On Easter Tuesday Linfield brought in excess of 2000(if not more, the Linfield end was packed) to Newry. Last season Easter Tuesday we brought in excess of 2500 to Lurgan. Obviously the distance isn't as great but I think this highlights the attitude difference between NI and ROI supporters.Quote:
Originally Posted by dcfcsteve
I'm not going deride the LOI at all because it superior to the IL in so many ways eg Marketing, Overall standard, overall crowds & prestige. Although I don't think your facilities are that great, but that's something that seems to be improving in LOI football.
Anyway, back to what I was getting at. I think LOI are content on watching the home games only. Obviously you get your hardcore band that goes to every game, but on the whole compared to your home attendances the away support is very minimal.
Linfield for instance, we bring the vast majority of our home support away with us. If we play Institute there would be 2500 at the game in Drumahoe and the ground has been sold out more times than not when Linfield has visited.
When we play Ballymena or Coleraine we would take 1500+ to them games.
We went down to Dublin on a Monday night to play Shelbourne last season in the Setanta there was in excess of 1000 Linfield supporters that made the trip, bearing in mind people had to take time off work/school to make the trip down. Not a bad showing. We would double possibly treble that if the game was played on a Saturday.
Anyway my point is, the attitude of IL supporters is a lot different, the vast majority of people travel to away games, possibly down to routine.
Linfield and Glentoran aside, we might not be very many but what we do have travels.
Can I also make another observation?
----------------------------------------------------
The LOI is ahead of the IL, I admit that and accept that. There's no denying that. But a few things that I have noticed from traveling to Setanta cup games with Linfield, that I think could be improved.
1) Facilities(as I said before), I think a lot of grounds aren't quite up to scratch. I find that most grounds haven't the right standard of facilities for away fans and the grounds don't seem to have the capacity for even 1000 away fans for which if we where to have an all-island league it would be a major stumbling block as Linfield for instance would have a big demand that would be in excess of a 1000. Tolka Park is the best ground I have been in so far down south.
2) Security arrangements aren't great. I have never heard of an away support being held up for 15 minutes to let the home support away. This happened at Drogheda. Fortunately the crowd that came round to our end where not waving bats at us but gave us an applause, which was suprizing and pleasant especially after losing to us.
3) Every team gets a decent following in LOI football in excess of 1000 and often in excess of 2000. But it seems even for derby matches your crowds don't come close to 5 figures. Which to me I cannot understand and suprized about. Is it down to lack of facilities? Up here, although well behind Linfield vs Glentoran this boxing day had over 12,000 at it. Last season was the same and hte season before that there was 13000 on Boxing day and 14000 at the Oval(although there was only 11000 tickets, many people paid at the gate)
Again I'm not putting you down, just making a few observations and giving my opinion from the outside looking in.
I know the flaws of IL football(basically everything) so although I'm giving a few critisisms(which I hope comes across as constructive) I'm still slightly jealous that your league has got so many good things going for it eg tv, marketing, good standard(although not better than Linfield:D ) and getting a lot of exposure especially when some one does well in Europe.
