new beginning for new season??

[ihatejam]

I have heard thru a partially reliable source the other day that U.C.D are considering taking up full-time status for next season in order to attract top players to the club . Any views? I think it could be a great thing!

[Bald Student]

It would definatley improve the teams performances and the club's status. My two concerns would be wheather a player could still combine training with study and of course money, can the club afford 20 or so full time wage packets.

[pineapple stu]

Think that may turn out to be as reliable as your previous rumour!

[CollegeTillIDie]

New Beginning for New Season

As regards the original posting on this thread here's a brief history lesson.

Back in 1983, following our second application for re-election in 4 years, the Committee in its wisdom decided to bring in outsiders in a large grouping for the first time. Dermot Keely was appointed Player-manager and he signed 7 semi-professional players to add to the Student and graduate playing base at the club. Our results improved especially in terms of defence. We however scored fewer goals and also found ourselves rising up the table with diminishing crowds. Dermot Keely was transferred to Shamrock Rovers in November and we finished the season as Cup winners.
The semi-pro players were Alan O'Neill, Robbie Lawlor, Paddy Dunning, Robbie Gaffney and Frank Devlin.

The following season Frank Devlin left and was replaced by Donal Murphy who was only with us for a few months. We lost only 0-1 on aggregate to Everton in the Cup-Winners Cup which was a commendable result as they went on to win the Trophy and the English League Old First Division ( now called The Premiership).
Pierce Walsh , combative midfielder was signed in November 1984 and Eugene Davis joined us on loan from St. Patrick's Athletic in March 1985. We had been in second place mid-way through the season and finished fourth.
Our defence of the Cup ended at the Quarter-final stage at home to Athlone Town that season. Ken O'Doherty was transferred to Crystal Palace for a reputed £40,000 fee, in Febraury and Joe Hanrahan went to Manchester United at the end of the season.

In spite of the success on the field it was not matched by an increase in attendances off it. The experiment was abandoned due to cost.

Whatever policy is put in place will have to be funded by an increase in advertising revenue, Television revenue and a three-fourfold increase in gate receipts. That is the bottom line for the club. Basically if we don't have the dough there ain't gonna be that particular show.

P.S. Drogheda are linked already with Alan McNally and Pat Sullivan according to the EH . Tony Mc, Robbie Mc, Alan Mahon and Mick O'Donnell are also allegedly out of contract at the end of the season. We are going to need the four veterans if we are going to establish themselves in the Premier Division next season as they are experienced at this level after our previous stint in the top flight from 1995-2003.

[Poor Student]

When we lost Delaney, Ryan and Robbie Doyle before last season I think it really hit us before we found our feet again just too late. We really need to hold onto the nucleus of the side. Our start next season is crucial. Where could we have been the last two seasons if we started like we finished? Either Tony Mac or Micko (can't remember) was saying before the Drogheda game in the paper that players were seeing that life after UCD has not been that great for some players and maybe current players are seeing it could be better to stay put where things are good.

Given the cutbacks in the college and Hugh Brady's general attitude isn't it highly unlikely the club would take this direction? After all couldn't the money be better spent on gold plated crockery for the presidential palace? The only other way would be for UCD to beforehand secure some very substantial outside investement which is unlikely given the lack of fans.

Why could we not attract fans in the 80's even when we won the cup and did well in the league? What was the average home support back then? What season was our peak support since we were admitted to the league?

[Bald Student]

P.S. Drogheda are linked already with Alan McNally and Pat Sullivan according to the EH . Tony Mc, Robbie Mc, Alan Mahon and Mick O'Donnell are also allegedly out of contract at the end of the season.

I wouldn't be too worried. I think that any player who stayed with the club during the temporary divisional realignment will stay on. Even if one or two players leave for personal reasons I don't anticipate a mass exodus. The four players you mention as being out of contract have all been with the club for years, I don't see any of them leaving.

P.S. Do you mean the Evening Herald when you say the EH? If so I wouldn't put too much faith in the story.

[CollegeTillIDie]

New Beginning for new season

To answer all the questions raised in the most recent postings.
Yes EH = Evening Herald.

