Big Games Ahead in Thomond Park

**Lim till i die** · 17/12/2008, 1:23 AM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

What sort of comment is that? At the moment, the club IS 'small time' as you put it. It probably cant get any more 'small time'. Involvement is such a tournament would increase the portfolio of the club enormously. Participation by the club in its own right would be a non-starter. We're quite simply not good enough, like it or not. And you can be sure that if full strength squads from big name clubs come to town then people will go.

The club has nothing to gain stature wise by providing a few token selections for a "LoI Select XI" against Barcas youth side.

To even suggest an increase in profile as a result of such a farce is nonsense.

**joeSoap** · 17/12/2008, 8:20 AM

Originally Posted by Lim till i die

The club has nothing to gain stature wise by providing a few token selections for a "LoI Select XI" against Barcas youth side.

To even suggest an increase in profile as a result of such a farce is nonsense.

To suggest that it is nonsense and a farce is in my opinion, and to use your own terminology, 'small-time mentality'.

Firstly, I'm not suggesting a tournament involving Barca's youth side. I'm not even suggesting Barca at all. I think that a quadrangular tournament involving Celtic, a premiership club with an Irish interest; ie Sunderland or Reading if they get promoted and Ajax together with a LOI select would be a fantastic draw. Provided assurances can be got from these clubs that they would bring strong squads.

If the LOI select were to be managed by the Limerick FC manager of the time and a few of the squad were involved, then I believe it would do the profile of the club no harm at all, and start a foundation for future events like it.

The club has to learn to walk before it can run, and this sort of event would provide an invaluable stepping stone.

**GenerationXI** · 17/12/2008, 8:53 AM

Originally Posted by Lionel Ritchie

The company organising this thing knows well also that this town is teeming with bandwagon jumpers who will go along if it's pitched right.

I agree with you there.

Originally Posted by LK37oldskool

Surely as the Senior team in the city they would get consideration.

I would hope they'd be included as the senior team in the city, all I'm saying is, unfortunately, the kind of people that set these things up would happily overlook Limerick.

Originally Posted by LK37oldskool

Not much point in having a tournament without some Irish representation

Agree completely.

Originally Posted by LK37oldskool

Without some Irish/limerick involvment i would'nt be bothered to be honest.

I'll be honest here. If Man Utd and Liverpool were playing in Thomond on a Friday night and I had free tickets, I wouldn't go if it clashed with a Limerick game. That will come as no surprise to anyone on here. You wouldn't find the LTIDs, JoeSoaps, GSpains etc. (ad infinitum) up there either. We'd be knocking around a desolate Jackman park watching our lot concede penalty after penalty at the Club House end!

The point is, if something like this goes ahead my fear would be that Limerick would be ignored, simply because anyone who actually gives a fcuk about football in the city is virtually (note: virtually is an exception) powerless to make the organisers of such a competition include us in the name of exposure or any other such noble gestures.

Originally Posted by LK37oldskool

i never said any thing about proximity to the ground.

True that. Apologies.

**citybone** · 17/12/2008, 9:19 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Won't be that competitive as they won't have any training time together. But thats a complete non issue IMO

Even the clubs with players mentioned wouldn't like to give up players in the middle of the season for absolutely no gain.

have a merchandise stand or a few withing/around the ground with merchandise of each loi club especially limerick and cork city (likely to have most of a representive side) would bring a good bit of cash!

**gspain** · 17/12/2008, 12:36 PM

This will only be allowed happen with the FAI's permission.

It will not be allowed to go head to head with a Limerick game.

I can't see it getting the go ahead without a benefit to local football. This will probably mean Limerick being involved and making some money out of it but with no costly match guarantees.

**manalishi** · 17/12/2008, 2:42 PM

[QUOTE=gael353;1073753]They need permission from the FAI and Limerick for this to go ahead. A private company offered this to Thomond park LTD and they went to the media before checking out was it permittable with the governing authorities[/QUO

I hope limerick gave elton john and rod stewart the all clear to use thomond park as well.Will ye lot give over bleating, ye can`t organise yourselves to run a bath never mind a european tournament.

**Dodge** · 17/12/2008, 3:27 PM

Originally Posted by manalishi

I hope limerick gave elton john and rod stewart the all clear to use thomond park as well.Will ye lot give over bleating, ye can`t organise yourselves to run a bath never mind a european tournament.

You realise Elton John and Rod Stewart weren't playing football, don't you?

**sadloserkid** · 17/12/2008, 3:52 PM

Anybody who is advocating a representative side as the best option here (which I don't think includes JoeSoap to be fair) is not a true Limerick fan. Pure and simple. I would sooner see four foreign clubs playing in this mooted tournament than some mickey mouse selection. People are going to be going to see the foreign sides anyway and there will be no negative affect on gates if we were to be involved rather than some thrown together collection of the league's B-listers.

