old talk of united irish team

i read recently that informal talks took place between the FAI and IFA some time in the 1970/80s regarding the possibility of a united Ireland soccer team.

i'm fairly certain this was taken from something said by the late Harry Cavan - from a book on the history of Northern Irish soccer called, "100 years of Irish football"

i think this is mentioned in the last paragraph of the book.

its sounds unlike Harry, with his objections to the Brazil game in 1973 and all, so i was wondering if anyone can remember any other details? i never heard anything about it before

The Irish Press (FF founded daily newspaper for those youngsters amongst us) had a bit about 'talks' about the reunification of the Irish associations and team about the time of the Belfast game in 79. Proabably b*llocks. Probably talking about the best brothels in Poland.:eek: :o :D

At present two leagues that are little more than feeders for cross channel are afforded two sets of Euro representation in club football despite the fact that the English league is the DE FACTO national league in both parts of Ireland supplying ALL the FAI team and almost ALL the IFA team.

In those circs turkeys will not vote for christmas. The odd Euro game is helping keep the Dublin and Belfast clubs afloat. The idea is dead in the water until and unless FIFA/UEFA demand that a portion of internationals have to play in the country they represent and being a restraint of trade that is not likely

Not a chance of a United Ireland team happening in the foreseeable future. Although I heard recently that Dermot Nesbitt (a rare animal known as a liberal unionist) voiced his support for an All-Ireland side. Of course he was slated by the closed minds on the OWC forum.

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Originally posted by IrelandUnited
At present two leagues that are little more than feeders for cross channel are afforded two sets of Euro representation in club football despite the fact that the English league is the DE FACTO national league in both parts of Ireland supplying ALL the FAI team and almost ALL the IFA team.

In those circs turkeys will not vote for christmas. The odd Euro game is helping keep the Dublin and Belfast clubs afloat. The idea is dead in the water until and unless FIFA/UEFA demand that a portion of internationals have to play in the country they represent and being a restraint of trade that is not likely

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Muppet:rolleyes:

Look at the Ireland U-20 World Cup Squad. 6 Home based players.

Look at the U-21 Squad 3 Homebased players

Look at the fringes of the Senior Squad. Crowe has been in the squads, players like John O'Flynn and Kevin Hunt are near enough to getting in.

The EU would most likely allow a ROT in football on public policy grounds, they've show an interest in football in the past.

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Originally posted by SÓC
Kevin Hunt ... near enough to getting in.

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He's English, in case you hadn't noticed. Might make it a bit difficult to get in the Ireland team!

I'd guess most people in N.I. wouldn't want it, so it's a non-starter,,, and hypothetically, there wouldn't be too many N.I. players making a "united" team, so there's nothing in it for N.I. fans.

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Originally posted by Schumi
He's English, in case you hadn't noticed. Might make it a bit difficult to get in the Ireland team!

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Yea but he's in Ireland long enough to be able to get an Irish passport and play for Ireland. There was an article about it a while back on soccercentral. He wasnt ruling it in or out at the time.

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Originally posted by davros
'Most'' being unionists.....well known for applying the principles of democracy......which makes a mockery of their'views'......as for osc.players...don't give a f*ck about their background,but don't think they'd be open-minded enough to give it a go......

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Wasn't Derek Dougan, a Protestant player threatened by Loyalists after he played in the Shamrock Rovers "All-Ireland" eleven. Any NI player who played for the All-Ireland team might get a lot of hassle from Loyalists.

Ireland United. The IL and LoI aren't really feeder leagues to English football. Most Irish players with experience in England go there from school and only play in Ireland when they come back. And of course, Irish clubs are excluded from the 'pyramid', playing in the FA Cup and so on.

Davros. While neither the FAI nor IFA are particularly democratic organisations, I think they're with public opinion on this one. I see no great support on either side of the border for the change.

Paddy Ramone. Not quite. Nesbitt's support was basically that he didn't see any harm in it if other sports did similarly. And of course, was very quickly and publicly retracted in a letter to the Belfast Newsletter. As I'm sure an open minded fellow like yourself noticed and would acknowledge.