As regards crowds well one home game in December 1984 when we were in 2nd place in the League we had around 250 for one particular fixture.
Given we were within striking distance of the then League leaders and eventual champions Shamrock Rovers it was disappointing.
The reason for this was we were a counter-attacking side based on a strong defence which only scored 41 goals in a 30 match League program and conceded only 26, during 1984/85. Two seasons earlier we conceded 63 goals and people used to come to Belfield to see goals.... going into our net mostly.

I reckon if we were to go the professional route... we would need to average 1,500 per match next season with a lot of gates in excess of that especially for the Dublin and Bray Derbies and the jousts with Drogheda United.

Given that we only averaged 783 in our last Premier Campaign ... we have a lot of work to do.

[Bald Student]

we would need to average 1,500 per match next season with a lot of gates in excess of that especially for the Dublin and Bray Derbies and the jousts with Drogheda United.

Forget that so. The ground barely holds more than 1500.

[Aberdonian Stu]

Well it's actual realistic capacity is actually 2500 (I think that's what Shero told me last season) but that's with the Cascarino end open which we don't obviously have as an option so rough figure of 2000 would be more accurate.

Official capacity is one of the most varied and comical on record. A decade ago World Soccer reckoned it could take 10,000. That had to be based on some Irish source and heaven knows who told them that. With the hill it was realistically pushing 3,000 but reports were still hovering around the 4000-5000 mark.

Needless to say that with a couple of particularly rare examples (none of which have featured the College team itself since the eighties when Derry brought a big crowd and Celtic played a friendly) the 2000 would be plenty of room. The only time we came close to that was an Under 21 international a few years back when we had the Cascarino stand open and got 1900 in (which was still 600 short of probable capacity, incidentally 600 was also the horrifically inaccurate figure the BBC gave the game).

As to the main thrust of the thred dealing with professionalism unless Mr Abramovich has Irish intentions and likes teams that were blue and come from nation's capital I don't think we're going to change policy that much.

[CollegeTillIDie]

new beginning for new season

Our record enumerated attendance was for a First Division game in December 1986 at home to Derry City. An all ticket affair, Derry returned 250 tickets out of 4,000. SO that made 3,750. And that was before the Bank was on the opposite side of the ground to the Main Stand.

Next highest crowd was in excess of 3,000 in October 1999, for a Premier Division fixture the Friday after the Doc's funeral the night when we tonked Shamrock Rovers 3-0. I would say that 3,000 is probably the current capacity of Belfield Park

[Poor Student]

Why do you guys call it the Cascarino stand? Btw is it even legal to have fans standing on te grass bank?

[Aberdonian Stu]

Cascarino stand refers to the missing seats just like Tony Cascarino has missing teeth.

The bank can no longer be used for any competitive fixtures hence the reduction in capacity but could be used for a friendly, although any friendlies we have would never require an increase in available capacity.

The Cascarino stand is no longer used as it is deemed unsafe in inclement weather and is therefore never open (there is a more detailed reason to it but that's the basic gist).

[Poor Student]

Cascarino stand refers to the missing seats just like Tony Cascarino has missing teeth.

The bank can no longer be used for any competitive fixtures hence the reduction in capacity but could be used for a friendly, although any friendlies we have would never require an increase in available capacity.

The Cascarino stand is no longer used as it is deemed unsafe in inclement weather and is therefore never open (there is a more detailed reason to it but that's the basic gist).

Ah I get it. Why do they not fix up the Cascarino stand? Because we never reach capacity?

So technically those who stand behind the goals and the fence on the touchline with the dugouts are in breach of rules?

[Schumi]

Why do they not fix up the Cascarino stand? Because we never reach capacity?

I think it's only this year that there was a problem with using the Cascarino stand and there was no real need for the extra seats in the first division. The problem is that the floor gets really slippy when it rains (as I can attest to from personal experience!). Apparently there are plans to create a concrete base so it can be reopened. I don't know when though.

So technically those who stand behind the goals and the fence on the touchline with the dugouts are in breach of rules?

No. Standing around the pitch is fine as it is in every other gorund in the country.

[gufct]

All three promoted clubs are going to have problems

with their grounds and the UEFA Licence.After last years debacle the FAI cant afford any fudges or derogations so it will make for an interesting off season.

I cant understand how there has been no mention of this anywhere but I suppose the infighting in Merrion Square has taken everybodies attention away from it.