QuoteIts as much a 'football' stadium as Croke Park is (mentioned as being one).Originally Posted by fionnsci
It was common knowledge before Tuesdays game that the final would be held in Derry or Cork. Those are the rules. This debate should be about possibly changing for future years.
Its as much a 'football' stadium as Croke Park is (mentioned as being one).
For all that people refer to "precedent" (as if that should bind us irrevocably), or maximising the crowd etc, I think the Setanta Cup organisers are seriously devaluing the competition by their allocating the Final venue to one of the participating teams, whether it be Linfield or Cork etc
After all this should be a prestige occasion, to be looked forward to even by supporters of teams which aren't in the final, so that fans of Eircom clubs can forget their usual affiliations for a day and support Cork and fans of IL clubs, other than Linfield, can rally behind the Glens. (The Bloos can use that Saturday evening for a bit of late night shopping for Burberry hats and Sovereign rings etc)
As such, a neutral venue, either in Dublin or Belfast should be a must.
This is especially since in NI, at least, there appears to be serious disenchantment with the whole tournament, not helped at all by this latest decision.
The following article from Thursday's Belfast Telegraph outlines the Glens' anger over this. I have highlighted some sections which I think particularly relevant. (And btw, something which has been overlooked by posters from the ROI is that it seems NI coach companies won't permit same day Itineraries for a journey of that distance i.e. they insist that such trips be overnight, thereby adding to the cost for Glens' fans. If played in Dublin, neither set of fans would face this extra financial hardship).
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...-14003784.html
Cross words from Glentoran over Setanta Sports Cup venue
By Chris Holt
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Glentoran chairman Aubry Ralph has described as ‘disgraceful’ the decision to have the Setanta Sports Cup decider played at Turner’s Cross – the home of fellow finalists Cork City.
It was hoped that once the Rebels made their way into the showpiece with victory over Derry City at the Brandywell on Tuesday night, common sense would prevail and the game would be played in Dublin.
However, the Setanta Sports Cup Committee — headed up by former FAI President Milo Corcoran — have inexplicably plumped for Turner’s Cross as the venue for the final, meaning that Glentoran fans will face a 528-mile round trip from Belfast to Cork to watch their side take part in the decider for the first time.
Having sold their entire allocation for their semi-final with Drogheda United on Monday night, it was expected that upwards of 2,000 Glenmen would now travel to Dublin had the match been played there.
Now an estimated 500 are likely to make the very long journey south.
The move is a smack in the face for Glentoran and teams in the JJB Sports Premiership as a whole.
Indeed it was announced on Setanta’s live coverage of that match on Tuesday that Turner’s Cross would be the venue, though Glentoran weren’t informed of this decision until yesterday afternoon.
Conspiracy theorists would suggest that eircom League sides are being favoured in the competition and Chairman Ralph (pictured) has hit out at Corcoran and the organising committee for treating his club with such disdain.
“I am so annoyed by the decision – I think it’s disgraceful and I had a very volatile telephone conversation with Milo Corcoran (yesterday) and made my feelings and that of the club very clear,” he said.
“I asked for the rationale behind the decision and all they seemed to give me was the fact that Turner’s Cross is owned by the association and they wouldn’t have to pay to use it, as they would have done had it been in one of the grounds in Dublin.
“I told him it’s not all about money — to me it’s just not a good enough reason.
“And a precedence had been set in the past when the final was played in Dublin between Drogheda and Cork and they paid for a ground then.
“We would have had a couple of thousand going to Dublin had it been there but now I would imagine that we are going to just have the usual European veterans making the trip. I’ve estimated that it would cost in the region of £150 per person when you take into account travelling, possibly staying over and if you have a family of say three, as I have, it’s going to cost £450.
“The decision is fundamentally wrong, is disrespectful to the Irish League and disrespectful to glentoran and it’s supporters and ultimately I think it was a sop to Cork City
“I know that our association’s representatives on the committee are equally unhappy and let’s just say that relations between the FAI and the IFA with regards to the Setanta Cup are at an all-time low.
Craig Stanfield, one of the IFA’s representatives on the committee, intimated that the decision was taken quite some time ago.
"There was a heated debate last Tuesday at a meeting of the Organising Committee when it was suggested the final would be held in Cork if Cork City were to make it to the final,” he said.
"Jack Grundie and I were there to fight the corner of the Irish League clubs and we felt strongly about taking the final to Windsor Park if it had have been Glentoran against Derry City.
"Even then we were told it would be the Brandywell. We were strongly opposed to that suggestion as we are of the final now being in Cork.
"The Organising Committee were contacted by telephone (yesterday) to ascertain opinion on where the final venue should be and then we were informed it would be in Cork.
