failure, but an acceptance of reality and looking at ways of actually bringing top class club football to Ireland.

[CharlesThompson]

Just wondering GF, seeing as you don't support eL football, what actually would make you attend local eL games?

[paudie]

The league will be around, but in no better shape, and with no biiger attendances or bigger successes in Europe if the status quo is mantained.

I mean find me one manager that truly believes his club could qualify for the group stages of the champions league under the current set up.
It is not a point of attributing blame for failure, but an acceptance of reality and looking at ways of actually bringing top class club football to Ireland.

eh, none, obviously.
No LOI club is anywhere near that standard and I don't think anyone here seriously thinks there is.

LOI supporters aren't looking for miracles, just for the League and its clubs to be as good as they can on and off the pitch.
IMO the league has improved in as a whole over the last 5 years and hopefully it will continue to do so. If a club sneaks into the group stages of the UEFA Cup all the better.

We'd also like to see the League getting a fair crack of the whip from the media in this country.

[Greenforever]

eh, none, obviously.
No LOI club is anywhere near that standard and I don't think anyone here seriously thinks there is..

But do you want to see Irish club football ever compete in Europe at the top level


LOI supporters aren't looking for miracles, just for the League and its clubs to be as good as they can on and off the pitch.
IMO the league has improved in as a whole over the last 5 years and hopefully it will continue to do so. If a club sneaks into the group stages of the UEFA Cup all the better..

IMO the league now is no better than in the late 70s when Rovers beat apolla nicosia in the 1st round of the cup winners cup before being beaten by Banik ostrava in the 2nd round, with a good crowd at milltown.

Rovers then had Giles, Treacy, Beglin, Pierce O'Leary, Campbell and Buckley among others get full caps while playing for the hoops.


We'd also like to see the League getting a fair crack of the whip from the media in this country.

I'd agre with you but also point out that in relation to the attendances at matches they do probably get prett fair coverage. The TV coverage is pro rata of attendances probably far better than both Rugby and GAA enjoy, and this is down to EL coverage being tied into international match rights.

I would still like to see an Irish club being able to compete at European level but don't ever expect to unless the league is drastically reformed.

[Straightstory]

Interestingly, in Saturday’s Irish Times Sports Section, there are two stories on draws for the next round of the EUEFA Cup and Champions’ League. The more prominent one on the front page (lifted from the Guardian) is concerned with the British clubs. Inside, there is a seperate piece on St Pat’s and Drogheda’s involvement. Very telling, I think. The Eircom League and the Premiership are basically treated as if they are representative of two DIFFERENT sports with no connection to each other. Domestic football is regarded as minority sport akin to ten pin bowling or similar. This is not a distinction which the Irish Times would have made twenty or more years ago, when our own league featured in its sports pages just as prominently as UK football.
It’s like a kind of apartheid exists.
Personally I hope that the Irish public will some day cease to see a divide between the two, and have the imagination to support their own teams. A Dublin club in the Champions’ League is more than viable. (As I’ve said before, if cities like Eindhoven, Valencia, Bruges etc. can have teams in the group stages, so can Dublin). I really hope that people can wake up to this fact and that we’ll see an Irish club in the group stages of the CL, even if it takes ten or fifteen years. Otherwise supporting the domestic game would be a grim and depressing prospect indeed. Things CAN change. It may need a kick start of investment from a willing entreprenaeur, or an All-Ireland League, but it doesn’t HAVE to be like this.

[Saint_Charlie]

I'd agre with you but also point out that in relation to the attendances at matches they do probably get prett fair coverage. The TV coverage is pro rata of attendances probably far better than both Rugby and GAA enjoy, and this is down to EL coverage being tied into international match rights.

I'd like to see the league given some respect in the media. Getting players names or even teams names :eek: wrong is something basic that should not happen.

[Greenforever]

Just wondering GF, seeing as you don't support eL football, what actually would make you attend local eL games?

I do actually go to EL games from time to time, more as a neutral than anything else.

I used to have a season ticket for Milltown in the 70s and 80s and more recently when the kids were growing up they were shels fans and we were season ticket holders for a number of years.

What would get me going week in week out is a higher standard.

The standards today are IMO lower than they were in the late 70s and the crowds are also lower, probably due to lack of investment in infrastructure over the years and the obvious competition of Sky etc.

As I've pointed out on other threads the only way I believe we will attract crowds approaching 30K is if we have just 3 or 4 senior clubs as in the Rugby set up.

If people support an All Ireland league, why not go for an Atlantic League, with say 8 countries providing on average 3 clubs per country.

Such a league could be played mid week with 2 divisions of 12 clubs and be mixed in with the individual national leagues. Such a league would have 22 matches per season and could be played between October and May.

You would be attracting the clubs in the 2nd and 3rd qualifying rounds of the champions league, and giving playing regularly at this level a club would have the chance to progress into the group stages of the champions league over time. Just maybe Irish clubs competing in such a league might break the 10K barrier for average attendances and therefore be in a postition to compete financially on a bigger stage.

[brianw82]

the only way I believe we will attract crowds approaching 30K is if we have just 3 or 4 senior clubs as in the Rugby set up.

The flaw in this argument is that Rugby is not a truly 'global' game, and can't be compared to football. It is played by English-speaking former colonies and a smattering of non-English speaking countries. Ireland's provinces needed the Welsh and Scottish regions to save them having to play each other 6 times a season in order to make a league. Even still, the Magners league has nowhere near the respect and 'awe' factor of the Heineken Cup, and Leinster routinely struggle to fill the RDS for matches against the Scarlets and Glasgow.

Football, on the other hand, is a truly global game. Every country in the world has its own domestic league, at whatever standard it may be. Who exactly would we go into 'partnership' with? Scotland would hardly go for it. Wales? Their league would drag ours down. The Faroe Islands? Pull the other one.

[A face]

So anyone who is not an EL supporter should lose thier international tickets?

Why should an EL supporter get priority over the thousands of people that coach, manage and help out in schoolboy and junior football etc??

Why should an EL supporter get priority over somone on the block booking for the past 10 or even 20 years?

He said the ole ole crowd ..... and i fully agree with him. People who invest time, money and emotion into the domestic game at what ever level so get priority, ahead of block bookers. People who by just being there all year round make up the sum total of the domestic game should be top of the queue and always get preference.

Damn right thats the way it should be ..... sod the rest of them, let them ask their English clubs for tickets.