Derek Dougan lost his deposit when standing for election in Belfast East a couple of years ago.

SOC whatever about my being a "muppet" I can virtually guarantee that if any of the home based players on the youth squads you mention ever make it to competitive adult international sides - not friendly "let's give Crowe a pat on the head" sides - they will be in the league that supplies all our adult international players which is to say the english league.

Definition of Muppet: One who unashamedly states the bald truth about Irish football

You also ignore my central contention that the alliance of North and south would halve the Euro spots available. No way will the clubs tolerate that.

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Originally posted by davros
Outwith the FAI/puppets/Muppets,there is v.ltd.opposition to an AI team.....even my step-mum,a Prod.in that hotbed of Irish nationalism,in W.Cork is in favour of an AI team!
Forget the political situation,for once,there's a massive majority in the island of Ireland for AI teams in all sports....the IFA,as is the concept of the osc.,is a historical/political dinosaur.......which serves to preserve its own existence,as do the clowns in the FAI!

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Er...I think you are confusing anecdotal evidence with systematic survey. Surprisingly, for one working in market research?

And it's not particularly strong anecdotal evidence either, since (as you've pointed out) your stepmother is hardly a Ulster unionist, is she?

There is, as I said, no evidence of any surge of public support for an all-Ireland team.

As for your constant anti-unionist parroting, don't you ever get bored by it? We are very content with the concept of the osc, thank you very much. Just like you are for spending your entire life since age 8 living in Britain. If you dislike it so much, why don't ye go home?

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Originally posted by IrelandUnited
SOC whatever about my being a "muppet" I can virtually guarantee that if any of the home based players on the youth squads you mention ever make it to competitive adult international sides - not friendly "let's give Crowe a pat on the head" sides - they will be in the league that supplies all our adult international players which is to say the english league.

Definition of Muppet: One who unashamedly states the bald truth about Irish football

You also ignore my central contention that the alliance of North and south would halve the Euro spots available. No way will the clubs tolerate that.

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Ignorance is bliss eh EnglandUnited. Glen Crowe was in the squad for the Estonia and Portugal matches.

Era sure I suppose the underage teams dont matter. Sure what did they ever do for us. Not as if they produced players like Robbie Keane, Duff etc. Yesterday Liam Kearney, a Cork City player scored the winning goal for the Irish U-21s but era they dont count, I dont think their matches are shown live on Sky often enough to be "real" football.

Good thing England is our de facto national league. Not as though they have ever passed up any talent is it? Sure look at "your":rolleyes: club. Keane and McGrath were rejected by the English system.

Definition of Muppet:

Ignorant Fan of English football who shuns his own.

BTW your wonderful arguement has a plus side. If the English league is what you consider your national league perhaps you might be able to get tickets to support the English national side, who are after all your de facto national team.

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Originally posted by SÓC
Yea but he's in Ireland long enough to be able to get an Irish passport and play for Ireland. There was an article about it a while back on soccercentral. He wasnt ruling it in or out at the time.

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Think we had an English goalkeeper circa 1973. Played for Waterford if I'm correct.

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Originally posted by Paddy Ramone
Wasn't Derek Dougan, a Protestant player threatened by Loyalists after he played in the Shamrock Rovers "All-Ireland" eleven. Any NI player who played for the All-Ireland team might get a lot of hassle from Loyalists.

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Don't think he's been threatened but was subsequently dropped by NI even though he was still not past his prime, although apologists say there were better players around.:rolleyes: Current campaign by some on OWM is to see that he is 'airbrushed' (favourite word there) from history by not including him on a mural on the bridge leading to WP.

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Originally posted by Duncan Gardner
Er...I think you are confusing anecdotal evidence with systematic survey. Surprisingly, for one working in market research?

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Didn't the 'unBBC' have a poll about an all-Ireland team last year. Results were in favour, despite DG and co. sitting up all night on the redial button.:D

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Originally posted by SÓC
BTW your wonderful arguement has a plus side. If the English league is what you consider your national league perhaps you might be able to get tickets to support the English national side, who are after all your de facto national team.