As Lionel Ritchie has said it's a happy coincidence of geography that we're the senior side in position. I can't see us making any major cash off it anyway aside from maybe some merchandise as it's very much a Thomond park initiative but by virtue of the fact that, rightly or wrongly and for better or worse, we're the local senior club we are the natural Irish team to consider. Us or the national side. Nothing else.

**joeSoap** · 17/12/2008, 8:16 PM

In ideal circumstances theres nothing I'd like more than Limerick FC to be the host club, but for a whole host of well documented reasons it is not feasible, both on and off the field. I cant see the National side participating in this...maybe the Under 23 side, which is the EL selection anyway. I just believe that this sort of selection would be better than giving the likes of Cork City or Galway United the kudos.

**jebus** · 18/12/2008, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

Anybody who is advocating a representative side as the best option here (which I don't think includes JoeSoap to be fair) is not a true Limerick fan. Pure and simple. I would sooner see four foreign clubs playing in this mooted tournament than some mickey mouse selection. People are going to be going to see the foreign sides anyway and there will be no negative affect on gates if we were to be involved rather than some thrown together collection of the league's B-listers.

As Lionel Ritchie has said it's a happy coincidence of geography that we're the senior side in position. I can't see us making any major cash off it anyway aside from maybe some merchandise as it's very much a Thomond park initiative but by virtue of the fact that, rightly or wrongly and for better or worse, we're the local senior club we are the natural Irish team to consider. Us or the national side. Nothing else.

That's the way I would see it too.

Money wise we won;t see much from the tournament, but the FAI should realise the wonders it could do for the club if they put us out there with La Liga or Premiership sides. It might spark a lot of interest in the club to be fair

**LK37oldskool** · 18/12/2008, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

That's the way I would see it too.

Money wise we won;t see much from the tournament, but the FAI should realise the wonders it could do for the club if they put us out there with La Liga or Premiership sides. It might spark a lot of interest in the club to be fair

I think if we're realistic the best we can hope for is exposure.If the FAI thing is true then we would be in pole position to have some involvement. No doubt Thomand Park Inc. wont be too happy about that! If we could get A few hundred extra bods at home match's from this it would be a massive bonus to the club than a one off payment.

**blueblood** · 18/12/2008, 7:27 PM

I think the best Limerick FC can do out of this is make a few quid if they participate, it wont increse the clubs fanbase or league attendances much because if they play they will probably lose some games heavily and thats not good enough for those bandwagoners who would probably be more likley to slag Limerick off and continue supporting their foreign teams

**da bishop** · 18/12/2008, 11:15 PM

[QUOTE=manalishi;1076468]

Originally Posted by gael353

They need permission from the FAI and Limerick for this to go ahead. A private company offered this to Thomond park LTD and they went to the media before checking out was it permittable with the governing authorities[/QUO

I hope limerick gave elton john and rod stewart the all clear to use thomond park as well.Will ye lot give over bleating, ye can`t organise yourselves to run a bath never mind a european tournament.

brilliant.

**da bishop** · 18/12/2008, 11:28 PM

for rice cake.do we really think the thomond pk suits give a monkeys about limk 37,how would limk 37 enhance a preseason tournament of this nature,...add 300 to the gate and then sing ,....theres only one jack mccarthy at the balla end.these people want to make money and fill the stadium.we are not ready for big steps,the small ones are already proving an obstacle.

**Dodge** · 18/12/2008, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted by da bishop

for rice cake.do we really think the thomond pk suits give a monkeys about limk 37,how would limk 37 enhance a preseason tournament of this nature,...add 300 to the gate and then sing ,....theres only one jack mccarthy at the balla end.these people want to make money and fill the stadium.we are not ready for big steps,the small ones are already proving an obstacle.

have you read the thread?

**Monkfish** · 19/12/2008, 8:50 AM

Originally Posted by Dodge

have you read the thread?

Just so you know Mr Dodge. Da Bishop and Manalishi are just too fellas who have hard ons for a certain poster on here, having been knocked back in their advances in the past they now spend their time having a go at that particular poster and the club that he follows.

Its sad really but true.

Personally I think the pitch in Thomond Park is not suited to our particular brand of exciting football.

**Jofspring** · 27/01/2009, 11:51 AM

Limerick Fc vs Sunderland has been confirmed. Match to be played in Thomond Park on a TBC date during the last two weeks in July. Tickets to be on sale by hopefully early march. Limerick are also in talks with Villa with only small details to be sorted out.

**GenerationXI** · 27/01/2009, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Jofspring

Limerick Fc vs Sunderland has been confirmed. Match to be played in Thomond Park on a TBC date during the last two weeks in July. Tickets to be on sale by hopefully early march. Limerick are also in talks with celtic with only small details to be sorted out.

That'll be cool. There'll be about 500 Limerick FC fans and 2 Sunderland fans. Now that Keane's gone the bandwagon jumpers are too!!!

**LK37oldskool** · 27/01/2009, 12:31 PM

Fair play to all those involved in bringing this match to Limerick. Things are lookin good for us at the club with the management team that we have. For once they seem to be doing what they promised.