FAI announces list of friendlies

FAI announces list of friendlies
June 13, 2008

The Football Association of Ireland has announced a series of approved friendlies between eircom League of Ireland sides and English and Scottish opposition to take place in July and August.


Monday, July 14: Shelbourne v Millwall, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
Monday, July 14: UCD v Dundee United, The UCD Bowl, 7.45pm

Wednesday, July 16: Galway United v Leeds United, Terryland Park, 7.30pm
Wednesday, July 16: Bray Wanderers v Millwall, Carlisle Grounds, 7.45pm

Sunday, July 20: Bray Wanderers v Leeds United, Carlisle Grounds, 3.00pm

Monday, July 21: UCD v Millwall, The UCD Bowl, 7.30pm

Thursday, July 24: Shelbourne v Leeds United, Tolka Park, 7.30pm

Monday, July 28: Cobh Ramblers v Sunderland, Turner’s Cross, 7.30pm

Thursday, August 7: Athlone Town v Sunderland, Lissywoollen, 7.30pm

Saturday, August 9: Shamrock Rovers v Leeds United, Tolka Park, Kick-off TBC

Thursday, August 14: Bray Wanderers v Huddersfield Town Youths, Carlisle Grounds, 7.30pm


Read more at www.eleven-a-side.com

I thought Rovers had a game lined up against Sunderland too?

Huge game there for Bray against Huddersfield Town Youths!!!:D:D

There should be a lot of Millwall and Leeds fans around Dublin at the same time. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

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Originally Posted by Paddyfield

There should be a lot of Millwall and Leeds fans around Dublin at the same time. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

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As the song goes "I predict a riot":D

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Originally Posted by kingdomkerry

I thought Rovers had a game lined up against Sunderland too?

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They are playing

Saturday August 9th Shamrock Rovers vs Sunderland. There is a pre match luncheon as well accoring to their website www.shamrockrovers.ie


Also another one that will appear on that list in the coming days is

Athlone Town vs Brighton and Hove Albion Wednesday 9th July Kick off 7.45pm

What's an approved friendly?

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Originally Posted by Risteard

What's an approved friendly?

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Was wondering that myself - what's it got to do with the FAI ? What happens if they don't want to approve a certain friendly ?

Milwall fans in Dublin ! Oh dear....

City are due to play WBA at some point as part of the Paddy McCourt transfer. No date yet I don't think.

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Was wondering that myself - what's it got to do with the FAI ? What happens if they don't want to approve a certain friendly ?

Milwall fans in Dublin ! Oh dear....

City are due to play WBA at some point as part of the Paddy McCourt transfer. No date yet I don't think.

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Clubs must seek approval from the FAI before playing a friendly.

It's to have a ref available I think.

i agree. whilst it might be a handy wee pre-season wamr up for cmaller english clubs, its timing isnt exactly the best. fair enough, they might bring in a bit of extra money, but in the middle of the season? bit short sighted, especially for clubs that are going to be fighting relegation battles for the rest of the season.

League games to be rearranged, I assume, to faciltate some of these friendlies!!

Have to get our priorities right.

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Originally Posted by shantykelly

i agree. whilst it might be a handy wee pre-season wamr up for cmaller english clubs, its timing isnt exactly the best. fair enough, they might bring in a bit of extra money, but in the middle of the season? bit short sighted, especially for clubs that are going to be fighting relegation battles for the rest of the season.

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It's mainly a money thing, yes, but there's a publicity element which is valuable too. Sunderland playing here raised the profile of the league last year. Not a lot, but it doesn't hurt that some people who mainly watch the EPL are aware of some team called "Bohemians". Likewise, there are still plenty of Leeds fans in the country, though most of them are likely lapsed.

As for its effect on clubs' seasons, I think it's being overstated here. If playing a friendly against Sunderland is enough to crush your team's form for months on end, you've bigger problems.

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Was wondering that myself - what's it got to do with the FAI ? What happens if they don't want to approve a certain friendly ?

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There are a few issues:

1) The FAI need to arrange the officials for the games and make sure that officials of the appropriate level are available. That includes referees but also match delegates, safety officers etc.

2) Friendly matches can't clash with existing league or cup fixtures of other teams within a certain distance, hence why most of the friendlies are midweek.

3) The FAI hold an insurance policy for players. If those players get injured while participating in a fixture that has not been approved by the FAI the insurance policy won't cover it and the club will be liable.

If they don't approve a friendly it can't go ahead. It's rare they don't approve them though.

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Originally Posted by SMorgan

League games to be rearranged, I assume, to faciltate some of these friendlies!!

Have to get our priorities right.

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Survival is the main priority for most clubs. Also have any of you been to pre-season freindlies before? Biritish teams bring over sod all fans, and pretty much everyone I've ever met that has made the journey has been sound.

Millwall have player here tons of times and of course there's been no trouble. That Danny ****ing Dyer **** has a lot to answer for...

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Originally Posted by rambler14

Huge game there for Bray against Huddersfield Town Youths!!!

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Huddersfield's youths play pretty much every year in Ireland. They've played our Freshers side a few times now.

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Originally Posted by John83

As for its effect on clubs' seasons, I think it's being overstated here. If playing a friendly against Sunderland is enough to crush your team's form for months on end, you've bigger problems.

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Especially given you'd probably be training that night otherwise. It's a nice chance for players to test themselves against different opposition, get fringe players a game and effectively have something different for training. Though obviously if league games are getting changed around, that's silly.

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Originally Posted by Dodge

Also have any of you been to pre-season freindlies before? Biritish teams bring over sod all fans, and pretty much everyone I've ever met that has made the journey has been sound.

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How do you define "sod all"? Stockport brought about 150-200 last year; not huge, but bigger than most eL teams would bring and certainly enough to start trouble if they wanted. Though obviously, I agree that anyone I've met is over for a short holiday and a few beers.

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Originally Posted by rambler14

Huge game there for Bray against Huddersfield Town Youths!!!:D:D

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:D

Obviously it won't be our 1st team... they came over last season and it was our U21s played them, U20s will play them this time around.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

How do you define "sod all"? Stockport brought about 150-200 last year; not huge, but bigger than most eL teams would bring and certainly enough to start trouble if they wanted. Though obviously, I agree that anyone I've met is over for a short holiday and a few beers.

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Sod all = nothing like a security risk. Obviously 1 bloke can cause hassle but in terms of extra policing, stewarding etc an extra couple of hundred fans isn't going to stretch most clubs

Bohs reportedly made 100k nett from the Sunderland/Wolves friendlies last year...not bad going in fairness.

I gravely doubt Leeds United are popping back over for a friendly against Shamrock Rovers on August 9th when they will only have been here a fortnight earlier for three matches. Nothing on their site about it either.