"There is another meeting next Thursday and we will ask questions as to why this happened. It is a very frustrating situation and we will forcibly put our point of view across.”
On the part about paying for a ground. They had to pay for somewhere when it was between us and Drogs because neither United Park or the Cross could host the final at the time
Indeed.
Besides, an extra, say, 1500 Glens fans at €20(?) a pop would go a long way towards renting a ground in Dublin.
That would be cancelled out by there being 1500 less Cork fans though..
So Cork fans, and their money, are somehow more important than Glens fans and their money...That would be cancelled out by there being 1500 less Cork fans though..
On that basis, Cup Finals should always be played at the home of the team which can guarantee to supply the most fans.
Their money is more important, Sterling is rubbish this weather.
No it wasn't Pete. If it was - show me where it was mentioned on here, for example...?
Seems it wasn't even common knowledge amongst Glentoran Board members, let alone random punters...
But there would be maybe double that of City fans who wouldnt come.
Numbers wise it doesnt add up for Setanta....and numbers is all they care about. If Dublin would gotten a crowd which which have been enough more than the crowd at the cross to cover the cost of renting it would have been there.
All about the money.
Although theres a Glens fan on our forum claiming there would have been 15,000 if it were in Dublin
Most cup finals arent only in existence becuase of a company...a company interested in 2 things, money and ratings
Alan matthews had a fair idea.Then again he is the special one
How about playing the final over 2 legs everyones a winner then 5k in Cork and 15k in Belfast, the IFA and FAI rotate the 2nd leg.
Sounds fair to me.
Interestingly the main complaint of that article posted by Ealing Green again seems to be the distance to be travelled more so than home advantage
The unfair (home) advantage is a given. What I took out of the article was the Glens' extreme dissatisfaction at how/when/by whom the decision to allocate the venue for the Final was taken.Sounds fair to me.
Interestingly the main complaint of that article posted by Ealing Green again seems to be the distance to be travelled more so than home advantage
The clear implication was that regardless of "fairness" etc, it was always going to be the Brandywell or Turners Cross, with the IFA representatives having no say whatever.
Or didn't you get as far as the end of the article?
“The decision is fundamentally wrong, is disrespectful to the Irish League and disrespectful to glentoran and it’s supporters and ultimately I think it was a sop to Cork City
“I know that our association’s representatives on the committee are equally unhappy and let’s just say that relations between the FAI and the IFA with regards to the Setanta Cup are at an all-time low.
Craig Stanfield, one of the IFA’s representatives on the committee, intimated that the decision was taken quite some time ago.
"There was a heated debate last Tuesday at a meeting of the Organising Committee when it was suggested the final would be held in Cork if Cork City were to make it to the final,” he said.
"Jack Grundie and I were there to fight the corner of the Irish League clubs and we felt strongly about taking the final to Windsor Park if it had have been Glentoran against Derry City.
"Even then we were told it would be the Brandywell. We were strongly opposed to that suggestion as we are of the final now being in Cork.
"The Organising Committee were contacted by telephone (yesterday) to ascertain opinion on where the final venue should be and then we were informed it would be in Cork.
"There is another meeting next Thursday and we will ask questions as to why this happened. It is a very frustrating situation and we will forcibly put our point of view across.”
It's great that ye have yer excuses out before we beat ye.
Knowing how the FAI in particular, and Ireland in general, works - I can't help but suspect that the Final was given to Cork to help boost their coffers at a time of clear financial need.
Just a suspicion....
Well if this is the policy now - I look forward to making the trip up to Stangmore Park to watch Dungannon vs Bohs in the Final next year
tis only fair and all
Kom Igen, FCK...
I personally am not so bothered by the home advantage element. Rather, my gripe is threefold.It's great that ye have yer excuses out before we beat ye.
First, I think the Final should be a prestige occasion for the whole of Irish club football, hosted in the most appropriate venue in Dublin or Belfast. For example, if the Final were between e.g. Glentoran and Derry City, or even Glens and Linfield, Windsor would be my choice.
Second, as someone who wants to see this competition thrive, I am dismayed that there is evident bad feeling on the IFA side, clearly not helped by this decision and the manner in which it was made.
Third, whilst I accept that Setanta are putting a lot of money into the competition, their desire to see a large crowd, and maybe even a winner from the larger of the two Subscription TV audiences on the island(?), should not override purely sporting considerations, such as fairness.
And if DCFC Steve is correct in his suspicion (above) that this decision was taken to "compensate" Cork for the self-inflicted financial mess they're in, then that would be disgraceful.
P.S. This situation didn't just "pan out", like the weather or something. It was a conscious decision, made by people whose motives are suspect. Why should we have to tolerate this, when it is entirely avoidable?
Last edited by EalingGreen; 20/10/2008 at 3:49 PM.
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