Originally Posted by krank.ie
The End of the Soccer Season?
So it’s the end of the football season. All the Arsenal fans are celebrating an FA Cup win and Manchester City fans have a league title in their back pocket, and this one was won on points no less!
Barcelona fans are crying into their coffee and churros at a title lost in dramatic fashion. Atletico Madrid fans are gearing up for a league and European Cup double or in the case of Real Madrid they are finally in touching distance of La Décima.
Juventus fans are basking in the glory of a record breaking season and Bayern Munich fans have a league and German Cup double despite boring us into submission with Pep’s tiki-taka. I’m sure I could say something about Netherlands, Portugal and Scotland too, but let’s be honest, most Irish football fans probably don’t really care about them. The SPL, sorry SPFL is nothing without the Old Firm derby and even then that’s just an advertisement for al that is glorious about sectarianism.
So until June 12th when the World Cup begins in Brazil there’s no soccer on anywhere.
Or is there?
There is plenty of soccer out there – and it’s in Ireland! Live soccer, in stadia, which aren’t too far from your home. Live football matches that don’t require a trip to the city or town in question by plane or ferry. Live soccer matches with young Irish talent at the core of most squads.
What more can you ask for? You’re a football fan. Go watch some football!
Now, the stadium seats aren’t as plush as your leather corner sofa nor will Martin Tyler or Alan Smith get to call the plays in your ear. There’s no cover if it starts to rain in some grounds. And you will have to deal with a crappy tannoy. But that’s the joy of live sport. It’s the joy that people all over Europe have week in and week out going to live local sport to see local heroes playing for their local team
And then there’s the visiting grounds and towns you may not ordinarily see or visit. Seeing players as they rise in stature from young mites to international players; it’s a sight I tell you. Remember Séamus Coleman at Sligo, James McClean at Derry or even Kevin Doyle and Shane Long at Cork? No? Why ever not? They were playing every week and they were travelling all over the country too, for your delectation. Now they ply their trades in another country. But there’s a new generation you should get out to see.
The English season starts in the middle of August. So that gives you thirteen or so weeks to get out there and see some local talent and experience some local sport. Don’t worry, Manchester United or Liverpool won’t feel hard done by if you have a sneaky trip to Turner’s Cross or Tallaght Stadium or The Showgrounds. But do give it a bash – You won’t regret it.