eircom League Kids Go Free

Taken from the Pats board

**************************


eircom League Kids Go Free / FAIreland/Pepsi Summer Soccer Schools
promotion

During the summer, each child who attended an FAIreland/Pepsi Summer
Soccer School (which ran from June 28th to August 30th) received either
a Kids Go Free pass for their local eircom League club or in the case
of
Dublin and Cork camps, a postcard for them to return to the eircom
League office indicating their favourite club. Each pass entitles one
child to free entry to any home League fixture of their favourite club
when accompanied by a paying adult for the remainder of this season.

As well as the 5,500 club-specific passes handed out, approximately
7,000 postcards were distributed at other camps - 5,000 in Dublin and
2,000 in Cork.

There were 516 responses for Dublin clubs; a redemption rate of over
10%. Shelbourne led the way with 217 (42%), followed by Bohemians (167;
32%) and St Patrick's Athletic (80; 16%) in 3rd place in the 'hearts
and
minds' league table of the capital's kids.

The fact that Bohemians and Shelbourne were in European competition
while the soccer schools were on, with the latter involved in live
televised fixtures in both the Champions League and the eircom League
during August was most likely a factor in their popularity when added
to
their existing awareness and following among Dublin children.

Cork City had an almost exclusive (98%) share of the Cork responses. Of
the 526 returned cards, 517 were for City, with nine (2%) for Cobh
Ramblers. (Cobh Ramblers passes were also handed out a camp held in
Cobh, however.) Cork City responses alone represent a redemption rate
of
26%. The overwhelming number for City underlines the fact that, as the
only Premier Division club in Cork, they enjoy a 'monopoly' on soccer
supporters in Cork as is evidenced by their healthy home support.

Dublin
Club Responses %
Shelbourne 217 42
Bohemians 167 32
St Patrick's Athletic 80 16
Shamrock Rovers 31 6
Dublin City 15 3
UCD 6 1
Total 516 100

-o-

Cork
Club Responses %
Cork City 517 98
Cobh Ramblers 9 2
Total 526 100

Interesting to see more or less same replies in Cork as Dublin eventhough more than twice as many cards distributed in Dublin...

bigger population by 1000%

Over a thousand free passes - its a great idea, if they continue it for the next few seasons it will get a whole generation into the eL. It's prety pointless unless they continue it each year tho'.
:ball:

Agreed. The kids of today are the hardcore supporters of tomorrow and this will be a great scheme if they keep it going.

I am not criticising the effort but does anyone think that the numbers of this scheme are very small. Any effort is a good effort but the scale of this is just a drop in the ocean.