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Now on irishleagueforums they're saying the draw may be postponed till January :rolleyes:
Obviously the FAI are finding it difficult to organise putting 6 pieces of paper in a bag and getting someone to pick them out.
I think the qualified clubs should take the lead and put pressure on the FAI,IFA, Setanta to get this up and running.
There's huge interest in it and it could a big moneyspinner for the clubs.
Surprised there can be a draw when the FAI/eL don't even have next seasons fixtures done yet let alone how many rounds of fixtures there will be. :rolleyes:
I think Setanta said they'd be showing 10 games live so i'm not sure if be games on tuesdays & wednesdays?
:confused:
Lansdowne would be too big, and I'm not sure about the security situation at Windsor (of course Linfield will have played at least one eL team there by the time of the final).Quote:
Originally Posted by paudie
Hopefully it will be a suitably high quality ground that is neither of the finalists home ground. Mourneview in Lurgan is a good option. Tolka or Flancare PK could also be used (assuming neither Shels nor Longford get to the final). Turner's X could probably only be used if the final was between Shels and Longford, and even then its a little far south.
Why? If it's suitable for the FAI cup final and surley we're hopeing this attracts a bigger crowd, isn't the hopeful increase in crowds for these games one of the reasons we organised this competition?Quote:
Originally Posted by crc
I think the atmosphere would be better in a packed club ground that a half empty Lansdowne Rd. It would also be a better spectacle. I doubt we'd get even 15-20,000 for the Setanta Cup final. I suppose we'll get a better idea of the crowds when we start playing the matches.
I think if we can get crowds bigger than the FAI cup final, then Lansedown road with the top tiers shut would be fine.
Another day out in Flansdowne would be nice alright but I'd love to see a packed Flansiro for the final! :cool:
If any attempt was made to market the game they'd be able to get 15-20,000 at Lansdowne. It's the first north-south competition in over 30 years, the novelty factor alone should bring people out to it.
The Setanta Cup is a fantastic idea, I just hope to god we manage to make it into it sometime soon! Rovers v Linfield - I like the sound of that ;)
If it is an eL club vs. a IL club in the final then they should have it in Oriel Park - a nice non hostile ground close to the border :)
but its a tip so no........Quote:
Originally Posted by holidaysong
Well it is close to the border, I'll give you that.... :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by holidaysong
...maybe they could play the first half in Oriel Park and the second half in the Newry Showgrounds!!! :D
hehe i like it :DQuote:
Originally Posted by crc
depends on the media. they need to play this up as the 'Champions of ireland' title.Quote:
Originally Posted by paudie
UEFA.com sorts things out for us.
Football crosses Irish border
Monday, 9 August 2004
A cross-border competition in Ireland will be introduced after a 25-year absence after the Republic's Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and Irish Football Association in Northern Ireland (IFA) agreed to come together for a new competition.
Six-team competition
Called the Setanta Cup after sponsorship from a broadcaster, the top six teams in Ireland, three from each side of the border, will enter and contest a trophy with a prize fund of €1.3m over four years. The top two teams in each league and the two domestic cup winners will compete in a move which has been welcomed across Ireland.
Prevoius tournament
There was an all-Ireland competition, the Blaxnit Cup, held in the 1960s and 1970s but violence because of the political situation in Ireland saw it abandoned in 1979. The new tournament will be made up of two groups of three teams - including at least one from both associations - playing their pool rivals home and away. Each group winner will then qualify for the final.
Cross-border talks
FAI chief executive Fran Rooney said: "Over the years, I was very much a fan of the Blaxnit Cup and thought it would great if we could bring something like it back. I set it as an objective as soon as I came into the association as chief executive. In December, I spoke to Jim Boyce, the president of the Irish Football Association and he was interested and since then myself, Jim and Milo [Corcoran, FAI president] have regularly spoken about it.
Positive reaction
He added: "We then needed to attract a sponsor and needed television. We felt that Setanta were the obvious first port of call and they were very interested from the start and we concluded a deal. We probably had everything in place three months ago and just needed to put the finishing touches to it. I revealed we were doing it at the AGM and spoke to all 22 clubs about it who were very positive."
Fixture review
To ease worries about fixture congestion, Rooney revealed: "There will be more games for the top clubs but I have already set up a review group to examine how we can plan out the fixture list to accommodate teams involved in Europe, the domestic league and cup and now the Setanta Cup. I do not see it as a problem. I think TV coverage is vital if we are to promote the game. The standard in the domestic league is very high and by getting it on television, it will reach a far greater audience."
I am confident that huge crowds will flock to see these games
IFA president Jim Boyce
'Huge crowds'
Boyce added: "This certainly is the biggest ever tournament - north or south - it has attracted great sponsorship and I am confident that huge crowds will flock to see these games."
UEFA.com also confirms what we already knew, that Jason Byrne is Europes ninth best striker.
http://www.uefa.com/footballcentral/...Id=264932.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slash/ED
well then sell him and your club wont go bust next october
Define very dangerous?! less dangerous than attending recent Bohs v Rovers games, based on the fact there's been no trouble at the friendlies that take place every year between EL and IL teams.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shed resident
Get out more.
In your dreams Passive. We might have missed out this year, but you've a bit to travel for that to happen! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Passive
I cant wait, Id love to see City play in Windsor. :ball: