Lack of publication on Irish Football
MARK O'NEILL-CUMMINS' EIRCOM LGE FOCUS
While browsing through the sports
section of a well-known magazine and
book shop, I was struck by the lack of
a publication on Irish soccer.
There's plenty of magazines covering
British football, including efforts
published by clubs themselves.
Every other major Irish sport has a
dedicated publication but not soccer.
It's understandable that there is no
eircom League magazine (publishers
probably presume no one will buy one)
but there's not even one covering the
international scene.
A magazine appeared in Cork last autumn
but has disappeared completely since,
however rumours abound of another
Munster-based effort due shortly.
It's not just the magazine sector that
ignores Irish soccer but the book
industry as well.
The club information is riddled with
mistakes - for example, the nearest bus
station to Richmond Park is certainly
not 'Richmond Park'.
Record attendances (some are wrong) are
given but dates and opposition are not
always included.
Then again, knowing how those who run
certain clubs operate, it's possible
the information isn't known or wasn't
made available to the author.
It is disappointing that only a British
company would publish a book like this
but a poorly put together foreign
effort is better than none at all.
You can buy books on any major, or
minor, British club along with endless
biographies but it's difficult to find
any with an Irish angle - and when you
do they are published by British
companies.
The inconsistencies in this book remind
me of a British book about Man Utd that
came out several years ago. It covered
every game the Red Devils ever played
in Ireland and was actually quite good.
It included photos of the front cover
of nearly every match programme along
with short reports.
However, the author showed his lack of
Irish soccer knowledge by often
referring to Shamrock Rovers as
'Shamrock' and getting the spelling of
players' names wrong.
Come on Irish publishers - there's a
massive gap in the market.
He's absolutly spot on! Excellent piece...
