Which towns could use LOI teams?
I recently spent three weeks in Mullingar, and found it strange how such a large town hasn't got a team in the LOI.
I know Castlebar, Tralee and Carlow have recently added teams to the LOI structure, are there any other towns out there that are big enough to support teams but don't, and what's the best way to set up a sustainable club from scratch?
My inclination would be to start off small, for Mullingar for example, I'd set up a site within walking distance of the town centre, with room for expansion, rent a bulldozer or JCB and build up a bank along one side of the pitch for spectators, seed that with grass, then get a local authority grant for a bar. For the first few seasons, have a strictly amateur setup, and every season, make a huge deal around the town about trials for next season. In fact, just make a huge deal around the town about the club in general, have DJs announce it in clubs on Friday night if the team won, put up posters in shops every week etc. Don't even think about paying players until the club is getting decent attendances. The most important thing is that the people of the town believe that the club is "their thing" from the start. That's how the GAA fill their stadia every weekend during the summer.
