FAI to look at return to winter football

[pineapple stu]

Results in Europe were poor, now they're markedly improved.

Let's see what happens them now that the spending boom is over and clubs are going back part-time.

[Macy]

Under the winter schedule, crowds were poor. They're still poor. Results in Europe were poor, now they're markedly improved. Weather postponements were relatively rare, now they're rarer still. Overall, the net outcome is a subtly positive one.

Crowds have gone down at many clubs, from an already low base. European results improvements can be attributed to more full time teams and a better standard of player as much as when the league plays. Weather postponements wouldn't be much different, except they'd be mid-season which should make rescheduling easier.

It might not be worth the hassle to change back, but summer football has failed on the criteria that were used to justify the change.

[Dodge]

But have the crowds fallen because of summer football? Obviously no one ibn the FAI will do any research into it.

[Macy]

But have the crowds fallen because of summer football? Obviously no one ibn the FAI will do any research into it.

They were going to increase with summer football weren't they? Bottom line, no more changes without proper research, and tangibles to measure whether they have been a success (or not), please.

[Steve Bruce]

The only thing I would say about Winter football is, you have had it for decades, what sort of research do you need when you should have vast first hand experience.

Personally I think you should stick to summer football. I don't think it is an altogether coincidence that standards have improved since you moved to Summer football.

[Dodge]

The only thing I would say about Winter football is, you have had it for decades, what sort of research do you need when you should have vast first hand experience.

But crowds go up and down, to blame the summer for the drop in crowds is pure guess work.

[BulmersKid]

But crowds go up and down, to blame the summer for the drop in crowds is pure guess work.

When the switch to summer football was first made there was an increase in crowds. The promise of better pitches and as a result better football lured people to the games.

But I think some of the shenagins by some clubs, some members of clubs and the general scandals that have plagued the LOI over the last few years could be more to blame for the poor attendances.

[pineapple stu]

When the switch to summer football was first made there was an increase in crowds.

Don't think there was. Nothing major, or even anything like major.

I don't think it is an altogether coincidence that standards have improved since you moved to Summer football.

It's also not a coincidence that standards have improved since clubs started racking up seven figure losses.

It'll be interesting to see how this year pans out so we can get some sort of idea as to which factor is the more important.

[tiktok]

I am 100% behind winter football. And i think 90% of regional teams fans would back this. [Longford, Athlone, Galway, Harps, Sligo Rovers, Monaghan, Limrick, Cork Waterford].

There's no chance that 90% of CCFC fans would want to go back to Winter Football.

[brianw82]

The FAI should be sending people onto the streets on match days to get the public's opinions on this. Like:

Do you go to LOI games? y/n
If no, why not? list of reasons (don't like football, think LOI is crap, support EPL team, no speaka the eenglish, etc) , 1 = strongest reason for not going, 5 = mild inconvenience, but wouldn't put me off

[jinxy lilywhite]

The FAI should be sending people onto the streets on match days to get the public's opinions on this. Like:

Do you go to LOI games? y/n
If no, why not? list of reasons (don't like football, think LOI is crap, support EPL team, no speaka the eenglish, etc) , 1 = strongest reason for not going, 5 = mild inconvenience, but wouldn't put me off

dude that make too much sense for the FAI to be practical

[Réiteoir]

You go back to winter football - you go back into direct competition with the game across the water - some crowds who turn up now in the summer season but follow an English/Scotch side during the winter (those who travel across to their games regularly) wouldn't turn up under the winter season as they're off on Friday nights travelling across to their English/Scottish team.

and in that case - there'll only be one winner

[citybone]

Crowds have gone down at many clubs, from an already low base. European results improvements can be attributed to more full time teams and a better standard of player as much as when the league plays. Weather postponements wouldn't be much different, except they'd be mid-season which should make rescheduling easier.

It might not be worth the hassle to change back, but summer football has failed on the criteria that were used to justify the change.

we will see what effect part time football with a summer season will have over the next few years. but i don't think we will drop as low as the Irish league or welsh league. we are currently ranked 30th i dought we will drop lower than 35th we were ranked 40th back in 2004 before most of our good results happened.

[Steve Bruce]

we will see what effect part time football with a summer season will have over the next few years. but i don't think we will drop as low as the Irish league or welsh league. we are currently ranked 30th i dought we will drop lower than 35th we were ranked 40th back in 2004 before most of our good results happened.

To be honest, I am hoping that with things not going so well financially in the LOI, that maybe some of the talent in your league will spread out and fall into the Irish league a bit thus improving our league and closing the gap between the two.

[dcfcsteve]

I saw the clip - my impression was he was speaking in a personal capacity, not on behalf of the FAI

My out-take form the clip was that he was speaking in the vaguest possible terms about it : 'maybe we'll have a look at it again, but it needs a while to bed-in, so not for a few years yet'.

Which reading between the lines means they want to do fcuk all in a hurry to change Summer football.

The title of this thread is therefore tabloid-esque in its mis-interpretation of what was actually said.

[OneRedArmy]

Let's see what happens them now that the spending boom is over and clubs are going back part-time.

There's plenty of evidence from elsewhere in Europe that in and of itself, moving to summer football improves European performances.

Obviously the money played a huge part as well in Ireland's case, but its hard to argue that a team won't perform better when its match fit, which teams that play in the winter season aren't.

Remember that as the European competitions have gotten bigger, the 1st qualifying rounds have gotten earlier and earlier. This year the Europa Cup will likely start in early July.

[Macy]

You go back to winter football - you go back into direct competition with the game across the water - some crowds who turn up now in the summer season but follow an English/Scotch side during the winter (those who travel across to their games regularly) wouldn't turn up under the winter season as they're off on Friday nights travelling across to their English/Scottish team.

If my memory serves me correctly the figures showed a drop off in crowds during the period when the UK were in their off season, rather than an increase. Holidays/ summer activities seem to have more of an effect than whatever is on the telly...

[TheFingallian]

Probably just my naivety showing through here but what about an early January start to the season? "New year, new season", and you get a mix of winter and summer.

[pineapple stu]

There's plenty of evidence from elsewhere in Europe that in and of itself, moving to summer football improves European performances.

I don't disagree with this. What I do disagree with is people saying that a return to winter football will in and of itself worsen European performances, without taking into consideration at all the effect full-time football had. Our first good European season was in 2000/01 - before summer football, but when full-time football was just taking off. That's not a coincidence, in my opinion.

If my memory serves me correctly the figures showed a drop off in crowds during the period when the UK were in their off season, rather than an increase.

Seems that way from the attendances thread alright. Happens every year. Could argue the mid-season is the dullest part - no new start, no six pointers - but holidays do seem to have more effect than English day trippers. And we went up against Dublin GAA one time - never again.

[passerrby]

I think this was done done before but i would estimate at least 15 clubs againest 7 for so dont see it been changed back