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Couldn't put it better myself. Leave some tickets for the real fans.

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Originally posted by SÓC
Yea but he's in Ireland long enough to be able to get an Irish passport and play for Ireland. There was an article about it a while back on soccercentral. He wasnt ruling it in or out at the time.

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I didn't see that, I have to say I'd be a little uneasy about him playing for Ireland. There's no real difference between that and the likes of Morrison picking us when England wouldn't have him.

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Originally posted by SÓC
Ignorance is bliss eh EnglandUnited. Glen Crowe was in the squad for the Estonia and Portugal matches.

Era sure I suppose the underage teams dont matter. Sure what did they ever do for us. Not as if they produced players like Robbie Keane, Duff etc. Yesterday Liam Kearney, a Cork City player scored the winning goal for the Irish U-21s but era they dont count, I dont think their matches are shown live on Sky often enough to be "real" football.

Good thing England is our de facto national league. Not as though they have ever passed up any talent is it? Sure look at "your":rolleyes: club. Keane and McGrath were rejected by the English system.

Definition of Muppet:

Ignorant Fan of English football who shuns his own.

BTW your wonderful arguement has a plus side. If the English league is what you consider your national league perhaps you might be able to get tickets to support the English national side, who are after all your de facto national team.

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With respect SOC you mix of irony and abuse does nothing to answer the point. Few international teams in Europe are as beholden to one league as we are to the English one for international players.

As for Ireland's most popular club by far - Man Utd. for any ostrichs out thare - they have a fine record of bring on Irish players. Not for love of the place but they do it anyway. O'Shea plus I believe 5 others at the moment.

References to Sky are beside the point. If you did not have a ticket to the Brazil game last week you watched it on Sky so do not be so high and mighty. In all honesty the difference between me and some others is I admit it despite it being un PC to do so.

Of course there is a placxe for domestic leagues in north and south. I do not say there isn't. However ignoring the unusual relationship that exists here with english football is futile. French football does not dominate the belgian press. German football does not dominate the Swiss press. english football does here cos the punters want it so.

But surely if its your defacto national league you should go and support the national side of Your national league?

Your dismiss the underage setup of Irish football in one fell sweep and Im being high and mighty:rolleyes:

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Originally posted by lopez
Think we had an English goalkeeper circa 1973. Played for Waterford if I'm correct.

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Yes you are correct indeed, Lopez. Peter Thomas was his name and a very good keeper he was too. Easily the best in the League of Ireland at that time. Played for a few years after that and I was lucky enough to see him when I was in school.


As regards an All-Ireland team, forget it. It ain't gonna happen in the forseeable future anyway. The majority of the Norn Iron supporters don't want it. There is no great demand from Republic supporters either.

Interestingly there *is* support for an All Ireland league on both sides of the border from quite a lot of club managers who have been quoted recently.

SOC

Does your arguement not have its flaws too?
Surely the Irish players who ply their trade in England (as opposed to staying here and being loyal to the clubs who nurtured them) should declare for the National team of the league in which they are employed ??

I know reading the above you are thinking "muppet" , as it is a silly thing to say but I feel that you went slightly over the top at IrelandUnited . I don't support a team persay(I take an interest in all of the Irish players abroad) but I do have more of an Interest in Serie A and always have . Therefore (according to you) I should be following the Azzuri even though I have no affiliation to that country bar taking an interest in their national league instead of my own .

As for Kevin Hunt declaring for Ireland , there is more need for Lee Trundle declaring for us than Hunt regardless fo how many completed passes he has made for Bohs in the eircom League !

Sorry mate but thats bull .

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Originally posted by Paddy Ramone
Not a chance of a United Ireland team happening in the foreseeable future. Although I heard recently that Dermot Nesbitt (a rare animal known as a liberal unionist) voiced his support for an All-Ireland side. Of course he was slated by the closed minds on the OWC forum.

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Very liberal and open minded of you Paddy.