Football in Ireland

Hi,
I don't know if it is the right thread, but I find no better for it than this. I'm a student from germany and I will study in Sligo at september. I play football in germany and I want to play in Ireland too. I'm no professionell player. So, can you give me some informations?

Does the season in all irish leagues start at march and ends in november? How many leagues do you have in Ireland? I've read about Premier Divison (1.), First Divison (2.), Second Divison (3.)....is that right? How is the level of the leagues compared to the german?

Can I join a club in september or is that impossible?

For your information I would be very grateful!

Greetz Andy_9!

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Originally Posted by andy_9

Hi,
I don't know if it is the right thread, but I find no better for it than this. I'm a student from germany and I will study in Sligo at september. I play football in germany and I want to play in Ireland too. I'm no professionell player. So, can you give me some informations?

Does the season in all irish leagues start at march and ends in november? How many leagues do you have in Ireland? I've read about Premier Divison (1.), First Divison (2.), Second Divison (3.)....is that right? How is the level of the leagues compared to the german?

Can I join a club in september or is that impossible?

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There is two leagues here in Ireland, Premier and First.

What position do you play in? Have you ever played professionally? I very much doubt you'd be able to join Rovers unless you can impress in a trial, you're best option is to join a local football team and if you're good enough, you'll be discovered from there.

Hi, I'm playing in the midfield. No, I've never played professionally and I do not think that I'm a player for a professionell team. I want to get informations about the non-professionell teams because I can't find something about it. Also I can't estimate for which league in Ireland I'm good enough. In germany: 6th league.

Yeah, tell me more about the local teams. Are there (Sligo) some local teams? What league do they play? How many leagues are under the two profesionell leagues? Thanks!

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Originally Posted by andy_9

Hi, I'm playing in the midfield. No, I've never played professionally and I do not think that I'm a player for a professionell team. I want to get informations about the non-professionell teams because I can't find something about it. Also I can't estimate for which league in Ireland I'm good enough. In germany: 6th league.

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Well Sligo Rovers had a player from the German 5th division and he was nowhere near good enough for the Premier Divison. Their wouldn't really be information on the junior league/local(non professional) sides, it's something you'll find out more about when you come over here(to Sligo).

Hi Andy, I think you'd have to be a Regionalliga standard player to make it in the professional league here. If you don't feel you're up to that standard, you'll be happy to hear that amateur football is very popular and competitive in Ireland, so you should have no trouble finding a team. I'm sure one of the Sligo lads will enlighten you further. Most of the amateur leagues in Ireland still play a winter schedule.

Oh, do you know the name of the german player? From which club do he switch to the Rovers?

The problem is: Our season starts in august an it's possible that I can play for my team in germany in the new season some games before I go to Ireland. So, the interesting thing is that of the transfers: Can I join a irish club in september? Can I join a irish club in september if I played in germany some weeks before? If I can't join a irish club in september if I played some weeks before in germany, I do not play for my german club in the new season.

I'm glad to see the Sligo Rovers. I already inform me about them :)

@ Sherdian: A winter schedule? Great! So, when starts and ends the winter schedule?

Best bet might be to post in the Intermediate Leagues forum here for contacts and info on the likes of the Connaught Senior League, which (I presume) would have various divisions and standards.

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Originally Posted by andy_9

How many leagues do you have in Ireland?

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There are 100s of leagues. Some professional, all the way down to recreational players. If you're looking for a team in Sligo, try posting a request for Sligo clubs in the Junior section http://foot.ie/forumdisplay.php?f=80 and I'm sure peeple can help you out

The professional leagues run Mar-November but the rest of the leagues run August-May. You can join these clubs in September

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Originally Posted by Dodge

There are 100s of leagues. Some professional, all the way down to recreational players. If you're looking for a team in Sligo, try posting a request for Sligo clubs in the Junior section http://foot.ie/forumdisplay.php?f=80 and I'm sure peeple can help you out

The professional leagues run Mar-November but the rest of the leagues run August-May. You can join these clubs in September

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Try Arrow Harps, a junior club in Sligo. A Poster here is involved wit them.

@ Roque Trader: No, I'm in Ireland at august/september....not yet.

Junior Club means a small local club, not a team only with teenager in the team, right?

@ soccerc: What is the nickname of the poster from the Arrow Harps? Which league do they play? Do the Sligo Rovers have a second team?


Thanks for all of the informations!! But one question about the leagues. You speak about the Premier Divison, First Divison and a lot of local leagues. But, how is the ranking of them.

In germany we have:
1. Bundesliga
2. Bundesliga
Regionalliga
Oberliga
Verbandsliga
Bezirksliga
Kreisliga A
Kreisliga B
Kreisliga C
Kreisliga D

How is it in Ireland? Or are there only rankings between Premier Divison and First Divison. All other leagues are equivalent, without a ranking between them?

What about the pitches? Are the most of them gras-pitches?

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Originally Posted by andy_9

Junior Club means a small local club, not a team only with teenager in the team, right?

How is it in Ireland? Or are there only rankings between Premier Divison and First Divison. All other leagues are equivalent, without a ranking between them?

What about the pitches? Are the most of them gras-pitches?

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1.Yes Junior clubs are amateur adult clubs/teams. Teenage/Kids teams are called Youth (U-18) or Schoolboy.

2.Basically, the Premier Division and First Division are the only two 'Professional' Leagues. There is no relagation from the first division currentley, but next year a new regional league will be added below this and will be know as the A-League. This will be made up of reserve teams and amateur sides e.g. the best of the junior and intermediate clubs.

Senior= League Clubs (Premier and First Division)
Intermediate= Amateur
Junior= Amateur

There is also colleges and schools football

3. Very few clubs have artifical surfaces for their playing area, although some would have smaller 5-a-side training areas made of astroturf etc.
The only league club with an artifical playing surface is Dundalk F.C. who play in Division 1.


hope that helps:ball:

just turn up,you'll probably get a trial if you are persistent enough. many have.....

Hey, it's me ;)

I've heard about the Riverstown Arrow Harps, but are there any other junior or intermediate teams in Sligo respective around Sligo? Is there a big difference between Intermediate and Junior respective Professional and Intermediate?
How often train the Intermediate clubs? When does they play? Is it right that all the junior clubs play on sunday morning?

Greetings
Andy_9